South Korea's exports shot up 21.6 percent on-year during the first 20 days of September, due to a rise in outbound shipments of chips and petrochemical goods, customs data showed Friday.The country's outbound shipments reached US$36.5 billion in the September 1-20 period, according to the K

Seoul shares may undergo upward momentum next week, as eased concerns over global trade disputes and positive forecasts for corporate earnings could whet investors' appetite for bargains, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,339.17 on Friday,

Reinsurance firms in South Korea saw their combined profit slip 13.8 percent on-year in the first half, hit by losses from accidents at home and abroad, data showed Tuesday.Ten reinsurers in South Korea posted a combined net profit of 134.7 billion won (US$119.6 million) in the January-June period,

More than eight in 10 South Koreans favor the increased use of renewable energy on the grounds that it is clean and inexhaustible, a poll showed Monday.According to the survey of 1,003 South Koreans across the nation, 86.2 percent of respondents said they are in favor of the expansion of renewable e

The corporate value of more than 6 out of 10 firms in which South Korea's state pension operator invests has risen since its introduction of the so-called stewardship code in late July, a report said Friday.The National Pension Service (NPS) adopted the stewardship code on July 30, which refers

South Korean stocks will move within a tight range as investors may remain skittish over the escalating trade tension between the United States and China and rising odds of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) finish

South Korea's current account surplus reached its yearly high in July on the back of solid growth in exports, central bank data showed Thursday.The country's current account surplus came to US$8.76 billion in July, up from $7.25 billion a year ago, according to the preliminary data from the

South Korean shares will likely trade higher next week as investors are expected to continue buying up relatively undervalued shares following improvements in the U.S. economy, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 2,322.88 points on Friday, up 1.29 percent

Selling coffee will be completely banned at elementary, middle and high schools starting mid-September, the food ministry said Tuesday.The ban will become effective as of Sept. 14 following a law revision, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Foods and beverages with high levels of caf

South Korea's consumer confidence plunged to a 17-month low in August due largely to a sluggish job market and inflation, central bank data showed Tuesday.The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) for this month stood at 99.2, down 1.8 points from the previous month, according to the survey

South Korea's trade promotion agency said Sunday it will provide customized consulting services to beef up efforts to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) tap into overseas markets.The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said it will increase the number of employees tasked

The Bank of Korea (BOK) will likely maintain its policy rate at the current 1.5 percent next week as Asia's fourth-largest economy is struggling with sluggish employment and global trade disputes, a market watcher said Saturday.Chaired by Gov. Lee Ju-yeol, the seven-member panel of the BOK will

South Korea's terms of trade dropped at the fastest clip in nearly seven years last month as import prices rose sharply amid higher crude oil prices, central bank data showed Friday.The terms of trade index for products came to 92.94 last month, down 9.7 percent from a year earlier, according to

Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said Thursday that the government will propose the largest job creation-centered budget next year that will benefit both the public and private sectors, as the nation's economy is struggling with employment problems.Kim, who made the remarks at a parliamentary budg

Unemployment numbers for the 25-39 age group, which normally represents new entrants to the job market, were at their highest in 19 years last month, state data showed Wednesday.The number of people without jobs in the age group hit 338,000 in July, the highest since 434,000 tallied in 1999, accordi

Korea Post, the national postal service provider, will switch more than 2,000 contracted workers to permanent employees over four years starting next year, its report to a lawmaker said Monday.The report, submitted to the ruling party's Rep. Lee Cheol-hee, said 2,252 temporary employees, includi

South Korea's import prices index hit a near four-year high last month due mainly to a weaker local currency, central bank data showed Tuesday.In Korean won terms, the import price index gained 1.7 percent to 89.81 in July from a month earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Kore

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) raised warnings that South Korea's economy is facing some serious challenges going forward, an analysis of data showed Sunday.The alarm comes as the organization representing developed market economies with high income adjusted dow

North Korean coal and pig iron have been brought into South Korea, potentially in violation of international sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear ambitions and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, Seoul's customs office said Friday.The Korea Customs Office (KCS) said three South Kor

South Korea's economic recovery is being hampered by weakening domestic demand, although exports remain relatively sound, a state-run think tank said Tuesday."Export growth has been maintained, but domestic demand growth is weakening, putting a drag on the pace of economic improvement," the Ko