Government, companies and institutions unite for first-ever joint IR event
42 organizations and 55 listed companies take part
Herald Money Festa joins as official Core Week event
Korea Premium Week 2026, the country's first integrated investor relations event bringing together the government, corporations and financial institutions as a unified front, launched its three-week run Monday, aiming to showcase the appeal of South Korea's capital markets to a global audience.
The event consolidates IR sessions and conferences that had previously been held separately by individual organizations, operating under the slogan "Gateway to Asia's most dynamic capital market."
The Herald Business is participating in Korea Premium Week with its own "Money Festa 2026," an official event during the first-week Core Week. Themed "Money Rebalancing: Recalibrating the Weight of Assets," the two-day event runs Friday and Saturday.
The opening ceremony was held Monday at Lotte Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul. Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won said in his opening remarks that the Kospi, long trapped in a trading range, had posted the highest gains among major economies since the current administration took office, with its market capitalization ranking also rising to strengthen its standing in global equity markets. "We will hold this event on a regular basis and develop it into South Korea's leading global IR brand," he said.
According to the FSC, the Kospi has risen 152.9 percent since the administration took office, as of Tuesday — far outpacing the United States (27.9 percent), Japan (72.2 percent) and the United Kingdom (22.8 percent). Lee said three rounds of amendments to the Commercial Act and the launch of a joint task force against stock price manipulation had helped restore market order and discipline, adding that companies had begun responding in shareholder-friendly ways through increased dividends and expanded share buybacks and cancellations.
"Going forward, the government plans to steadily consolidate the structural improvements to the capital market it has pursued, while also strengthening the market's fundamentals," Lee said. "I hope this event will serve as a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the boundless potential and appeal of South Korea's capital markets."
Co-organized by the Financial Services Commission and Korea Exchange, the event brings together 42 organizations — including market infrastructure bodies, the financial investment industry and media outlets — along with 55 listed companies.
At the opening ceremony, National Assembly Political Affairs Committee Chairman Yoo Dong-su and committee negotiator Seo Il-jun, along with Japan Financial Services Agency Commissioner Ito Yutaka, delivered congratulatory speeches. Kevin Sneider, head of Goldman Sachs Asia Pacific (excluding Japan), and Jude Abdel Majeide, co-head of BlackRock's Global Partners Office, took the stage as special speakers.
Jean-Paul Servais, chair of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), and Ken Fisher, founder and chairman of Fisher Investments and a legendary figure on Wall Street, offered video congratulatory messages celebrating South Korea's capital market momentum and the launch of the integrated conference.
Representatives from major global financial institutions also attended, including the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, NASDAQ, S&P, the Dow Jones index and the Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA).
Running from Monday through Oct. 16 — three weeks comprising one Core Week and two follow-up weeks — the event features a total of 25 programs. The first week concentrates sessions aimed at global institutional investors.
On the opening day, discussions focused on capital and foreign exchange market reform and progress in improving corporate governance. Tuesday's agenda covers infrastructure modernization, including extended trading hours and shorter settlement cycles, as well as measures to strengthen Kosdaq's competitiveness. IR sessions and one-on-one meetings with major listed companies, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, are also scheduled.
Wednesday features a tailored asset management seminar for retail investors, while Thursday brings Korea Exchange's "Sound Market Forum," addressing the eradication of unfair trading practices and investor protection.
On Friday, Busan hosts a derivatives and maritime finance seminar alongside the Herald Money Festa 2026, organized by The Herald Business. Now in its third year, Money Festa gathers investment experts and seasoned practitioners from various fields to discuss strategies for growing assets through real estate, shares, virtual assets and other investment products.
The second follow-up week features a Kosdaq market assessment seminar and IR sessions for Konex and Kosdaq-listed companies, while the third and final week closes out the event with private financial firm-led seminars and a global bond market forum.
jiyun@heraldcorp.com
moon@heraldcorp.com
