Demand for Korea's 1-yr central bank bond hits 29-mo low SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Demand for South Korea's one-year central bank bond fell to a 29-month-month low Wednesday as bids missed the planned issuance, signaling that the enlarged supply could not clear at the yield the Bank of Korea was prepared to pay. The weakness lay not in participation but in the size of the bids, as 15 institutions took part, one more than in July, even as their combined orders fell 41.2 percent. The BOK received 500 billion won in bids for 700 billio August 12, 2026

Sempio marks 80th anniversary with 'Cook Happily' campaign Sempio employees take a commemorative photo during the 'Cook Happily' campaign marking Sempio's 80th anniversary, held on the first floor of the Sempio building in Jung-gu, Seoul, August 12, 2026. August 12, 2026

Sempio marks 80th anniversary with 'Cook Happily' campaign Sempio employees shop for company products to cook at home during the 'Cook Happily' campaign marking Sempio's 80th anniversary, held on the first floor of the Sempio building in Jung-gu, Seoul, August 12, 2026. August 12, 2026

Sempio marks 80th anniversary with 'Cook Happily' campaign Sempio employees shop for company products to cook at home during the 'Cook Happily' campaign marking Sempio's 80th anniversary, held on the first floor of the Sempio building in Jung-gu, Seoul, August 12, 2026. August 12, 2026

Sempio marks 80th anniversary with 'Cook Happily' campaign Sempio employees shop for company products to cook at home during the 'Cook Happily' campaign marking Sempio's 80th anniversary, held on the first floor of the Sempio building in Jung-gu, Seoul, August 12, 2026. August 12, 2026

Shares of internet infrastructure firm fall despite strong Q2 earnings SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Shares of KOSDAQ-listed internet service provider KINX fell on Wednesday even after it posted a more than 50 percent jump in second-quarter operating profit. Its shares closed 6.99 percent lower at 151,600 won (US$107.14). The decline came despite a 51.15 percent jump in consolidated operating profit from a year earlier to 8.82 billion won ($6.2 million) for the period between April and June, according to its preliminary earnings report released the same day August 12, 2026

KOSPI leads Asian rally on institutional buying SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark stock index surged Wednesday on institutional chase after a potential generous payouts by chip bellwethers. The KOSPI gained 233.51 points or 3.68 percent to 6,579.04 as Samsung Electronics climbed 16,000 won, or 6.7 cent, to 255,500 won and SK hynix 5.5 percent,to 1.504 million won. The advance far outpaced gains across the region, where Japan's Nikkei 225 added 0.8 percent to 67,524.06 and Shanghai's composite inde August 12, 2026

Hot Stock: LG Electronics fly on hopes for deeper Nvidia ties SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Shares of LG Electronics jumped nearly 13 percent on Wednesday, fueled by expectations that an anticipated meeting between LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang could lead to deeper cooperation in robotics and artificial intelligence infrastructure. LG Electronics closed at 205,000 won ($148), up 12.82 percent from the previous session, after climbing as high as 212,500 won during trading. Koo is visiting Nvidia August 12, 2026

Shareholders clear Asiana folding under the wing of Korean Air  SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Shareholders of Asiana Airlines gave their final blessing Wednesday to its merger with larger Korean Air, clearing the runway for South Korea's single full-service flag carrier's Dec. 17 liftoff after a five-year integration process. The approval came at Asiana’s 2026 extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in Seoul, in what is expected to be the airline’s final shareholder meeting before it is absorbed into larger full-service car August 12, 2026

Over 200 water tankers sent to southern province to combat drought SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Some 200 water tankers and 400 firefighters have been deployed to South Gyeongsang Province to provide emergency water supplies amid prolonged dry conditions exacerbated by recent extreme heat, fire authorities said on Wednesday. The emergency water supply to run for two days until Thursday comes as drought conditions have worsened across the southern region after weeks of dry weather, with no rainfall from late June to mid-July. These medium-sized truc August 12, 2026