ECONOMY

Understanding the Mythos Shock: How Asia Can Build Its Own AI Sovereignty

The U.S. government has banned the export of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) models, sparking renewed interest in developing Sovereign AI - domestically built and controlled AI systems that reduce reliance on foreign technology.Anthropic re

Asia Market Soars: How the U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Influences Energy Prices and Inflation

On Monday, Asian stock markets surged following news of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. South Korea's KOSPI jumped 5.7% as of 9:44 a.m. (South Korean time), while Japan's Nikkei soared by 4.9%.S&P 500 futures rose 0.98%, and Nas

Are Your Biotech Stocks Safe? New KOSDAQ Regulations Could Mean Trouble for 21 Companies

Starting next month, KOSDAQ delisting requirements will significantly tighten. With the implementation of four major criteria - including raising the market capitalization threshold, eliminating penny stocks, and introducing semi-annual reviews for c

U.S. Oil Imports Surge: How South Korea is Diversifying Amid Middle East Turmoil

South Korean oil refiners have significantly increased their imports of American crude oil as the conflict in Iran has made it difficult to source oil from the Middle East. They have been actively seeking crude oil from various regions, including Lib

Missha Expands in North America: What This Means for K-Beauty in 2026

Global beauty powerhouse Able C&C is making waves in the North American market with its flagship brand, Missha, now available both online and in-store at Olive Young locations across the U.S.Beauty industry insiders reported on Thursday that Missha h

Coupang Faces Record Fine of 624.7 Billion KRW: What This Means for Your Data Privacy in 2026

The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has imposed a record-breaking fine on Coupang for a massive data breach, despite pressure from U.S. political circles.The PIPC stated that its decision was based solely on the principles of the Pe

World Bank Lowers Global Growth Forecast to 2.5%: What This Means for Asia in 2026

The World Bank (WB) has projected a global economic growth rate of 2.5% for this year. This downward revision from January's forecast reflects the impact of soaring energy prices and intensified inflationary pressures stemming from Middle East confli

KOSPI Surges 7% Amid U.S.-Iran Peace Talks: What This Means for Investors

Amid rising hopes for a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, the KOSPI surged over 7% in early trading, reclaiming the 8,300 mark. The KOSDAQ also maintained its upward momentum, driven by strength in semiconductor stocks, and regained the Thou

USD-KRW Exchange Rate Drops: What Does It Mean for Asian Markets?

The USD-KRW exchange rate opened lower, driven by a renewed appetite for risk following hopes of an end to the Middle East conflict.In the Seoul foreign exchange market on Friday, the USD-KRW rate started at 1,518.0 KRW (about 1.00 USD), down 10.9 KR

Coupang Faces Record Fine: What This Means for U.S. Tech Companies in Korea

The U.S. government expressed concern on Thursday regarding South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission's imposition of a 624.6 billion KRW (approximately 410.6 million USD) fine on Coupang. This highlights regulatory and enforcement iss