The Korea Pulse
- KOSPI Crashes 8.95% Below 7,000 in Chip-Led Selloff
South Korea's KOSPI plunged 8.95% to close at 6,806 on July 13, breaking below the 7,000 mark as Samsung and SK Hynix led a broad semiconductor selloff. Read more →
- Samsung and SK Hynix Whipsaw Before Closing Higher
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix swung between steep losses and gains on July 14 before finishing up around 3%, pulling the KOSPI into positive territory. Read more →
- SK Hynix Shares Pull Back After Nasdaq ADR Debut
SK Hynix's Korean-listed stock fell sharply after its American depositary receipts began trading on the Nasdaq, even as demand for the new listing ran strong. Read more →
- Korea Sets 2026 Minimum Wage at 10,700 Won an Hour
South Korea's minimum wage will rise 3.7% to 10,700 won per hour in 2026, a 380-won increase that lifts the full-time monthly floor to about 2.24 million won. Read more →
- KOSDAQ Firms Turn to Third-Party Share Sales in Mid-July Cash Drive
Four KOSDAQ-listed companies disclosed equity moves on July 13–14, led by Graphy's 12.1 billion won third-party allotment backed by Korea Securities Finance. Read more →
- US June Inflation Eases to 3.5%, Below Market Forecasts
US consumer prices rose 3.5% year over year in June, a slower pace than economists had expected, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics release. Read more →
- Korea's Chip Selloff: SK Hynix Sinks 8%, Samsung Sheds 4%
SK Hynix fell about 8% and Samsung roughly 4% intraday on July 13 as Korea's memory giants led a market rout, even as Kyobo floated an ELB on both. Read more →
- KOSPI Plunges 8.95% to 6,806 as Chip Selloff Shatters 7,000 Line
South Korea's KOSPI crashed 8.95% to close at 6,806 on July 13, breaking below 7,000 and triggering circuit breakers amid a semiconductor-led rout. Read more →
- Ottogi Raises Prices on 29 Products as Food Costs Climb in Korea
Ottogi lifts prices on 29 grocery items from July 16, with curry up 6.1%, glass noodles 10% and pepper 17%, citing higher raw material costs. Read more →
- Post Offices to Fill the Loan Gap in Bankless Korean Towns
Korea Post will let residents of 20 rural counties apply for loans from the four major banks at post office counters, starting the 20th. Read more →
- Hong Kong Overtakes Switzerland as Top Offshore Wealth Hub
Hong Kong has surpassed Switzerland as the world's largest offshore wealth management center, propelled by a sustained wave of mainland Chinese capital. Read more →
- Korean Firms Set Summer Break at 3.8 Days, Clustered in Early August
A Korea Enterprises Federation survey of 674 firms finds the average 2026 summer vacation runs 3.8 days, with most breaks falling in the first week of August. Read more →