BOK nominee Shin faces intense scrutiny over foreign assets, family issues SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) — The nominee to head the Bank of Korea (BOK) came under intense scrutiny Wednesday as opposition lawmakers questioned his foreign-denominated wealth and family-related issues, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Lawmakers on the National Assembly’s Finance and Economy Committee focused on nominee Shin Hyun-song’s asset structure, noting that the central bank chief is tasked with stabilizing the Korean won and the housing April 15, 2026

Record 34 listed firms post over 1 trillion won in operating profit last year, report finds SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea's top 1,000 listed companies saw their operating profits increase sharply last year, reaching the highest level since 2000, according to a report released by the Korea CXO Institute on Wednesday. Their combined operating profit stood at 189.23 trillion Korean won (about US$126.15 billion), up more than 40 trillion won or 27.7 percent, from 148.28 trillion won a year earlier, as the number of companies posting over 1 trillion won in operating April 15, 2026

KOSPI tops 6,100; Asian markets rise on renewed U.S.-Iran talks hopes SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea’s KOSPI climbed above the 6,100 level on Wednesday, as the benchmark index rode easing war concerns to resume its record-breaking rally that had been disrupted by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. The main index rose 2.96 percent to 6,144.26, while the KOSDAQ gained 1.93 percent to 1,143.49 as of 10:29 a.m. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.15 percent to 58,542.14. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.00 percent to April 15, 2026

KOSPI rises on easing Middle East tensions, but falls short of 6,000 threshold SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - The South Korean stock market closed higher on Tuesday, lifted by easing oil prices and signs of diplomatic progress between the U.S. and Iran, though tensions in the Strait of Hormuz kept investors cautious. The country's benchmark KOSPI rose 2.7 percent to close at 5,967.8 after briefly breaking above the 6,000 level in early morning trade. The index repeatedly hovered around the threshold throughout the session but failed to sustain its gains, losing m April 14, 2026

War resilience draws Korean retail money home, but sustainability in question SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) -South Korean equities have shown surprising resilience so far against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions, helping to bring home retail capital previously deployed in U.S. markets. Yet how durable — and how deep — this reshoring trend will prove remains uncertain. “Tax incentives can act as a supporting factor, but not the primary driver,” said Shin Hyun-han, a finance professor at Yonsei University’s School of B April 14, 2026

KOSPI tests 6,000 on Iran deal hopes; Asia stocks broadly higher SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Asian markets were broadly upbeat Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at renewed negotiations with Iran, raising hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough before the two-week ceasefire ends next Tuesday. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI led the gains, rising 3.2 percent to 5,993.59 after flirting with 6,000. The KOSDAQ gained 2.3 percent to 1,125.03 as of 11:15 a.m. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 2.55 percent to 57,943.50, while Hong Kong’ April 14, 2026

WGBI impact muted as external shocks pressure Korean bonds, won SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korean sovereigns joining the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) hardly proved to be a magic wand for both the currency and bonds in the first month. Extraordinary factors — including escalating Middle East conflicts and a shifting interest rate and inflation environment — have partly undermined the honeymoon period. Some experts say Korea’s structural challenges run too deep to rely simply on a WGBI boost. Since FTSE Russell be April 13, 2026

Korean stocks fall as Hormuz blockade threat triggers risk-off SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Korean stocks closed lower Monday as investors moved to the sidelines amid fresh uncertainty in the Middle East, following U.S. threats to launch a maritime blockage operation in the Strait of Hormuz starting later in the day. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.9 percent to 5,808.6, after trading between a high of 5,827.73 and a low of 5,730.23. Regional markets moved in tandem. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.7 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng April 13, 2026

BOK nominee Shin claims he shed foreign assets ahead of hearing SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Shin Hyun-song, nominee for governor of the Bank of Korea, defended the central bank’s interventionist stance to curb excessive dollar strength against the won, describing the country’s foreign exchange buffers as “robust” against external shocks. In a written response released Monday ahead of his parliamentary confirmation hearing, Shin warned that a sharp rise in the dollar-won rate fuels inflationary pressure while increasin April 13, 2026

Korean stock turnover more than triples in Q1 amid heavy volatility SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) -South Korea’s stock market activity more than tripled in the first quarter, as heightened volatility following war-driven shocks disrupted the KOSPI’s red-hot rally and amplified trading momentum. According to the Korea Securities Depository Monday, the daily average value of stocks, bonds and other securities processed reached 35.8 trillion won ($26.5 billion) in the January–March period. The figure rose 31.6 percent from a year earlier and April 13, 2026