South Korea’s mint is grappling with a gold bar shortage 

South Korea’s state-run mint is grappling with a gold bar shortage amid robust demand for the precious metal. The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO), which is responsible for the production and distribution of various security products, has suspended sales of gold bars for more than three weeks.

KOMSCO attributed the suspension to issues with procuring a supply of raw materials. The mint typically supplies bullion bars to Korea’s commercial banks, stores and online shopping malls. Vending machines in the capital of Seoul reportedly sold out of fingernail-sized gold bars, as consumers scrambled to purchase the safe-haven asset.

Demand is largely being driven by retail investors with many piling into the asset as a hedge against domestic political turmoil and concerns of economic and geopolitical uncertainty sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.