"Turning Financial Data into Research"

Special Lecture on Exploring Bloomberg Data for Academic Research

The Bloomberg Terminal contains one of the world's most comprehensive collections of financial market data. However, transforming that information into meaningful research variables requires multiple steps, from exploring available data and verifying variable definitions to extracting data and constructing research datasets. To help students navigate this process, Korea University Business School (KUBS) held a special lecture titled "Financial Data Exploration and Research Applications Using Bloomberg" on Friday, May 15, at the LG-POSCO Building. The session was led by Dr. Ha-yeon Park of the Korea University Business Administration Education and Research Group for BK21 FOUR and was attended by KUBS graduate students.

The Bloomberg Terminal is a widely used financial data platform that provides access to real-time market information, company data, and financial analytics. During the lecture, students learned how to search for and extract financial data using both the Bloomberg Terminal and its Excel Add-in, while also exploring how Bloomberg data can be effectively applied to academic research.

Dr. Park introduced the basic structure of the Bloomberg Terminal and demonstrated practical methods for exploring financial data. She guided students through the process of identifying research variables and verifying their definitions, emphasizing that carefully confirming variable names, definitions, and available options before downloading data is essential for ensuring research accuracy. She then explained how to extract data using the Excel Add-in and organize Bloomberg data into structured datasets suitable for empirical research.

In the latter part of the lecture, Dr. Park demonstrated how Bloomberg data can support academic research by drawing on several case studies, including examples from her own work. She explained how ETF-related data can be identified, extracted, and organized according to different research objectives. She also advised students not to rely exclusively on Bloomberg, noting, "Rather than using Bloomberg as a single data source, I recommend using it for the types of data in which it has particular strengths." She emphasized the importance of cross-checking Bloomberg data with other databases whenever appropriate.

The lecture provided students with a practical overview of how financial data can be translated into research—from developing research questions and selecting appropriate variables to constructing reliable datasets. By following the entire workflow, participants gained a clearer understanding of how Bloomberg data can be explored, evaluated, and incorporated into academic research.

The lecture also reflects Korea University Business School's recent expansion of its Bloomberg Terminal infrastructure. As part of a financial data hub established through a KRW 1 billion donation from Eugene Investment & Securities, KUBS increased the number of Bloomberg Terminals from one to twelve—the largest Bloomberg Terminal installation among universities in Korea. Nine terminals have been installed in the Sudang CLC Lounge, while the remaining three are available through remote-access accounts.

The Bloomberg Terminal is one of the most widely used financial data platforms in investment banking, asset management, equity research, and other finance-related fields. Hands-on experience with the platform provides students with valuable practical skills that can help them transition into careers in the financial industry. Students who complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) certification may also find it beneficial when preparing for the CFA examination or applying for internships in finance. With the expanded infrastructure significantly improving access throughout the semester, more students now have the opportunity to work directly with real-time market data in their coursework, research projects, and academic studies.

KUBS Student Press

Reporting by Chaewoo Lee

Photography by Jinyoung Park