South Korea’s tighter delisting regime is putting growing pressure on listed companies as broader market data show 192 firms, or 7.4% of all 2,578 Kospi and Kosdaq companies analyzed by Leaders Index, were already below listing-maintenance market-cap requirements in July after tougher rules took effect on July 1. The study found 152 Kosdaq companies and 40 Kospi companies fell short based on average July market value, while 88 companies remained below the threshold over the latest 30 consecutive trading days, putting them at more immediate risk of being designated as closely monitored issues. The new rules raised the minimum market capitalization required to maintain a listing to 30 billion won for Kospi companies and 20 billion won for Kosdaq companies. Pressure could intensify next year when those thresholds are set to rise again to 50 billion won for Kospi and 30 billion won for Kosdaq, a change that would leave 479 companies, or 18.6%, below the standard based on July averages and 368 companies, or 14.3%, at risk based on the latest 30-trading-day measure. The strain extends beyond market value. Penny stocks, defined here as companies with an average July closing price below 1,000 won, totaled 200, or 7.8% of listed firms, while 103 companies traded below 1,000 won for 30 consecutive trading days and could face closely monitored issue designation and possible delisting procedures if they fail to recover. Stricter financial-soundness and disclosure rules are also widening the review burden: 12 companies were in full capital impairment, 38 had capital impairment ratios of at least 50%, and 16 accumulated at least 10 disclosure penalty points over the past year. The tighter framework suggests more marginal companies could come under formal review if share prices do not rebound in the second half or if capital-raising efforts fail to lift valuations.