Korean

• South Korean artificial intelligence startup Upstage is considering a pre-listing funding round as one of several capital-market options. • The company's co-founder confirmed the possibility of this pre-IPO round to Bloomberg. • This move would provide a capital injection for the AMD-backed firm to scale its AI operations before going public.

• Korean content companies are shifting their focus from initial box office returns to long-term revenue generated by intellectual property (IP) rights in secondary markets. • Barunson E&A recently partnered with Studio N to adapt webtoon and web novel IP into films and series for audiences in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. • This strategy allows creators to monetize a single story across multiple formats and regions, as seen with the 2013 hit "Miracle in Cell No. 7" which drew over 12 million viewers.

• Corporate dollar deposits at South Korea's five largest commercial banks reached a record high of 76.98 billion dollars. • This total is the highest aggregate amount recorded since financial institutions began tracking this specific metric in May 2021. • The surge reflects a trend where exporters are keeping foreign earnings in dollars rather than converting them to local currency due to shifting exchange rates.

• The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced 23 titles for its "Vision" sections, showcasing independent cinema from Korea and across Asia. • Featured films include "1982" by Vietnamese director Nguyen Hoang Diep, "After the Song Ends" by Ryohei Kumamoto, and "Dead End," the feature debut of Hong Kong's Isabella Lam Lok-hin. • These selections highlight diverse narrative themes, ranging from psychological anxiety and family confusion to the search for missing parents and inner emotional scars.

• Asian currencies have strengthened following a decline in U.S. Treasury yields, which reduced pressure on regional exchange rates. • The South Korean won notably surged to its highest level in one year as part of this broader regional rally. • This shift matters as easing Treasury yields typically weaken the U.S. dollar, providing relief to emerging market currencies and altering investor risk appetite.

• South Korean personal investors are facing severe financial losses following a brutal correction and extreme volatility in the domestic stock market. • By the end of July, approximately 1.2 million investor accounts triggered margin calls, affecting roughly one in every 30 working-age adults in the country. • The crisis highlights the risks of leveraged trading, a growing trend among retail investors that has also expanded into U.S. and Taiwanese markets.

• South Korean stocks surged 22% over a 10-day period, driven by a global rebound in the artificial intelligence trade. • The rally is fueled by renewed investor enthusiasm for tech hardware and semiconductors, specifically benefiting major firms like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. • This growth reflects continued massive AI infrastructure spending by global big tech companies, signaling strong demand for high-end chips.

Incheon airport had 38.39m international passengers in first half of 2026, as traffic diverted from Middle East hubsSouth Korea’s Incheon airport has become the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, in part owing to disruption in the Middle East caused by the Iran war.The airport, South Korea’s main gateway, about 30 miles (48km) west of Seoul, handled 38.39 million international passengers in the first half of 2026, according to preliminary figures compiled by the Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade body for airports. Continue reading...

Russian attacks on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least six people and injured 20, officials saidOvernight Russian attacks on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least six people and injured 20, officials said. Another six people were killed and 16 injured in attacks on Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk, Reuters reported.Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Zaporizhzhia “was struck with North Korean ballistic missiles, Zircons, and guided aerial bombs.”“Every step Russia takes – increasing ballistic missile production, bringing in North Korean equipment, preparing for mobilisation – all of this shows that Moscow is preparing not for peace, but for escalation. And the world needs to respond now, not wait.” Continue reading...

• Over 50% of South Korea's listed companies surpassed market expectations in their second-quarter earnings reports. • These strong financial results indicate that corporate fundamentals remain resilient despite significant volatility currently affecting the Kospi. • The trend is critical as it bolsters investor confidence in the underlying strength of the Korean economy amidst market instability.

• South Korea is facing economic instability and market volatility driven by the rapid rise of the AI boom, testing its resilience compared to previous crises like the 1997 financial crash. • MSCI has once again declined to upgrade South Korea to "developed market" status, despite the Kospi index reaching record highs. • The decision highlights ongoing concerns among foreign investors regarding frictions in trading, hedging, settlement, and asset-transfer processes.

• Asia-Pacific stocks rose for a second consecutive day, driven largely by a recovery in South Korean markets fueled by semiconductor giants SK Hynix and Samsung. • The Japanese yen surged abruptly while the US dollar declined following the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged. • Long-term Treasury yields reached new multi-year highs as investors reacted to the Fed's steady rates amidst persistent inflation.

• Samsung Electronics reported a record operating profit of ₩89.5 trillion (€54 billion) for the April-to-June period, marking a 56% increase quarter-on-quarter. • The company's semiconductor division saw a massive surge, with operating profit jumping to ₩89.2 trillion (€53.8 billion), which is 223 times the ₩0.4 trillion recorded a year earlier. • This growth is driven by the global AI boom, which has significantly increased the demand for high-performance memory chips and infrastructure.

• South Korean stocks plummeted on Wednesday, with the benchmark KOSPI index closing at 5,663.24 after a sharp 5.98% drop of 360.42 points. • The sell-off was triggered by growing investor uncertainty regarding whether massive corporate spending on artificial intelligence will generate sufficient financial returns. • Market volatility was so severe that the KOSPI experienced a 20-minute trading halt after the index fell approximately 12% during afternoon trading.

