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Victims of Virtual Asset Voice Phishing to Receive Compensation Under New Law 금융위원회는 15일 '전기통신금융사기 피해 방지 및 피해금 환급에 관한 특별법 시행령' 개정안을 마련해 입법예고한다고 밝혔다. 피해자산 범위를 금전에서 가상자산까지 확대하는 내용의 특별법 개정안이 오는 10월 1일 시행되는 데 따른 후속 조치다. 이번 시행령 개정안은 피해환급자산의 환급 형태와 산정 기준을 구체화한다. 피해환급자산이 금전이면 금액 단위로, 가상자산이면 종류·수량 단위로 지급한다. 탈취당한 자산 형태와 사기이용계좌에 남은 자산 형태가 다를 경우 지급정지 시점의 자산 형태로 환급한다. 여러 형태가 혼재한 경우 금전은 금액으로, 가상자산은 지급정지 시점 시세로 평가한 금액을 기준으로 피해환급액을 결정한다. 가상자산 거래에 익숙하지 않은 피해자를 위한 장치도 마련됐다. 가상자산을 매도하고 그 대금을 금전으로 지급하는 업무를 전담하는 기관을 별도로 지정하도록 했다. 피해자가 가상자산 계정이 없거나 거래 경험이 없어도 피해금을 현금으로 돌려받을 수 있도록 한 것이다. 이번 시행령 개정으로 사각지대 범죄까지 잡아낼 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 개정안은 다음 달 24일까지 입법예고를 실시한 뒤 개정 법 시행일에 맞춰 시행될 예정이다. 금융위 관계자는 "이번 개정으로 가상자산이 연루된 전기통신금융사기에 대해서도 피해자산 환급이 실효성 있게 이뤄질 수 있는 법적 기반이 마련될 것"이라고 밝혔다. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 17:32:00 -
Lotte World Aquarium unveils 'Aqua Gallery: Mulbit Garden' ahead of opening SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Models view freshwater fish at the new 'Aqua Gallery: Mulbit Garden' exhibition space at Lotte World Aquarium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on July 15, 2026. 2026-07-15 17:31:56 -
Lotte World Aquarium unveils 'Aqua Gallery: Mulbit Garden' ahead of opening SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Models view freshwater fish at the new 'Aqua Gallery: Mulbit Garden' exhibition space at Lotte World Aquarium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on July 15, 2026. 2026-07-15 17:30:17 -
Homeplus tenants protest in Seoul as ailing supermarket chain on verge of going bust SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - More than 50 small business owners operating inside ailing supermarket chain Homeplus staged a protest in central Seoul on Wednesday. In a rally that gathered Homeplus-linked merchants and tenants from across the country, they demanded the government guarantee their right to continue operating and ensure payment of their unpaid dues. The massive rally came after Homeplus, whose court rehabilitation was terminated last week, abruptly suspended operations at all 67 of its stores nationwide on Monday, citing an inability to cover costs including electricity and gas bills. If no new buyer comes to the rescue or Homeplus fails to secure 200 billion South Korean won (about US$133 million) in funds before the court's July 20 deadline, the supermarket chain is expected to proceed toward liquidation. Kim Byeong-guk, who is leading the protesters, called on the supermarket chain's major shareholder, MBK Partners, to fulfill its responsibilities to the end, and urged the government to intervene before further damage occurs. The government is reportedly preparing around 440 billion won in relief funds to support small business owners on the brink of collapse. 2026-07-15 17:29:24 -
Lotte World Aquarium unveils 'Aqua Gallery: Mulbit Garden' ahead of opening SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Models view freshwater fish at the new 'Aqua Gallery: Mulbit Garden' exhibition space at Lotte World Aquarium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on July 15, 2026. 2026-07-15 17:29:19 -
Daejeon's Aging Urban Renewal Project Selects 7,797 Housing Units Daejeon's urban renewal project is set to advance significantly. Three areas, including Dunsan and Songchon, Jungri, and Beopdong, have been selected as leading districts, totaling 7,797 housing units.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Daejeon Metropolitan City announced that 5,252 units in two areas of Dunsan and 2,545 units in one area of Songchon, Jungri, and Beopdong have been designated as leading districts for urban renewal.In Dunsan, the 14th area, Hangaram and Gongjak Hanyang, with 2,454 units, and the 13th area, Mugunghwa and Clover, with 2,798 units, have been selected. In the Songchon, Jungri, and Beopdong area, the 6th area, Boram and Samik Sowol, includes 2,545 units.This selection marks the second designation of leading districts for aging urban planning outside the metropolitan area, following Busan. The Ministry believes this urban renewal project will serve as a catalyst for expanding efforts beyond the first-generation new towns in the capital region to major cities across the country.The application process for the leading districts in Daejeon took place from March 30 to April 3 this year. A total of 10 areas with 30,800 housing units applied, reflecting strong local interest in urban renewal.Leading districts are the first areas in Daejeon to