Korean Finance Glossary

Essential Korean-English financial terms for investors

Last updated: March 2026

60 terms found

Market Structure

주식시장Stock MarketThe overall marketplace where stocks are traded
코스피 (KOSPI)KOSPIKorea Composite Stock Price Index - the main board for large-cap companies
코스닥 (KOSDAQ)KOSDAQGrowth market for innovative and tech companies, similar to NASDAQ
한국거래소Korea Exchange (KRX)Korea's primary securities exchange operator, running the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets
시가총액Market CapitalizationTotal market value of a company's outstanding shares
상장Listing (IPO)The process of a company's shares being admitted to trade on a stock exchange
상장폐지DelistingRemoval of a company's shares from the exchange
우량주Blue-Chip StockShares of a large, well-established, and financially stable company
대형주Large-CapStocks of companies with large market capitalization
중소형주Small/Mid-CapStocks of companies with small to medium market capitalization

Disclosure & Filings

전자공시시스템 (DART)DARTData Analysis, Retrieval and Transfer System - Korea's electronic disclosure system
공시DisclosureOfficial public announcement of corporate information
사업보고서Annual ReportComprehensive yearly business report filed with the FSS
분기보고서Quarterly ReportQuarterly financial update report
반기보고서Semi-Annual ReportHalf-year financial report
감사보고서Audit ReportExternal auditor's report on financial statements
주요사항보고Material DisclosureReport of significant corporate events that may affect stock price
지분변동Ownership ChangeChange in significant shareholding that must be disclosed
증권신고서Securities RegistrationRegistration statement filed when issuing new securities

Financial Statements

재무제표Financial StatementsSet of reports showing a company's financial position and performance
재무상태표Balance SheetStatement of a company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a point in time
손익계산서Income StatementStatement showing revenue, expenses, and profit over a period
현금흐름표Cash Flow StatementStatement showing cash inflows and outflows from operations, investing, and financing
매출액Revenue / SalesTotal income from sales of goods or services
영업이익Operating ProfitProfit from core business operations, excluding non-operating items
당기순이익Net IncomeTotal profit after all expenses, taxes, and deductions
자산AssetsEconomic resources owned or controlled by a company
부채LiabilitiesFinancial obligations or debts owed by a company
자본EquityShareholders' ownership interest (assets minus liabilities)
주당순이익 (EPS)Earnings Per ShareNet income divided by the number of outstanding shares
주가수익비율 (PER)P/E RatioStock price divided by earnings per share; measures valuation
주가순자산비율 (PBR)P/B RatioStock price divided by book value per share

Trading & Orders

매수BuyTo purchase shares or securities
매도SellTo sell or dispose of shares or securities
시가Opening PriceThe price at which a stock first trades when the market opens
종가Closing PriceThe last trading price of a stock at market close
고가High PriceThe highest price at which a stock traded during the day
저가Low PriceThe lowest price at which a stock traded during the day
거래량Trading VolumeThe total number of shares traded during a given period
호가Bid/Ask QuoteThe price levels at which buy and sell orders are placed
지정가Limit OrderAn order to buy or sell at a specified price or better
시장가Market OrderAn order to buy or sell immediately at the best available price
상한가Upper Limit PriceThe maximum price a stock can reach in a single trading day (+30%)
하한가Lower Limit PriceThe minimum price a stock can fall to in a single trading day (-30%)
서킷브레이커Circuit BreakerMechanism that halts all trading when the market falls sharply
공매도Short SellingSelling borrowed shares with the intention of buying them back at a lower price

Corporate Actions

배당금DividendCash payment distributed to shareholders from company profits
유상증자Rights OfferingIssuance of new shares to raise capital, often offered to existing shareholders
무상증자Bonus IssueFree distribution of new shares to existing shareholders from reserves
액면분할Stock SplitDivision of existing shares into multiple shares, reducing the price per share
자사주매입Share BuybackCompany purchasing its own shares from the market
합병MergerCombination of two companies into one entity
인수AcquisitionPurchase of a controlling stake in another company
기업공개 (IPO)Initial Public OfferingThe first sale of a company's shares to the public

Regulation & Compliance

금융감독원 (FSS)Financial Supervisory ServiceKorea's financial regulator that oversees securities markets and enforces compliance
금융위원회 (FSC)Financial Services CommissionGovernment body that sets financial policy and regulations
한국은행 (BOK)Bank of KoreaKorea's central bank responsible for monetary policy
외국인투자자Foreign InvestorNon-Korean individual or institution investing in Korean securities
투자자등록증 (IRC)Investor Registration CertificateUnique ID required for foreign investors to trade Korean securities
내부자거래Insider TradingIllegal trading based on material non-public information