South Korea's economy returned to modest growth in the third quarter, marking the first quarterly expansion since the coronavirus pandemic began, as exports showed signs of improvement, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Tuesday. In the July-September period, the nation's real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.9 percent from the previous quarter, when it shrank 3.2 percent, according to the BOK data. The third-quarter reading marked the fastest expansion since the first quarter of 2010. Compare

South Korea's exports are expected to decrease 3.12 percent on-year in October after enjoying a brief rebound the previous month, due mainly to the resurgence of new coronavirus cases around the globe.   The country's outbound shipments are estimated to reach $45.1 billion this month, according to the poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency. The survey was conducted on seven local brokerage houses.   Imports were estimated to reach $41.3 billion

Woori Financial Group said Monday that its third-quarter net profit dropped 1.13 percent on-year to 479.8 billion won ($425 million), but was above market expectations amid coronavirus woes. Local brokerages had projected an average 468.7 billion won for Woori’s third-quarter net profit. 　 The figure was calculated based on the respective sizes of the stakes Woori holds in its units. Under the premise that Woori holds 100 percent stake in all of its units, the figure would amount to 521

Ministry gestures at legislation notice within week

Market closely watches scenario of owner family acquiring late chairman’s stake in Samsung Life Insurance

With heirs to the Samsung empire facing a colossal amount of inheritance tax on stocks owned by their late father Lee Kun-hee, the market is closely watching how they will raise the necessary funds to pay it. Any moves they make are likely to affect the market. Samsung Group Chairman Lee, who died Sunday, left Samsung affiliate stocks valued at 18.2 trillion won ($16.1 billion) as of Friday closing. Questions have been raised on how Lee’s heirs -- particularly his only son, Samsung Ele

South Korean stocks closed lower Monday as investors remained skeptical of a much-coveted global economic recovery amid a resurgence in the new coronavirus. The Korean won rose to an over 19-month high against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 16.90 points, or 0.72 percent, to close at 2,343.91. Trading volume was moderate at 803 million shares worth 11.29 trillion won ($10 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 759 to 119. Foreigners offloaded a

Amid a prolonged economic contraction and shrinking employment rate, South Koreans in their 20s have increasingly become debt-ridden, depending on bank overdrafts and credit card loans, data showed.  The outstanding balance of bank overdrafts and card loans extended to 20-somethings totaled 2.14 trillion won ($1.91 billion) as of end-June, up sharply from 1.97 trillion won and 2.07 trillion in 2018 and 2019, respectively, said Rep. Jeon Jae-su of the ruling Democratic Party, quoting data

NH NongHyup Bank said Monday it has launched its branch office in Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country.  The establishment of Yangon-based branch came after the lender had obtained final approval from the country’s central bank in late June. It is the second regional office branch, followed after NongHyup Finance Myanmar, a microfinancing institution that has been in operation since 2016. The Yangon office will set a foothold for

Shares in Big Hit Entertainment, the management agency behind K-pop phenomenon BTS, sunk nearly 10 percent Monday, hitting a new low since the company's market debut earlier this month, as investors question its proper valuation. Big Hit shares slumped 9.57 percent from the previous session's close to 156,000 won ($138), the lowest since its market debut, far underperforming the broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index's (KOSPI) 0.72-percent loss. Big Hit's plunge follows its roller coaster m

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. on Monday posted lackluster third-quarter earnings results due to hefty provisions for recalls and quality management. For the three months that ended in September, Hyundai swung to a net loss of 188.8 billion won ($167 million) from a net profit of 460.5 billion won a year ago. Kia's net profit plunged 59 percent to 133.68 billion won from 325.80 billion won during the same period, the companies said in separate statements. Hyundai and Kia

Hyundai Rotem Co. on Monday reported its third-quarter net profit of 4.6 billion won ($4.1 million), swinging from a loss of 117.5 billion won a year earlier. Operating income for the July-September period was 31.1 billion, compared with a loss of 96.6 billion won a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue rose 8.8 percent to 693.2 billion won. The operating profit was 70.2 percent higher than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data

SsangYong Motor Co., the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said Monday its third-quarter net losses narrowed from a year earlier, helped by reduced costs. Net losses for the three months that ended in September narrowed to 102.44 billion won ($90 million) from 107.9 billion won in the same period of last year, the company said in a statement. "The company's drastic cost-cutting efforts in wages and welfare benefits for employees helped narrow the quarterl

South Korea said Monday it has inked an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme to provide 6 billion won ($5.3 million) in aid to build sustainable infrastructure in farms in Southeast Asia. The fund, set to be provided over the next three years, will be spent to install solar facilities at farms in Myanmar and Cambodia, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. It marked the first time for the agricultural ministry to officially join forces with the UND

SEJONG -- South Korea's finance ministry said Monday it has approved $200 million in health care aid for three Asian nations to better combat the coronavirus pandemic. The approval is part of the nation's plans to provide more than $400 million in loans and grants to developing nations this year to help them push for health projects against the novel coronavirus. The three nations are the Philippines, Cambodia and Bangladesh. The fund is expected to help developing nations build testing and