Jeong Eun-bo, Chairman of the Exchange, "Will Continue to Promote the Value-Up Program"

2025 Securities and Derivatives Market Opening Ceremony Speech

Jung Eun-bo, Chairman of the Korea Exchange, expressed his commitment on the 2nd to continue promoting the corporate value enhancement (Value-Up) program following last year.

At the '2025 Securities and Derivatives Market Opening Ceremony' held at the Korea Exchange headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Chairman Jung stated, "As the manager of the capital market, we intend to focus on key initiatives to respond to market uncertainties and achieve a new leap forward."

Chairman Jung said, "Our capital market is experiencing considerable difficulties," adding, "With the domestic economy shrinking and exports slowing, the growth potential of our companies has weakened. Meanwhile, due to global conflicts and domestic political situations, our market has performed significantly worse compared to major countries."

He continued, "It seems that market risk factors persist this year as well," noting, "Amid the domestic economic slowdown and challenging domestic and international economic conditions, the Korea Discount, which has been pointed out as a fundamental problem of our capital market, remains evident."

Chairman Jung announced that the Value-Up program will be continuously promoted. He said, "By the end of last year, 109 companies, accounting for 41% of the market capitalization, participated in the Value-Up disclosures. This year, we will encourage more leading companies to participate so that a shareholder value-centered management culture can be established, and we will continue to promote the Value-Up program."

He also stated, "We will create new growth engines for the capital market. We will actively promote the data index business, a major revenue source for global exchanges, and diversify the revenue structure beyond fee-based income," adding, "We will benchmark overseas cases of new businesses such as cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) well and explore new areas of the capital market."

He went on, "Finally, we will ensure thorough market management and secure investor trust. Unfair trading in the capital market is a major factor that undermines trust and contributes to the Korea Discount," emphasizing, "We will improve market surveillance infrastructure such as the short-selling central inspection system and next-generation monitoring system, and promptly delist poorly performing listed companies to create a market environment where investors can trust and invest with confidence."

Chairman Jung concluded, "The snake has long been regarded as a wise animal. Its shedding of skin and growth symbolize a new leap beyond the existing framework," and said, "Although uncertainties surrounding the Korean economy are significant, if the National Assembly, government, exchange, and investment industry gather wisdom together, our capital market can leap forward into a more advanced market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.