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☆ South Korea Finance Chief Defends Short-Sell Ban Ahead of Elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Cynthia Kim and Jihoon LeeSEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's finance minister defended the government's ban on short-selling of stocks, an announcement that comes ahead of general elections next year and has drawn criticism from market players who say the move could hurt the country's global credibility. The financial regulator on Sunday reimposed a full ban on short-selling until the end of June 2024 to create a "level playing field" for retail and institutional investors. "The move completely thwarted Korea's plans to convince MSCI that it deserves a spot in the developed market status. The number of retail stock trading accounts has roughly doubled since 2017 to about 14 million, with about one in every five Koreans having an account. South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service in October said it would likely fine two Hong Kong-based investment banks it determined had engaged in naked short-selling transactions worth 40 billion won ($29.58 million) and 16 billion won respectively.

Persons: Cynthia Kim, Jihoon Lee SEOUL, Choo, Korea's, we're, Cho Jun, kee, Jihoon Lee, Tom Hogue, Navaratnam Organizations: MSCI Inc, SK Securities, Financial, Service, Credit Suisse Locations: Philippines, Korea, South Korea, Portugal, Hong Kong

☆ South Korea to re-impose stock short-selling ban through June to 'level playing field'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Jack Kim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A journalist walks past an electronic board of the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at the Korea Exchange (KRX) in Seoul, South Korea, January 20, 2016 REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 5 (Reuters) - South Korea from Monday will re-impose a ban on short-selling shares at least until June to promote a "level playing field" for retail and institutional investors, financial authorities said on Sunday. The regulator last week said it would establish a team of investigators to probe short-selling by foreign investment banks for illegal activity including so-called naked short-selling. Naked short-selling - in which an investor short-sells shares without first borrowing them or determining they can be borrowed - is banned in South Korea. Earlier in the year, the regulator fined five foreign firms including Credit Suisse for naked short-selling. Officials and market watchers alike have cited uncertainty around short-selling regulation as among factors needing to be resolved for influential index provider MSCI to upgrade South Korea to developed-market status.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kim Joo, Kim, Jack Kim, Michael Perry, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Korea, Korea Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Financial Services Commission, Financial Supervisory Service, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Hong Kong

☆ Kakao faces growing regulatory risks as political scrutiny rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Joyce Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Kakao messaging application and the Kakao T taxi booking application are seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo March 13, 2018. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told a public meeting on Wednesday that the market behaviour of Kakao Mobility's taxi-hailing service was monopolistic and required a review. Its regulatory troubles escalated last month when one of its executives was arrested for suspected stock market manipulation during its acquisition of K-Pop agency SM Entertainment (041510.KQ). Last week, regulator Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said it will refer Kakao, its affiliate Kakao Entertainment and executives involved in the SM Entertainment acquisition to public prosecutors for suspected violation of the Capital Markets Act. "It is necessary to pay attention to legal risks, as problems may arise in the status of KakaoBank depending on the probes' results."

Persons: Thomas White, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kakao, Oh Dong, hwan, Joyce Lee, Miyoung Kim, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Kakao Corp, Naver Corp, Reuters, Mobility, SM Entertainment, Financial Supervisory Service, Kakao Entertainment, Pension Service, NPS, Samsung Securities, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Korean, Kakao

☆ South Korea to fine two Hong Kong banks for naked short-selling
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A South Korea won note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 15 (Reuters) - South Korea's stock market watchdog said on Sunday it found two Hong Kong-based investment banks had engaged in naked short-selling, which would likely result in record fines. The two unnamed investment banks made naked short-selling transactions of a total 40 billion won ($29.58 million) and 16 billion won, respectively, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said in a statement. Naked short selling of stocks - in which an investor short sells shares without first borrowing them or determining they can be borrowed - is banned by the Capital Markets Act in South Korea. ($1 = 1,352.2100 won)Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas White, 1,352.2100, Jihoon Lee, Muralikumar Organizations: South, REUTERS, Rights, Financial Supervisory Service, Capital, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Hong Kong

REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 15 (Reuters) - South Korea is reviewing measures to limit currency and swap traders' tenure in local dealing rooms to three to five years, starting as early as next year, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. "The FSS is in the process of finalizing the measures by collecting views from the bankers' federation." Money managers at local banks are fiercely opposing the move, as fraud checks are already rigorously done in their daily operations through middle- and back offices. Foreign banks with local branches will not be subject to enforcement on staffer rotations. The move could be in effect around the time the country's onshore currency market will be extended to 2 a.m. local time, or the end of London business day.