establish special renewal plans and initiate projects. The Ministry and Daejeon City plan to apply the experiences gained in planning, community participation, and project management from these leading districts to other planned renewal areas in Daejeon and nationwide urban renewal projects.The Ministry will support the entire process from the establishment of special renewal plans to project implementation, starting with these leading districts. Beginning in August, a 'Future City Support Center' will be launched to provide explanations and one-on-one consultations for residents and local government officials in collaboration with organizations such as the Korea Land and Housing Corporation, the Korea Real Estate Agency, and the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements.This initiative aims to facilitate the smooth progression of subsequent procedures, including the establishment of special renewal plans, designation of special renewal areas, and project implementation approvals.As Daejeon's Dunsan area is a key residential district, the advancement of the leading district's renewal could serve as a benchmark for the success and pace of future reconstruction projects in aging urban areas.Yoon Young-jung, Director of Housing Maintenance Policy at the Ministry, stated, “The selection of Daejeon's leading district is a significant advancement in the nationwide expansion of urban renewal projects, following the first-generation new towns in the capital region and Busan.”He added, “The government will closely support the entire process from planning to implementation to ensure that the leading district becomes a representative success model for revitalizing aging urban areas.”The Ministry plans to sequentially designate leading districts in Incheon in the second half of this year, further expanding urban renewal projects nationwide.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 17:28:00
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Korean sovereign bonds emerges as Asia's standout bond trade: MarketAxess SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) — While foreign investors have grown increasingly selective across Asia's bond markets, South Korea has emerged as the region's lone standout, attracting uninterrupted monthly inflows into government debt as global funds bet on the country's semiconductor-driven economy and forthcoming inclusion in one of the world's most influential sovereign bond indexes. "Korea has certainly been an interesting market when we look at Korean Treasury Bonds," Roheet Shah, head of dealer sales for Asia-Pacific at MarketAxess, a Nasdaq-listed electronic bond trading platform, told AJP. "It's the only market where we've seen consistent month-on-month net buying so far this year." The steady inflows sharply contrast with other Asian bond markets—including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong and China—where foreign demand has ebbed and flowed with changing expectations for U.S. interest rates and domestic monetary policy. At the center of Korea's outperformance is its phased entry into the FTSE World Government Bond Index (WGBI), one of the world's most widely followed sovereign debt benchmarks tracked by global asset managers, pension funds and central banks. "WGBI inclusion is probably one of the dominant technical drivers of the KTB market," Shah said. Korea began joining the index in April and is scheduled to complete the process in November. Market estimates suggest the inclusion could ultimately attract between $50 billion and $60 billion in foreign capital. "Since the inclusion began, market inflows saw around 37 trillion won worth of Korean Treasury Bonds based on MarketAxess platform data." Official figures underscore the momentum. Foreign investors bought a net 5.9 trillion won of Korean bonds in July after purchasing 13.9 trillion won in June, according to the Financial Supervisory Service. Net purchases have reached 62.9 trillion won so far this year, putting 2026 on track to rival last year's record inflows. More importantly, Shah said the buying has broadened well beyond passive index-tracking funds. "Foreign buying from April to June has already exceeded the level seen during the same period last year, based on MarketAxess platform data." The inflows have come from central banks, global asset managers, macro hedge funds and Japanese institutional investors positioning ahead of Korea's full WGBI inclusion, suggesting the rally is being supported by active portfolio allocations rather than purely mechanical index demand. Structural