SEOUL, Jun. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s foreign reserves declined in May due to a fall in deposits and the central bank’s foreign currency swap with the country’s national pension fund, central bank data showed Wednesday. The country’s foreign reserves had come to US$412.83 billion as of end-May, down $3.51 billion from the previous [...]
SEOUL, May 10 (Korea Bizwire) — The combined loss by insurers from selling medical indemnity insurance products widened from a year earlier in 2023 despite an increase in sales, data showed Friday. The combined loss of seven life insurers and 10 non-life insurers from their medical indemnity insurance, or reimbursement-backed private medical insurance, came to [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 24 (Korea Bizwire) – The persistently high interest rate environment in South Korea has triggered a wave of cancellations for low-yielding savings-type insurance policies, driving down the two-year policy retention rate at insurers to a mere 65% last year, according to data released on April 23. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the government’s financial [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean government has uncovered widespread discriminatory practices against temporary and part-time employees at major financial institutions, including banks, credit card companies, and credit bureaus. In a labor inspection spanning 35 firms during the first quarter, the Ministry of Employment and Labor found a total of 185 violations pertaining [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — The head of South Korea’s financial regulator on Monday urged local banks to continue improving their business practices, saying the government will continue to push for policies that encourage “change and innovation” through competition. Kim Joo-hyun, chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), made the remark in a meeting [...]
SEOUL, Mar. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has failed to be added to the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) run by FTSE Russell, the London-based organization said Thursday. South Korea will remain on its watch list for a potential upgrade to a market accessibility level of 2 from 1 and consideration for inclusion in [...]
SEOUL, Mar. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – A South Korean human rights watchdog has determined that a bank’s refusal to open an account for an Iranian national residing in the country based solely on their nationality constitutes discrimination. According to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) on March 25, an Iranian citizen, identified only by [...]
SEOUL, Mar. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s major commercial banks rewarded employees with significant pay raises last year, despite continuing a cost-cutting drive that saw further reductions in staffing levels and branch networks across the country, according to financial filings. An analysis by Yonhap News of the 2023 business reports disclosed by the nation’s four [...]
SEOUL, Mar. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – As concerns grow over household debt levels in South Korea, a new analysis has found that nearly one-third of those who have taken out loans from insurance companies are overwhelmed by obligations to multiple lenders, raising fears of potential defaults. The study by Lee Suk-ho, a senior research fellow at [...]
SEOUL, Mar. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – The value of delinquent loans among self-employed individuals in South Korea has surged by nearly 50% in a year, with the delinquency rate of young self-employed individuals in their 20s and 30s increasing the fastest. This trend indicates that self-employed individuals are facing financial difficulties due to high interest rates [...]