South Korean financial authorities are enhancing corporate disclosure rules, including expanding the use of English translations, to make markets more accessible to foreign investors, bolster shareholder rights, and align with global standards.
Starting May next year, listed firms with more than 2 trillion won (US$1.35 billion) of assets will have to provide disclosures in English, a requirement that now only applies to firms with more than 10 trillion won of assets.
And all listed firms will have to disclose voting results, including vote percentages, at annual general meetings starting from March 2026.
Other measures include disclosing executive salaries and compensation.
“The measures are part of efforts to make capital markets more accessible to global investors and to facilitate shareholders’ ability to exercise their rights more effectively,” according to a joint statement from the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Exchange on November 18.
“The upgraded disclosure rules will also help to align regulatory practices with global standards,” the financial authorities say, adding that they will continue to monitor disclosure practices closely to identify issues and areas that require more improvement.
