Foreign holdings blunt Korea's wealth gains SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - South Korea's national wealth grew at less than half the previous year's pace in 2025, as a record rally in domestic stocks produced an accounting paradox: rising share prices boosted household wealth but simultaneously eroded the country's net financial position by 326 trillion won ($229 billion) as the value of Korean equities owned by foreign investors surged. National net worth rose 2.2 percent, or 531 trillion won, to 24.56 quadrillion won at July 22, 2026

Richest income rise while the rest 80% Korean families see fall Q1 SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s top-income urban households gained purchasing power in the first quarter as public and private transfers increased, while real incomes fell across the remaining 80 percent amid weaker employment and business earnings. Real income, which adjusts household income for inflation, declined from a year earlier in each of the bottom four income quintiles, according to Ministry of Data and Statistics figures available through the Korean Statistic July 22, 2026

Korea trade chief heads to Washington as U.S. global tariff nears expiry SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan left for Washington on Wednesday to defend Seoul’s tariff deal and advance a $350 billion investment package as the legal authority for the United States’ temporary global duties expires on Friday. Kim will stay in Washington through Saturday for talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other senior administration and congressional officials on strategic investment and outstanding t July 22, 2026

Korea's manufacturing share hits 10-year high on chip power SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Manufacturing accounted for 27.2 percent of South Korea’s real gross domestic product last year, the highest share in a decade, as the country’s industrial growth became increasingly concentrated in semiconductors and other electronics. Real value added generated by manufacturers rose 2.3 percent, or 14.5 trillion won, ($10 billion) from a year earlier to 632.4 trillion won in 2025, according to the National Assembly Budget Office’s Economic July 22, 2026

Korea's June producer prices plateau as pipeline inflation mounts SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - South Korea's producer prices plateaued in June after nine consecutive monthly increases, but broader price gauges tracking costs through the domestic supply chain surged at their fastest pace in nearly four years, signaling mounting inflationary pressure still working its way through the economy. The producer price index stood at 130.03 in June, unchanged from May but 8.6 percent higher than a year earlier, according to data released by the Bank of Kore July 22, 2026

BOK to plug 24-hour won settlement gap in latest MSCI push SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korea will pilot a round-the-clock international won payment network in September, seeking to fill a key settlement gap in its newly opened 24-hour foreign exchange market and strengthen its bid for developed-market status from MSCI. The Bank of Korea said Tuesday it had formally named the planned offshore settlement system the Bank of Korea Won International Wire Network, or BOK-WireInt. The network will allow foreign investors and financial instit July 21, 2026

Lawmaker Kim Gunn seeks legal mandate to shield companies abroad SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - A former diplomat turned lawmaker introduced legislation Tuesday that would give South Korean embassies and consulates an explicit legal mandate to help Korean companies navigate sudden regulatory changes and other obstacles overseas. Rep. Kim Gunn of the main opposition People Power Party proposed the bill, tentatively titled the Act on Support for Overseas-Expanding Companies by Diplomatic Missions, aiming to turn South Korea's overseas missions into m July 21, 2026

Chip boom puts BOK on tightening path, but spillover debate clouds outlook SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korea's bond market is increasingly pricing in another interest-rate increase this year after the Bank of Korea's July hike, as Governor Shin Hyun-song argues that the country's chip-driven income boom is beginning to generate demand-side inflation despite a still-sluggish domestic economy. Investors now widely expect the benchmark policy rate to reach 3.0 percent by year-end after the central bank last week raised it by 25 basis points to 2. July 21, 2026

BOK governor joins Asia-Pacific policymakers amid AI and inflation risks SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) -Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song will join Asia-Pacific central bankers and financial regulators in Singapore this week for talks on inflation, financial stability and the economic risks posed by intensifying artificial intelligence competition and escalating tensions in the Gulf. Shin will attend the 31st Executives' Meeting of East Asia-Pacific Central Banks (EMEAP) Governors and a separate gathering of central bank governors and financial supervis July 21, 2026

Korea's July exports set 20-day record on chip strength SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) -South Korea is set to extend its record-setting export streak in July, with chip-led outbound shipments surging 52.3 percent in the first 20 days to a record $54.93 billion for the period, preliminary customs data showed Tuesday. Exports totaled $54.93 billion from July 1 to 20, while imports increased 20.0 percent from a year earlier to $42.72 billion, generating a trade surplus of $12.22 billion. Final monthly trade data will be released by the Ministry of Tr July 21, 2026