The labor productivity has risen by 1.5 percent by introducing shorter 40-hour workweek system in the manufacturing sector, a report by the Korea Development Institute showed.The report noted that it was imperative to clarify murky rules on working hours and pay increment, suggesting raising the basic pay for regular work hours and lessening the extra pay for extended work hours to ultimately raise work efficiency.Under the current laws, maximum working hours per week is set at 52 hours, which i

South Korean shares closed lower Thursday, snapping a four-day rise, as institutional and foreign investors sought profits after the main bourse posted new records for the fourth consecutive session this week, analysts said. The local currency rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 10.11 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 2,546.36. Trading volume was high at 521 million shares worth 6.17 trillion won ($5.53 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 450 to

Markets in South Korea were moderately mixed Thursday, while analysts here noted that dovish decisions in the United States would leave the market free of immediate impacts, citing the unlikelihood of a rate hike by the Korean central bank at least until the end of this year.The top-tier stock market index took a breather Thursday. The Kospi closed at 2,546.36, down 0.4 percent from Wednesday’s close. This marked an end to the record run that lasted for the four previous days, which lifted

South Korea's 100 richest people own stocks worth more than one third of the country's national budget amid a recent stock rally, industry data showed Thursday.The value of stocks held by the 100 richest people reached 123.2 trillion won ($110.5 billion) as of the end of Wednesday, up 35.6 percent from early January, according to industry tracker Chaebul.com.Last year, parliament approved a 400.5 trillion won budget bill for 2017. A recent stock rally has further boosted the value of stocks held

Financial authorities seek to help struggling brokerages build momentum

South Korea's construction sector could suffer a contraction in 2019, a report said Thursday as the government's moves to stabilize property markets may weigh on new orders.The combined value of construction orders -- a leading indicator in the construction sector -- posted a 29.5 percent decline in July, swinging from 8.4 percent growth in 2016 and a 48.4 percent gain in 2015.In 2014, the combined value of construction orders jumped 16.3 percent, according to a report released by a research cen

The head of South Korea's antitrust watchdog urged local business heavyweights Thursday to put more effort into achieving fair competition and coexistence with smaller companies and regaining public confidence."I know our businesses have tried to make changes and helped smaller companies share the fruit (of our success)," Fair Trade Commission Chairman Kim Sang-jo said before talks with leaders of the five top conglomerates. "But from ordinary people's point of view, there is

Credit loans extended by South Korea's five major banks rose slightly in October from a month earlier, data showed Thursday, as the government tightened mortgage lending rules.The outstanding balance of credit loans by the five retail banks, including KB Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Bank, stood at 95.62 trillion won ($85.8 billion) at the end of October, up 1.77 trillion won from the end of September, according to the data from the financial industry.The increase is the highest since 2016, according

Samsung Group shares account for roughly one-third of market capitalization on South Korea's main bourse as they continue to gain ground, data showed Thursday.Finance market analyzer FN Guide put the total market cap of 15 Samsung Group affiliates at 529.36 trillion won ($476.25 billion) as of Wednesday's closing. It marks a 9.04 percent increase since Oct. 10, when the main KOSPI market reopened after the 10 day Chuseok, or autumn harvest, holiday.The KOSPI's market cap rose 4.95 percent during

South Korean stocks opened nearly flat Thursday as the market took a breather after the main bourse renewed its record highs for the fourth consecutive session.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged down 2.2 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,554.27 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Market kingpin Samsung Electronics inched up 0.07 percent, with its smaller rival LG Electronics increasing 1.95 percent. LG Display also added 1.86 percent.No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor, in contrast, shed

New hirings by public institutions through end-September this year met 70 percent of the annual target, meaning 5,000 people will have to be employed in the final quarter to reach it, according to government statistics Thursday.Figures posted on the government portal All Public Information in One said 14,015 people were hired during the three quarters this year, down 5.3 percent on-year. The tally is about 70 percent of the 19,862 set as the goal for this year.The Moon Jae-in administration, whi

Korea is becoming less attractive as a destination for foreign direct investments, just as the government looks to FDI to help ease unemployment.According to official data, foreign investment in manufacturing totaled $2.03 billion in the first nine months of this year on an arrival basis, slightly less than half the $4.4 billion invested in the same period of 2015.The figure marked a five-year low.Additional investments by foreign-invested firms in expanding or upgrading existing facilities amou

South Korea moved up to fourth place in this year’s business environment survey by the World Bank, mainly due to high scores in legal settlements and electricity supply.The organization’s “Doing Business 2018” report comprising the annual survey showed that South Korea moved one notch up from the previous year.The business environments of 190 countries were surveyed in 10 broad categories in accordance with the business life cycle from start to closure.South Korea was pla

South Korean stocks closed at another record high Wednesday, led mainly by technology shares, analysts said. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 33.04 points, or 1.31 percent, to close at 2,556.47. The gain marks the fourth consecutive session that the main bourse has moved up. Trade volume was moderate at 357.9 million shares worth 7.44 trillion won ($6.79 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 449 to 354.Analysts said the growth wa

Kookmin Bank celebrated its 16th anniversary on Wednesday, amid anticipations that it would become the nation’s largest commercial bank this year.Yoon Jong-kyoo, chief executive officer of KB Financial Group and its flagship Kookmin Bank, said 2017 is “(the bank’s) first year as a leading bank” in a speech at the anniversary event. This came days after KB Financial Group and Kookmin Bank were found to have both outperformed Shinhan Financial Group and its commercial Shinh