Stricter delisting rules rattle KOSDAQ-listed companies SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korea's tougher delisting rules are starting to shake up the stock market sooner than expected. Less than two weeks after the new delisting regulations took effect on the South Korean bourse earlier this month, several companies listed on the junior KOSDAQ have already been flagged as at risk of being placed on the Korea Exchange's watchlist. Under the regulations, which took effect July 1, companies whose market capitalization remains below July 14, 2026

Tycoons' stock wealth falls 6 trln won without Samsung, SK chiefs SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The combined stock wealth of South Korea’s major business group chiefs jumped by more than 29 trillion won ($19.6 billion) in the second quarter, but the headline increase masked losses across most of the group as gains were overwhelmingly concentrated in Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. Excluding Lee and Chey, the value of shares held by the remaining 44 group leaders fell by 5.97 trillion won, or 8.6 percent July 14, 2026

Foreigners pull out record $110 bn from Korean equities H1 SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Foreign pulled out $110 billion from Korea's red-hot stock market in the first six months, with nearly $31 billion taken out in June alone, data showed Tuesday. Inflow into the bond market following South Korea’s inclusion in the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) offered a marginal relief to the Korean won, according to the Bank of Korea. Foreign investment in South Korean securities posted a net outflow of $30.72 billion in June. Equity funds July 14, 2026

Koreans raid retirement savings to chase the stock bull SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) — South Koreans are dipping into pension and long-term funds to join the stock market rush, risking their retirement nest eggs as they chase short-term returns. The number of Koreans cashing out private retirement savings plans jumped 62.7 percent in the first five months of the year from a year earlier, while fund redemptions rose 47.3 percent, according to data submitted by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) and the Korea Securities Depository (K July 14, 2026

KOSPI extends chip rout as Samsung Electronics steadies SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) -The bear loomed over the Seoul bourse for a second straight session Tuesday after a devastating Black Monday rout. The KOSPI stood at 6,790.55 shortly after the open, down 0.2 percent. The index shed 16.38 points from Monday's close, recovering from a drop of nearly 2 percent in the first minutes of trade. The two chipmakers that drove Monday's plunge split at Tuesday's open. SK hynix fell another 1.7 percent to 1,813,000 won ($1,211), while July 14, 2026

Seoul bourse enters a technical bear phase SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) -South Korean stocks has entered a technical bear market on Tuesday after the benchmark KOSPI fell nearly 30 percent from its June peak above the 9,000 mark, as a brutal selloff in semiconductor shares deepened on renewed concerns that the artificial intelligence boom may be nearing an earnings peak. The benchmark KOSPI plunged 8.95 percent to close at 6,806.93, its lowest level in 48 trading sessions and the fourth-largest one-day point decline on record. The July 14, 2026

Financial watchdog urges asset managers to improve transparency SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - Financial watchdog Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on Monday urged asset managers to improve disclosure practices by providing clearer information on voting rights and strengthening internal controls. It also called for an end to misleading or exaggerated advertisements for exchange-traded fund (ETF) to better protect investors. In a meeting with the head of the Korea Financial Investment Association and CEOs of 20 asset management firms, FSS chief Lee Cha July 13, 2026

KOSPI suffers worst session in months as chip stocks tank SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI suffered one of its worst sessions on record Monday as the unwinding of the semiconductor trade that fueled this year's rally turned into panic selling, sending the index below 7,000 points for the first time in more than two months. The index shed 669.01 points or 8.95 percent to close at 6,806.93. The crash, which forced the Korea Exchange to halt trading for 20 minutes, was driven by the same two stocks that had fuel July 13, 2026

Patriotic retail investors on buying spree to rescue beloved brands from delisting SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - In a market usually driven by earnings, valuations and future prospects, some South Korean retail investors are making room for something more sentimental: trying to save the companies they grew up with. From a beloved penmaker to a well-known seafood brand, individual investors have rushed to buy shares of struggling companies facing possible delisting. Their buying spree has sent stock prices sharply higher as they try to save familiar brands from disappeari July 13, 2026

KOSPI falls below 7,000 as chip stocks nosedive SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - South Korean stocks plunged sharply on Monday afternoon, with the benchmark KOSPI falling below the 7,000 level for the first time in more than two months as heavy selling in semiconductor heavyweights triggered another market-wide selloff. As of 1:30 p.m., the KOSPI was trading at 6,880.97, down 7.96 percent, while the junior KOSDAQ fell 4.33 percent to 801.20. The KOSPI's drop below 7,000 marked its first breach of the level since May 4, extending a s July 13, 2026