South Korea opens AI-era national growth fund to retail investors SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) -South Korea began selling a retail slice of its flagship strategic-industry fund on Friday, inviting ordinary investors to back semiconductors, batteries, mobility and artificial intelligence alongside the government in exchange for income-tax breaks and a state-funded loss buffer under a mandatory five-year lockup. The retail tranche of the Public Growth Fund targets 600 billion won ($396 million) this year, with KB Asset Management raising 200 billion won as o May 22, 2026

KOSDAQ triggers buy-side sidecar, Samsung Elec briefly tests 300,000 SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - South Korean stocks erased early gains and turned lower Friday morning as foreign investors took profits after earlier record-breaking rally, while biotech and secondary-battery shares powered rally on the KOSDAQ. The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.62 percent to 7,863.71 at the opening bell, after surging 8.42 percent Thursday in its biggest single-day point gain on record. However, the index later turned lower as foreign investors extended heavy selling. As of 9:57 May 22, 2026

KOSPI outperforms Asian peers with record point gain on Nvidia boost, Samsung labor deal SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - South Korean stocks sharply outperformed regional peers Thursday, as Nvidia’s upbeat earnings and Samsung Electronics’ tentative labor deal triggered a powerful rally in Seoul’s chip-heavy market despite mixed trading across Asia. The KOSPI jumped 606.64 points, or 8.42 percent, to finish at 7,815.59, dwarfing other gains across Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose more than 3 percent, while Chinese and Taiwanese shares lost ground, undersco May 21, 2026

Korean capital return to home stock market a trickle versus Wall Street rush SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - A South Korean government account designed to lure retail capital home from overseas markets has drawn nearly 2 trillion won ($1.33 billion) in its first two months, with investors cashing out of Nvidia and Tesla to buy Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association Thursday. Impressive in isolation, the return however is paltry against the roughly 300 trillion won Koreans now hold in Wall Street, a record set this mo May 21, 2026

KOSPI recovers above 7,600 as Samsung averts strike SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - South Korean stocks sharply rebounded on Thursday as investor sentiment improved on growing optimism over artificial intelligence and easing geopolitical tensions. Sentiment was also boosted after Samsung Electronics struck a tentative deal following marathon last-minute negotiations over wages and performance bonuses, easing concerns over a possible large-scale strike at the country's biggest chipmaker. The benchmark KOSPI surged 6.62 percent to 7,685.9 May 21, 2026

Samsung Electro-Mechanics flies on renewed AI frenzy after US silicon capacitor deal SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - Samsung Electro-Mechanics stock on Wednesday drew a flurry of price upgrades after it signed a 1.56 trillion won ($993 million) contract to supply silicon capacitors to a U.S. big tech company developing AI chips, its first large-scale order in a business it designated a strategic priority in 2024. The components affiliate of Samsung Electronics disclosed the two-year contract on Tuesday, with deliveries running from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028. May 21, 2026

Samsung Live: Stock jumps 6% on labor accord, lifting KOSPI SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - South Korean stocks jumped Thursday after Samsung Electronics and its labor union reached a last-minute tentative wage agreement led by Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon, easing fears of a large-scale strike at the country’s biggest chipmaker. Relief over the suspension of the planned strike fueled a sharp rally in Samsung Electronics shares, which jumped 6.43 percent to 293,750 won as of 9:33 a.m., helping lift the benchmark KOSPI 5.42 percent higher to 7,59 May 21, 2026

Fuel tax cut to be extended for another two months SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - The Ministry of Finance and Economy said Thursday it will extend the fuel tax cut for another two months through the end of July, citing mounting inflationary pressure from the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said the decision was made after consultations with relevant ministries to help curb price increases. The current 15 percent tax cut on gasoline and the 25 percent cut on diesel, both set to expire at the end of thi May 21, 2026

Seoul and Tokyo equities fall, Asian currencies and debt tumble on inflation fears SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Seoul and Tokyo bourses extended losses in a broad Asian retreat as investors moved past AI euphoria toward a reality check on the economic toll of prolonged Gulf conflicts and renewed inflation fears. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.86 percent to close at 7,208.95 after swinging between an intraday high of 7,324.52 and a low of 7,053.84. Foreign investors sold a net 2.9293 trillion won ($1.94 billion) worth of shares, while retail and institutional investors bou May 20, 2026

Jeju casino operator Lotte Tourism gains "buy" reinforcement from Hana Securities SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Hana Securities reiterated a "buy" rating and a 28,000 won ($18.53) target price on Lotte Tourism Development on Tuesday, designating the Jeju Dream Tower operator its top pick in the leisure sector after the company posted a 121.5 percent jump in first-quarter operating profit even as its two foreign-only casino rivals both saw earnings fall. The stock traded at 19,080 won on Tuesday morning, leaving Hana's target roughly 47 percent above curren May 20, 2026