South Korea’s finance minister says the country should be re-evaluated in Bloomberg’s bond index, urging a review of whether South Korea’s current “emerging market” classification remains appropriate. The request is linked to the government’s view that Korea’s access for foreign investors has improved, and it is presented as part of efforts to deepen cooperation on developing the domestic financial market.
According to the finance ministry, Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il raises the issue in a meeting with Bing Li, Bloomberg L.P.’s Asia-Pacific head. Lee points to Korea’s status as a developed country in classifications by the IMF and the World Bank and argues Seoul has made progress in improving market access for global investors. The minister also asks Bloomberg to continue attention and cooperation so these developments are reflected in future index reviews.
Across outlets, the emphasis stays on the government’s call for Bloomberg to update its bond-index designation. Yonhap frames the development as a Seoul announcement, while Korea Times highlights the minister’s reasoning about differing international classifications and market access improvements.
