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Investor Confidence Dips as Market Stagnates, Deposits Hit Seven-Month Low The KOSPI index has been stagnating in the high 6,000s, leading to a rapid decline in investor deposits. Analysts attribute the waning investor sentiment to domestic and international challenges that have kept the index from surpassing the 7,000 mark.According to the Korea Financial Investment Association, as of August 28, the amount of investor deposits, which serve as standby funds in the stock market, was recorded at 99.8138 trillion won. This marks a decrease from 96.7091 trillion won the previous day, the lowest level since January 23, when it was 93.8095 trillion won.Investor deposits had remained above 100 trillion won since late January, when the market was experiencing a clear upward trend. Since January 27, there have only been eight days where deposits fell below this threshold. Notably, on June 4, deposits peaked at an all-time high of 139.6948 trillion won but have since been on a downward trajectory.The speed of money movement in the stock market has also significantly decreased. The Korea Exchange reported that the average daily trading volume for the KOSPI in August was approximately 25.37 trillion won, down from 50.35 trillion won in June, representing a reduction of about half, and a 31.2% decline from July's 36.88 trillion won. The turnover rate for listed stocks has also dropped for three consecutive months, falling from 17.1% in June to 15.9% in July and 10.7% in August. Similarly, the market capitalization turnover rate decreased from 15.3% to 14.28% and then to 9.3% during the same period, indicating a rapid decline in trading frequency and investor activity.The decrease in investor deposits does not immediately indicate a depletion of individual investors' purchasing power. However, the simultaneous contraction of surrounding funds and actual trading indicators suggests that the KOSPI is losing internal market vitality, despite high volatility in the index.The KOSPI has been in a 'new box' market, remaining below 7,000 since July 23. On the same day, the KOSPI closed at 6,820.02, up 31.14 points (0.46%) from the previous trading day, but fluctuated throughout the day. At one point, the index dropped to 6,547.76, a decline of 3.55%, before recovering towards the end of the session.In terms of supply and demand, individual investors sold a net 1.443 trillion won, while foreign investors sold 6.403 trillion won, and institutions sold 7.929 trillion won. Conversely, net purchases by other corporations, likely reflecting share buybacks by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, reached 1.5773 trillion won, contributing to the index's rebound. The KOSDAQ index closed at 834.29, down 4.12 points (0.49%) from the previous trading day.Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, noted, "Investor sentiment has weakened due to external factors, leading to a general downturn across sectors. However, some undervalued sectors have seen inflows of bargain buying, resulting in a differentiated market performance."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 16:36:00 -
Moonies leader sentenced to two years in prison for bribery SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - Han Hak-ja, leader of the powerful Unification Church, better known as the Moonies, was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday over multiple allegations including bribery involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence against Han, the widow of the church's founder Moon Sun-myung, for bribing Kim with a luxury bag and jewelry worth 80 million won in return for favors for the church in 2022. Han was arrested last year and indicted on allegations that she instructed church officials to provide bribes to Kim, the wife of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol. She was also accused of colluding with an ex-cult follower to give 100 million won (US$72,400) to Kweon Seong-dong, former leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), in 2022 in exchange for his help in securing favors for the church. Monday's ruling comes more than a month after prosecutors sought a 13-year prison sentence for Han, criticizing her actions as a "grave crime that severely violates the constitutional principle of the separation of religion and politics and undermines democratic values." But Han has denied the charges, maintaining that she had no involvement in the bribery and that the former follower who gave money to Kweon acted independently. Earlier in January, in a separate case, Kim was sentenced to 20 months in prison for receiving luxury gifts including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel handbag from the church. But an appeals court increased her sentence to four years in April after finding her guilty of additional offenses including receiving another Chanel bag from the church. Han's case is part of a broader corruption scandal involving Yoon and his wife, after Yoon was ousted from office due to his abrupt, short-lived declaration of martial law in late 2024, bringing a dramatic end to his presidency. AJP Takeaways • Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday over corruption charges involving alleged bribery of former first lady Kim Keon Hee. • Han was accused of providing Kim with luxury gifts worth 80 million won in exchange for political favors, while also allegedly arranging a 100 million won payment to former People Power Party leader Kweon Seong-dong. • Han denied the charges, while the case is part of a broader corruption scandal involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim. 2026-08-31 16:34:03 -
