Seoul shares sank by almost 1.5 percent Wednesday amid political chaos as opposition parties moved to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the declaration of martial law overnight before he reversed the decision hours later. The Korean won fell sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 36.1 points, or 1.44 percent, to close at 2,464.00. Trade volume was heavy at 661.09 million shares worth 13.07 trillion won ($9.26 billion), with losers outpacing winners

The unexpected martial law declaration late Tuesday by President Yoon Suk Yeol, which was lifted just two and a half hours later, left South Korean export-driven businesses fearing its impact on their global expansion. In particular, food and beauty companies, which have found renewed growth in overseas markets amid a stagnating domestic economy, voiced concerns about whether the incident might tarnish Korea’s reputation abroad and harm export performance. "We received multiple calls

Although South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise declaration of martial law did not make it even through the night, such political unrest in a country home to leading tech giants could result in long-term market fallout, potentially weakening Korea's role in the global supply chain of critical technologies such as chips, experts said Wednesday. In the hours after martial law was declared, the Korean won fell to its lowest level against the US dollar in three years, while Korea-

Naver and Kakao, the nation’s top two internet companies, suffered malfunctions for hours due to a spike in traffic after President Yoon Suk Yeok issued his short-lived martial law decree. After Yoon made the sudden declaration at 10:23 p.m. on Tuesday, the Naver Cafe platform for community discussions experienced access issues on smartphones, which were resolved after midnight. Even after access normalized, some functions such as posting and editing comments experienced disruptions until

South Korea’s financial markets avoided a feared meltdown on Wednesday, recovering quickly after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared -- and just six hours later lifted -- martial law in response to political tensions. Swift intervention from the National Assembly and financial authorities helped calm the initial panic, but questions about political stability continue to weigh on investors. The benchmark Kospi index plunged as much as 2.31 percent during morning trading, bottoming out at 2,442

Six hours of unexpected martial law have rattled local markets, with volatility expected to persist despite the lifting of the emergency measure. In response to potential aftershocks, local authorities have pledged comprehensive actions to ensure normal operations and stabilize volatility, including the government's commitment to injecting "unlimited liquidity." "The foreign exchange market and overseas trading of Korean stocks, unsettled by last night’s martial law dec

Korea’s leading conglomerates are keeping close tabs on the aftermath of the country’s first martial law declaration since 1979 as they look to minimize potential damage from the political rift. According to industry officials on Wednesday, executives at Samsung affiliates gathered throughout the night to determine a response after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law at around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. Samsung officials held emergency meetings the following morning. SK has been cl

Crossfire and Lost Ark developer Smilegate said Wednesday that it had made a strategic investment in Absurd Ventures, a media and entertainment firm in the US, aiming to expand its presence in the global market. The size of the investment was not revealed immediately. Absurd Ventures was founded last year by Dan Houser, who spent over 20 years at Rockstar Games as the creative director for iconic game series like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Houser is now focused on creating success

Shares in companies linked to prominent South Korean political figures surged Wednesday, following the repeal of martial law and a renewed impeachment push against President Yoon Suk Yeol. The sharp rise in stocks seen as politically affiliated appears to be attributed to President Yoon's precarious position following his declaration and subsequent revocation of martial law. As Yoon's grip on power weakens, investors are increasingly betting on stocks linked to prominent presidential

Shares of Kakao Corp., one of South Korea’s top tech companies, jumped on Wednesday as political instability surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol shook the nation. The stock surged 6.87 percent as of 11 a.m., trading at 45,900 won ($32.40), as investors appeared to bet on a potential easing of regulatory pressure on the company. Kakao shares had a rocky start, opening 1.75 percent lower at 42,200 won amid market uncertainty following President Yoon’s surprise declaration of emergency

The Korea Forest Service announced Wednesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kyrgyz Republic to enhance cooperation on forestry issues amid the growing impacts of climate change. Kyrgyzstan is grappling with deforestation and forest fires exacerbated by dry weather and overgrazing, highlighting an urgent need for international collaboration. Under the agreement, Korea plans to leverage its forestry expertise to boost joint efforts in forest restoration, seed conservation and

The Kia Sorento has become the best-selling car in South Korea this year, marking the first time a recreational vehicle has led domestic car sales. As of November, the Sorento recorded 85,710 units sold, according to data from Korea’s five automakers. Following closely were Kia’s Carnival with 75,513 units and Hyundai’s Santa Fe with 70,912 units, highlighting a significant shift in consumer preferences toward RVs. This marks a milestone for Kia, which has been part of Hyundai

South Korea’s financial markets tumbled on Wednesday following a night of political chaos, as President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law only to withdraw the measure just hours later under pressure from lawmakers. The Kospi, South Korea’s main stock index, opened 1.8 percent lower at 2,454.68, a drop of 45.42 points. The tech-heavy Kosdaq also fell 1.8 percent, opening at 678.35. In currency trading, the South Korean won weakened significantly. The exchange rate surged to 1

Multinational companies doing business in Korea were thrown into confusion overnight as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, a drastic decision that was rescinded just six hours later. Most firms swiftly responded by issuing emergency notices, instructing employees to work remotely, while their headquarters closely monitored the situation by directing their Korean teams to report on the potential ramifications. "We stayed up all night monitoring fluctuating exchanges rates," s

Seoul shares opened lower Wednesday as political uncertainties arose after President Yoon Suk Yeol lifted a short-lived attempt at martial law. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) fell 25.95 points, or 1.04 percent, to 2,474.15 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On late Tuesday, Yoon declared an "emergency martial law," accusing the main opposition Democratic Party of sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities. But Yoon l

South Korea’s most powerful labor union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, has declared an indefinite general strike, demanding the immediate resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The announcement comes in response to Yoon's declaration of martial law late last night, a move the union has fiercely criticized as unconstitutional and undemocratic. The strike was announced early Wednesday morning during a press conference by the KCTU’s leadership. The union framed its act

South Korea's bourse operator Korea Exchange has decided to open stock markets as usual amid concerns over market volatility induced by President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of an emergency martial law declaration. Stock market indicators, which plummeted due to President Yoon's sudden declaration, showed slight stabilization after parliament voted in favor of a motion demanding the lifting of martial law. As of 2:30 am, the Kospi 200 overnight futures and options index stood at 322.80, dow

South Korea's bourse operator said Wednesday it is yet to be decided whether stock markets will open as usual following President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected emergency martial law declaration. Yoon declared martial law in a previously unannounced late-night address Tuesday, accusing the opposition side of controlling the parliament and paralyzing the government by conducting "anti-state activities." "It is yet to be decided if the stock markets will be opened Wednesday,&q

The Korean won fell to a two-year low against the US dollar after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law late Tuesday. The Korean currency weakened as much as 1.4 percent and touched 1,430 won per dollar during the nighttime offshore trading. The decline followed a late-night television address by President Yoon, who claimed the move was necessary to protect the country from "anti-state" forces. The Korean won sharply dropped right after Yoon’s declaration at arou

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok convened an emergency meeting with top economic and financial officials Tuesday following the declaration of martial law. Choi, who doubles as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, met with the heads of the Bank of Korea, the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, the finance ministry said. The industry ministry later said it has also held an emergency meeting with senior officials to review and discuss matters related to the eco