K-Exports Make History... Ushering in the $700 Billion Era [3-Minute Brief]

[At a Glance]
1. K-Exports Reach $700 Billion... Growth Driven by Semiconductors and K-Food
2. Business Survey Index at 95.4... Below Baseline (100) for 46 Consecutive Months
3. Coupang Announces Customer Compensation Plan Following Personal Info

MARKET INDEX

○ All three major U.S. stock indices fell... Santa Rally falters due to weak performance in tech stocks

○ AI-related stocks decline as the share of large-cap tech stocks shrinks

○ Precious metal prices also corrected after a sharp rise... Silver down 9%, gold down 4%

TOP 3 NEWS

■ K-Exports Surpass $700 Billion for the First Time Ever... Becomes the World's Sixth Largest Exporter

○ Record broken in seven years despite U.S. tariffs and protectionism
○ Semiconductors, automobiles, and ships drive growth
○ Foreign investment also hits an all-time high 

■ Business Survey Index (BSI) for January Stands at 95.4... Corporate Sentiment Remains Sluggish

○ Non-manufacturing BSI falls below the baseline after one month
○ Domestic demand, exports, and investment all worsen for 17 consecutive months
○ Need to boost corporate vitality, including support for business restructuring 

■ Coupang Announces Customer Compensation Plan... 50,000 Won Per Person, Essentially as Coupons

○ Customer compensation plan announced in response to personal information leak incident
○ 50,000 won per person... Totaling 1.685 trillion won
○ 40,000 won allocated for travel and luxury goods purchases 

Graphic News: Stewardship Code's 'Voluntary' Limits Exposed... Can It Overcome Effectiveness Controversy?

○ Limits of industry self-regulation... Revised for the first time in nine years since its introduction in 2016
○ Implementation monitoring procedures introduced... Expanded to environmental and social sectors
○ "Lack of specific incentives and sanctions for non-compliance"

Profitable Law

■ Punitive Damages for Mental Suffering Difficult Even in the U.S.... Will 'Coupang' Face Punitive Damages?

○ Recognition of punitive damages for mental suffering faces hurdles
○ Domestic precedents also reluctant to expand compensation
○ Coupang incident cited as a turning point for institutional reform
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025122914244775655

■ Fire Insurance Subscribed by Both Landlord and Tenant... "No Right of Recourse Against Tenant"

○ No right of recourse against tenants who subscribed to the same insurer
○ Insurer's rights deemed extinguished as both creditor and debtor
○ Supreme Court: "Contrary to the principles of good faith and prohibition of circular litigation"
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025122914275311842

■ "Compensation for Only One Extension Is Illegal"... Right to Contract Renewal for Older Fixed-Term Workers Should Be Recognized

○ Right to renewal recognized even for fixed-term workers aged 55 or older
○ In cases of unfair dismissal, compensation cannot be limited to just one contract term
○ Court: "Employer must prove reasonable grounds for refusing renewal"
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025122914372962553

※ 'Profitable Law,' a content partnership corner between The Asia Business Daily and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today's Key Schedule

○ Domestic

08:00 Retail Sales (MoM) (November)

08:00 Industrial Production (MoM) (November)

○ Overseas

00:30 U.S. Crude Oil Inventories

00:30 U.S. Cushing Crude Oil Inventories

17:00 Spain Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (YoY) (December)

20:30 Brazil Debt-to-GDP Ratio (MoM) (November)

23:00 U.S. S&P/CS 20-City Home Price Index (MoM) (October)

◇ Lunchtime & Commute Weather

○ Lowest temperature: -3°C (▼6°C) ｜ Highest temperature: 2°C (▼6°C)
○ Precipitation probability: 0% in the morning｜10% in the afternoon
○ Fine dust: Good in the morning｜Good in the afternoon

All you need is 3 minutes-essential, time-saving economic news. Published daily at 8:00 a.m.