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Edition of Monday, 2 November 2026English edition
The Geopolitician

Country risk, from the local press

South Korea · Country watch

KOSPI Rebounds, Won Rises, Medical Tourism Boost

KOSPI rebounds over 2% on bargain hunting; won strengthens; Seoul boosts medical tourism with new accommodations.

The picture Stable How this is judged →

Business conditions in South Korea remain stable as the KOSPI rebounds over 2% and the won strengthens. Medical tourism sees a boost with new accommodations.

Flare-up watch: Calm (−0.3) · How this is judged → · All South Korea briefings →

In this briefing Korea Composite Stock Price Index · South Korean won · Seoul · Korea Health Industry Development Institute

Markets

  • Finance
  • Technology

KOSPI rebounds over 2% on bargain hunting

Seoul stocks rebounded to end over 2% higher on Monday as investors engaged in bargain hunting for technology heavyweights, despite ongoing concerns over artificial intelligence spending. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed up 128.34 points, or 2.24%, at 5,859.08, after rising as high as 5,910.83. This follows a significant drop of over 3% on Friday. The Korean won, however, fell against the US dollar, according to The Korea Herald.

Impact Investors in South Korea see a recovery in stock values, particularly in technology sectors, following recent declines.

Sources: The Korea Herald ↗, Korea.net ↗

  • Finance

Won strengthens to highest in two weeks

The South Korean won rose to 1,340 against the US dollar on Monday, marking its highest level in approximately two weeks, Yonhap News Agency reports. This increase in the won's value comes amid ongoing global economic uncertainties and fluctuating currency markets.

Impact Currency traders and importers see a stronger won, affecting exchange rates and import costs.

Sources: Yonhap News Agency ↗

Trade

  • Tourism
  • Pharma

Seoul names 19 places to stay as medical tourism surges

덕수궁의 낮
덕수궁의 낮 — Eunmi Park, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Seoul city government announced on Monday the selection of 19 accommodation facilities catering to foreign patients and their families, as medical tourism sees a sharp rise. These facilities, chosen from 40 applicants, offer services such as dedicated floors and lounges for medical tourists, free laundry, and shuttle services. The Korea Health Industry Development Institute reports that about 1.76 million foreign patients were treated in Seoul's medical institutions last year, according to The Korea Herald.

Impact Medical tourism operators and hotel managers benefit from increased demand for specialized accommodations in Seoul.

Sources: The Korea Herald ↗, Korea.net ↗

Nothing significant reported today in Regulation · Disruption · Internal tension · Safety & health · Companies · Politics.

Also today in the local press

Sources in this briefing

Sources: each headline links to the original article on the publisher's site.

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The same day elsewhere