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  Korean and Japanese shares roar ahead into 2026's first full week SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) -South Korean and Japanese equities surged into the first full trading week of 2026, outpacing most Asian peers as investors rotated into large-cap exporters and technology stocks, while regional markets elsewhere remained cautious amid uncertainty stemming from recent upheaval in Venezuela. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI climbed 1.9 percent to 4,393.5 points as of 10:20 a.m. Monday. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ added 0.6 percent to 950.98. Overall market gains w January 5, 2026
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  Foreign stock ownership in Korean stocks highest in nearly 6 years SEOUL, January 04 (AJP) -Foreign ownership of South Korean stocks climbed to its highest level in nearly six years by the end of December 2025, as global investors doubled down on an AI-driven memory-chip boom led by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, while bond inflows accelerated ahead of South Korea’s inclusion in a major global sovereign bond index. According to the Korea Center for International Finance (KCIF) on Sunday, foreign ownership accounted for 32.9 percent of Korea’ January 4, 2026
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  KOSPI opens 2026 on buoyant note, hits fresh milestone SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - South Korean stocks roared into 2026, extending last year’s standout rally, while most Asian markets opened the year on a subdued footing. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI jumped 2.3 percent to close at a fresh all-time high of 4,309.63, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ climbed 2.2 percent to 945.57. Investor sentiment was buoyed by record-high semiconductor exports. Shipments surged 22.2 percent from a year earlier in December to $17.34 billion, setting a January 2, 2026
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  China's silver export curb adds cost pressure on Korea' tech activities SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - China’s move to tighten controls on silver exports is set to add fresh cost pressure on South Korean industries heavily reliant on the precious metal, at a time when prices are already surging on strong demand from high-tech and clean-energy sectors. From Jan. 1, exporters in China must obtain government approval to ship silver overseas, after Beijing added the metal to its “2026 List of Goods Subject to Export Licensing Administration.” January 2, 2026
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  KOSPI kicks off new year while most Asian markets stay closed SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Most Asian bourses remained closed for New Year celebrations on Friday, while South Korea's stock market opened an hour later than usual, amid expectations of reaching a new all-time high for the year. With Taiwan's TAIEX and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index open, South Korea's benchmark KOSPI opened higher, up 0.57 percent at 4,238. Having already surpassed its previous intraday peak, attention now turns to whether it can close above its record h January 2, 2026
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  Son of Mirae Asset founder moves to core Mirae unit to renew speculation on generational shift SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -Park Jun-beom, the eldest son of Mirae Asset Chairman Park Hyun-joo, has moved from Mirae Asset Venture Investment to Mirae Asset Securities, the core unit of South Korea's top asset managing conglomerate, renewing speculation about a generational shift under making despite the founder's long-stated opposition to hereditary succession. Mirae Asset Securities said Thursday that Park, previously a senior investment reviewer at Mirae Asset Venture Inve January 1, 2026
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  Stock boom, currency bust: Korea's uneven market rally may spill into 2026 SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Roaring stock prices and a tumbling currency defined South Korea’s financial markets in 2025 — a divergence that may persist well into next year. The benchmark KOSPI closed the year Tuesday at 4,214.17, up 75.6 percent from a year earlier, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ jumped 37 percent to 925.47. Both far outperformed regional peers, powered by surging demand for semiconductors, shipbuilding and defense-related stocks. Chipmakers were the u December 31, 2025
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  Korea's inflation holds near 2% target in 2025, but everyday prices stay close to 3% SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s headline inflation remained broadly anchored near the central bank’s target in 2025, easing to a five-year low of 2.1 percent for the full year, even as households continued to face elevated price pressures in daily expenses hovering near 3 percent — a gap likely to widen further amid persistent weakness in the won. The consumer price index rose 2.3 percent in December from a year earlier, slowing slightly from the 2.4 per December 31, 2025
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  Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act faces delay amid dispute over stablecoin rules SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) -South Korea’s government is preparing a Digital Asset Basic Act that would introduce stronger investor protections, including no-fault liability for damages and safeguards to prevent losses stemming from stablecoin issuers’ failures, but the legislation is stalemated by disagreements over stablecoin guidelines. According to financial authorities and National Assembly officials on Tuesday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) is drafting the December 31, 2025
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  IPO pipeline packed for KOSDAQ, KOSPI candidates stay on hold 2025 SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s initial public offering market staged a belated rebound in the second half of the year, as the KOSPI’s surge past the 4,000 mark revived investor appetite and unleashed a rush of new listings — particularly on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ. A total of 77 companies went public this year, including seven on the KOSPI and 70 on the KOSDAQ. Companies raised a combined 4.56 trillion won ($3.15 billion), up 14.9 percent from a year earlie December 30, 2025