Qualcomm Hosts 'Dragonwing IoT Day' Showcasing AI and Robotics Innovations Qualcomm is strengthening its collaboration with domestic companies in the fields of industrial artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).On August 31, Qualcomm held its 'Dragonwing IoT Day' at the Grand Lotte in Seoul for key clients.This year, over 500 representatives from major clients and partners, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, attended the event. They shared various applications of AI and IoT in industrial automation, robotics, smart home appliances, and agentic AI.Qualcomm conducted sessions on its latest technologies, including Qualcomm Linux 2.0, Qualcomm Intelligent Robotics Product SDK, and Qualcomm AI Workflow. Ten partner companies, including Hyundai's Robotics Lab, SST, Integrit, Ditek, and Point Mobile, also participated in presentations and demo sessions, showcasing success stories and new technologies based on the B2B platform 'Dragonwing'.In 16 demo zones set up at the venue, Qualcomm's 'Dragonwing IQ10 Robotics Reference Design' was displayed alongside on-device AI devices, vision language models (VLM), quadrupedal robots, and video analysis solutions from partner companies.Kwon Oh-hyung, Qualcomm's Asia-Pacific representative, stated, "We will support companies' efficiency through AI workload optimization that spans from devices to the cloud, and continue to innovate the IoT and robotics industries in collaboration with domestic partners."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 16:32:20
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Investment in Equipment Rises, But Construction Orders Plummet 34% Investment in equipment has increased, but construction investment continues to struggle. According to the July industrial activity trends released by the national data agency on August 31, equipment investment rose significantly, while construction orders fell by more than 30%. Consumer spending also declined, indicating a lack of clear recovery in domestic demand. Although manufacturing output increased, inventory levels rose even faster, suggesting that the production gains are not translating into broader economic growth.According to the national data agency, equipment investment increased by 7.5% compared to the previous month and was up 24.9% from the same month last year. The rise in equipment investment was driven by increases in machinery and transportation equipment.In contrast, the construction sector continued to show weakness. Construction orders in July fell by 34.0% compared to the same month last year. Civil engineering orders dropped by 55.0%, while building orders decreased by 23.2%. By type of client, public orders fell by 34.9%, and private orders decreased by 19.7%.Construction orders are considered a leading indicator of future construction activity. A continued decline in orders could eventually impact construction output.Indeed, construction output in July decreased by 3.2% compared to the same month last year. While building output fell by 5.5%, civil engineering output increased by 4.4%. This indicates mixed trends within the construction sector. Compared to the previous month, construction output declined by 1.1%, with building output down 7.4%.Consumer spending also showed weak recovery. Retail sales in July fell by 2.4% from the previous month and were down 0.8% compared to the same month last year. Notably, sales of durable goods, including automobiles and electronics, decreased by 7.7% from the previous month, contributing to the overall decline in retail sales.This decline reflects a base effect from June, when sales of durable goods, including automobiles, surged. The data agency explained that improvements in parts supply in June led to increased automobile production and sales, resulting in a contrasting effect in July.In the manufacturing sector, both production and inventory levels increased. Manufacturing output rose by 3.9% compared to the same month last year, driven by increases in automobile and machinery production.However, manufacturing inventory also increased by 6.4% compared to the same month last year. The inventory rate rose to 97.2%, up 3.4 percentage points from the previous month. This suggests that while production has increased, shipments have not kept pace, leading to greater inventory pressure.Investment showed a positive performance, particularly in equipment investment, which saw increases in semiconductor manufacturing equipment as well as transportation equipment like aircraft and ships. However, the increase in equipment investment has not yet clearly spread to other domestic sectors such as construction and consumer spending.Lee Doo-won, a senior official at the national data agency, commented on July's industrial activity, stating, "It was adjusted due to the base effect from the previous month. While production and consumption have seen some adjustments, investment has shown a favorable trend, particularly in equipment investment."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 16:32:00