reforms have reinforced that appeal. Longer foreign-exchange trading hours, streamlined settlement procedures and easier market access have significantly improved Korea's competitiveness among global fixed-income markets. "We've also seen improving market accessibility. Together, these factors have helped create a deep and liquid capital market." Perhaps the strongest endorsement of Korea's bond market is that overseas demand has remained resilient even as expectations for Bank of Korea rate hikes have strengthened. "As I mentioned, we've seen net buying month after month despite concerns over increased bond supply and potential Bank of Korea rate hikes." Investor expectations have shifted markedly over the course of the year. "Conversations with our clients have clearly shifted from expectations of rate cuts at the beginning of the year to rate hikes." According to Shah, stronger semiconductor exports, AI-related investment and improving economic momentum have steadily pushed investors toward a more hawkish outlook for Korean monetary policy. Since the Bank of Korea raised both its inflation and growth forecasts in May, markets have increasingly focused on inflationary pressures, the weaker won and financial stability risks. Even so, MarketAxess sees an important distinction between domestic and overseas investors. Local investors generally expect a 25-basis-point increase in the near term followed by another move later this year, lifting the benchmark policy rate from 2.50 percent to 3.00 percent. Overseas investors also believe the next move is likely to be upward, but remain less convinced that Korea is entering a prolonged tightening cycle. Most continue to price in only 25 to 50 basis points of additional hikes. That divergence reflects what Shah describes as Korea's increasingly "two-speed economy." "Semiconductor exports and investment remain very strong, but domestic demand continues to lag. Weak private consumption and the challenges facing small businesses suggest the recovery is not broad-based." The uneven recovery leaves policymakers confronting a difficult balancing act. Inflation, currency weakness and buoyant financial markets argue for tighter monetary policy, while fragile domestic demand limits how aggressively rates can be raised without undermining growth. "That creates a policy dilemma for the Bank of Korea," Shah said. "Inflation and won stability argue for higher interest rates, while the domestic economy isn't strong enough to absorb a substantial or sustained hiking cycle." MarketAxess trading data suggest global investors are already positioning for precisely that scenario. Although foreign investors continue to add Korean government bonds overall, demand has become increasingly concentrated in longer maturities. Bonds with less than two years remaining have experienced persistent selling as traders prepare for higher policy rates, while seven-to-ten-year and twenty-to-thirty-year maturities continue to attract steady inflows driven by WGBI positioning and long-term institutional allocations. The pattern suggests overseas investors are looking beyond the next Bank of Korea meeting. Rather than abandoning Korean government bonds because of near-term tightening risks, they appear to be treating Korea as a long-term strategic allocation within global sovereign debt portfolios—a distinction that could determine whether the country's exceptional run of foreign inflows extends well beyond the completion of its WGBI inclusion later this year. 2026-07-15 17:27:49 -
Namyang Dairy to Burn 22 Billion Won in Treasury Shares as Part of Shareholder Return Policy Namyang Dairy is continuing its shareholder return policy by retiring treasury shares acquired earlier this year.On July 15, Namyang Dairy announced that its board of directors decided on July 14 to retire 326,553 common shares and 108,851 preferred shares, totaling approximately 22 billion won.This retirement will be conducted using a profit retirement method, which allows for the retirement of previously acquired treasury shares within the scope of distributable profits. As a result, the number of issued shares will decrease without reducing the capital, leading to an expected increase in actual per-share value. Once the retirement is completed, the number of common shares will decrease from 6 million to 5,673,447, and preferred shares will drop from 2 million to 1,891,149.Namyang Dairy has been gradually implementing its shareholder return policy, following its decision in March to expand dividends and acquire 20 billion won in treasury