The forum, which was held from June 4 to June 6, was designed to bring together global institutional investors currently investing in the Korean won-denominated bond market, policymakers, issuers, and academics to engage in in-depth discussions on pressing market issues.
Participants included representatives from more than ten global central banks, sovereign wealth funds, and asset management firms such as the Swiss National Bank, UBS Asset Management, Manulife Investment, and MEAG, as well as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Korea Development Bank, and major commercial banks, reflecting a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
On the first day of the forum, the event began with an opening address by Lee Jaehyun, Head of Fixed Income at Mirae Asset Securities, followed by a series of presentations. Speakers from the Mirae Asset Securities Research Center, KB Kookmin Bank, Lotte Insurance, and academia addressed key topics including: improving accessibility to the Korean government bond market; foreign investment trends following Korea's inclusion in the World Government Bond Index (WGBI); interest rate and supply-demand outlook; and asset-liability management (ALM) strategies for insurers in response to the adoption of the new International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS17).
On the second day, presenters from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Hana Bank discussed topics such as the direction of Korea's monetary policy and economic outlook; strategies for managing volatility in the foreign exchange and bond markets; and practical trading insights from the perspective of market participants. The presentations highlighted that foreign investors hold approximately 266 trillion won in Korean won-denominated bonds, accounting for about 10% of the total market. It was emphasized that, beyond their share of holdings, these investors are considered a core group with substantial influence on market structure, interest rate stability, and monetary policy, making communication with them increasingly important.
On the final day, a real estate field tour was organized, visiting major residential areas in Seoul. Participants had the opportunity to gain a practical understanding of the structure of household debt and trends in the real estate market in Korea, as well as to explore the connection between these factors and monetary policy.
Jang Yoonyoung, Head of Bond Solutions at Mirae Asset Securities, stated, "This forum provided a valuable opportunity to directly exchange views with global investors who have a real impact on the Korean bond market," adding, "We will continue to build bridges that enhance market trust and elevate the global standing of Korea's financial markets."
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