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EcoPro BM Launches 'All-Solid-State Team' to Accelerate Commercialization EcoPro BM is establishing an 'All-Solid-State Team' to facilitate the early commercialization of all-solid-state batteries, which will integrate raw materials, components, and cells.According to EcoPro BM, a kickoff meeting was held on August 26 at a location in Gyeonggi Province with related companies and research institutes to advance the government's 'Super Eul Project.'The Super Eul Project is a government initiative aimed at nurturing key companies in the materials, parts, and equipment sector to secure world-class technology and lead the global supply chain through research and development (R&D) support.Earlier this month, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy selected EcoPro BM and four other companies as Super Eul enterprises.All-solid-state batteries are considered next-generation batteries that replace traditional liquid electrolytes with solid ones, significantly enhancing safety and energy density. They are deemed suitable for electric vehicles and next-generation platforms such as humanoid robots.EcoPro BM plans to proactively implement solid electrolyte technology by controlling various process variables, including crystallinity, impurity removal, and particle size uniformity, based on the supply of high-purity Li2S (lithium sulfide) from raw material suppliers.The project involves not only the industrial sector but also research institutions such as the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), and Hanyang University. These institutions aim to establish a comprehensive value chain integrating 'raw materials-components-cells' for all-solid-state batteries, in line with the government's plans to secure future growth engines.Additionally, EcoPro BM is operating a pilot plant with a capacity of 40 tons per year to secure process technology in the sulfide-based solid electrolyte sector, which is a key material for all-solid-state batteries.EcoPro BM aims for the early commercialization of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries by 2027, sharing its development roadmap for domestic cell production and strengthening strategic collaborations.Jung Hyun-soo, head of future technology at EcoPro BM, stated, "We will optimize mass production processes based on the success of the pilot phase to reduce manufacturing costs and enhance differentiated process technology to support the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries for cell manufacturers without any setbacks."Meanwhile, EcoPro BM is pursuing a capital increase of 1.2 trillion won, citing the purpose of the capital increase as investment in the BNSI nickel refinery in Indonesia.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 16:32:00
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New Cabinet Candidates Outline Priorities for Economic Growth and Housing Supply As the second cabinet of the Lee Jae-myung government takes shape, newly appointed minister candidates have expressed their commitment to accelerating national policy initiatives. They face complex challenges, including boosting potential growth rates, increasing housing supply, easing regulations, and reforming the criminal justice system.On August 30, the newly nominated ministers outlined their policy directions during their first public appearances. Lee Hyung-il, nominated as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, identified sustaining economic growth and creating new investment opportunities as his top priorities. He stated, "Our economy has reached a point where it needs new challenges for a major leap forward beyond recovery and normalization," and pledged to lay the groundwork for a rebound in potential growth rates through three major mega-projects.Lee's immediate tasks include translating the goals of achieving a 3% potential growth rate, becoming one of the top four global exporters, and raising per capita income to $50,000 into tangible results. He emphasized the need for substantial investments in mega-projects centered on semiconductors, physical artificial intelligence (AI), and AI data centers.Another key challenge is to spread the benefits of growth from the semiconductor and export sectors to domestic consumption and livelihoods. This involves utilizing the policy leeway gained from the semiconductor boom to address polarization and support livelihoods, particularly in response to high oil prices and living costs exacerbated by instability in the Middle East. Developing policies that small businesses and vulnerable populations can feel is expected to be a significant test.Hong Ji-sun, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, emphasized the need for 'supply execution capability.' She aims to quickly provide quality housing in preferred locations and ensure that government-announced housing units progress to actual construction and occupancy. Hong stated, "I will focus on swiftly supplying quality housing in preferred locations and pay close attention to housing stability for young people and newlyweds."The first test will be housing supply in downtown Seoul. Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoon-deok and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon have struggled to find common ground on utilizing Yongsan Park. The city has proposed plans for youth housing and physical AI complex development using the Tancheon Water Recycling Center and Eastern Road Construction Office, while easing zoning regulations for redevelopment projects has emerged as a new negotiation point.Future negotiations will largely fall to Hong. While she refrained from commenting on specific sites, she expressed her intention to collaborate with the Seoul government, drawing on her extensive experience working in local government. The follow-up work to the August 13 supply measures is also urgent.Lee So-young, the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, identified irrational regulatory reform as her first task. She stated, "If appointed as minister, I will approach my role as a 'regulatory reform minister' beyond just supporting small and venture businesses, ensuring that incidents like 'Tada' do not happen again."Lee aims to reflect on regulatory methods and focus on improving regulations that hinder new industries from entering the market. She emphasized that the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will not remain passive in conflicts between new and existing industries but will actively engage in market entry and stakeholder negotiations.This regulatory innovation aligns with the Lee Jae-myung government's 'National Startup Era' policy, which seeks to position entrepreneurship as a new growth engine for the national economy. Establishing stable projects for everyone to start a business and discovering innovative entrepreneurs are also necessary. Spreading the benefits of the export-driven boom to small and medium enterprises and small businesses is another challenge.Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, prioritized the stable establishment of a new criminal justice system. He stated, "Ensuring that the new criminal justice system is well established in South Korea after 70 years is my most urgent mission," and pledged to pass various bills that the Ministry of Justice needs to supplement while gathering social consensus.This comes as the abolition of the prosecution office and the establishment of the Public Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency are set to take place on October 2. Kim's role will involve organizing new laws following the abolition of direct investigative powers and supplementary investigative powers of prosecutors, as well as establishing the organizational and personnel structure of the Public Prosecution Service.He will also need to meticulously coordinate the procedures for transferring cases and cooperating in investigations among the Public Prosecution Service, police, and Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. Additionally, he is tasked with minimizing confusion during the transfer of existing prosecution records and personnel to the new organization.Former Deputy Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, Kang Shin-cheol, has been nominated as the Minister of National Defense and is expected to return soon to prepare for his confirmation hearing. The Ministry of National Defense has begun forming a task force to prepare for Kang's confirmation hearing.Kang's primary challenge will be the transfer of wartime operational control. The government is continuing discussions with the U.S. with the goal of transferring operational control during his term. The upcoming ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) will be crucial for finalizing the verification of the Future Combined Command's Full Operational Capability (FOC) and specifying the timeline for the transfer. The government plans to report the results of the FOC verification conducted through joint exercises to the SCM and seek approval from the defense ministers of both countries to determine the target timeline for the transfer.Establishing the National Military Academy, which integrates the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies, is also an immediate task. While the government aims to enhance jointness and improve military education efficiency, there has been pushback from various military branches and the reserve community. How Kang, an Army Academy graduate, navigates the opposition from reserve forces and internal military disagreements regarding the academy integration will be closely watched.Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, will begin her first day at the confirmation hearing preparation office on September 2, where she will share her thoughts on her nomination and start preparing for the hearing. Yong has emphasized care and family policies as her top priorities upon taking office.A member of the 21st and 22nd National Assembly, Yong has consistently advocated for reducing childcare burdens and ensuring diverse family forms since entering the legislature. The Cohabitation Partners Act, which allows two adults to enter a cohabitation relationship and receive legal protection without marriage, is also a major focus for her. As a young female minister, addressing gender equality conflicts for the younger generation will be a key task. The leadership differences with the inaugural minister, Won Min-kyung, a women's rights attorney known for her expertise, will also be a point of interest. Additionally, ensuring the successful implementation of the employment equality disclosure system set to take effect next year is another challenge. 2026-08-31 16:24:00
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Major Banks Fall Short on Mid-Credit Loans Despite Push for Inclusive Finance The government has emphasized the need to expand financial support for mid- to low-credit borrowers, yet the share of mid-credit loans from the five largest banks remains below 3% of the total banking sector. This reluctance from major banks is attributed to rising delinquency rates among mid- to low-credit borrowers, coupled with complex guarantee procedures and low profitability.According to the Korea Federation of Banks' consumer portal, the new mid-credit loan issuance by the five largest banks (KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH Nonghyup) totaled 14.05 billion won in the second quarter of this year, a 17.6% decrease from 17.06 billion won in the first quarter. This amount represents only 2.8% of the total 497.9 billion won issued across the banking sector.Shinhan Bank accounted for more than half of the total issuance among the five banks, with 7.85 billion won. The remaining four banks contributed only 1.25% to the overall banking sector.Since taking office, the current government