South Korea economy
18 stories related to this topic, newest first.
upi.comSouth Korea Oceans Ministry Advances Plans for Southeastern Maritime Hub
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is relocating operations to Busan and supporting corporate moves to the region. Officials cited preparation for expanded Arctic shipping routes and record seafood exports in 2025.
koreaherald.comSamsung Electronics and Union Fail to Reach Wage Agreement in First Mediation Round
Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union resumed government-mediated wage talks Monday but did not reach an agreement. The sides plan to meet again Tuesday after failing to resolve differences over performance-based bonuses.
citizen.co.zaSamsung and Union to Resume Mediation as 46,000 Workers Prepare Possible Strike
Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union will hold government-mediated talks on May 19, 2026, three days before an 18-day strike is set to begin. Chairman Lee Jae-yong apologized publicly after returning from an overseas trip and the company replaced its chief negotiator.
upi.comSouth Korea Reports Record Exports Despite Middle East Conflict, Government Prepares Growth Strategy
Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said prolonged fighting is now visibly affecting the real economy and livelihoods even as the country posts record exports and stock indexes. He presided over separate meetings on economic and real estate policy in Seoul on May 15, 2026. The governm…
upi.comSouth Korea Import Prices Fall 3% in April on Lower Oil Costs
The import price index dropped 2.3 percent on-month in April after surging 18 percent in March, driven by a sharp decline in oil prices following a U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Export prices rose 7.1 percent on-month and 40.8 percent year-on-year. The Bank of Korea released the prelimina…
South China Morning PostSamsung Electronics Union to Strike for 18 Days After Mediation Talks Fail
Samsung Electronics’ biggest labour union will stage an 18-day walkout from May 21 to June 7 after government-led mediation talks failed on Wednesday. The company expressed regret and said it hoped to continue sincere dialogue. The dispute centres on how record profits driven by…
South China Morning PostSamsung Electronics Faces Potential Strike as South Korea Debates AI Chip Profit Sharing
Samsung Electronics and its labor union failed to reach a wage agreement after government-mediated talks, raising the prospect of an 18-day strike starting May 21. The company reported record operating profit of 43.6 trillion won last year and 57.23 trillion won in the first quar…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewSouth Korea Extends Fuel Price Caps for Third Time
Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Monday the temporary price caps on fuel will remain in place until the Middle East situation stabilizes. The government is monitoring oil markets after the Strait of Hormuz was closed in late February. Koo also highlighted stronger-than-expecte…
koreaherald.comHD KSOE Lands $1.4 Billion in Ship Orders, Reaching 46.4% of 2026 Target
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. won contracts on May 8, 2026 to build six container ships and two very large gas carriers. The deals bring the company's 2026 orders to $10.81 billion for 94 vessels. HD KSOE, a unit of HD Hyundai Co., also reported strong first-qu…
koreatimes.co.krSamsung Electronics Management Calls for Continued Union Talks as Strike Threat Looms
Samsung Electronics Co.'s top management on May 7 vowed to continue negotiations with the company's union over performance-based bonuses. The appeal came after unionized workers announced plans for an 18-day general strike starting May 21. The company reported a sharp rise in fir…
koreatimes.co.krCreditors Raise Yeochun NCC Letter of Credit Limit to $300 Million for Naphtha Imports
Creditors of Yeochun NCC, a major South Korean ethylene producer, agreed to increase the company's letter of credit ceiling to $300 million. The move aims to help secure naphtha supplies amid disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. The Financial Services Commission said the Kore…
ndtv.comSouth Korea Securities Firms Allocate 9.9 Trillion Won to Risk Capital in Q1 Under Regulatory Push
The Financial Services Commission convened major securities firms in Seoul on May 7, 2026, urging greater support for high-growth companies. Seven firms provided 9.9 trillion won in risk capital during the first quarter, a 25.7 percent increase from the previous quarter. The regu…
app.buzzsumo.comSouth Korean Investors Direct Most Stock Gains to Real Estate, BOK Report Says
The Bank of Korea reported that investors spent only 1.3 percent of stock market capital gains on consumption. Households without homes directed about 70 percent of those gains into the property market. The central bank recommended creating conditions for the stock market to supp…
news.sky.comSouth Korea to Launch 600 Billion Won Fund for AI and High-Tech Loans
The government will start offering a fund of up to 600 billion won, or about $412 million, from May 22 to help banks and brokerages increase lending to companies in artificial intelligence and other high-tech sectors. The fund will initially place more risk on the government for…
upi.comSamsung Electronics Surges Past $1 Trillion Market Cap as Shares Jump Over 15%
Samsung Electronics reached a $1 trillion market capitalization on Wednesday as shares surged more than 15%, driven by strong first-quarter results and AI demand. The company became the second Asian firm to hit this milestone after TSMC. Related stocks like SK Hynix also rose sha…
abcnews.go.comUSTR to Hold Hearings on Trade Investigations into South Korea, China, Japan and 13 Other Countries
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will conduct public hearings this week on investigations into structural excess capacity in manufacturing sectors across 16 countries. The probes, launched in March under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, target unfair trade practices.…
koreatimes.co.krLee Family Wealth Rises to $45.5 Billion Amid AI Chip Market Growth
The Lee family's wealth increased to approximately $45.5 billion due to higher valuation of Samsung Electronics from the AI chip sector expansion. Jay Y. Lee regained the position as South Korea's richest individual with $26.9 billion. The family is preparing to finalize a signif…
news18.comHanwha Ocean Q1 Net Profit Rises 131.8% to 500 Billion Won on LNG Carrier Growth
Hanwha Ocean Co. reported a first-quarter net profit of 500 billion won, up 131.8 percent from the previous year, driven by high-value LNG carrier projects. Operating profit reached 441.1 billion won, exceeding estimates. The company secured $2.45 billion in new orders, including…