KH Explains In series
Major issues broken down to the basics.
#Explained
# Issues
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KH Explains In series
Major issues broken down to the basics.
Would you like to subscribe?
Won-based stablecoin plans gain ground under new president
South Korea is poised to create its own stablecoin, backed by growing support for a won-pegged version under newly-elected President Lee Jae-Myung, even as debate continues over early adoption risks and fears of lagging behind. Stablecoins have become a major focus in financial circles, capturing the attention of commercial banks, fintech firms, central banks and lawmakers alike, as momentum builds for a version pegged to the Korean won. A stablecoin is a type of crypto asset linked to the value
June 15, 2025 - 14:05:44
Why won likely to stall above 1,300
The Korean won has been staging a sharp rally, reaching its strongest levels in seven months in June. However, further appreciation beyond the 1,300-per-dollar threshold appears limited as economic headwinds persist. Earlier this year, the won weakening past 1,400 per dollar was considered the “new normal.” But the local currency has since gained ground, with its average exchange rate in May standing at 1,390.7 won per dollar, dipping below 1,400 for the first time since November. On Thursday, t
June 8, 2025 - 15:33:14
K-beauty wears US crown — Can it survive tariff test?
It's now clear that Korean beauty has far outgrown its modest local beginnings. Last year was truly a banner year for the industry, with cosmetics exports surging 20.3 percent to $10.2 billion, ranking third globally behind the US ($11.19 billion) and France ($23.26 billion), according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Zooming in on US-bound exports last year, Korea’s stature continues to rise: The country is not only in the top three in global exports, it ranks first in the world’s large
June 2, 2025 - 11:06:32
Spinoff or stay? Samsung’s foundry dilemma back in spotlight
Samsung Electronics is again facing speculations that it may spin off its foundry business from the broader semiconductor division, amid concerns over the same conflicts of interest that drove Samsung Biologics to split its biosimilar business and contract drug manufacturing. Last week, Samsung Biologics, the biotech arm of Samsung Group, announced it will spin off its biosimilar subsidiary Samsung Bioepis into an independent entity. Once the deal is completed, Samsung Biologics will only retain
May 29, 2025 - 15:27:56
Could glass help Samsung crack next semiconductor conundrum?
Glass substrates, long viewed as a promising next-generation component in advanced chip packaging, are now nearing real-world deployment, as Samsung Electronics signals a transition away from conventional silicon interposers. According to industry sources Wednesday, Samsung plans to adopt glass substrate interposers for its advanced semiconductors by 2028 to “meet customer demands.” While the company neither confirmed nor denied the development, it stated, “We are investing in (research and deve
May 28, 2025 - 14:47:36
S. Korea’s accelerating political swings: Will pendulum move again?
Since South Korea’s democratization in 1987, power has swung back and forth between conservative and progressive forces with a certain rhythm — roughly every decade. These shifts have often been triggered by public discontent over corruption, economic crises, and leadership scandals. In more recent years, however, that rhythm has noticeably accelerated, signaling an era of increasingly unpredictable and chaotic politics. The upcoming snap presidential election, set for June 3, is taking place ju
May 28, 2025 - 14:14:13
BOK pilots digital currency, but what is it like to use?
Signaling a new chapter in digital finance, the Bank of Korea last month launched "Project Han River," a pilot program for its central bank digital currency, or CBDC. Running from April through June, the trial invites 100,000 individuals to test tokenized deposits, with roughly 60,000 participating as of Monday, according to the BOK. The Korea Herald also took part to see how the system works in practice. The first step involved opening a digital wallet through one of seven participating banks,
May 20, 2025 - 13:04:05
What SK Telecom USIM leak means for you
SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest telecommunications provider, confirmed on April 22 that its internal systems were breached in a hacking attack, raising concerns over a possible data leak involving universal subscriber identity module (USIM) cards. As public anxiety continues to grow, the company has rolled out a three-tier protection plan that includes an upgraded fraud detection system, its existing USIM protection service and free USIM card replacements upon request. Since the free replaceme
May 4, 2025 - 16:00:00
Why is South Korean politics so chaotic now? Here's what you need to know
South Korea is now navigating one of its most politically volatile periods in recent history. On Thursday, acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo — who had been standing in for impeached and removed former President Yoon Suk Yeol — resigned to launch his own presidential bid. Just hours later, his immediate successor, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, also stepped down amid a parliamentary push to impeach him. The presidency is now in the hands of the next in li
May 2, 2025 - 13:59:18
What Trump wants from the won
The chronic devaluation of the South Korean won is a subject of interest for both the Korean and US administrations — significant enough to be included in their high-stake trade negotiation. While Seoul and Washington have agreed to craft a trade package to eliminate US tariffs on Korean exports, the discussion will cover four main areas: tariffs and non-tariff barriers, economic security, investment cooperation and exchange rate policy. "The two countries' finance ministries will hold separate
May 1, 2025 - 15:34:50
Election in money: What it costs and spending limits running for president in South Korea
Before a single vote is cast in South Korea’s 2025 presidential election, the first battle is already underway: to raise campaign funding. However, that amount must not exceed certain limits set by South Korean law. According to the National Election Commission, each of the candidates for South Korea’s upcoming 21st presidential election will be allowed to spend up to 58.8 billion won ($41.3 million) on their campaign. The NEC said that in Article 121 of the Public Official Election Act, the cap
April 23, 2025 - 14:52:03
From EVs to missiles: Rare earths emerge as new trade battlefield
Earlier this month, China imposed new restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals, its latest salvo in the intensifying trade standoff with the US. The move, an apparent retaliation against Washington’s aggressive tariffs, has raised alarm in the US, which relies on China for around 70 percent of these vital minerals used in everything from semiconductors and electric vehicles to military equipment. The April 4 restrictions apply to seven rare earth elements -- samarium, gadolinium, terbium,
April 20, 2025 - 18:46:22
SOCAMM: the next big thing in DRAM innovation
As artificial intelligence creates new markets across industries, it is also fueling growth for Small Outline Compression Attached Memory Modules (SOCAMM), an emerging technology often described as the “next High Bandwidth Memory.” While not a direct replacement for HBM memory, SOCAMM, with its scalability and lower power requirements, could prove just as critical and lucrative in reshaping the global memory chip landscape. Nvidia -- the world's top graphic processor unit provider -- has propose
April 14, 2025 - 15:37:32
LG, Samsung look to LFP batteries to challenge China dominance
Korean battery firms seek to leverage favorable US, EU trade rules, but price competitiveness remains crucial Korean battery makers are nearing the launch of cost-effective lithium iron phosphate batteries — a market long dominated by China — as part of their strategy to navigate a downturn in electric vehicle demand. The key question: Can they compete in a field where Chinese rivals have secured a strong foothold for years through unmatched price advantages? Industry insiders say success will h
April 1, 2025 - 14:36:19
Korean EV battery-makers uneasy as Trump stays silent on tariffs
Trump could target battery materials sourced from China, sources say South Korean battery companies are closely monitoring the second Donald Trump administration’s potential imposition of tariffs on key battery materials produced in Korea. The concern follows the enforcement of 25 percent duties on Korean steel and aluminum that took effect Wednesday, with additional tariffs expected next month. While electric vehicle batteries are currently exempt from the proposed tariffs — set to be enforced
March 12, 2025 - 14:16:24