has stressed inclusive finance, urging the banking sector to increase loans for mid- to low-credit borrowers. In April, the eligibility criteria for mid-credit loans were revised to ensure that over 70% of the loans go to borrowers in the bottom 20-50% of credit scores. The government also reduced guarantee insurance premiums and expanded the types of products and institutions involved. These changes took effect in July.Despite the government's push for increased supply, mid-credit loans have been concentrated in internet banks and regional banks. Toss Bank issued 175.2 billion won in the second quarter, accounting for 35.2% of the total supply. When combined with K Bank's 57.59 billion won, the two internet banks made up 46.7% of the total. Jeonbuk Bank and Gwangju Bank also issued 124.4 billion won and 112.3 billion won, respectively. Together, these four banks accounted for approximately 94% of all mid-credit loans.Mid-credit loans are medium-interest loans provided by banks to mid-credit borrowers, backed by guarantees from SGI Seoul Guarantee. The process involves both bank assessments and guarantee reviews, making it relatively complex. There are concerns that the customer base overlaps with the banks' own medium-interest loans and other low-income financial products, and the profitability is low compared to the costs incurred during the process.The significant increase in other low-income financial products by the five major banks further indicates the diminished appeal of mid-credit loans. In the first half of this year, the five banks issued 2.6865 trillion won in New Hope Loans, an increase of 1.1975 trillion won, or 80.4%, compared to the same period last year.New Hope Loans target borrowers with annual incomes of 40 million won or less, or those earning up to 50 million won with credit scores in the bottom 20%. These loans are provided through the banks' own resources and assessments, making them easier to process than mid-credit loans, which require additional guarantee reviews from SGI Seoul Guarantee.The rising delinquency rates among mid- to low-credit borrowers also contribute to banks' hesitance in supplying mid-credit loans. According to data submitted by the Financial Supervisory Service to Kim Sang-hoon, a member of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, the delinquency rate for bank credit loans among mid- to low-credit borrowers was recorded at 2.32% at the end of May, approximately 2.6 times higher than the overall delinquency rate of 0.9% for all credit loans. An increase in delinquencies can lead to higher costs related to guarantee management and insurance premiums.Industry experts argue that simply increasing supply targets is insufficient; major banks need greater incentives to engage in mid-credit loans. They suggest that simplifying guarantee review processes and addressing cost and profitability structures are essential to attract participation from the five largest banks.A financial industry official stated, “In a situation where delinquency rates are rising rapidly, it is not easy to simply increase loan supply. A comprehensive review of loan structures, assessment criteria, and cost burdens is necessary to encourage banks to participate actively.” 2026-08-31 16:20:00
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South Korea expands financial education for soldiers SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - South Korea will step up financial education for young soldiers as higher military pay and savings programs leave them with more money to manage, while concerns grow over exposure to online gambling, risky investments and high-interest loans. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said Monday its Financial Education Council approved a plan to strengthen financial training for military personnel, with the Ministry of National Defense (MND), Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) and other agencies taking part. The initiative will move beyond lecture-style instruction and focus more on practical skills, including one-on-one financial counseling, debt management and help with savings and investment decisions. The focus reflects the importance of military service in shaping young people's financial habits. For many, it is the first time they regularly receive a salary and build substantial savings. Habits formed during that period can continue to influence spending, saving and investment decisions after they leave the military. The need for better guidance has grown as higher military pay and government-backed savings programs give young soldiers more money to manage. At the same time, authorities said they are increasingly exposed to online gambling, risky investments such as cryptocurrency, misleading investment information and high-interest loans. Outstanding military loans from the 30 largest moneylenders registered with the FSC stood at 44.4 billion won ($32.2 million) at the end of 2025. In the same year, 432 military personnel received help with repaying about 10.2 billion won ($7.4 million) in debt through the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service. To address those risks, the government will expand one-on-one counseling on managing salaries and expenses, planning savings and handling larger sums of money. Those struggling with credit or debt will receive separate support, starting with an online assessment and followed by phone counseling. Private channels will also be available for debt-related questions that may be difficult to raise openly. The government also plans to make the training easier to access through short-form videos and entertainment-style content. One model