Korean retailers lose nearly $5B on single-stock ETPs even before rout SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) -South Korean retail investors accumulated more than 6.3 trillion won ($4.9 billion) in realized and unrealized losses on leveraged and inverse products tied each to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix within two and a half months of their launch. Their misfortunes likely have deepened over the last two months as Samsung Electronics shares have fallen 15 percent and SK hynix shares 23 percent since September. Investors in their 40s and 50s accounted for n October 21, 2026

KOSPI rebounds over 3% as foreign buying lifts chip stocks SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - South Korean stocks rebounded more than 3 percent Wednesday morning as foreign buying lifted semiconductor shares following a sharp selloff. The benchmark KOSPI climbed 3.28 percent to 5,735.14 as of around 9:50 a.m. (0050 GMT), after trading between 5,630.14 and 5,765.42. Foreign investors bought a net 197.3 billion won worth of shares, while institutions purchased 45.3 billion won. Retail investors sold a net 406.4 billion won. The rebound follo October 21, 2026

Seoul to mandate cybersecurity disclosures SEOUL, October 20 (AJP)— South Korea will require all companies listed on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ to publicly disclose their cybersecurity spending, staffing and related activities from 2027, regardless of their revenue. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) said Tuesday that the Cabinet approved revisions to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion of Information Security Industry, expanding mandatory information security disclosures to companies and public institut October 20, 2026

Equity falls, but won hits two-year high and bonds stronger SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) — South Korea's won closed at its strongest level in more than two years Tuesday as exporter dollar selling outweighed equity outflows, while government bond yields fell on foreign futures buying and a sharp stock selloff. The won closed up 2.2 won at 1,328.1 per dollar, its strongest closing level since Oct. 2, 2024, when it finished at 1,319.3 won. It was also the first close in the 1,320-won range since Sept. 26, 2024, when the currency ende October 20, 2026

Retail investors fight a losing battle as outflows from Seoul deepen SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - What goes up comes down, and the higher the climb, the steeper the descent. But for those swept up in the tailwind, that pedestrian observation can land hard. "When stocks rise sharply, a correction is inevitable," President Lee Jae Myung told reporters at the Chunchugwan press center of Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. "Unlike in the past, it is difficult for the government to intervene directly in financial and securities markets. Nor is it desira October 20, 2026

KOSPI plunges nearly 4% as foreign selling shatters fragile recovery SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - South Korean stocks plunged nearly 4 percent on Tuesday, exposing the fragility of the recent recovery as the benchmark KOSPI sank below 5,600. Heavy selling by foreign and institutional investors weighed on semiconductor shares, amid lingering concerns over returns on artificial intelligence (AI)-related investment and rising U.S. Treasury yields. The KOSPI closed at 5,552.74, down 3.73 percent from the previous session's 5,768.01 after it opened at 5, October 20, 2026

South Korea's sovereign wealth fund returns 6.31% on stock gains SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) — South Korea's sovereign wealth fund posted a 6.31 percent return in the first eight months of 2026, adding $14.6 billion to its portfolio as strong equity gains helped to offset losses in bonds. The Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), which manages government assets invested overseas, saw its assets under management grow from $232 billion at the end of 2025 to $246.6 billion as of August, according to data submitted to Rep. Lee Jong-wook of the op October 20, 2026

Korean stocks tumble over 3% as foreign selling hits chipmakers SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - South Korean stocks fell more than 3 percent Tuesday morning as heavy foreign and institutional selling battered semiconductor shares. The benchmark KOSPI fell 3.2 percent to 5,587.27 as of 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT), after trading between 5,493.24 and 5,733.57. Foreign investors sold 605.8 billion won ($456 million) worth of shares, as institutions followed with 470.7 billion won worth of sale. Retail investors bought 832.1 billion won, helping cushion t October 20, 2026

Dormant financial accounts in South Korea surge to over 340 million SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - More than 340 million financial accounts in South Korea had been left inactive as of the end of last year. According to data submitted by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) to lawmaker Park Sung-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday, the number of bank accounts and other financial accounts that had not been accessed for extended periods rose from 264.40 million at the end of 2021 to 341.91 million at the end of last year. October 20, 2026

South Korean stocks rebound as battery, biotech shares lead recovery SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - South Korean stocks extended their rebound for a second consecutive session on Monday, supported by institutional buying and gains in battery and biotechnology shares, which helped the market recover from a sharp drop at the open. The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.76 percent to close at 5,768.01, after opening 3.17 percent lower at 5,488.41. The index reversed its early losses and finished at its intraday high. Institutional investors bought 575.6 billion won ( October 19, 2026