The Korea Exchange (KRX) held the Korea Capital Market Conference (KCMC) 2025 at Westin Chosun in Seoul on Sept. 29.
“I believe the Korean capital market is at a crossroads in becoming an advanced stock market,” Korea Exchange Chairman Jeong Eun-bo said in his opening remarks.
“With the KOSPI hitting record highs every day, the KRX is rewriting the history of the capital market. Valuations are also steadily improving. We are in the process of breaking free from so-called Korea Discount.”
Chairman Jeong emphasized his commitment to consistently making efforts to enhance corporate value.
“The Korean market is undergoing a reevaluation due to the new administration’s consistent capital market policies,” Jeong said. “The KRX will strive to lead this to a new normal called ‘Korea Premium.’”
The KRX plans to continue its efforts to expand transparent corporate disclosures and shareholder returns, enhance the soundness of the IPO market, expand mandatory holding commitments for institutional investors, strengthen the roles of lead managers and strengthen delisting requirements for companies highly likely to go out of business.
“The KRX will root out unfair trading by strengthening the initial response capabilities of the Stock Price Manipulation Eradication Task Force jointly established by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) this year,” Jeong added.
“We will also actively pursue the advancement of our market surveillance systems including generative AI (artificial intelligence) and surveillance systems.”
The KRX will proactively respond to global trends in the capital market.
“The exchange is pursuing extended stock trading hours,” Jeong continued.
“This is the KRX’s effort to keep pace with global competition. For example, the KRX already began the night-time trading of derivatives. I believe this will serve as a stepping stone toward a 24-hour trading system. The proliferation of blockchain and stablecoins is posing a significant challenge to the capital market.”
Accordingly, the KRX will build a platform for trading new digital assets, such as virtual asset exchange-traded funds (EFTs) and security token offerings (STOs).
“The Korean government will unwaveringly pursue capital market revitalization to create a sustainable growth engine for the Korean economy,” said FSC Chairman Lee Eok-ok in his congratulatory address.
“We will create a market environment where the people can trust and invest. As we uncovered unfair trading practices in July and September, we will make the Korean stock market earn more trust from investors.”
“We will increase the efficiency of market access for raising growth capital to achieve shareholder value-centered corporate management,” Lee said.
“We must transform funds which the people will use to buy real estate into a new growth engine for the Korean economy and the KRW must become a trustworthy capital market where the people want to invest.”
Kang Jun-hyun and Kang Min-guk, members of the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee, delivered congratulatory remarks online.
“The KOSPI is making a remarkable leap forward, breaking multiple records. Cash flow from foreign and institutional investors is reaching $80 billion each in the Korean market,” said Kevin Snyder of Goldman Sachs.
“I believe this is due to the diverse efforts of the Korean government and the KRX to revitalize the market.”
This marked the second KCMC event of 2025. It aims to bring together domestic and international market participants to discuss key issues in the Korean capital market, fostering the Korean capital market’s growth and strengthening its global competitiveness.
The event ran for two days on Sept. 29 and 30. On Sept. 30, Special Session Commemorating the KOSPI’s All-Time High was held to discuss the significance of the KOSPI’s record high and visions and challenges for a KOSPI 5000 era.
Following this, discussions covered the future direction of the Korean stock market, ETPs, derivatives, and current capital market issues across various sectors including indexes and data.
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