Read the schedules and announcement times for Korea and the U.S. carefully to avoid confusion.
Distinguish between the Bank of Korea and the Fed, South Korea's GDP and US GDP, and market holidays and earnings release times.
Table of contents
Remember this first
First, 3 things to remember
- 1Even if the names of GDP or interest rates are the same, the countries and units may differ.
- 2Reflect daylight saving time when converting US Eastern Time to Korea Standard Time.
- 3Distinguish between market holidays and early closures, as well as confirmed corporate announcements and estimated dates.
Be skeptical of titles that omit the country.
In a calendar that mixes Korean and US schedules, "2 quarter GDP" may appear twice. Distinguish between the Bank of Korea's Korean GDP and the BEA's US GDP, and check whether the figures are quarter-on-quarter, year-on-year, or annualized. Do not directly compare the US quarter-on-quarter annualized rate with Korea's standard quarter-on-quarter rate.
The Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Committee determines the base interest rate in Korea, while the FOMC determines U.S. monetary policy. Since the federal funds rate target is presented as a range, check the original source to see if a single number on a calendar refers to the upper bound, lower bound, or another rate.
Example of converting ET to KST
US Eastern Time is EDT during daylight saving time and EST otherwise. Korea is 13 hours and 14 hours ahead, respectively. The following are examples of time conversion, and it does not mean that all indicators are released at these times. The latest schedules from the institutions take precedence.
| US Eastern Time | Korea Standard Time · Daylight Saving Time / Standard Time |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | Same day 21:30 / 22:30 |
| 10:00 | Same day 23:00 / Next day 00:00 |
| 14:00 | The next day 03:00 / 04:00 |
| 16:00 | The next day 05:00 / 06:00 |
"After 5 AM" may not be the confirmed time.
BMO means before the U.S. regular session, and AMC means after the regular session; these are categories, not exact announcement times. Distinguish between estimated earnings dates on a calendar and dates confirmed by company IR. The release of presentation materials and the start of a conference call are also separate events.
Earnings released in the early morning in Korea may correspond to the previous trading day in the US. Since the fiscal quarters in reports and the months of release also differ, record the US trading day, Korean time, and the target earnings period together when tracking stock price reactions.
The US market may be open even if Korea is closed.
Korean public holidays and U.S. exchange holidays differ. You must check the calendar every year for substitute holidays and early closures. Even when exchanges are open, there may be restrictions on KRW deposits/withdrawals, currency exchange, consultations, and corporate action processing at domestic brokerage firms.
Stock market holidays, bank holidays, and recommended bond market holidays are not identical lists. Even if a calendar shows "no events," there is no guarantee that there are no economic events or corporate disclosures. Omissions, delays, and ad-hoc announcements are possible.
Why Korean schedules are important for US stock investors
Korean interest rate and economic news can affect KRW funding and exchange rate expectations. Even if a U.S. company's stock price in dollars remains the same, the KRW-converted profit or loss may change. However, the Korea-U.S. interest rate differential alone cannot determine the direction of the KRW/USD exchange rate.
Domestic corporate earnings can provide clues to understanding global demand for semiconductors, batteries, etc., but they do not directly replace the earnings of US competitors. Compare them only after adjusting for business composition, customers, and accounting standards.
You should not make such assumptions
“GDP on the same day in a Korean calendar refers to the same country's indicator.”
Korean and U.S. announcements may be displayed together. First, check the country, institution, target quarter, and whether it is an annualized rate.
Check what you have read.
- Have you indicated the country and the issuing institution?
- Have you reflected daylight saving time and date shifts?
- Have you distinguished between the confirmed earnings date and the estimated date?
- Have you checked for market holidays, early closures, and brokerage business hours?
Apply what you read to the actual screen
Try it on WAPE
Source and scope of verification
Reviewed · Version 1
- General principles of monetary and credit policy operationsNew window
Bank of Korea · Verify 2026-10-20
The Bank of Korea's price stability, financial stability, and domestic monetary policy - FOMC meeting calendars, statements, and minutesNew window
Federal Reserve · Verify 2026-10-20
Regular meetings 8 times per year, with additional meetings as needed · Access paths for original statements, press conferences, economic outlooks, and meeting minutes. - Why does BEA publish percent changes in quarterly series at annual rates?New window
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · Verify 2026-10-20
Annualized growth rates compared to the previous quarter and calculation methods - Daylight Saving Time RulesNew window
NIST · Verify 2026-10-20
Daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November · Starts on 2026/3/8 and ends on 11/1 - Holidays & Trading HoursNew window
NYSE · Verify 2026-10-20
Regular session 09:30–16:00 ET · Market holidays, early closures, and trading hours by market - BEA Release ScheduleNew window
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · Verify 2026-10-20
How to check the release dates and times for GDP, personal income, and expenditures - What Is Earnings Season?New window
FINRA · Verify 2026-10-20
Earnings, estimates, guidance, and price reactions before and after announcements
This is educational material for observation and information comprehension. Hypothetical examples do not represent actual stocks or performance and do not provide buy or sell recommendations.