SEJONG -- The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development forecast Monday that South Korea will rank 12th among members of the Group of 20 for 2022 gross domestic product growth, hinting that the nation will see weakened momentum for economic growth. In its Interim Economic Outlook, the France-based OECD predicted that Korea will post a 2.8 percent growth this year. This is lower than the organization’s forecast for other G-20 members, including 4.1 percent growth in Australia,

Seoul stocks dropped to the lowest level in over two years and the Korean won also continued to tumble Monday amid growing fears of a global economic recession caused by combative monetary tightening in major economies. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell by 69.06 points, or 3.02 percent, to end at 2,220.94, the lowest since July 27, 2020. The market slid for a fourth consecutive session. Trading volume was moderate at 611.4 million shares worth 9.18 trillion won (US$6.4

South Korea’s Mirae Asset Global Investments is pulling out of a 4.1 trillion won ($2.86 billion) deal to acquire IFC Seoul, a landmark complex in Yeouido, western Seoul, from Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management, industry sources said Monday. In May, Mirae Asset was picked as the preferred bidder to acquire the IFC Complex, which consists of three office towers, after fierce competition with a consortium led by retail giant Shinsegae Group. “Mirae Asset has filed a dispute s

South Korea's consumer inflation is likely to stay in the 5-6 percent range for a considerable period of time amid high energy and food prices and the local currency's sharp weakness against the US dollar, the chief of the country's central bank said Monday. Asia's fourth-largest economy is expected to see slowing growth momentum into next year due to China's slowdown and heightened external conditions, Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong told a parliamentary committee me

Seoul stocks opened markedly lower Monday on growing concerns about a global economic recession caused by combative monetary tightening policies in major economies. The benchmark Kopsi dropped 40.27 points, or 1.76 percent, to 2,249.73 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, US stocks ended lower, with investors fleeing for safety and cashing out of the stock market on fears that aggressive rate hikes could seriously hurt the global economy. The S&P500 fell 1.7 percent, the Dow Jones Indu

Citigroup’s Korean unit Citibank Korea explained the bank's foreign exchange solutions and its outlook on the e-commerce market during an e-commerce industry seminar Thursday. During the seminar, model cases of FX solutions and digital payments that used Citibank's global network, were introduced. Aman Singh Chadha, the bank's regional head of e-Commerce financial products and head of eFX Solutions for the APAC region, further illustrated the trends of the e-commerce market during the semi

BUSAN -- Blockchain industry leaders seeking to merge entertainment with technology are looking closely to the power of fandoms, believing that it could reshape the ecosystem, according to speakers at the 2022 Upbit Developer Conference on Friday. “Hybe's business model is based on fans promoting artists,” Hybe America President Jason Jaesang Lee said during the second day of this year’s conference held in Busan. “Fans becoming promoters for our artists is a powerful g

A South Korean vice finance minister on Friday asked the food industry to minimize raising food prices as the country is grappling with high inflation. The government also plans to expand the supply of agricultural products, including napa cabbage and white radish, in a bid to better deal with high demand for kimchi-making events ahead of the winter season, according to First Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun. "In light of the stabilizing trends of grain prices, we are asking (the food sect

Seoul stocks opened lower Friday on mounting fears that a global recession may further deepen amid aggressive monetary tightening drives around the globe. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 10.39 points, or 0.45 percent, to 2,321.92 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks fell again amid fears that recent rate hikes from central banks around the world could tip the economy into a recession. Central banks in major economies, such as Britain, raised rates as t

South Korean stocks closed down on Thursday, as investors were spooked by growing worries over a global economic recession following the US Federal Reserve's sharp rate hike decision. The Korean won fell to a 13-year low against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 14.9 points, or 0.63 percent, and closed at 2,332.31. Trading volume was light at 436.1 million shares worth 7.3 trillion won, with decliners outnumbering gainers 579 to 299. After starting

Central bank likely to accelerate rate hike upon steeper-than-expected US rate hike

SEJONG -- The Korean currency dropped to the 1,400 won range per dollar on Thursday in the wake of another “giant step” rate hike of 75 basis points from the US Federal Reserve. In addition, foreign and institutional investors turned to net sellers on the nation’s main bourse, pulling down the Kospi. The local currency, which started at 1,398 won per US dollar during the Thursday trading session, closed at 1,409.7 won. The Korean currency became cheaper by more than

Dunamu CEO says Upbit ‘unrattled’ over global crypto exchanges' Korea entry

A Seoul court on Thursday ordered Namyang Dairy Products shareholders to sell off its controlling shares to local buyout firm Hahn ＆ Co., brushing off the troubled dairy company’s claims that its stock transfer deal with the private equity fund had been “rigged.” The Seoul Central District Court sided with Hahn ＆ Co. after the buyout firm last year filed a lawsuit against Namyang shareholders, including its Chairman Hong Won-sik for failing to abide by a binding contract to se

The Upbit Developer Conference, the nation’s largest annual blockchain developer conference, will kick off Thursday, addressing the latest issues and trends in the blockchain industry, the company said Wednesday. The two-day event hosted by Dunamu, the operator of South Korean crypto exchange Upbit, will be held at the Busan Port International Exhibition ＆ Convention Center in person after two years of pandemic disruptions. The theme of this year’s gathering is “Imaging Your B