KRX eyes AI-driven overhaul to support 24-hour trading, reviews startup acquisition SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -The Korea Exchange (KRX) said Tuesday it is pursuing an artificial intelligence–based innovation strategy as groundwork for a future 24-hour trading system, including a possible acquisition of an AI startup. The exchange said it plans to integrate AI into market oversight and operations, calling the technology a core strategy that will determine the competitiveness of South Korea’s capital markets. AI is expected to be applied across market January 15, 2026

Washington makes a rare Korean won-supporting remark SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - In a rare departure from Washington’s long-held opposition to currency intervention, the U.S. Treasury secretary echoed Seoul’s concerns over the weak Korean won, lending verbal support to efforts to stabilize the currency. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol on Monday (local time) to discuss market developments and preparations for the upcoming critical mi January 15, 2026

Hanwha restructuring lifts Korean stocks as Asian shares end mixed SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Asian equities ended mixed on Wednesday, with South Korea's benchmark index closing at a record high, while markets elsewhere in the region showed divergent performances. South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.65 percent to close at 4,723.10. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ fell 0.72 percent to 942.18, as investors rotated selectively between sectors. Market attention centered on Hanwha Group after it unveiled plans to split its businesses, separating defense, ene January 14, 2026

Korea's M2 growth moderates as investors favor short-term returns SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s broad money growth stalled in November under a revised definition of M2, reflecting both a statistical adjustment and a deeper shift in investor behavior toward short-term, high-return assets. According to data released Wednesday by the Bank of Korea (BOK), the M2 money supply stood at 4,057.5 trillion won ($2.77 trillion) in November 2025, little changed from the previous month and marking a second consecutive month of flat growth. Th January 14, 2026

Overseas investing reshaping Korea's FX market: BOK SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - A sharp rise in overseas securities investment by South Koreans led to nearly $20 billion in net foreign-exchange outflows last year, the Bank of Korea said in a report Wednesday, underscoring why the won weakened despite large current-account surpluses. Net foreign-currency outflows linked to residents’ overseas securities purchases and overseas investment by pension funds totaled $19.6 billion from January through October last year. The f January 14, 2026

Foreign investors extend buying streak in South Korean stocks, bonds SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Foreign investors were net buyers of South Korean stocks and bonds in December, extending net inflows to a fourth consecutive month. Net foreign inflows into South Korean securities totaled $7.44 billion in December, according to the Bank of Korea’s report on international finance and foreign-exchange market trends released Wednesday. The figure marked the largest monthly inflow since September, when inflows reached $9.12 billion. Bond pu January 14, 2026

Asian markets mixed as KOSPI slips after earlier gain on semiconductor strength SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Asian markets opened mixed on Wednesday, as South Korean shares rose on early semiconductor and energy gains but slipped amid broader caution across the region. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI was down 0.4 percent at 4,673 and the tech-heavy KOSDAQ also fell 0.8 percent to 941.4 as of around 11 a.m., as initial gains shortly after trading began earlier in the day gave way to selective profit-taking. Semiconductor shares traded mixed, with Samsung Electro January 14, 2026

Japan and Korean stocks keep up rally SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - Asian equities were mostly higher on Tuesday, led by sharp gains in Japan and Korea. In Seoul, the KOSPI rose 1.5 percent to close at a fresh high of 4,692.6, helped by gains in autos, energy and industrial shares. In contrast, the tech-heavy KOSDAQ edged down 0.1 percent to finish at 948.9. Among blue-chip stocks, Samsung Electronics edged down 0.7 percent to 137,900 won ($93.5), while SK hynix slid down 1.4 percent to 738,000 won, weighing on the br January 13, 2026

Stock-bound cash hits record as KOSPI powers higher SEOUL, Jan. 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has extended its rally for a third straight week, brushing past the 4,700 level on Wednesday and moving closer to the long-anticipated 5,000 mark, buoyed by a record pile-up of investor cash on the sidelines. According to the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA), investor deposits stood at 88.9 trillion won ($60.4 billion) as of Jan. 9, after briefly topping 92 trillion won a day earlier as retail investors rushe January 13, 2026

NH chairman steps down from key posts as top executives resign amid management scandal SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - The chief of South Korea's state-invested financial group NH stepped down from key posts following mass resignation of C-suite over corruption allegations. Kang Ho-dong, chairman of National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NH), on Tuesday announced his resignation from concurrent leadership positions at a major farming daily and a charitable foundation, following a government audit that uncovered widespread management malpractice. January 13, 2026