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  BOK governor sees economic recovery despite last year's stagnation SEOUL, Feb 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s central bank expects economic growth in 2026 to rise significantly compared to the previous year, despite last year’s performance falling short of initial market expectations. "Despite uncertainties surrounding US tariff policies, domestic demand is recovering on the back of favorable consumer sentiment, while exports continue their upward trend led by the robust semiconductor sector," BOK Governor Rhee Chang-yong stated du February 23, 2026
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  Korean sovereign wealth fund reaps 13.91% return in 2025, AUM at record high SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) -Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) posted a double-digit investment return in 2025 thanks to global equity rally that bolstered its assets under management to a record high. The sovereign wealth fund said Monday that it recorded an annual return of 13.91 percent last year, while its 10-year annualized return from 2016 to 2025 stood at 7.07 percent. Total assets under management (AUM) rose to $232 billion, driven by net investment gains of $28.5 billion. February 23, 2026
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  KOSPI unfazed in record-setting solo rally despite U.S. tariff flip-flop SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) — Korean stocks extended their record-setting rally on Monday, showing little sign of disruption from renewed U.S. tariff uncertainty as the benchmark index moved closer to the 5,900 mark while several major Asian markets remained closed. The main KOSPI briefly tested 5,900, extending its roughly 40 percent advance in the first two months of the year. As of 10:54 a.m., the index was up 1.17 percent at 5,875.12. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ rose 1.16 percent February 23, 2026
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  Exports in February soar to record high on AI chip demand SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - Exports in February have hit a record high, fueled by strong demand for semiconductor chips. According to preliminary data released by the Korea Customs Service on Monday, outbound shipments for the first 20 days of this month stood at US$43.52 billion, up 23.5 percent from a year earlier, the highest for the period. The previous record was $43 billion, set during the same period in December last year. Semiconductors led the increase as artificial intel February 23, 2026
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  Korea's main index touches new ceiling, defying regional caution SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - Korea’s main KOSPI played solo with eyes set on the next historic milestone of 6,000, regardless of simmering tensions in the Middle East that weighed on markets across the region and the globe. The key index rose 2.3 percent to close Friday at 5,808.5, bouncing right back after dipping to 5,684.9. The blue-chip KOSPI 200 advanced 2.3 percent to 859.6. It diverged from regional peers. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.1 percent to 56,825.7, while February 20, 2026
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  Korean household debt hits new height as hot assets fuel leveraged investment SEOUL, Feb 20 (AJP) - Red-hot asset markets in South Korea pushed household debt to a fresh record by the end of 2025, as investors increasingly relied on borrowing for property and stock investment, data showed Friday. According to the Bank of Korea, total household credit outstanding stood at 1,978.8 trillion won ($1.37 trillion) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, up 14 trillion won from the previous quarter. It marked the highest level since data collection began in the fo February 20, 2026
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  SK hynix shares gain traction after BlackRock lifts stake to 5% SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) -Shares of SK hynix gained momentum after the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, raised its stake in the chipmaker above the 5 percent threshold for the first time in nearly eight years, according to a regulatory filing. BlackRock’s increased exposure comes as global investors seek to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom, with SK hynix emerging as a dominant supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI accelerators. A di February 20, 2026
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  KOSPI unfazed by geopolitical risks in its record-setting winning streak SEOUL, February 20 (AJP)- South Korean shares extended their relentless rally in early Friday trading, brushing off global market weakness and rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran. The benchmark KOSPI surged past the 5,700 mark to set another record high. As of 10:50 a.m., the index was up 1.26 percent at 5,748.65. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 0.25 percent to 1,157.77. In regional markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index opened lower after a holida February 20, 2026
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  Samsung's historic surge lifts KOSPI to record close SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI set a fresh record on Thursday as trading resumed following the Lunar New Year break, led by Samsung Electronics' historic close above 190,000 won. A buy-side sidecar was triggered on the KOSDAQ at 10:41 a.m. amid an aggressive rally in mid- and small-cap shares. The KOSPI jumped 3.1 percent to close at 5,677.3 points, marking a fresh all-time high after hitting an intraday peak of 5,681.7. The strong upward momentu February 19, 2026
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  KOSPI's star winners show why Seoul market shines in the AI transition SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) — South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has emerged as the world’s best-performing major equity index so far in 2026, extending a record-breaking rally and decisively shaking off the long-standing “Korea discount.” The index has more than doubled since the end of 2024, rising nearly 34 percent this year alone after a 75.6 percent surge in 2025. No other major global benchmark has matched its year-to-date performance, reflecting a st February 19, 2026