Korea seeks continued US investment at AmCham talks

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea held a closed-door roundtable Friday with Trade, Industry and Resource Minister Kim Jung-kwan at the government complex in central Seoul. The meeting aimed to gather views from US companies operating in Korea and supporting their business activities, following a Korea-US summit in late October and the release of a joint fact sheet in mid-November. The meeting brought together senior executives from global companies, including Hyundai Motor Group, Posco G

Jan. 11, 2026

Korea aims for 2% growth in 2026, betting on chips, investment rebound

South Korea set out a plan to revive economic growth in 2026 while laying the groundwork for longer-term expansion, betting on strategic high-tech industries and a recovery in investment to drive the rebound. The Ministry of Economy and Finance on Friday unveiled its economic growth strategy, an annual early-year policy road map, projecting 2 percent growth this year, up from an estimated 1 percent expansion in 2025. In rolling out the plan, the government framed 2026 as the opening chapter of a

Jan. 9, 2026

Korea to open FX market around the clock from July

Overseas traders will be able to access the Korean won around the clock at real-time exchange rates from July 2026, under a sweeping overhaul of the foreign exchange regime as the government accelerates its push toward won internationalization and an upgrade to developed-market status. The Finance Ministry on Friday unveiled a road map outlining core reforms across FX and capital markets aimed at securing developed market status from global index provider Morgan Stanley Capital International. Th

Jan. 9, 2026

S. Korea logs largest current account surplus for Nov. on solid exports: BOK

South Korea posted its largest-ever current account surplus for any November, supported by strong exports amid an upcycle in the semiconductor industry, central bank data showed Friday. The country's current account surplus totaled $12.24 billion in November, up sharply from $6.81 billion a month earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea. It marked the highest level for any November since the BOK began compiling relevant data in 1980. South Korea has recorded a current account surplu

Jan. 9, 2026

Court ruling could cut reciprocal tariffs to zero, raise questions over terms of Korea-US trade deal: expert

A possible Supreme Court ruling against the legality of US President Donald Trump's country-specific tariffs could bring the levies on South Korea down to zero from 15 percent, but would raise questions over the remaining terms of a trade deal between the two countries, an expert said Thursday. Victor Cha, president of the geopolitics and foreign policy department and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, made the remarks in an analysis, amid speculation that the top

Jan. 9, 2026

Trade ministry eyes greater US outreach amid Washington's concerns over network law revision

The government will work to expand communications with the United States to prevent potential conflict over South Korea's revision of its network law, the trade ministry said Thursday. Last week, the US State Department expressed "significant" concerns over a recently passed revision to Korea's Information and Communications Network Act aimed at addressing false and fabricated online information, raising concerns the issue might stir trade conflict between the two countries. To prevent potential

Jan. 8, 2026

Samsung estimates record 20tr-won operating profit in Q4 amid chip market supercycle

Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday reported a record-breaking operating profit for the fourth quarter, touching the 20 trillion-won ($13.8 billion) mark for the first time, driven by a supercycle in the chip industry. The fourth-quarter operating profit marked a more than 200 percent rise from a year earlier, the company said in a preliminary earnings report. If confirmed, it would mark the first time for the company's quarterly earnings to reach the 20 trillion-won level. Sales increased 22.7

Jan. 8, 2026

Tax service issues reminder for 700,000 foreign taxpayers

Foreign employees in Korea have until Jan. 15 to enroll in the simplified document service for the year-end tax settlements due in February, the National Tax Service said Wednesday, though it requires their employer to register them by Saturday. Some 700,000 foreign workers must settle taxes on wages and salaries earned in 2025, with the process for foreign taxpayers largely the same as for Korean workers. Year-end tax settlement adjusts how much tax an employee owes on wages and salaries, based

Jan. 7, 2026

FDI pledges to S. Korea hit record high in 2025 amid eased political uncertainties

Foreign direct investment pledges to South Korea reached a record high of over $36 billion in 2025, government data showed Wednesday, thanks to eased political uncertainties here and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering held in the country's southeastern city of Gyeongju. Last year, South Korea received $36.05 billion worth of FDI commitments, up 4.3 percent from $34.57 billion in 2024, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. In 2025, the actual amount of investmen

Jan. 7, 2026

Govt. borrows 2nd-largest W164.5tr in temporary loans from BOK in 2025: data

The government borrowed the second-largest amount of temporary funds on record from the central bank last year through its overdraft facility, data showed Wednesday. According to the data from the Bank of Korea submitted to Rep. Park Sung-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party, the government's temporary borrowings from the BOK totaled 164.5 trillion won ($113.65 billion) in 2025, including 5 trillion won drawn in December. The figure was slightly lower than the record 173 trillion won p

Jan. 7, 2026

Korean firms keep US tax breaks under OECD deal

South Korean manufacturers investing in the US will be able to retain federal tax incentives without facing additional levies under the global minimum tax, following an overhaul of the international tax framework. The OECD on Monday announced a so-called side-by-side package to the 15 percent global minimum corporate tax, allowing broader application of the framework and closer alignment with national tax systems and investment incentives. A key element of the package is a safe harbour for inves

Jan. 6, 2026

S. Korea's foreign reserves fall for 1st time in 7 months in Dec.: BOK

South Korea's foreign reserves fell for the first time in seven months in December, the central bank said Tuesday, amid increased volatility in the foreign exchange market that prompted authorities to take a series of market stabilization measures. The country's foreign reserves had come to $428.05 billion as of end-December, down $2.6 billion from a month earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea. It marked the first on-month decline since June, after reserves had risen for six cons

Jan. 6, 2026

Foreign ownership in S. Korean stock market reaches highest level in nearly 6 yrs: report

Foreign ownership as a share of total market capitalization reached its highest level in five years and eight months in December amid a rally in the South Korean equity market, a report showed Sunday. Foreigners bought a net 3.5 trillion won ($2.4 billion) worth of local shares in December, raising their stockholdings to 32.9 percent of total market capitalization, the highest level since April 2020, according to a report published by the Korea Center for International Finance. Separate data fro

Jan. 4, 2026

South Korea's Finance Ministry splits after 18 years

South Korea on Friday split the Ministry of Economy and Finance into two separate bodies, ending 18 years of unified control over economic policymaking and fiscal planning under a sweeping government overhaul. The reorganization creates a new Ministry of Planning and Budget responsible for long-term economic strategy and budget coordination, while the existing Finance Ministry retains authority over taxation and fiscal management. The two new ministries officially launched on the same day, holdi

Jan. 3, 2026

BoK chief flags uneven expansion in 1.8% growth forecast

South Korea's economy is expected to grow 1.8 percent this year, rebounding from last year’s slowdown, but growth felt across much of the economy is likely to lag that pace, as sectoral disparities widen, Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong said. “While the economy is expected to grow 1.8 percent, close to its potential growth rate, excluding tech-led sectors driving the expansion through the semiconductor cycle would leave growth at about 1.4 percent,” Rhee said in his New Year’s message on Frid

Jan. 2, 2026