Wiseplanet jumps nearly fourfold on KOSDAQ debut SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - South Korean consumer brand company Wiseplanet Company surged more than 270 percent on its first day of trading on the KOSDAQ Wednesday, after strong demand from institutional and retail investors ahead of its listing. Shares traded at 45,150 won ($33.2) as of 4:55 p.m., up 276.25 percent from the initial public offering price of 12,000 won. The stock opened at 42,750 won and rose as high as 48,000 won during the session before paring some gains. Wisep September 23, 2026

Samsung Electronics carries Seoul stocks into Chuseok break SEOUL, September 23 (AJP)-Chip heavyweights pushed South Korea's main stock index higher on Wednesday, the last session before a four-day Chuseok autumn harvest holiday. Foreign investors turned net sellers, and retail investors cashed out 1.44 trillion won ($1.06 billion) on the way into the break. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 63.0 points, or 0.9 percent, to 7,080.9. Samsung Electronics led the gain, climbing 3.3 percent to 285,500 won ($210.14) a September 23, 2026

KOSPI rises 1.1% on chip gains, easing U.S.-Iran tensions SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) – South Korean shares extended gains for a third straight session Wednesday as institutional buying and strength in chip stocks lifted the market ahead of the Chuseok holiday. The benchmark KOSPI stood at 7,093.41 as of 9:51 a.m., up 1.08 percent from the previous session. The index had climbed as high as 7,144.02 earlier in the morning before paring its gains. Institutions bought a net 340.5 billion won of KOSPI shares, while foreign investors pur September 23, 2026

KOSPI remains above 7,000 after giving up early gains SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - South Korean stocks ended slightly higher on Tuesday, remaining above 7,000 after giving up most of an early 2-percent gain. The market was lifted by an overnight surge in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related stocks on Wall Street, but higher oil prices and profit-taking later pared the gains. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 7,017.91, up 0.15 percent from the previous session. The index opened 2.20 percent higher at 7,161.61 and climbed September 22, 2026

KOSPI rises nearly 2% on chip gains as yields, oil ease SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) – Korean shares extended gains Tuesday on hopes that this week’s summit and United Nations meetings would bring greater clarity on U.S.-China relations and the war in Iran. The benchmark KOSPI stood at 7,135.97 as of 10:11 a.m., up 1.83 percent, after reaching 7,169.01 earlier in the session. Foreign investors bought a net 131.2 billion won ($96 million) of KOSPI shares, while institutions purchased 344.2 billion won and retail investors sold September 22, 2026

Korea's corporate loan delinquency rate hit 10-year high SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - South Korean banks’ loan delinquency rate rose to its highest July level in a decade, partly driven by overdue loans involving JoongAng Group affiliates undergoing corporate rehabilitation or debt workouts, regulatory data showed Tuesday. The delinquency rate on won-denominated loans stood at 0.63 percent at the end of July, up from 0.56 percent a month earlier and 0.57 percent a year earlier, according to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). Th September 22, 2026

Operator of self-photo booths seeks KOSDAQ listing SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - South Korean self-photo booth operator Seobuk filed for a preliminary review to list on the KOSDAQ on Monday, starting the formal process toward an initial public offering (IPO) for its flagship Photoism brand. The company applied to list 12.63 million shares including 2.6 million shares planned for the public offering, according to Korea Exchange (KRX). Founded in 2020, Seobuk is a global entertainment platform that operates flagship brand Photoism, a September 21, 2026

Korean ETF investors turn westbound again SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) — South Korea's home-market ETF frenzy is turning west again as the KOSPI's months-long stall cools enthusiasm for domestic products and sends asset managers back toward U.S. artificial intelligence, semiconductor and broader equity themes. Overseas-focused products accounted for 40.5 percent of ETFs launched since July, up from about 27.3 percent in the first half of the year, according to Korea Exchange data. Of 37 ETFs listed since July, 15 September 21, 2026

Trump-Xi summit puts Korea's won, bonds on yuan-Treasury watch SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - The Trump-Xi summit this week will put South Korea's won and bond markets on watch for two signals with an outsized influence on Seoul, the direction of China's yuan and the appetite for U.S. government debt. The won closed Monday at 1,381.0 per dollar, 2.3 won stronger than Friday, while China's yuan strengthened as far as 6.6957 per dollar, its strongest level in more than three and a half years. U.S. Treasury yields remain near levels th September 21, 2026

Viet Nam joins FTSE Russell's emerging-market index SEOUL, September 21 (AJP) - Viet Nam joined FTSE Russell's secondary emerging market benchmark on Monday, a move expected to attract up to US$6 billion into the country's stock market. The global index provider upgraded Viet Nam from frontier-market status after years of reforms aimed at improving foreign investor access, placing the Southeast Asian market alongside China and India in the category. The inclusion will take place in four stages through 2027 to limit market September 21, 2026