[THE INVESTOR] Korea Electric Power Corp. has more than 10 trillion won (US$9.1 billion) in bonds set to mature by the end of 2018, industry data showed on Aug. 16.According to the data, KEPCO needs to repay bonds with a combined value of 10.2 trillion won by the end of 2018. That represents about 40 percent of all the corporation’s outstanding bonds, which comes to 26 trillion won. The value of bonds the company needs to repay by the end of 2020 stands at 16 trillion won. Although 3 trillion wo

[THE INVESTOR] Chinese investors are rapidly expanding their presence in Seoul’s real estate market, data showed on Aug. 12. According to government data, the number of plots in Seoul held by Chinese nationals rose 10.2 percent during the first three months of the year. At the end of last year, 3,192 plots were held by Chinese nationals, and the figure at the end of the first quarter of this year came to 3,516. According to the data, Chinese real estate investments in Seoul have been rising 40 p

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung BioLogics on Aug. 12 applied to the Korea Exchange for a preliminary listing review. The world’s third largest biologics contract manufacturer by capacity will be the first pharmaceutical firm to be listed on the benchmark KOPSI in 10 years. The company is 51 percent held by Samsung C&T, and 46.8 percent by Samsung Electronics.  A screen welcoming visitors to Samsung BioLogics/ The InvestorSamsung BioLogics is expected to be the largest IPO this year. The industry estimate

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean insurance companies are expected to be given a freer rein in investing in foreign-currency denominated assets.According to sources, revisions to the Insurance Business Act allowing more investment in foreign currency assets will be proposed in September. The revision is expected to be passed without much friction with neither the conservative ruling party nor the opposition parties having raised issue with the proposed changes.At present, local insurers’ investments i

[THE INVESTOR] Conglomerate chiefs and high-level officials passed over in the presidential pardon were not included in light of “public sentiment and severity of the crimes,” according to South Korea's justice minister Kim Hyun-woong.Those passed over include SK group Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon and LIG Nex1’s Koo Bon-sang. Chey, a younger brother of SK chairman Chey Tae-won,  was released on parole last month, and Kim was released from custody in late 2014

[THE INVESTOR] CJ Group is in high spirits with Chairman Lee Jay-hyun being included in the presidential pardon. In a widely anticipated move, President Park Geun-hye on Aug. 12 approved the pardon of the CJ Group chairman. The pardon will take effect on Aug. 15, the 71st Liberation Day. CJ chairman Lee Jay-hyunLee was found guilty of embezzlement and tax evasion, and was sentenced to 32-month imprisonment. He had appealed the decision, and until July 19 he had been reappealing the case. The rea

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean money is flowing into dollar-based investment vehicles, as won continues to gain against the greenback. One Aug. 10, the won-dollar rate dropped below 1,100, and experts say that foreign entities consider the won to be undervalued. As the won strengthens against the dollar, local investment companies have seen the influx of funds into dollar repurchase agreements soar in July. The amount put into dollar RP at Daishin Securities went from US$82.96 million at the end of

[THE INVESTOR] Foreign Investment banks project that the Bank of Korea will lower the benchmark rate in the final quarter of the year, the Korea Center for International Finance said on Aug. 12.The KCIF’s analysis of foreign investment banks’ projections showed they expect that slowing international trade may force BOK to lower the rate it in October. The banks also projected that the ongoing corporate restructuring will begin to take its toll on the economy later in the year. BOK govenor Lee Ju

[THE INVESTOR] Rising household debt is feeding financial risks for South Korea, and the financial authorities are discussing possible countermeasures, Bank of Korea Gov. Lee Ju-yeol said on Aug. 11. Speaking after the Monetary Policy Meeting where the benchmark rate was frozen at 1.25 percent, Lee said that countermeasures for containing household debt may be needed.“Household debt is rising faster than previous years, and it is acting as a factor that increases risks,” Lee said, adding that th

[THE INVESTOR] Teaser images of the new i30 hatchback was released by Hyundai Motor on Aug. 11. The company also posted a video of the company’s design chief Peter Schreyer explaining the design concept on YouTube.In the video, Schreyer says that the new i30 is a European car developed and designed in Europe, and that the design is an expression of “new spirit” of Hyundai Motor. The new i30, which will hit the domestic market in September, is the third generation of Hyundai Motor’s compact hatch

[THE INVESTOR] The so-called “war of brothers” between Park Sam-koo and Park Chan-koo of the erstwhile Kumho Group has ended, with the latter choosing to withdraw all lawsuits against the former and his companies. The brothers fell out after the group began to experience financial difficulties in 2009. After it was split into Sam-koo’s Kumho Asiana Group and Chan-koo’s Kumho Petrochemical, the two sides had engaged in drawn out legal battles. However, Kumho Petrochemical dropped the latest lawsu