From Record-Breaking Bull Market to Stocks: The 'Money Move' Heats Up [3-Minute Brief]

[At a Glance]
① Investor deposits near a record 90 trillion won as the KOSPI surges to 4,600
② National Tax Service grants two-month VAT deferral for 1.24 million small business owners with declining sales
③ Push to introduce '8-week rule' for minor car accident injuries faces opposition from Korean medicine community

MARKET INDEX

○ The New York stock market ended mixed due to conflicting indicators from employment and the service sector.

○ After rising early in the session, both the Dow and S&P declined.

○ Job openings in November hit the lowest level in over a year... Private employment in December also fell short of expectations.

TOP 3 NEWS

■ "Will the KOSPI really reach 5,000?" Retail investors get busy... 'Money move' in the stock market to expand further this year

○ The shift from deposits to stocks is becoming more pronounced.
○ Investor deposits at securities firms surged by 62%.
○ The boom in the stock market is influenced by low deposit interest rates.

■ VAT payment deadline extended by two months to support 1.24 million small business owners facing declining sales

○ The National Tax Service announced a comprehensive support plan for small business owners.
○ Simplified taxation benefits will also apply to traditional market merchants in urban areas.
○ Early payment of refunds and incentives will be promoted.

■ Disputes arise over the introduction of the '8-week rule' for minor car insurance injuries... The Korean medicine community launches collective opposition

○ The Financial Supervisory Service's announcement to introduce the '8-week rule' in March has sparked backlash from the Korean medicine community.
○ The Korean medicine community argues this infringes on the right to receive medical treatment.
○ The insurance industry claims that excessive treatments have led to a severe loss ratio and that improvements are needed. 

Graphic News: Target prices are being raised from the start of the new year... Promising themes to watch alongside semiconductors

○ Automobiles and biotech, which were left out of last year's rally, are expected to perform well.
○ Global events such as CES and JP Morgan are providing momentum.
○ Beneficiaries of separate taxation on dividend income and treasury stock retirements are also drawing attention.

Money-Making Law

■ Personal information leaks, the legal battle begins

○ Group lawsuits related to personal information leaks will begin in earnest in 2026.
○ Large-scale lawsuits against SK Telecom and Coupang are following one after another.
○ Additional lawsuits against Shinhan Card and KT are also possible. 
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026010714510665533

■ Green Cross and Yuhan Corporation acquitted in vaccine bid-rigging case

○ Pharmaceutical companies and executives accused of vaccine bid-rigging were found not guilty.
○ The appeals court ruled that collusion did not occur due to a lack of actual competition.
○ The Supreme Court finalized the original verdict by dismissing the prosecution's appeal.
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026010714512172233

■ Are plastic toys and lighters dangerous objects?

○ Assaults involving 'dangerous objects' are subject to aggravated assault charges.
○ Everyday items such as toys and pen refills can be recognized as dangerous objects depending on how they are used.
○ For some items like mechanical pencils, judgments vary depending on the circumstances of the act.
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026010714512877304

※ "Money-Making Law," a content partnership section between The Asia Business Daily and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today's Key Schedule

○ Domestic

○ International

00:00 US ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI (December)

00:00 US Department of Labor JOLTS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (November)

00:00 Canada Ivey PMI (December)

08:30 Japan Total Labor Cash Earnings (November)

16:00 Germany Factory Orders (MoM) (November)

16:30 Switzerland Consumer Price Index (MoM) (December)

22:30 US Initial Jobless Claims

22:30 US Trade Balance (October)

◇ Lunchtime & Commuting Weather

○ Lowest temperature: -9℃ (▼8℃) ｜Highest temperature: -1℃ (▼2℃)
○ Precipitation probability: 0% in the morning｜0% in the afternoon
○ Fine dust: Good in the morning｜Good in the afternoon

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