Competition among South Korea’s financial institutions is intensifying, and consolidations are still on the cards. Local giants such as Shinhan Bank are looking to neighbouring markets for opportunities. Karina Robinson reports.

The Banker invites CEOs from around the world to discuss the economic climate in their country and institution, and their hopes for the future

South Korea’s banks have been suffering wide profit swings. Park Sang-soo reports from Seoul on their efforts to find alternative sources of income to beef up their profitability.

In a bid to boost South Korea’s sluggish economy, the government has revised asset management laws to encourage the growth of private equity funds. But the move has its opponents, as Kim Ji-hyun reports.

With the uncertainty surrounding the two-month long impeachment process of President Roh Moo Hyun now finally resolved, and the president firmly back in the saddle, South Korea is keen to push ahead with more financial reform and, in particular, focus on asset management.

South Korea’s political turmoil resulting from the impeachment of its president may be limiting the country’s nascent economic recovery, says Yang Sung-jin.

Park Sang-soo reviews the banking sector in South Korea, as financial institutions work to reduce the mountain of bad debt.

Korea is becoming far too reliant on exporting to China, and the honey pot won’t last for ever, says Yang Sung-jin.

South Korea has a dilemma. On the one hand historical factors make it wary of foreign intrusion, yet it aspires to be a regional hub. Kim Ji-hyun reports.