The opposition party’s landslide victory in the 22nd general election is expected to disrupt the Korean government’s planned new trade strategy. A plan to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which requires parliamentary approval, is likely to be pus
With the amendment of the Export-Import Bank of Korea Act, the legal capital limit for the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) has significantly increased. However, there is a discrepancy between the government and industry regarding how and how much the government will invest in Korea Exim
Korea’s duty exemption threshold for cross-border shopping is set at US$150 per day. This limit is now on the table. It is blamed on the fact that Chinese e-commerce companies such as AliExpress, Temu, and Shein selling ultra-low-priced goods can quickly expand their presences in the Korean market t
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) conducted an on-site investigation into AliExpress, the shopping platform of the Chinese Alibaba Group, which is suspected of violating consumer protection obligations.According to industry sources on March 6, the KFTC recently sent investigators to the Seoul o
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is targeting franchise businesses owned by private equity funds. In particular, tensions within the industry have escalated recently after Mom’s Touch was fined 300 million won (US$225,989) for unfair practices towards its franchisees.Yook Sung-kwon, the Secretary Gen
Analysts suggest that credit card companies partnering with mobile payment systems like Apple Pay experience initial benefits in attracting new customers, but face challenges in anticipating sustained profitability in the long run.According to sources in the financial sector on Dec. 7, Oh Tae-rok, a
As the Hong Kong Hang Seng China Index (HSCEI) has experienced a sharp decline, it has led to substantial capital losses of over 40 percent in Equity Linked Securities (ELS) products based on this index. In response to the significant risks in the trillions of won facing HSCEI-linked ELS, the Financ
The controversy surrounding the “Asiana Airlines Cargo Business Separation Sale,” which has emerged as a key issue in the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, is intensifying. As the Asiana Airlines board is set to decide on the separation sale of the cargo business on Oct. 30, both current and
On Oct. 24, Yoon Hee-sung, the president of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), stated that he anticipates the scale of the second round of defense exports to Poland to be “slightly larger than 30 trillion won (US$22.26 billion).”During a parliamentary audit of the National Assembly’s Strategy
Chairman Kang Seok-hoon of Korea Development Bank has expressed his intention to not push for a forced sale in connection with the shipping company HMM. Regarding the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, he mentioned the possibility of a low recovery of public funds and put pressure on the Asia
Regarding recent discoveries of illegal short selling involving global investment banks, Lee Bok-hyun, the head of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), stated on Oct. 17, “We will hold them financially responsible for a much larger amount than in the past. Criminal punishment also seems possible
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) announced on Aug. 29 that it will initiate an inspection of the Social Overhead Capital (SOC) projects being undertaken in the Saemangeum region of Jeollabuk-do, or North Jeolla Province. The ministry intends to examine the necessity, feasi
The United States is accelerating its resurgence in the manufacturing sector. While the rivalry with China is one factor, there is also an awareness that maintaining a nation’s competitiveness requires establishing a supply chain based on manufacturing. On the other hand, as South Korea, a nation th
The four major Korean business groups -- Samsung, S.K., Hyundai, and LG -- have begun to return to the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).Ahead of the FKI’s extraordinary general assembly on Aug. 22, Samsung will hold a compliance committee meeting to discuss rejoining the organization. Other gro
“The Korean government has not promoted a policy of decoupling from China,” Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said. Han reaffirmed the Korean government’s position that there was no decoupling from China and no reason to do so as stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choo Ky
The author is an analyst of Shinhan Securities. He can be reached atldh@sinhan.com -- Ed.1Q23 preview: Exports of K9 howitzers, merger of Hanwha MunitionsWe now expect Hanwha Aerospace to post sales of KRW1.76tr (+28% YoY), operating profit of KRW108.5bn (+63% YoY), and operating margin of 6.2% (+1.
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) announced on Feb. 2 that its president Cheong Seung-il visited the United Kingdom for two days from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 to meet with high-ranking officials from the U.K. government, parliament and industrial world.Cheong attended the Nuclear Week in Parliament, spons
Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Chairman Lee Bok-hyun remarked on Oct. 11 that the FSS can take any measures for stock market stabilization in the event of further instability and the options include a complete ban on short selling.The South Korean government implemented the complete ban in Marc
People Power Party lawmaker Yu Eui-dong remarked on Oct. 6 that a total of 127 cases of illegal short selling have been detected since the implementation of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, including 119 caused by foreign investors.“According to current laws, domestic secur
Lawmaker Kim Kyung-man remarked on Oct. 4 that five state-run power companies are planning to sell half of their equity in PT Bayan Resources TBK for 748 billion won by next year. At present, each of Korea Western Power, Southern Power, East-West Power, Midland Power and South-East Power owns 4 perc