SK to delist EV charging subsidiary ahead of planned sale SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - SK Inc. launched a tender offer for minority shareholders of its electric vehicle charging subsidiary SK Signet as it moves to delist the company ahead of a planned sale, according to a company disclosure on Friday. SK is offering 8,200 won (US$5.90) per common share for up to 10.07 million shares, equivalent to 25.07 percent of the company's fully diluted share count. The tender offer runs from Friday through Aug. 24, with settlement scheduled for Aug. 26 July 24, 2026

KOSPI opens lower as US announces new tariffs amid oil market jitters SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - Seoul stocks opened sharply lower on Friday after Washington announced a 12.5 percent tariff on South Korean and Japanese exports over "dubious" forced labor concerns, hitting a market already unsettled by a Middle East supply shock that pushed Brent crude back above US$100 a barrel. The benchmark KOSPI dropped 2.2 percent in early trade to 6,939.11, giving up the 7,000 line it had reclaimed only days earlier, while the Nikkei 225 fell 2.5 percent in July 24, 2026

Stricter cash requirements for leveraged ETFs to take effect late this month SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - South Korea is set to introduce tougher minimum deposit requirements for single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) late this month, requiring retail investors to hold at least 30 million won (US$20,300) in cash for new or additional purchases. The Financial Services Commission said Friday that it moved up the implementation date from early August to July 31 after consultations with financial authorities and the securities industry. The measure is July 24, 2026

Won surges amid foreign inflows as stronger-than-expected GDP SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - The South Korean won strengthened sharply against the dollar on Thursday as foreign investors poured more than 2 trillion won into local shares following stronger-than-expected economic growth and renewed optimism over artificial intelligence-related chip demand. Government bond yields, by contrast, ended little changed as the prospect of further monetary tightening was offset by buying interest after their recent climb. The won gained 13.3 won to close day July 23, 2026

Reality bites as Korea's retail investors struggle to escape leverage trap SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Reality bites, and it takes a strong stomach to survive the KOSPI reality show, where billions of won in retail wealth disappear every trading day. Panic flashes across online stock forums. "Save me. I'm trapped at 22,000 won," one investor wrote, unsure whether to sell or keep holding a Samsung Electronics 2x leveraged exchange-traded fund bought near that price. The desperation reflects what is becoming a familiar pattern. According to July 23, 2026

Foreign buying lifts KOSPI more than 4% SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Foreign investors bought a net 2.14 trillion won (US$1.46 billion) worth of shares on the KOSPI on Thursday, helping lift the index more than 4 percent as individual investors sold throughout the rally. The KOSPI closed at 7,096.89, up 299.19 points or 4.4 percent, while the tech-heavy KOSDOAQ rose 5.2 percent to 790.28, led by gains in biotechnology stocks. Other major Asian markets moved in the same direction but with far less force, with Japan's Nikk July 23, 2026

Crypto trading in South Korea sinks as investors flock to stocks SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Trading at South Korea's major cryptocurrency exchanges has plunged to a fraction of the stock market's level amid a prolonged slump in the digital asset market, as investors shift funds to stocks, industry data showed on Thursday. The average daily trading volume at South Korea's five major crypto exchanges - Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, Gopax and Upbit - stood at 597.8 billion won (US$400 million) during the first 21 days of this month, according July 23, 2026

Korea's SME loan delinquencies hit 11-year high SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) —South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are falling behind on bank loan repayments at the fastest pace in 11 years, further exposing an economy heavily dependent on large chipmakers and a few big manufacturers. According to data released Wednesday by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the delinquency ratio, the share of bank loans that were more than one month overdue, rose to 0.67 percent at the end of May from 0.61 percent in Apri July 23, 2026

KOSPI vaults past 7,000 as foreigners chase chips SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Seoul's KOSPI retested 7,000 mark at Thursday's open on as foreign investors kept up buying position for the second session, mostly pivoted toward semiconductor and chip-component names. The index rose 3.4 percent 7,031.09, with foreigners the lone net buyers as individuals and institutions sold into the advance. Foreigners bought a net 680.5 billion won of shares in early trade, against individual selling of 640 billion won as retailers took the July 23, 2026

Foreign investors' return lifts KOSPI ahead of key big tech earnings SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Foreign investors extended their buying streak to a third consecutive session on Wednesday, helping lift the benchmark KOSPI higher despite caution among investors ahead of U.S. big tech earnings, which could determine whether the recent rally in artificial intelligence (AI)-related stocks can be sustained. The KOSPI rose 0.74 percent to close at 6,797.70 points after surging as much as 6 percent during the session, but gave up most of its gains in late tradin July 22, 2026