Briefings
Private hiring takes center stage in Bank of Korea’s cautious 2026 labor outlook
Central bank says consumption must hold as private jobs remain weak despite steady headline employment
January 8, 2026
KOSPI breaks 4,500 as market optimism rises alongside currency pressures
The KOSPI surge advances Lee Jae Myung’s market pledge but coincides with reserve drawdowns and won weakness
January 7, 2026
Lee-Xi summit seeks stability as South Korea moves to stabilize China ties
The state visit prioritized procedural dialogue and risk containment over resolving deeper strategic disputes
January 6, 2026
South Korea consolidates green budget power within climate ministry
Move reflects declining dominance of finance ministry as line ministries gain greater budget authority
January 5, 2026
South Korea crossed $700 billion in exports, but volume growth stayed muted
Export values surged in 2025 but shipment volumes barely grew raising questions about durability and spillover effects
January 2, 2026
Lee singles out industrial safety as economic priority in New Year address
Workplace deaths reframed as a growth constraint as president hints at expanded inspections without timelines
January 1, 2026
South Korea boosts retail bond targets to address 2025 shortfall and demand
Seoul targets 2 trillion won in 2026 as it battles rising bank rates and retail preference for international stocks
December 31, 2025
Coupang compensation and state enforcement now advance on parallel tracks
Corporate restitution moves ahead as Seoul expands administrative scrutiny without signaling regulatory closure
December 30, 2025
BOK overhauls emergency lending to include corporate loans for stability
Rising exchange rate volatility forces a cautious policy stance as global banks hike 2026 inflation forecasts to 2.1%
December 29, 2025
Coupang data breach evolves into a high-stakes sovereignty test for South Korea
Diplomatic friction and enforcement capacity now converge as Seoul escalates scrutiny of the NYSE-listed firm
December 26, 2025