Persons: Thomas White, we're, Cynthia Kim, Kim Coghill Organizations: South, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Woori Bank, Financial Supervisory Service, Korean, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Rights SEOUL, London

☆ S.Korea financial watchdog gathers securities firms to manage real estate risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 20 (Reuters) - South Korea's financial market watchdog gathered local securities firms on Thursday to assess real estate-related risks and urged for thorough and preemptive preparation against them amid concerns the number of overdue loans could rise. Earlier this month, a local credit union was hit by customer withdrawals after media reports about a rise in its non-performing loans related to real estate projects, sparking worries about a liquidity shortage at the union and other financial institutions. "The amount of overdue real estate project financing at securities firms is currently judged to be at a tolerable level, but I request for thorough and preemptive preparation, with the worst case scenario in mind, to prevent any trouble," Deputy Governor Hwang Seon-oh said at the meeting. Hwang met with chief risk officers and investment banking executives from 10 securities firms, who shared the authorities' view on real estate-related risks and agreed to implement risk management measures, according to the statement. Authorities will now step up monitoring of securities firms' exposure to real estate projects to prevent any liquidity risks and engage intensively with those of high vulnerability, the FSS said.

Persons: Hwang Seon, Hwang, Jihoon Lee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Financial Supervisory Service, Thomson Locations: SEOUL

☆ S.Korea market watchdog urges preemptive risk management by foreign firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 12 (Reuters) - The head of South Korea's financial supervisory agency asked foreign financial firms on Wednesday for preemptive risk management in the face of various uncertainties. "Especially, I request that you do your best to maintain financial soundness and proactive risk management by pre-emptively responding to recent external and internal uncertainties," Lee Bok-hyun, governor of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), told firms. Representatives from 11 foreign institutions including JPMorgan Chase Bank, HSBC Bank, MUFG Bank, Yuanta Securities, Goldman Sachs Securities, insurers, and investment companies attended. Lee also told the meeting, which is held once or twice a year, about progress in regulatory changes and authorities' efforts to improve foreign access to financial markets, the FSS said in a statement. Reporting by Jihoon Lee; editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lee Bok, hyun, Lee, Jihoon Lee, Robert Birsel Organizations: Financial Supervisory Service, JPMorgan Chase Bank, HSBC Bank, MUFG Bank, Yuanta Securities, Goldman, Goldman Sachs Securities, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Goldman Sachs

☆ A man in South Korea got caught out after having his twin brother take an entrance exam for him when he double booked himself
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Bank of Korea employee got caught after his twin brother took an entrance exam in his name. The man had an entrance exam for two jobs on the same day, but got his brother to take one for him. Rather than trying to rearrange one of the exams, the man asked his twin to take the FSS exam under his name. South Korea is notorious for having a hyper-competitive job market, and for the length and intensity of work many people do. That ranks among the five highest working hours in developed nations.

☆ South Korea to join global stress test on banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, April 24 (Reuters) - South Korea will voluntarily join a global stress test on banks, hoping to gain from a thorough analysis of risks they face on an international level, the country's central bank and its financial regulator said on Monday. The Bank of Korea and the Financial Supervisory Service said in a joint statement that the country has decided to join the test led by the Financial Stability Board and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The test involves countries submitting data on their banks so that it can be analysed and compared on a global context. "It will allow (the participating countries) to conduct an elaborate assessment of financial stability on a global level such as contagion effects due to the global interconnection," the South Korean agencies said. South Korea is not required to join the test as none of its banks are classified as globally systemically important banks, but is keen on monitoring global contagion risks.

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