is a military finance program produced for Korean Forces Network (KFN) TV that uses real financial concerns raised by soldiers and has experts suggest possible solutions. More attention will also be given to investment and borrowing risks. Beginning in the second half of 2026, financial industry groups will run on-site programs using real cases to explain online gambling and debt-financed investing. The programs will also cover the risks of cryptocurrency, leveraged products and high-interest loans. Current and former financial industry employees, analysts and private bankers will also be brought in to teach basic asset management, investing and credit management. To encourage participation, the government is considering awards and certificates for those who take an active part, along with possible financial benefits tied to healthy saving and money-management habits. The MND already provides at least two hours of financial education a year for military personnel, while the FSS and other public agencies offer training at military bases. However, the FSC said the current system relies heavily on lectures and public institutions and provides little incentive to take part voluntarily. The new approach is intended to give young people a more active role in solving their own financial problems instead of simply receiving information. The government will gradually roll out new content, counseling services and industry-led programs. It will review feedback from military personnel and instructors as the measures expand. The filing said the broader goal is to help young people build better financial habits during military service, improve their money-management skills and prepare for life after discharge. AJP Takeaways • The Financial Services Commission approved a plan on Aug. 31, 2026, to expand practical financial education and one-on-one counseling for South Korean military personnel. • The Financial Services Commission said outstanding military loans from the 30 largest registered moneylenders totaled 44.4 billion won ($32.2 million) at the end of 2025. • The Credit Counseling and Recovery Service helped 432 military personnel repay about 10.2 billion won ($7.4 million) in debt in 2025. 2026-08-31 16:18:42 -
Korean chip stocks reverse a 3% morning plunge SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - Korean semiconductor stocks absorbed the full force of Friday's selloff in New York technology shares and then reversed it inside a single session, pulling the main index in Seoul back into positive territory from a loss of more than 3 percent earlier in the day. The reversal was not a verdict on the U.S. Federal Reserve. It was concentrated in a handful of memory and component names, and the broader market did not follow them. The KOSPI ended 31.14 points, or 0.46 percent, up at 6,820.02. It had traded as low as 6,557.89 in the opening minutes, after a hawkish signal from the U.S. central bank and Friday's slide in New York technology and semiconductor shares. The stocks that led the index down led it back. Samsung Electronics closed 1.2 percent higher at 260,000 won ($189.9). SK hynix gained 1.3 percent to 1,674,000 won ($1,222.4). Samsung Electro-Mechanics rose 2.6 percent to 1,458,000 won ($1,064.7). The same split appeared in Tokyo, where Kioxia and Fujikura both gained more than 3 percent while the Nikkei 225 closed slightly lower at 66,311.93. The composite index in Shanghai closed higher. Neither of the two largest institutional buyer groups took part. Foreign investors took 639.8 billion won ($467.2 million) out of the main board. That followed Friday's 1.7 trillion won ($1.24 billion) net sale, which dropped the index 1.8 percent. Domestic institutions sold a further 792.1 billion won ($578.4 million). The recovery was narrow. Decliners outnumbered advancers 489 to 366, while the KOSPI 200, an index of the market's largest listed companies, rose 0.58 percent, more than the broader index. The KOSDAQ did not follow. The junior board, dominated by smaller technology and biotechnology firms, fell 4.12 points, or 0.49 percent, to 834.29. Money came out of the sectors that had been carrying the market through August. Doosan Enerbility dropped 6.5 percent to 82,500 won ($60.2). Hanwha Aerospace fell 4.8 percent to 1,102,000 won ($804.7). Both ranked among the day's heaviest large-cap losers. The won firmed into the 1,370-per-dollar range. The recovery was the work of a small number of very large stocks. More shares fell than rose on a day the index closed higher, and nothing in the session changed the interest rate picture that started the selling in New York. 2026-08-31 16:17:52 -
Toss Bank Reports Record Q2 Profit of 29.4 Billion Won 올해 상반기 토스뱅크가 반기 기준 최대 실적을 기록했다. 여신 성장과 비이자 부문 수익성 개선에 힘입은 데 따른 결과로 보인다. 토스뱅크는 올해 2분기 순이익이 294억원으로 전년 동기보다 35.5% 늘었다고 밝혔다. 상반기는 전년 동기 대비 46% 증가한 589억원이다. 여신과 비이자 부문이 개선된 결과로 풀이된다. 6월 말 여신 잔액은 15조6373억원으로 전년 동기보다 3.3% 증가했다. 특히 전월세보증금대출 잔액이 4조5064억원으로 1년 전보다 47% 급증했다. 이 중에서도 청년·다자녀·신용회복 대상자를 위한 대출이 차지하는 비중이 44%에 달하며 의미를 더했다. 수신 잔액은 27조757억원으로 집계됐다. 대표 수시입출금 상품인 토스뱅크 통장은 상반기 신규 개설이 130만좌로 전년 동기보다 42% 증가했다. 외화 서비스도 성장세를 이어갔다. 토스뱅크 외화통장은 상반기 말 누적 340만좌를 기록했고 상반기 환전 규모는 11조원에 달했다. 비이자 부문 실적도 개선됐다. 상반기 비이자손익은 35억원 적자를 기록했지만 지난해 상반기 270억원 적자에서 적자 폭을 크게 줄였다. 중도상환 및 해외송금 수수료 면제 등 고객 혜택을 유지하면서도 비이자 부문의 수익성이 개선된 것이다. 건전성 지표는 안정세를 나타냈다. 6월 말 연체율은 1.05%로 전년 동기보다 0.15%포인트 낮아졌다. 고정이하여신비율(NPL)도 0.91%로 0.07%포인트 하락했다. 토스뱅크는 하반기에도 자산관리와 개인사업자 금융을 확대할 계획이다. 펀드 판매중개업을 본격화하고 개인사업자를 위한 맞춤형 뱅킹 서비스를 선보인다. 토스뱅크 관계자는 "1600만 고객과 함께 견조한 성장을 이루는 동시에 그 결실을 더 많은 고객과 나누며 포용의 범위를 넓혔다"며 "하반기에는 고객의 문제를 함께 해결하는 은행으로서 책임 있는 포용금융을 이어가겠다"고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-31 16:16:20