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AI summarySouth Korean stocks have swung sharply in response to developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict, with the KOSPI posting strong gains on hopes for a ceasefire but also experiencing sharp declines amid renewed threats. Market watchers note continued volatility as diplomatic efforts stall and oil prices remain elevated.
AI summaryForeign bank branches in South Korea reported a combined net profit of 1.68 trillion won in 2025, down 5.8% year-on-year due to high financial costs and equity valuation losses. Meanwhile, domestic banks maintained stable bad-loan ratios at 0.57% during Q4, according to Financial Supervisory Service data.
AI summarySouth Korea's Finance Minister, Koo Yun-cheol, has announced a series of measures to address the economic fallout from the ongoing Middle East conflict, including releasing urea reserves, designating petrochemical products as crisis items, and implementing a $4.12 billion cash assistance program. He has also called for international cooperation to stabilize global supply chains.
AI summaryConflicting casualty figures from South Korean officials have highlighted the evolving nature of a fatal factory fire in Daejeon, where a blaze at an auto parts plant killed 14 workers according to updated figures, though initial reports indicated 10 fatalities with 4 missing. The incident injured 59 people and has intensified scrutiny of South Korea's industrial safety record, coming shortly after the imprisonment of a battery company CEO over a separate deadly factory fire.
AI summaryPresident Donald Trump has publicly pressed South Korea, Japan, China and other nations to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, while signaling the U.S. may wind down its military operation against Iran. Seoul has responded cautiously, emphasizing close coordination with Washington and the need to normalize global shipping.
AI summaryThis week, North Korea conducted multiple missile tests, appointed a new ambassador to Belarus, and engaged in diplomatic exchanges with China, while a former Trump official predicted a possible U.S.-North Korea summit. Belarus also moved to open an embassy in Pyongyang, and China resumed direct flights to North Korea.
AI summaryPresident Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has reached 67 percent, the highest since he took office, according to a Gallup Korea survey. The rise is attributed to positive views on his economic and livelihood policies, though exact figures vary between reports. The ruling Democratic Party's approval also climbed, while the main opposition saw a decline.
AI summaryK-pop group BTS releases its first full-group album in three years and nine months, with a free concert at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square expected to draw 260,000 people to the surrounding area. Member RM will perform with modified choreography due to an ankle injury sustained during rehearsals.
AI summaryAs the US-Israel conflict with Iran disrupts Gulf oil supplies and closes the Strait of Hormuz, some analysts see crude surpassing $150 or even $200, while others point to diplomatic efforts and falling prices as signs of easing tensions. A look at the competing forecasts and the facts behind them.
AI summarySouth Korea's defense minister denied receiving any formal diplomatic request from the United States to deploy warships to the Middle East, despite President Trump's public calls for allies to protect the Strait of Hormuz. The statement comes as Seoul navigates domestic constitutional concerns and alliance pressures over potential military involvement in the region.
AI summarySouth Korean police have apprehended a man in his 20s for allegedly posting a bomb threat on a Detroit airport website in March 2024. The arrest followed international cooperation between U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and local authorities, including a raid on the suspect's home earlier this month. He has been referred to prosecution on charges of making public threats.
AI summaryPresident Lee Jae Myung urged financial authorities to deploy regulatory tools to stabilize South Korea's overheated housing market, describing taxation as a last-resort option and comparing it to a "nuclear weapon" that should not be used lightly. In a separate statement posted March 17 on social media, he reaffirmed plans to separate prosecution investigative and indictment powers by October, while cautioning ruling party hard-liners against excessive measures that could impede the reform.
AI summaryPresident Lee Jae Myung has ordered comprehensive contingency planning for a prolonged Middle East crisis, citing the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.-led war in Iran. The government is preparing emergency energy-saving measures, diplomatic efforts to secure crude supplies, and a supplementary budget for vulnerable sectors, while simultaneously pursuing capital market reforms to address speculative trading risks.
AI summaryNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a memorial museum under construction to commemorate troops dispatched to support Russia's war in Ukraine. State media reports the project is 93% complete and will open in April to mark the first anniversary of Russia's recapture of Kursk, where Pyongyang claims its soldiers played a "pivotal role."