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  Deposit-Backed Loans Rise at South Korea’s Top Banks as Stock Leverage Persists 'Borrowing to invest' remains strong. Even as uncertainty persists after the Middle East situation, borrowing is rising not only through unsecured credit loans but also through loans backed by deposits. With tough government rules slowing growth in mortgage lending, leveraged stock investing is emerging as a new variable in managing household debt, analysts say. According to the financial sector on the 24th, the outstanding balance of deposit-backed loans at the five major banks — March 24, 2026
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  NH NongHyup Financial Adopts Five-Day Vehicle Rotation to Save Energy NH NongHyup Financial Group said on the 24th it has immediately introduced a groupwide five-day vehicle rotation system as the government raised its resource security alert due to the prolonged war in the Middle East. With uncertainty growing over energy supplies as Middle East conditions deteriorate, the government raised the resource security alert for crude oil to the “caution” level as of 3 p.m. on the 18th. Starting at midnight on the 25th, the public sector will begin a five-day pas March 24, 2026
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  Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong previews works from Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 galleries The Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong said it will present a group exhibition of Korean contemporary art, “From Korea to Hong Kong: Expanding Horizons,” from March 24 through May 30. The show, tied to “Art Basel Hong Kong 2026,” was organized in cooperation with 11 leading South Korean galleries participating in the fair. It brings together works by 11 artists spanning generations and genres. Participating artists are Lee Manna (Sun Gallery), Michael Joo (Kukje Gallery), Kim Jae-yon March 24, 2026
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  Hana Financial to Move Headquarters to Incheon’s Cheongna in September; Hanwha Life Extends Outside Director Terms Hana Financial Group said it will relocate its group headquarters to Cheongna, Incheon, in September and secured funding for tax-free dividends, a move expected to strengthen shareholder returns. Hanwha Life Insurance, meanwhile, extended the term of outside directors from two years to three to bolster board expertise. Hana Financial on Monday approved at its annual shareholders meeting a proposal to reduce its capital reserve by 7.4 trillion won to enable tax-free dividends. The decisi March 24, 2026
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  Tottenham Slips Toward Relegation Zone After Son Heung-min Exit, Winless Run Grows Tottenham Hotspur’s slump has deepened into a relegation fight in the English Premier League, with local media pointing to a leadership vacuum after captain and star Son Heung-min left for Los Angeles FC and to criticism of the club’s top management. After 31 league matches, Tottenham sits 17th at 7-9-15 for 30 points, just one point above 18th-place West Ham United (7-8-16, 29). In the EPL, the teams finishing 18th through 20th after 38 rounds are relegated to the Championship. The recen March 24, 2026
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  NH NongHyup Bank Offers Free Anti-Voice Phishing Insurance for Seniors NH NongHyup Bank said March 24 it will provide free enrollment in a “voice phishing compensation insurance” program for 1 million South Koreans age 60 and older, a group it described as especially vulnerable to financial fraud. Customers can apply at NH NongHyup Bank branches or through the NH All One Bank app. The policy covers up to 70% of direct remittance losses caused by voice phishing or messenger phishing, with a maximum payout of 10 million won. Bank President Kang Tae-young visi March 24, 2026
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  Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin Returns as Shareholder Meeting Chair, Predicts Sales Growth Seo Jung-jin, chairman of Celltrion Group, returned to the role of chair at the company’s shareholder meeting for the first time in 11 years, since the 2015 meeting, saying he wanted to explain mid- to long-term responses directly to shareholders as the global business environment shifts rapidly, including the U.S.-Iran war in the Middle East. Seo chaired Celltrion’s 35th annual general meeting of shareholders on the morning of March 24 at Songdo Convensia in Incheon and spoke with share March 24, 2026
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  IBK Industrial Bank of Korea to Provide 2 Trillion Won Package for Regional SMEs IBK Industrial Bank of Korea said March 24 it will launch a 2 trillion won ($) “regional balanced growth” financing package to strengthen the competitiveness of small and midsize companies outside the capital area. The package consists of three programs: liquidity support (1 trillion won), financing-cost relief (1 trillion won) and business restructuring support. The liquidity program targets companies in regional strategic industries and firms relocating to provincial areas. It offers a March 24, 2026
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  KB Financial to Launch Consumer Protection Quality Index to Flag Investment, Fraud Risks KB Financial Group is launching a Consumer Protection Quality Index, or CPQI, to spot risks early, including mismatches between customers’ investment profiles and product risk, as well as financial fraud. The group said the move is aimed at strengthening trust in its financial services.  KB Financial said on 24 it is pushing the consumer-rights measures to mark the fifth anniversary of the Financial Consumer Protection Act.  Major affiliates, including KB Kookmin Bank and KB Life Insuran March 24, 2026
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  New Books: How AI Picks Winning Brands, Rethinking Anxiety, and Walking Japan’s Past AEO: The Secret of Brands AI Chooses=Kim Yongseok·Lee Seungmin, Cheoeum Books. "An era has arrived in which AI’s choice becomes the consumer’s choice." (p. 48) A branding specialist and an AI specialist argue that the AI era will intensify a winner-take-all market, with the brand selected in AI-generated answers rising to No. 1. They say marketing is rapidly shifting from SEO, or search engine optimization, to AEO, or answer engine optimization. Where ran March 24, 2026