KOSPI Tops 9,000 for First Time, Led by Just Two Chip Stocks
South Korea's KOSPI (the country's benchmark stock index) closed above 9,000 for the first time on June 18, finishing at 9,063. 84, up 199.
Korean Air Pegs ₩900 Billion–₩1 Trillion Price Tag on Asiana Integration, Targets Breakeven by End-2028
Korean Air estimates ₩900 billion to ₩1 trillion to integrate Asiana Airlines, with ₩300 billion in annual synergies expected to offset costs by end-2028 to early 2029.
Pulmuone Extends 11-Year U.S. Tofu Lead as Jan–May Sales Climb 16.8% to ₩107.8 Billion
Pulmuone Foods USA logged ₩107.8 billion in Jan–May 2026 U.S. tofu revenues, up 16.8% year on year, as water-pack and high-protein formats drive record-pace sales across 15,000 U.S. stores.
KakaoPay, Toss Pay Pull Payment Services From Megabox as Court Freeze Locks Out Refunds
KakaoPay and Toss Pay pull payment gateway services from Megabox after Seoul Bankruptcy Court freezes JoongAng Group assets. Megabox carries 2,212% debt-to-equity ratio after 6 consecutive loss years.
Samsung's System LSI Guides to Annual Loss Despite Record Q1 Revenue as SoC Drag Persists
The head of Samsung Electronics' (005930
Intel Hires Former SK Hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee to Run Its Advanced Packaging Push
Intel named former SK Hynix president Seok-Hee Lee as EVP of Intel Foundry, putting the Korean memory veteran in charge of advanced packaging as Intel chases profitable foundry revenue.
Kia to Retire Granbird After 60 Years as Chinese EV Buses and Emissions Rules Squeeze Korea's Last Diesel Coach Maker
Kia will discontinue its Granbird large bus within 1-2 years, ending a 60-year legacy as Chinese EV buses and emissions rules make the diesel coach unprofitable.
IMM PE Seals ₩1.11 Trillion Deal to Take 80% of CGBio, Betting on USD 1.6 Billion in U.S. Medical Device Sales
South Korea Jumps to 21st in IMD World Competitiveness, Second-Highest Ever as Business Efficiency Surges 10 Spots
South Korea climbed six spots to 21st among 70 economies in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, its second-highest result ever, driven by a 10-place surge in business efficiency and a rise to 15th in infrastructure.
LG Chem Partners with UK's LabGenius to Halve Cancer Antibody Discovery Timeline, Eyes Triple-Digit Milestones
LG Chem and UK-based LabGenius Therapeutics have signed a multi-year collaboration to develop AI-designed cancer antibodies using the EVA platform, with potential triple-digit million USD milestones.
POSCO International Seals ₩1.3 Trillion Indonesia Palm Bet With PT.PAR Launch, Targets Double Profit
POSCO International formally launched PT Prime Agri Resources in Jakarta on June 18, completing its palm oil value chain across 154,000 hectares in Indonesia and targeting double operating profit in 2026.
Korean Banks' JoongAng Group Exposure Tops ₩800 Billion as Receivership Tests Record Earnings
Five JoongAng Group units, including JTBC, sought court rehabilitation after a ₩700 billion sports-broadcast-rights bet went wrong. Hana Bank holds the largest exposure at ₩307 billion; analysts project limited provisioning impact on Korean lenders.