Mark Johnston

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    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 Passes Bill to Create KRW 100 Trillion KDB Fund for Tech Investments

    01/09/2025

    New law establishes advanced industries fund via Korea Development Bank, easing capital rules to scale support for strategic tech sectors.

    Market Abuse

    S. Korea Regulators Raid MBK Partners in Homeplus Probe

    29/08/2025

    Financial authorities have widened an investigation into the private equity firm over its debt-laden 2015 takeover of the troubled discount retailer, Homeplus.

    Structural Regulation

    S. Korea Eyes Major Overhaul of State Policy Finance Institutions

    29/08/2025

    President Lee Jae-myung’s administration is considering a significant restructuring to consolidate financial institutions and address long-standing functional overlaps.

    Structural Regulation

    Korean Lawmakers Propose Bill on Mandatory Treasury Share Cancellation

    27/08/2025

    Proposed amendments to the Commercial Act could force listed firms to cancel treasury shares, raising fears of unintended tax burdens and investor losses.

    Structural Regulation

    India Moves to Codify Cross-Border Insolvency Framework

    27/08/2025

    New law aims to provide certainty for foreign creditors and courts, drawing lessons from the high-profile Jet Airways insolvency case.

    Data Privacy

    S. Korea Considers E-commerce Sales, User Reviews for SME Credit Scoring

    26/08/2025

    The FSC is planning to create a new model incorporating alternative data from platforms like Naver and Coupang to improve lending access for small firms.

    Anti-Money Laundering

    Taiwan Court Quashes Ex-Mega Financial Chairman’s Forgery Conviction

    26/08/2025

    Mckinney Tsai’s conviction, linked to a 2016 AML penalty against Mega's New York branch, was overturned due to a lack of evidence.

    Anti-Money Laundering

    Taiwan Prosecutors Charge 14 in Crypto Laundering Case

    25/08/2025

    Prosecutors have charged individuals linked to the CoinW and BitShine exchanges in Taiwan's largest-ever crypto laundering and fraud case.

    Anti-Money Laundering

    South Korea Uncovers KRW 137B Illegal Foreign Exchange Ring

    25/08/2025

    South Korea's customs agency has apprehended ten individuals accused of siphoning money abroad illegally.

    AI Risk & Governance

    South Korea Details Major Regulatory Overhaul, KRW 100 Trillion Fund in AI Push

    25/08/2025

    The new economic strategy will relax criminal liabilities for “well-meaning business owners” while strengthening civil and monetary liabilities.

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