NH Nonghyup and local agricultural cooperatives came under scrutiny at a parliamentary audit over weak internal controls and budget practices. Lawmakers said NH failed to report six cases with clear criminal suspicions among 21 employee incidents in 2022 and cited a local co-op case in which an employee allegedly embezzled 130 million won but received early retirement pay. Other lawmakers questioned large unallocated budgets and alleged diversions to publicity spending. Chairman Kang Ho-dong denied involvement in a high-priced souvenir purchase case involving secretariat staff.

The Korea Exchange has opened an after-market for the KOSPI and Kosdaq from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., replacing the previous after-hours single-price session with continuous trading. A total of 38 brokerages plan to participate. The move brings the exchange into direct competition with Nextrade, which already runs an after-market until 8 p.m. Some stocks and products, including ETFs and ETNs, are excluded.