Aftermath of Fluctuating Land Transaction Permit System...Household Loans Rise by 4.8 Trillion Won in April [3-Minute Brief]

① Bank of Korea Announces April Financial Market Trends
② Statistics Korea Releases 'April 2025 Employment Trends'
③ China Lowers Additional Tariffs on US Imports from 125% to 10%

MARKET INDEX

○US New York Stock Exchange The three major indices closed mixed amid strong performance by tech stocks

○Investors remain on the sidelines, judging the market to be in overbought territory

○Focus on PPI and retail sales data on the 15th

TOP 3 NEWS

■ Household loans by banks rose 4.8 trillion won in April..."Surge in housing transactions driven by deregulation of land transaction permits"

○Outstanding household loans at banks reached 1,150 trillion won...Mortgage loans up by 3.7 trillion won
○Corporate loans increased by 14.4 trillion won, reversing the previous decline
○Resumption of bank lending and impact of policy-based funds

■ Manufacturing employment sees largest decline in 6 years and 2 months..."Weak domestic demand and rising external uncertainties"

○Employment continues to decrease in manufacturing and construction
○Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector also saw a sharp drop of 134,000 jobs
○Youth employment rate fell by 0.9 percentage points to 45.3%

■ China cuts tariffs on US goods from 125% to 10%..."Non-tariff retaliatory measures to be lifted soon"

○Effective from the 14th, US Eastern Time
○Action taken in accordance with the Geneva agreement
○US lowers tariffs on small parcels

the Chart: Lotte receives 'put option'...How about SK's 'call option'?

○On the 12th, Lotte Group received 380 billion won through the Lotte Global Logistics put option
○An unusual amicable resolution with a private equity fund just 10 days after withdrawing the IPO
○In 2023, SK Group caused a stir by not exercising the 11st call option

Money and the Law

■ "Freelance show hosts are not employees"

○First ruling that "show hosts cannot be recognized as employees"
○Court acknowledged the importance of individual capabilities
○Judged that there was no direct supervision or control by the company

☞Read the article:  https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/news/207991

■ Minors riding, incorrect charges billed...Shared e-scooters in regulatory blind spot

○Rapid increase in use of shared electric scooters
○Unauthorized use by minors...Rising consumer complaints
○Pointed out lack of relevant laws and regulations

☞Read the article:  https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/news/207996

■ Will the Korea-China legal services market open further?

○Attention on further opening of the legal services market between Korea and China
○Both countries agreed to resume phase 2 FTA negotiations in services and investment
○However, discussions have been halted since President Yoon's impeachment

☞Read the article:  https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/news/207980

※ "Money and the Law," a content partnership section between Asia Economy and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today's Key Schedule

○Domestic

08:00 Korea Unemployment Rate (April)

○International

10:30 Employment Change (April)

15:00 UK GDP (QoQ) (Q1)

15:30 Switzerland Producer Price Index (MoM) (April)

15:45 France Consumer Price Index (MoM) (April)

18:00 EU Economic Forecast

21:30 US Core Retail Sales (MoM) (April)

21:30 US Producer Price Index (MoM) (April)

21:40 Federal Reserve Chair Powell's Speech

◇Lunch & Evening Commute Weather

○Lowest temperature: 16℃ (▲1℃) ｜Highest temperature: 19℃ (▼7℃)
○Precipitation probability: 80% in the morning｜30% in the afternoon
○Fine dust: Moderate in the morning｜Moderate in the afternoon

All the essential, cost-effective economic news you need in 3 minutes. Published daily at 8:00 AM.