The combined operating profit of the top 10 companies by market capitalization in the South Korean stock market falls short of those of leading Japanese company Toyota and top Taiwanese company TSMC.To address the “Korea discount,” which refers to the undervaluation of South Korean stocks, it is poi
The Korea Development Institute (KDI) has maintained its economic growth forecast for South Korea at 2.2 percent for this year. However, it has slightly lowered its forecast for private consumption, citing prolonged high interest rates as a contributing factor.According to the “Economic Outlook” rel
Coway Co., Ltd., the “Best Life Solution Company,” has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023."We’re proud to have achieved such a successful 2023, even in the face of significant challenges present in both domestic and international markets. Our stable performanc
The global leading automotive company Toyota, which has been embroiled in a “quality certification fraud” scandal, announced a record-breaking net profit of 4.5 trillion yen, equivalent to 40.2 trillion won or US$30.28 billion, for the fiscal year 2023, spanning from April 2023 to March 2024. The pr
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at sw.kang@nhqv.com -- Ed.While Secretary Yellen's key goal in 2023 was to secure TGA cash despite a massive fiscal deficit, the one for 2024 is to be improving the fiscal balance by using the tax revenue surplus. This implie
The U.S. semiconductor equipment industry has voiced the opinion that companies from allied countries, including South Korea and Japan, should also be subject to the same level of comprehensive regulations that they face in the process of exporting to China. There is speculation within South Korea t
Eric Sangyub Sung, chairman of the Korea Venture Business Association and CEO of Intellian, emphasized the necessity of globalization for the growth of venture businesses. In a New Year’s event for the innovative venture industry held on Jan. 19 at EL tower in the Seocho district of Seoul, Chairman
The merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which has been dragging on for over three years, gained momentum by overcoming a significant hurdle. The European Union (EU) competition authorities, who had been rigorously reviewing the merger, have reportedly made a de facto approval decision.If
Last year, 540,000 foreign workers received year-end settlements, and the reported tax amount reached a record-breaking 1.2 trillion won (US$915.68 million).The National Tax Service (NTS) announced that the number of foreign workers who filed tax reports was 544,000, and the reported tax amount reac
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at sw.kang@nhqv.com -- Ed.We attribute the strong yield drop of 4Q23 to a reversal of the sharp r* increase fears of 3Q23, rather than bets on economic downturn. Of note, the Fed’s actual r* estimate was halved in 4Q23. For t
Last year, the debt of the central and local governments, non-profit public institutions, and non-financial public enterprises in the public sector reached nearly 1,600 trillion won (US$1.24 trillion), marking a historic high. The debt of non-financial public enterprises such as Korea Electric Power
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at jk.ahn@shinhan.com -- Ed.The Bank of Korea (BOK) unanimously decided to leave the base rate unchanged at 3.50% for a tenth consecutive month at the November Monetary Policy Board (MPB) meeting. The number of MPB members open to th
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned the Korean economy that it will fall in a low-growth slump for the next five years if it does not take proper steps to reform its structure now.According to an analysis of the IMF’s recently released annual report on Korea, the country’s gross domesti
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at bk@nhqv.com -- Ed.Although the Covid-19 pandemic has ended, it has impacted global policies and life patterns. Anti-globalization has accelerated, and the new Cold War has deepened, with regional wars erupting. While drama
Samsung Electronics’ Exynos mobile application processor, which once faced a setback by being excluded from its flagship Galaxy S series, is aiming for a comeback in the premium market next year.According to Counterpoint Research on Nov. 6, the global AP market is currently led by MediaTek with a 30
The financial authorities have played a strong hand with a “full prohibition of short selling” to restore market trust. Unlike the global trend during the COVID-19 crisis, this time, South Korea alone has moved to prohibit short selling, drawing significant attention to the rationale behind this dec
Following the pandemic, South Korea remained in the middle to lower range in terms of growth rates among advanced economies. However, it ranked higher in terms of price stability indicators. This suggests a ‘trade-off’ between investment-led growth expansion and tight fiscal policy.According to the
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised South Korea’s sound fiscal policies, stating that the country’s national debt is at an appropriate level. However, the IMF has also expressed concerns about the high levels of household debt in South Korea.According to the transcript of a press brief
Starting next year, foreign residents in South Korea seeking eligibility for health insurance as dependent beneficiaries must have a minimum of 6 months of residency.According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service on Oct. 26, an amendment to the Health Insur
McKinsey introduced the content of its report, “Koreas Next S-Curve,” to international media outlets at Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Oct. 19. In the report, the company proposed three pillars of reorganization, transformation, and construction and eight action items for Korea’s economic renaissance.McKi