Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok called for close market monitoring over delays in payment by e-commerce platforms TMON and WeMakePrice, and all-out efforts to prevent damage to sellers and customers, the finance ministry said Thursday.

Choi

Seoul shares opened sharply lower Thursday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 35.99 points, or 1.30 percent, to 2,722.72 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The

JB Financial Group Co. on Thursday reported its second-quarter net profit of 200.7 billion won (US$144.8 million), up 20.1 percent from a year earlier.

The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 258.8

LS Electric Co. on Thursday reported its second-quarter net profit of 64.6 billion won (US$46.7 million), down 11.5 percent from a year earlier.

The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 109.6 billion

The indictment of Sue Mi Terry last week has sent shockwaves through Washington’s Korea-watching community. As a respected North Korea expert and former CIA analyst, her alleged role as an unregistered agent for South Korea’s