Korea to Launch ‘Korea Premium Weeks 2026’ to Boost Capital Market Appeal

[By Yeon-seo Kim] A government-led international event aimed at charting a path from the so-called 'Korea Discount'—the persistent undervaluation of South Korean equities—to a 'Korea Premium' will debut this September.

The event will serve as an integrated investor relations (IR) platform showcasing the competitiveness of Korea's capital markets, spanning equities, bonds, digital assets, and other investment products to both domestic and international investors.

[This image was generated using AI technology.]

According to the financial investment industry, the Korea Exchange (KRX) will host 'Korea Premium Weeks 2026'(KPW 2026) from September 28 to 30. The three-day event is designed to introduce the strengths and growth potential of Korea's capital markets to global investors while providing a forum to discuss the market's future development.

KPW, which will be held for the first time this year, is an expanded and reorganized version of the Korea Exchange's existing Korea Capital Market Conference (KCMC). The initiative aims to consolidate various capital market-related events that have previously been organized separately by the government, related institutions, and industry participants, transforming KPW into a national investor relations platform for Korea's capital markets.

The launch of KPW is part of the Financial Services Commission's broader strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea's capital markets, first announced during its presidential policy briefing late last year. At the time, the commission said it would establish KPW as a concentrated series of capital market events designed to encourage greater investment in Korean equities from both domestic and overseas investors.

The event will take place at the Lotte Hotel Seoul on September 28 and 29, before moving to the Korea Exchange headquarters in Yeouido on September 30. Participants are expected to include representatives from the Korea Exchange, government agencies, related organizations, domestic and international institutional investors, securities firms, asset managers, and retail investors.

During the first two days, the program will feature a VIP tea reception, opening ceremony, keynote presentations and panel discussions, corporate IR sessions, roundtable discussions, one-on-one meetings, and exhibition booths. On the final day, the Korea Exchange will host product exhibition booths and expert-led seminars.

The event is expected to provide a broad platform for discussions on policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of the Korean stock market and revitalizing the country's capital markets. In addition to corporate IR activities, the program will cover a wide range of sectors—including bonds, digital assets, and security token offerings (STOs)—highlighting the competitiveness and growth potential of Korea's broader capital market ecosystem.

As part of KPW 2026, Edaily, together with The Economist and Edaily TV, will host the STO Summit 2026 on October 1–2 at the Korea Exchange Conference Hall in Yeouido. The two-day conference will explore the institutional development of the security token market, its growth prospects, and its evolving role within Korea's capital markets.

An industry official noted, "This event is meaningful as it presents Korea's capital markets comprehensively to global investors at a national level. By covering not only equities but also emerging sectors such as digital assets and STOs, it will serve as an opportunity to explore the new normal of capital markets."