MSCI says it needs to see South Korea's regulatory changes put into practice for market upgrade
MSCI•MSCI Chairman and CEO Henry Fernandez said South Korea's regulatory changes must be put into practice before the country can be upgraded to developed-market status.
1. Reforms need implementation
Fernandez said MSCI had seen progress on South Korea's rules and regulations but needed to see the changes put into practice. He said working together to push the reforms to completion could accelerate the process.
2. South Korea's measures
An upgrade from emerging- to developed-market status is a major policy pledge of President Lee Jae Myung, whose government has introduced market reforms and tax measures since he took office in June 2025. South Korea opened its currency market to 24-hour trading in July. Regulators are also considering wider English-language company filings, encouraging higher dividends and naming companies with extremely low price-to-book ratios.
