Bank of Korea Flags KOSPI Concentration Risk as Samsung and SK Hynix ETFs Surge — While 'Chipflation' Hits Consumer Wallets
Bank of Korea warns Samsung and SK Hynix ETF concentration has reached 55.3% of KOSPI market cap, while chipflation pushes storage device prices up 45.6% year-on-year — highest among 458 CPI basket items.
Korean Won Logs Second-Worst H1 Since 1998 as Foreign Investors Unload ₩156 Trillion in KOSPI Shares
The Korean won fell 5.92% in H1 2026, posting its second-worst first-half average since the 1998 Asian financial crisis. Foreign investors sold ₩156.56 trillion in KOSPI shares, more than 4.5 times the full-year 2008 total.
Korea's Fake News Law Takes Effect July 7: Kakao and Naver Face New Platform Liability Rules
South Korea's revised Information and Communications Network Act takes effect July 7, 2026, exposing Kakao (035720.KS) and Naver to punitive damages and CEO liability for content moderation failures.
Samsung (005930.KS), SK Hynix Rise 8–11% as Kospi Tops 8,000
South Korea's chip duo staged one of the sharpest reversals of the year on Friday, July 3, and the pattern of the move matters more than its size. The Kospi (Ko
Seoul Court Terminates Homeplus Rehabilitation, Korea's No. 2 Hypermarket Faces Liquidation
Seoul Bankruptcy Court terminated Homeplus' rehabilitation proceedings on July 3 after the MBK Partners-owned retailer failed to raise KRW 200B in operating capital. With a 14-day appeal window, Korea's second-largest hypermarket faces liquidation — with implications for E-Mart, Lotte Shopping, and Meritz Financial.
Samsung Targets Third Straight DRAM Price Hike in Q3, Seeking Up to 20% Rise After 90% Jump in Q1
Samsung Electronics is seeking a 20% DRAM price hike for Q3 2026, marking the third consecutive quarter of double-digit increases after +90% in Q1 and +50-60% in Q2, with TrendForce projecting 13-18% actual gains.
LG Energy Solution Locks In Humanoid Battery Contracts With Tesla, Boston Dynamics and Figure AI
LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) confirms battery supply deals with Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Figure AI for humanoid robots, betting on high-nickel ternary chemistry to outpace Chinese LFP rivals.
SK Hynix Weighs Record $29B Nasdaq ADR as July 10 Debut Nears
SK Hynix targets up to $29B in Nasdaq ADRs (largest ADR ever), with July 10 trading start and BofA/GS/Citi/JPM as underwriters. Proceeds earmarked for Yongin fab and Cheongju P&T7 packaging plant.
Hanwha, Hyundai Pledge Combined KRW 97 Trillion to Transform Yeongnam Into Defense-Aerospace Hub
Hanwha Group and Hyundai Motor Group pledged a combined KRW 97 trillion for the Yeongnam region, with Hanwha focusing on space sovereignty via launch vehicles and satellites, and Hyundai on next-generation EVs and clean energy.
₩350T Q2 Memory Surge: Samsung (005930.KS), SK Hynix Records
The global memory-chip market is on track to approach ₩350 trillion ($254 billion) in the second quarter of 2026, a figure that sets up record earnings for Kore
Verizon's $3.2B Spectrum Sweep Puts Samsung's 5G Network Unit Back in Focus
Verizon won 91% of the FCC's first spectrum auction in four years, committing USD 3.2 billion for mid-band capacity. Samsung Electronics, Verizon's primary 5G network-equipment partner under a ₩7.9 trillion supply contract, stands to benefit as US regulators bar Chinese-made telecom components.
Samsung (005930.KS) Pledges ₩60T for Korea Physical AI Hub
Samsung on July 3 pledged to invest ₩60 trillion ($43.8 billion) in the Yeongnam region — the industrial belt of southeastern Korea centered on Busan, Ulsan and