The launch of a new bourse operator in Korea is in sight, fueling optimism that it can become a game changer in stock trading that has been dominated by the Korea Exchange (KRX) for nearly seven decades. On Wednesday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) gave preliminary approval for the alternative trading system (ATS) being planned by a coalition of major brokerage houses, ICT firms and Korea Financial Investment Association (KFIA), a finance think tank.