South Korean brokerages are stepping up shareholder returns as the industry enjoys a boom, with mid-sized firms increasingly raising dividends. Securities companies are announcing larger payouts ahead of regular shareholders’ meetings later this month. LS Securities, Hanyang Securities, Daol Investment & Securities and others disclosed higher dividends and payout ratios. The shift is seen as tied to the government’s corporate value-up policy and a push to strengthen shareholder returns, as well as tax benefits from separate taxation of dividend income introduced this year.

KT has begun discussions on appointing new outside directors ahead of a regular shareholders meeting by the end of March to approve Park Yun-young (박윤영) as CEO and vote on director appointments. Three outside directors’ terms expire in March, and one seat is vacant, leaving four to fill. Attention is focused on the scale of changes and the stance of the National Pension Service, which recently shifted its investment purpose in KT to general investment.