South Korea Finance & Banking

Financial news from South Korea, covering banking, investments, fintech, and monetary policy.

Banks' Industrial Expertise Key to 1,240 Trillion Won Productive Finance Push

Korean banks pledge 1,240 trillion won in productive finance over five years, but experts warn lack of industry expertise may lead to fund misallocation or concentration in select companies....

Published 2026.02.03. 05:00:05 | By Shim Woo-il

K-Beauty Firm Goodai Global Acquires US Distributor for 100 Billion Won

** Goodai Global, owner of K-beauty brands Beauty of Joseon and TIRTIR, acquires US distributor Hansung USA for 100 billion won as it pursues vertical...

Published 2026.02.03. 05:00:00 | By Lee Deok-yeon

Korea Launches Savings Account With Government Matching Up to 300,000 Won Monthly

** Korea's Hope Savings Account II offers government matching funds up to 300,000 won monthly for low-income workers who save at least 100,000 won, wi...

Published 2026.02.02. 22:59:30 | By Hyun Su-ah

Kim Soo-young, Former Yangcheon District Mayor, Named New Head of Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged

** Kim Soo-young, former Yangcheon District mayor, appointed as eighth president of Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged, pledging to ...

Published 2026.02.02. 18:09:31 | By Park Ji-su

Hyundai Motor Group to Pay 2 Trillion Won to Suppliers Early Before Lunar New Year

Hyundai Motor Group will pay 2.08 trillion won to approximately 6,000 suppliers up to 12 days early before the Lunar New Year holiday, continuing its ...

Published 2026.02.02. 18:09:09 | By Yoo Min-hwan

Regional Agricultural Cooperatives Offer Lower Mortgage Rates Than Banks

Regional agricultural cooperatives in Korea now offer mortgage rates averaging 4%, lower than the 4.23% at commercial banks—a rare reversal that has w...

Published 2026.02.02. 18:07:27 | By Lee Seung-bae

Seoul Monthly Rent Hits 1 Million Won as New Normal; Set to Rise Further Amid Supply Crunch

On December 27, a 49-square-meter unit at Sanggye Jugong 9 Complex in Seoul's Nowon District was leased for 30 million won in deposit and 1 million wo...

Published 2026.02.02. 17:58:41 |

K-Food, K-Beauty Boom Drives Reverse E-Commerce Past 3 Trillion Won

Korea's reverse cross-border e-commerce surpassed 3 trillion won in 2024, up 16.4% year-on-year, driven by K-beauty and K-food demand. Total online sh...

Published 2026.02.02. 17:49:47 | By Kim Byung-hun

Government to Invest 60 Trillion Won in Regional Areas via National Growth Fund Over 5 Years

South Korea's government will invest over 60 trillion won in regional areas through the National Growth Fund over five years, with local governments r...

Published 2026.02.02. 17:48:29 | By Shim Woo-il

Seoul Economic Daily Seeks Korea's Best Bankers for 2026 Awards

** Seoul Economic Daily announces 2026 Korea Best Banker Awards nominations, sponsored by FSC and FSS, honoring top financial professionals and instit...

Published 2026.02.02. 17:38:08 | By Kim Hyun-sang

High Exchange Rate Fallout: Finance Ministry's FX Team Effectively Replaced

Korea's finance ministry reshuffles FX team after failing to control high exchange rate, appointing veteran bureaucrat Heo Jang as second vice ministe...

Published 2026.02.02. 17:37:14 | By Seo Min-woo

Hyundai Motor January Global Sales Fall 1% to 307,699 Units

Hyundai Motor sold 307,699 vehicles globally in January 2025, down 1% year-on-year, with domestic sales rising 9% while overseas sales declined 2.8%....

Published 2026.02.02. 17:04:46 | By Sim Ki-moon

Budget Office to Visit 100 Sites to Boost Regional Startups

Korea's Budget Office launches "The 100 Field Listening Project" to visit 100+ sites nationwide, gathering startup ecosystem feedback for next year's ...

Published 2026.02.02. 16:56:38 | By Seo Min-woo

Shinhan Bank Provides Funding for Eco-Friendly Vehicle Parts Maker

Shinhan Financial Group is tightening its efforts to expand productive finance. Shinhan Financial Group announced Wednesday that Shinhan Bank CEO Chu...

Published 2026.02.02. 16:38:38 |

K-Food Expands Into Africa as Exports Surge 19%

Korean food exports to Africa surged 19.1% to $130 million in 2024, outpacing global K-food growth by four times as CJ CheilJedang, Nongshim, and Orio...

Published 2026.02.02. 16:32:29 | By Noh Hyun-young

Korean Banks Launch Living Expense Accounts Protecting Up to 2.5 Million Won from Seizure

Major Korean banks launched living expense accounts protecting up to 2.5 million won monthly from creditor seizure, following revised Civil Execution ...

Published 2026.02.02. 14:03:02 | By Do Hye-won

Canadian Defense Procurement Minister Visits Hanwha Ocean to Assess Submarine Capabilities

Canadian Defense Procurement Minister Stephen Fuhr visited Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard to assess submarine construction capabilities for the $42 bil...

Published 2026.02.02. 13:59:50 | By Jung Hye-jin

Awesomepia's AI-Powered XR Telescope 'BORA' to Be Installed at Cheongna Sky Bridge Observation Deck

Awesomepia's AI-powered XR telescope BORA will be installed at Cheongna Sky Bridge's Guinness-certified observation deck at 184.2m height, offering AR...

Published 2026.02.02. 13:57:21 | By Kim Dong-ho

Seven Ready-Mix Concrete Firms in Gwangyang Fined 2.24 Billion Won for Price-Fixing

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has imposed corrective orders and a combined 2.239 billion won ($1.6 million) in fines on ready-mix concrete manufactu...

Published 2026.02.02. 13:56:50 |

MG Community Credit Cooperatives Names Actor Cho Jung-seok as New Brand Ambassador

MG Community Credit Cooperatives has named actor Cho Jung-seok as its new brand ambassador for a nationwide advertising campaign emphasizing community...

Published 2026.02.02. 13:38:33 | By Do Hye-won

Nonghyup Distribution Hanaro Mart Launches Lunar New Year Gift Sets

Nonghyup Distribution's Hanaro Mart launched Lunar New Year gift set sales through February 16, offering premium fruits, Korean beef, and budget optio...

Published 2026.02.02. 13:38:10 | By Sung Hyung-joo