Large Companies' Entry-Level Starting Salary Exceeds 50 Million Won [3-Minute Brief]

[At a Glance]
① Higher starting salaries at major Korean companies than in Japan
② Lunar New Year table cost up to 400,000 KRW
③ Kiwoom Securities tops domestic securities firm apps

MARKET INDEX : Year to date

○ KOSPI rotation expected ahead of Trump's inauguration
○ This week's KOSPI expected range: 2440~2570
○ Securities industry: "Focus on JP Morgan Conference from 13th to 16th"

Top3 NEWS

■ Starting salaries for Korean university graduates 19% higher than Japan... Over 5,000 million KRW for companies with 300+ employees for the first time

○ Average starting salary for university graduates at companies with 300+ employees in 2023 is 50.01 million KRW
○ Starting salary at workplaces with fewer than 5 employees is 27.31 million KRW, 1.8 times lower
○ "Wage system needs to be changed to enable performance-based rewards"

■ National Pension contribution rate frozen for 27 years... "Urgent increase from 9% to 13% needed"

○ National Pension contribution rate has been frozen at 9% since 1998 for 27 years
○ Government announced differentiated contribution rate increase plans by generation
○ "Urgent need to raise contribution rate... should be increased to 13% promptly"

■ Lunar New Year table cost: traditional markets 300,000 KRW, marts 400,000 KRW... "Most expensive ever"

○ Fruit and vegetable prices soaring due to abnormal weather
○ Large marts are 35.4% more expensive than traditional markets
○ No price difference in greens, seafood, and snacks

Graphic News: Major securities firms' MTS competition... Kiwoom remains unchallenged No.1, Samsung closely chasing

○ Review of MTS usage status among top 10 securities firms
○ Samsung overtakes Mirae Asset and KB to finish 2nd
○ Meritz surpasses Kyobo with aggressive retail policies

the Chart: K-semiconductor trend reversal 'Not so sure'... "Approach focusing on HBM"

○ KRX semiconductor index up 24% from last month's low
○ Memory semiconductor cycle declining... not the time to buy
○ Expecting benefits to related value chain from HBM expansion

Terms in the News: Beyond generative AI, 'Physical AI' is coming

○ Combining physical laws and data-driven learning
○ Predicting the real world... producing more accurate results
○Humanoid robot market expected to grow sharply

Today's Key Schedule

○Domestic

13th: KOSDAQ Meatbox Global subscription, expected IPO price 19,000~23,000 KRW

13th: KOSDAQ Yuanta No.17 SPAC subscription, expected IPO price 2,000 KRW

○Overseas

19:30 India December Consumer Price Index

◇ Lunch & Commute Weather

○ Lowest temperature -4℃(▲3℃) ｜ Highest temperature: 6℃(▲4℃)
○ Precipitation probability: morning 30%｜afternoon 60%
○ Fine dust: morning moderate｜afternoon moderate

OK in 3 minutes, essential time-efficient economic news. Published daily at 8 AM.