Korea's baffling vitals: an economy puffing hot and cold SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) -The South Korean economy is running hot and cold — and the honest answer to whether the hot part is real isn't yes or no. It's that the boom is genuine and the headline numbers are still misleading you about what it means for the economy as a whole. By the headline numbers, Asia's fourth-largest economy is doing exceedingly well, seemingly unfazed by nearly four months of disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for roughly a fifth o June 22, 2026

KOSPI gives up record rally as profit-taking, Gulf jitters cool momentum SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) — South Korea's benchmark KOSPI surrendered a record-breaking rally Friday, retreating sharply from an all-time high above 9,300 as investors rushed to lock in profits after one of the fastest market surges in the country's history. The KOSPI closed down 0.13 percent at 9,052.42 after soaring nearly 3 percent earlier in the session and briefly crossing the 9,300 threshold for the first time ever. The benchmark later reversed course, falling as June 19, 2026

Won swings near 1,540 before ending flat; bonds weaken on hawkish Fed SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - The Korean won erased most of its intraday losses Friday after briefly approaching the 1,540 level against the dollar, while government bonds weakened as a hawkish Federal Reserve outlook kept pressure on Seoul’s financial markets. The won closed daytime trading at 1,527.0 per dollar, up 0.1 won from the previous session, according to Seoul foreign exchange market data. The currency came under heavy pressure early in the session as the dollar strength June 19, 2026

Korean frenzy over SpaceX pours another $1 billion into stock SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - South Korean retail investors can't get enough of SpaceX, pouring another $1 billion into the stock as money floods out of semiconductor plays and into Wall Street's hottest new trade. According to data from Korea Securities Depository as of Friday, Korean investors purchased a net $346.9 million worth of SpaceX shares on Monday alone, equivalent to about 528.8 billion won. Gross purchases reached $376.6 million, while selling totaled just $29.7 mil June 19, 2026

KOSPI, Nikkei extend record-setting run SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) — Seoul's stock market pushed deeper into uncharted territory on Friday, with the KOSPI testing new highs and total market capitalization reaching a record $5.2 trillion, propelled by the extraordinary ascent of SK hynix, whose market value alone exceeded $1.3 trillion and helped Seoul outshine Tokyo's simultaneous record-setting rally. The KOSPI stood at 9,371.8, up 307.9 points, or 3.4 percent intraday while the Nikkei traded at 71,632.4, up 578 June 19, 2026

KOSPI extends historic rally beyond 9,200 as chip giants lead charge SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) -South Korean stocks extended their record-breaking rally Friday, with the benchmark KOSPI surging further above the 9,000-point mark as a global semiconductor boom, aggressive foreign buying and renewed optimism over artificial intelligence demand continued to fuel gains. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 9,292.71, up 2.53 percent from the previous session, extending its record-breaking rally after closing above the 9,000-point mark for the first time a day earli June 19, 2026

Intel taps former SK hynix CEO to ride on AI wave SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - Intel, seeking to reverse years of decline in the AI era after losing its semiconductor crown, has appointed former SK hynix and SK On chief Lee Seok-hee to lead key foundry operations that the company views as its quickest route back to growth. Lee was named executive vice president of Intel Foundry and will report directly to CEO Lip-Bu Tan, overseeing advanced packaging, system integration, and back-end technology development and manufacturing. The app June 19, 2026

Cash stays on its toes to ride stock rally and higher rates in Korea SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) -Cash set aside for stock investments has surged and money parked in instantly accessible accounts remains elevated, underscoring the depth of fear of missing out in a stock market whose benchmark index has more than doubled since the beginning of the year. Households and companies are moving cash in and out of bank accounts at the fastest pace in a decade, favoring flexible, short-term deposits over long-term savings as a record-breaking stock market rally re June 18, 2026

KOSPI closes above 9,000 for first time as chip rally sweeps Asia SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korea's KOSPI closed above the 9,000 mark for the first time on Thursday as semiconductor stocks rallied across North Asia, lifting markets in Seoul and Tokyo while Chinese chipmakers outperformed a weaker broader market. The KOSPI gained 199.60 points, or 2.2 percent, to close at a record 9,063.8. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.6 percent to 71,053.4, while China's Shanghai Composite traded around 4,092, down about 0.4 percent. The surge was dr June 18, 2026

KOSPI runs toward new threshold of 9,000, Nikkei hits fresh high SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korea's monthly renewal of four-digit KOSPI headlines continued Thursday, with the benchmark index running toward the 9,000-point threshold as investors shrugged off an unexpectedly hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve meeting overnight and doubled down on semiconductor and artificial intelligence plays. As of 10:30 a.m., the KOSPI stood at 8,920.98, up 0.64 percent, after climbing as high as 8,975.52 earlier in the session, a fresh intraday record and withi June 18, 2026