shares. At that time, the company stated its intention to retire the acquired treasury shares as a principle.Meanwhile, since transitioning to the Han & Company management system in January 2024, Namyang Dairy has been undergoing significant organizational restructuring. As a result, the company successfully returned to profitability in operating income for the first time in five years last year, and it has shown improvements in both revenue and profitability in the first quarter of this year. Recently, the company has also expanded its overseas business by visiting Vietnam and Mongolia as part of a presidential economic delegation, where it signed a memorandum of understanding with local distribution companies for export.A Namyang Dairy representative stated, "This treasury share retirement is a decision aimed at maximizing shareholder value through capital management," adding, "We will continue to engage in return activities that enhance the rights of our shareholders based on stable management performance and financial soundness."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 17:24:00
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Toss Designated as First Financial Conglomerate, Big Tech Oversight Intensifies The financial authorities have designated Toss as the first financial conglomerate, marking the beginning of comprehensive oversight of big tech financial groups.On July 15, the Financial Services Commission announced during a regular meeting that it has designated eight financial groups, including Samsung, Hanwha, Mirae Asset, Kyobo, Hyundai Motor, DB, Daou Kiwoom, and Toss, as financial conglomerates for 2026.The most notable change in this designation is the inclusion of Toss. With total assets of 41.3 trillion won, Toss meets the criteria for designation as a financial conglomerate and will be the first among big tech financial groups to be subject to the Financial Conglomerate Act. Toss's primary business involves deposit and loan services, amounting to 33 trillion won, while its financial investment assets total 7.2 trillion won.A financial conglomerate is defined as a group that operates in at least two financial sectors—such as banking, insurance, and investment—and holds at least one licensed or registered financial company, with total assets exceeding 5 trillion won.Once designated as a financial conglomerate, the group must establish a risk management system at the group level. This includes selecting a representative financial company, developing internal control and risk management policies, and reporting on ownership, governance structure, capital adequacy, internal transactions, and risk concentration to the financial authorities. Additionally, the group must maintain a capital ratio of over 100% and undergo a risk management assessment every three years.However, for the newly designated Toss, key obligations related to capital adequacy assessment, internal control, risk management, and reporting will be deferred for six months from the designation date. During this period, Toss will select a representative financial company and establish a group-level supervisory system.The Financial Services Commission stated, "Through this designation, we expect that the system for self-managing group-level risks will be established for financial conglomerates, while group-level risk management and supervision of big tech financial groups will gradually strengthen."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 17:24:00
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Samsung Life Launches Senior Health Insurance Covering Dementia, Brain, and Joint Diseases 삼성생명은 치매와 뇌질환, 관절질환까지 보장하는 '삼성 시니어대표건강보험'을 오는 16일 출시한다고 15일 밝혔다. 이번 상품은 기존 '삼성 웰에이징 건강보험'의 치매·장기요양 보장을 기반으로 뇌질환과 관절질환 보장을 추가한 것이 특징이다. 시니어 고객에게 발생 빈도가 높은 생활밀착형 질환을 중심으로 보장을 강화했다. 특히 치매 치료 과정 전반에 대한 보장을 확대했다. 표적 치매 치료제 '레켐비' 치료와 치료 과정에서 발생할 수 있는 뇌출혈 부작용을 함께 보장하는 '통합표적치매치료보장특약'을 업계 최초로 도입했다. 알츠하이머 치료가 증상 완화에서 질병 진행 억제 중심으로 변화하는 환경을 반영해 치료 과정에서 발생할 수 있는 경제적 부담까지 대비할 수 있도록 했다. 치매와 연관성이 높은 뇌혈관질환, 뇌졸중, 뇌출혈 등에 대한 보장도 특약을 통해 제공한다. 치매 보장은 경증 이상, 중등도 이상, 중증으로 세분화해 보장의 완성도를 높였다. 관절질환 보장도 강화했다. '특정관절질환및손상보장특약'을 신설해 관절질환의 검사와 진단, 치료, 수술, 인공관절 치환 및 재치환 수술 등을 보장한다. 무릎과 어깨, 손목, 발목 등 시니어 고객에게 발생 빈도가 높은 주요 관절질환에 대한 보장을 확대했다. 보험료 부담도 낮췄다. 경제활동기에는 보험료를 집중 납입하고 은퇴 이후에는 납입 부담을 줄일 수 있는 무해약환급금형 체감납입 구조를 적용했다. 무해약환급금형은 보험료 납입 기간 중 계약이 해지될 경우 해약환급금이 없는 대신 보험료를 낮춘 구조다. 삼성생명 관계자는 "단순히 치매진단만 보장하는 시대를 넘어 치매 진행 완화 치료와 부작용, 생활질환까지 함께 대비하는 종합보장이 중요해지고 있다"며 "앞으로도 초고령사회에 대응하는 상품 라인업을 지속 확대해 나갈 계획이다"라고 말했다. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 17:16:00