Articles by Choi Ji-won
Choi Ji-won
jwc@heraldcorp.com-
Value-up program: Market disappointment does not mean a failure, just yet
The Korean government's corporate value enhancement guidelines revealed last week may have disappointed investors, yet experts believe there is room for improvement. After a three-month wait following the initial announcement of the corporate value-up program in February, the Financial Services Commission on Thursday issued several pages of guidelines detailing how companies should create their value enhancement plans and associated regulations. Under the guidelines, companies first select
Economy May 6, 2024
-
Woori to re-enter brokerage business with acquisition of Korea Foss Securities
Woori Financial Group said Friday that it will launch a new brokerage arm in the third quarter by acquiring digital brokerage firm Korea Foss Securities and merging it into its existing investment banking subsidiary. The tie-up plan between Woori Investment Bank and Korea Foss Securities marks the financial giant's return to the stock trading business after a decade. Woori Financial Group's long-term goal is to become one of the country's top 10 brokerage firms within the next dec
Industry May 3, 2024
-
Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
South Korea's exports increased for seven straight months, jumping 13.8 percent in April on strong chip demand and record-high automobile sales. Exports to the US, in particular, reached an all-time high, further widening the gap with China, the country's second-largest export destination. Outbound shipments came to $56.2 billion, up 13.8 percent on-year, according to data revealed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Wednesday. The data showed that imports rose by 5.4 perc
Economy May 1, 2024
-
Financial groups maintain capital adequacy despite ELS risk
Korean banking groups maintained solid capital adequacy despite significant payouts for consumer compensation due to misselling equity-linked securities tracking a Hong Kong index. Industry sources reported that the average capital adequacy ratio, or Common Equity Tier 1, among five major Korean financial groups -- KB, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NongHyup -- was 12.8 percent in the first quarter of this year, a slight decline from 13 percent in the previous term and 12.9 percent from the same peri
Industry April 30, 2024
-
Woori Financial jumps in race to take over Lotte Insurance
The competition to acquire Lotte Insurance, South Korea's seventh-largest nonlife insurer, is intensifying, with Woori Financial Group recently joining the race. Woori Financial Group's Chief Financial Official Lee Sung-wook stated Friday that the company is reviewing the acquisition of the insurer "to fortify our competitiveness in the nonbanking sectors." The remarks came during the company's quarterly conference call. The move represents Woori's effort to reenter
Industry April 28, 2024
-
7 out of 10 wealthy Koreans offer grim outlook for 2024
The majority of wealthy South Koreans have a negative outlook on this year's economy, with plans to maintain their current asset portfolios. However, some are considering investing in real estate if the economy improves. These findings are from the "2024 Korean Wealth Report," compiled by a think tank under Hana Bank based on a survey of around 2,600 Koreans conducted in December last year. Of the respondents, 746 with over 1 billion won ($726,000) in financial assets -- including
Economy April 25, 2024
-
Hanwha Life taps into global banking through fresh investment in Indonesia
Hanwha Life, a leading Korean insurance company and the life insurance subsidiary of Hanwha Group, has made a strategic move into the Indonesian banking sector through a stake investment. The company announced on Wednesday that its board had approved securing a 40 percent stake in Nobu Bank from Indonesia's Lippo Group, marking the first entry of a Korean insurer into the Indonesian banking industry. The decision was made during an extraordinary board meeting held on Tuesday. Hanwha Life
Industry April 24, 2024
-
KITA partners with German VC fund to bolster auto firms in Gwangju
The Korea International Trade Association is ramping up its efforts to support the overseas expansion of local mobility companies in the Gwangju area. On Tuesday, the state-run trade agency's regional headquarters for Gwangju and South Jeolla Province announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with MobilityFund, a German venture capital fund, and the Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency to help boost the global competitiveness of local future and eco-friendly automobile firms.
