South Korea Logs First-Ever 10 Million Foreign Arrivals in H1 2026, Monthly Tourist Card Spending Hits USD 1.3 Billion Record
South Korea welcomed over 10 million foreign visitors by June 20, 2026—the first time ever before mid-year. Monthly card spending hit USD 1.3B (+47%), with KCTI forecasting 22 million full-year arrivals.
Kakao Union Sets June 29 'Log-Out Day' as Full Work Stoppage, Wage Talks Still Stalled
Kakao Corp's union will proceed with a full-day work stoppage on June 29 across five group entities, as wage negotiations remain deadlocked after the company's first-ever strike on June 10.
KB Financial Posts 11.5% Profit Surge in Q1 2026 as Fee Income Jumps 45%
KB Financial Group Q1 2026 net profit rose 11.5% YoY to KRW 1.89 trillion, with fee income surging 45.5%. KB Securities net profit nearly doubled. CET1 at 14.93%, KRW 600B buyback approved.
KRX Puts Brakes on Weekly Options for Samsung, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution as KOSPI Volatility Forces Rethink
South Korea's Korea Exchange indefinitely postpones the June 29 launch of weekly single-stock options for Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and LG Energy Solution amid a 10% KOSPI decline and USD 13.2 billion in foreign outflows.
LS GreenLink Breaks Ground on World's Tallest Submarine Cable Tower in Virginia, Targeting AI-Driven Power Grid Market
LS Cable & System unit LS GreenLink breaks ground on a 201-meter VCV tower in Chesapeake, Virginia — set to become the US largest submarine cable plant, targeting AI data center power demand by 2028.
Boston Dynamics Commits USD 100M to Waltham Robotics Campus, Putting 1,250 Jobs and Atlas Mass Production on Track for Hyundai Factories
Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary Boston Dynamics is investing USD 100M in a 323,000 sq ft campus in Waltham, MA, targeting 1,250 new jobs by 2033 and Atlas humanoid robot mass production for 25,000-unit Hyundai factory deployments from 2028. Massachusetts awarded a USD 25M EDIP grant. HL Mando (204320.KS) and Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) are key listed proxies.
Korea's KRW 1,100 Trillion Pension Giant Faces USD 43.5 Billion Selling Overhang as KOSPI Rally Breaches Domestic Equity Cap
South Korea's National Pension Service sold USD 920M in four days and may need to offload up to USD 43.5B more as the KOSPI's 94% rally pushed domestic equity weight above 30%, breaching a 28.8% ceiling before the June 30 grace-period deadline.
Korea's 'Korea Discount' Cure Freezes IPO Market: HD Hyundai, LS, SK Ecoplant Shelve USD 6 Billion in Listings as Dual-Listing Rules Stall
South Korea's dual-listing ban has paralysed the KOSPI IPO pipeline — 2026 H1 fundraising collapsed 91% to USD 700M as HD Hyundai Robotics (USD 5.4B), SK Ecoplant, and LS Group shelve major listing plans.
KCC Corporation Q1 2026: Net Income Surges 393% to KRW 217B as Investment Gains Overshadow Flat Revenue and Declining Operating Profit
KCC Corporation (002380.KS) reports Q1 2026 net income of KRW 217 billion, up 393% year-on-year, driven by KRW 562 billion in financial income from its Momentive Global investment, while operating profit fell 14.8% on rising SG&A costs.
GS Group Enters 1.2 GW AI Data Center Race, Leverages Power-Plant Co-Location to Challenge Tech-First Rivals
GS Group is in talks with the South Korean government to build two 1.2-gigawatt AI data centers, leveraging its power generation and construction arms for a vertically integrated push.
Celltrion Remsima SC Commands 31% EU5 Market Share as Phase 3 Crohn's Data Affirms 44-Week Efficacy
Celltrion presented 44-week Remsima SC Phase 3 Crohn's data at AOCC&IMKASID 2026 in Seoul. The subcutaneous biosimilar holds a 31% EU5 market share in Q4 2025 and US Zimpetra prescriptions tripled in Q1 2026 year-on-year.
TKG-IMM Consortium Takes Control of April Bio in KRW 346.8 Billion Capital Raise, Targets KRW 20 Trillion Market Cap in Five Years
TKG Huchems and IMM Investment are set to control April Bio after a KRW 346.8 billion capital raise, fueling an aggressive push toward a KRW 20 trillion market cap within five years.