From drawn-out court cases to labour union strikes, the trials and tribulations of the multinational banks that have tried to invest in South Korea have left many observers with the impression that the country is hostile to foreign capital.
Latest articles from Jane Cooper
Brand finance survey highlights banks' image problem
October 19, 2011The banking sector’s image has suffered in 2011, with an overall decline in the rankings of banks’ brand value. However, there are some notable exceptions that have carved a niche in the market.
Taiwan banks make slow progress in China
October 3, 2011Political uncertainty and regulation has blighted the progress on the Economic Co-Operation Framework Agreement between Taiwan and China. Now, slowly but surely, agreements are finally being reached that should benefit Taiwan's banks and businesses.
Too many banks, too little profit in Taiwan
October 3, 2011Looking at the liquidity and capitalisation levels of Taiwanese banks may give a false impression of a healthy banking sector. But with the world’s second lowest net interest margin, the country's banks are struggling in an overcrowded market.
A problem shared: the key to fighting cyber crime
September 1, 2011Cyber crime is a critical issue for global transaction services, with banks and their clients increasingly under attack. As cyber criminals evolve ever more sophisticated techniques, banks have a new tool in their arsenal: information sharing. But just how successful is it?
Are non-bank specialists challengers or partners to banks?
September 1, 2011Non-bank payment specialists are cropping up all over the world. But are these companies a threat to the more traditional providers of payments, or do these largely niche businesses present partnership opportunities to banks?
South Korea's shifting economic focus
September 1, 2011South Korea has the second highest debt-to-disposable income ratio in the world, but Choongsoo Kim, governor of the Bank of Korea, insists that the country’s financial system is not at risk, and suggests that balancing the focus between export and domestic demand will lead to sustainable economic growth.
South Korean banks look beyond their borders
September 1, 2011While South Korean manufacturers have achieved global success, the country’s banks have struggled to break out of the domestic market. The government is now looking to introduce new regulations aimed at boosting the international competitiveness of its financial institutions.
China's banking success story spreads across the country
September 1, 2011The growth of China's banking sector continues unabated, with banks the length and breadth of the country, small and large, turning in impressive performances in The Banker's Top 100 Chinese Banks ranking.
Banks wake up to SMEs' unique requirements
August 1, 2011As the banking industry begins to view small and medium-sized enterprises with a renewed passion, the way banks manage SMEs is changing, with many accepting that the one-size-fits-all approach of the past is no longer viable.