• South Korean stocks are experiencing a severe decline, with the stock index dropping nearly 10% daily and falling into the 5,000 range. • The crash is primarily driven by foreign investors aggressively selling off Korean assets, a trend described as "throwing K-stocks." • Currency fluctuations are a key factor, as the Korean won fell approximately 7.1% against the US dollar in the first half of the year.

• South Korean stocks experienced one of their steepest plunges on Wednesday as part of a broader tech sector rout across Asia. • The collapse was driven by a sell-off in semiconductor firms as investors began unwinding their positions in the artificial intelligence boom. • Market volatility stems from growing trader skepticism regarding whether the massive financial investments in AI will yield the expected returns.

• South Korean stocks experienced a severe collapse, with the benchmark Kospi index plunging more than 12 per cent at one point. • The crash was driven by a broader rout in Asian technology stocks, reflecting heightened volatility in the regional tech sector. • This sharp decline highlights the vulnerability of South Korea's export-heavy economy to global shifts in semiconductor and tech valuations.

• The South Korean Won (KRW) has extended its gains against the US Dollar for two consecutive days, approaching four-month highs. • The currency is on track for a 6.5% monthly rally, driven by strong macroeconomic data and expectations that the Bank of Korea will implement monetary tightening. • These positive factors have effectively offset a simultaneous sell-off in the KOSPI Index.

• Prime Video India and CJ ENM have signed a multi-year partnership to bring over 100 Korean titles to the streaming platform. • The content slate includes high-profile series such as 'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier' and the third season of 'Yumi's Cells.' • This deal highlights the growing demand for K-content in the Indian market and aims to expand Prime Video's library over the next two years.

• The benchmark KOSPI index plunged 10.84%, dropping 732.09 points to close at 6,023.66 on Tuesday. • The sell-off was driven by a crash in tech shares following a sharp decline on Wall Street and rising uncertainty regarding AI infrastructure spending. • During the session, the index hit a low of 5,830.39, marking the lowest closing level for the South Korean market since April 14.

• Prime Video India has signed a multi-year partnership with CJ ENM to bring over 100 Korean titles to the Indian market. • The agreement includes the release of 26 new shows, which will be rolled out to Indian audiences over the next two years. • This deal highlights the growing global demand for K-content and the strategic expansion of Korean entertainment beyond East Asia.

• Prime Video India has signed a multi-year distribution agreement with CJ ENM, a leading South Korean entertainment studio, to expand its K-content library. • The deal will bring over 100 Korean shows to Indian viewers, including popular titles such as Legend of the Blue Sea, Prison Playbook, Mother, and A Practical Guide to Love. • This partnership reflects the growing demand for Korean dramas and entertainment within the Indian market, leveraging CJ ENM's expansive content catalog.

• Amazon Prime Video has signed a multi-year deal with CJ ENM to bring over 100 Korean dramas to the Indian market. • This agreement extends a 2025 global licensing pact and includes 26 new series, featuring titles such as 'Yumi's Cells Season 3', 'Filing for Love', and 'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier'. • The move highlights the surging popularity of K-content in India and Prime Video's strategy to capture a larger share of the regional streaming audience.

• Prime Video India has signed a multi-year distribution agreement with CJ ENM, South Korea's largest entertainment studio, to expand its K-content library. • The deal will bring over 100 Korean shows to the platform, including the popular series Yumi's Cells Season 3, which previously topped charts in 81 countries. • This partnership highlights the growing demand for Korean dramas and entertainment among Indian viewers, strengthening Prime Video's competitive edge in the regional streaming market.

• South Korean venture capital firms are aggressively investing in local semiconductor material startups to capitalize on the escalating global AI chip race. • This surge in funding is driven by the intensifying competition for dominance in artificial intelligence hardware and the critical need for advanced materials. • The trend highlights South Korea's strategic effort to strengthen its domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor components.

• Goldman Sachs has identified the South Korean won as the top foreign exchange bet in Asia for the next three months, driven by an AI-fueled boom in exports. • The bullish outlook for the won, Taiwan dollar, Chinese yuan, and Malaysian ringgit contrasts with a bearish stance on the Thai baht and Indonesian rupiah. • Regional pressures include falling gold prices and low interest rates in Thailand, as well as policy uncertainty in Indonesia and oil price sensitivity in the Philippines.

• Prime Video India has signed a multi-year partnership with CJ ENM to bring over 100 Korean titles to its streaming platform. • The content slate, which will be rolled out over the next two years, features high-profile series such as 'Yumi's Cells' Season 3 and 'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier.' • This deal reflects the growing demand for K-content in the Indian market and aims to diversify Prime Video's international library.

• Prime Video has signed a multi-year partnership with Korean studio CJ ENM to bring over 100 Korean shows to audiences in India. • The agreement includes 26 new titles, featuring the launch of Yumi’s Cells Season 3, a franchise that previously topped streaming charts in 81 countries. • This strategic move highlights Prime Video's commitment to expanding its library of premium international content to meet the growing demand for K-dramas in the Indian market.