Mark Johnston
Based in Singapore, Mark is an experienced journalist and editor with over a decade of experience reporting on technology and business trends throughout Asia. Mark got his start as an engineer, graduating from the UK's Queen's University of Belfast with a Master's degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. As senior reporter for Regulation Asia, Mark focuses on regulatory changes impacting financial markets, with particular interest in fintech, cybersecurity and crypto markets.
Articles by Mark Johnston
Trading & Investment
Korea Pledges 'No Barriers' to Investment Amid WGBI Inclusion
23/04/2026
Officials have reassured Japanese investors of continued market improvements as the country begins its phased entry into the FTSE World Government Bond Index.
Anti-Money Laundering
KoFIU Fines Casino Operator KRW 564 Million for AML Breaches
23/04/2026
KoFIU has sanctioned Kangwon Land for widespread AML/CFT deficiencies, ordering corrective action and imposing a KRW 564 million fine.
Supervision & Enforcement
Korea Triples Year-on-Year Fines for Pseudo-Investment Advisers
22/04/2026
Financial regulators have significantly increased penalties for unlicensed investment advisory firms following a sweep that uncovered widespread misconduct, particularly misleading advertising.
Supervision & Enforcement
Korea FSS Resumes On-Site Inspections of Private Equity Firms
22/04/2026
The FSS has begun its first on-site inspection of 2026 at VIG Partners, signalling a continued regulatory crackdown on the sector.
Liquidity Risk
Korea Unveils KRW 78 Trillion Package for Crisis-Hit Firms
22/04/2026
Financial regulators have announced significant loan and support packages from state and commercial lenders to aid companies facing liquidity issues.
Market Abuse
Korea FSS Forms Task Force to Enforce Stricter Delisting Rules
22/04/2026
The FSS has launched a multi-departmental unit to enforce stricter delisting rules and crack down on illegal market activities.
Structural Regulation
China Brokerage Consolidation Deepens with State-Backed Merger
21/04/2026
Orient Securities is set to acquire Shanghai Securities, creating a top-ten brokerage as Beijing continues its push to build globally competitive investment banks.
Structural Regulation
China Widens Scope of Strategic Investors for Listed Firms
21/04/2026
New rules allow pension funds, mutual funds and insurers to act as strategic investors, enabling them to bring more ‘patient capital’ into the market.
Structural Regulation
CSRC Proposes Overhaul of Regulation Governing Futures Companies
21/04/2026
New rules would bring derivatives trading and market-making in-house to licensed firms and impose stricter capital and ownership rules.
Tokenisation
China Proposes Token-Based Trading to Monetise AI Datasets
21/04/2026
A new national plan aims to create a market for AI-ready data, proposing novel assetisation paths and token-based pricing models for key sectors including finance.
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