Won closes below 1,400 against greenback for 1st time in 11 months SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - The South Korean won closed daytime trading below 1,400 per dollar for the first time in nearly 11 months on Wednesday, while government bond yields fell as a sharp stock selloff boosted demand for safer assets. The won strengthened 14.1 won from the previous session to close at 1,397.7 per dollar, compared with Tuesday's close of 1,411.8. It marked the first daytime close below 1,400 since Sept. 29, 2025, when the currency ended at 1,398.7. Export August 19, 2026

SK hynix unveils record 40 trillion won buyback plan for shareholder return SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - SK hynix will buy back and cancel 40 trillion won (US$28.6 billion) worth of its own shares, the largest such move by a South Korean listed company. The chipmaker said Wednesday that its board approved the purchase of about 24.07 million common shares or roughly 3.3 percent of its 730.49 million outstanding shares. The buyback will begin Thursday and run through Nov. 19, with the shares purchased on the open market. SK Securities will handle the transacti August 19, 2026

Chip rout sends KOSPI down nearly 6% amid foreign selloff SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - South Korean stocks plunged nearly 6 percent on Wednesday, falling below 6,500 as a rout in U.S. chip shares hammered semiconductor heavyweights and triggered heavy foreign selling. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,471.17, down 5.80 percent from the previous session, after falling as low as 6,400.81 during the day. Losses were widespread, with just three stocks advancing against 703 decliners, while 32 finished unchanged. Foreign investors sold a net 3. August 19, 2026

KOSDAQ-listed medical device maker recognized for growth potential SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Medical device maker Next Biomedical has been recognized as a rising KOSDAQ-listed firm for the second year in a row, it said on Wednesday. It said it was selected for the Korea Exchange's "rising star" program again this year, which recognizes promising companies based on factors such as technology, financial health and growth potential. The firm attributed the recognition to its technology for controlling bleeding during endoscopic procedures August 19, 2026

Won rises to strongest level in nearly 11 months SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - The South Korean won strengthened to below 1,400 per dollar on Wednesday for the first time in nearly 11 months, amid fading expectations of a September Fed rate cut and steady exporter dollar selling. The dollar-won exchange rate stood at 1,399 around noon, breaking below the 1,400 mark for the first time since Oct. 2, 2025, when it was at 1,399.5. As of 2:50 p.m., it stood at 1,398.3, compared with the previous day's daytime close of 1,411.8. The st August 19, 2026

Biotech firm surges after US approval of new cancer therapy SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Biotech firm Sillajen's shares surged on Wednesday, bucking a sharp market selloff, as the first U.S. approval of an oncolytic virus therapy in 11 years revived investor interest in companies developing similar cancer treatments. Its shares were trading 13 percent higher at 2,390 won in early afternoon trading after jumping as much as 29.79 percent to an intraday high of 2,745 won. The gain came despite a broad market selloff, with the benchmark KOSPI do August 19, 2026

South Korean retail investors flock to leveraged ETFs on Wall Street SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - South Korean retail investors sharply increased their bets on U.S. stocks in July, pouring billions of dollars into leveraged funds and the American depositary receipts (ADRs) of chipmaker SK hynix amid a retreat in the domestic market, according to an analysis of Korea Securities Depository (KSD) data compiled by AJP on Wednesday. South Korean investors made US$3.79 billion in net purchases of the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) in July, August 19, 2026

KOSPI remains down 4 percent as KOSDAQ edges higher SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - South Korean stocks were split Wednesday morning, with the KOSPI down more than 4 percent while the KOSDAQ edged higher. The benchmark KOSPI stood at 6,575.02 as of 10:30 a.m., down 4.34 percent. It had fallen as low as 6,400.81 shortly after the open before recovering some ground, with a high of 6,614.39. A sell-side sidecar was triggered shortly after the opening bell as KOSPI 200 futures tumbled, following an overnight selloff in U.S. chip stocks and August 19, 2026

FSS launches hiring drive for entry-level positions SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) launched a hiring drive to recruit about 95 new employees for next year, the financial regulator said on Wednesday. It will accept applications for entry-level positions through Sept. 7 to recruit candidates who can better respond to emerging regulatory challenges. Applicants must select one of seven fields including business administration, law, economics, information technology (IT), statistics, financial engineer August 19, 2026

KOSPI plunges 7% as sell sidecar triggered SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - South Korean stocks plunged on Wednesday, triggering a sell-side trading curb as surging global bond yields battered chip shares. The Korea Exchange activated a sell-side sidecar at 9:06 a.m. after KOSPI 200 futures fell 6.02 percent from the previous session's reference price. The benchmark KOSPI was down 6.74 percent at 6,407.14 at the time. The sidecar temporarily halts program sell orders for five minutes when KOSPI 200 futures fall at least 5 p August 19, 2026