Industry April 23, 2024
-
Polish delegation visits Seoul to push ahead with arms deal
South Korea and Poland have come to the table to seek progress in their arms deal, with Korea grappling with funding challenges for a follow-up agreement with Poland. On Monday, Pawel Bejda, Poland’s deputy defense minister, met with Seok Jong-gun, the head of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, marking the first high-level visit from the Polish government since the administration change there in December 2022. The Polish government's visit to South Korea c
Industry April 23, 2024
-
[Herald Interview] Why Toss invited hackers to penetrate its system
In 2022, South Korean fintech app Toss launched the nation’s first bug bounty program by a finance company, inviting attacks on its security system from the outside. Operating the program for several months in the first two years, Toss has kept the doors open starting last year so that hackers can report whenever they discover a vulnerability in Toss security. White hat -- or ethical -- hackers that make a significant discovery are rewarded up to 30 million won ($22,000). Toss remains the
Industry April 22, 2024
-
Seoul shares rattled by Israeli attack on Iran; Kospi dips to nearly 11-week low
The South Korean market on Friday faced heightened volatility in response to Israel's military actions against Iran, with the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunging to its lowest level in 11 weeks. The dip coincided with a weakening of the local currency. The Kospi concluded the day at 2591.86, marking a marginal decrease of 1.63 percent from the previous session. Initially opening at 2,600.69, a decrease of 34.01 from the prior session, the index experienced a sharp downturn
Market April 19, 2024
-
S. Korea pledges W23tr venture capital fund for green investment at G20 meeting
South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok unveiled the country's plan to bolster green investment in the private sector by establishing a venture capital fund worth 23 trillion won ($16.6 billion), the ministry said Friday. Emphasizing the importance of leveraging private capital for climate financing, Choi made the announcement during the Group of 20 finance leaders' meeting held in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday, the ministry said. During a session on sustainable finance, Cho
Economy April 19, 2024
-
Why is Apple Pay struggling to get purchase in Korea?
In March 2023, Apple Pay made a grand entrance into the South Korean market, amassing 1 million users on its debut day alone and doubling that figure within three weeks. But a year later, the initial fervor surrounding the mobile payment service of the iPhone maker appears to have dwindled considerably amid the lack of widespread availability. With Hyundai Card's exclusive partnership set to expire in September, no other card companies have followed suit in integrating the service. Speculat
Industry April 17, 2024
-
Credit card transactions hit W900tr in 2023
Last year, South Korea's card payments surged past 900 trillion won ($644.6 billion) for the first time, amid heightened inflation and escalating consumer prices. Data compiled by the Financial Supervisory Service reveals that the combined card payment performance of the nation's eight major credit card companies -- Shinhan, Samsung, Hyundai, KB Kookmin, Lotte, Woori, Hana, and BC -- reached 920.5 trillion won, marking a 6.4 percent increase from the 2022 total of 856.4 trillion won. T
Economy April 16, 2024
-
S. Korea ups guard against economic impact from Middle East conflict
The South Korean government on Sunday announced heightened vigilance against potential domestic repercussions in light of the escalated tensions in the Middle East following Iran's attack on Israel. President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency meeting with cabinet members and relevant government agencies to discuss strategies to respond to the the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. The meeting followed Iran's launch of drones and missiles into Israel early Sunday, apparently in
Economy April 14, 2024
Most Popular
-
1
Trump picks ex-N. Korea policy official as his principal deputy national security adviser
-
2
S. Korea not to attend Sado mine memorial: foreign ministry
-
3
Wealthy parents ditch Korean passports to get kids into international school
-
4
Toxins at 622 times legal limit found in kids' clothes from Chinese platforms
-
5
First snow to fall in Seoul on Wednesday
-
6
[Weekender] Korea's traditional sauce culture gains global recognition
-
7
BLACKPINK's Rose stays at No. 3 on British Official Singles chart with 'APT.'
-
8
Man convicted after binge eating to avoid military service
-
9
Korea to hold own memorial for forced labor victims, boycotting Japan’s
-
10
Gyeongju blends old with new