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  SSG’s Kim Gwang-hyeon to Have Shoulder Surgery; Rehab Expected to Take 6+ Months SSG Landers left-hander Kim Gwang-hyeon will undergo shoulder surgery. SSG said March 22 that Kim was diagnosed with a bone spur in the back of his left shoulder and will have surgery at a hospital in Nagoya, Japan, later this month. The club said rehabilitation is expected to take more than six months and that it will fully support Kim so he can focus on recovery. In a post on social media, Kim said he decided on surgery after “a lot of 고민.” He wrote that he understands sh March 22, 2026
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  IVE’s ‘HEYA’ Music Video Tops 100 Million YouTube Views; Three Hits Pass 300 Million IVE has earned its sixth music video to surpass 100 million views on YouTube with “HEYA.” Starship Entertainment said the music video for “HEYA,” the title track from IVE’s second EP, “IVE SWITCH,” topped 100 million views on Friday. The milestone gives the group six music videos with more than 100 million views. Since its debut with “ELEVEN,” IVE has continued to post blockbuster view counts through “HEYA,” reinforcing its popularity. “LOVE DIVE,” “After LIKE” and “I AM” have each exc March 22, 2026
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  Hyundai Targets China and India Rebound With 46 New Models, Aiming for 1.28 Million Sales by 2030 Hyundai Motor is seeking a rebound in China and India, the world's No. 1 and No. 3 auto markets, by sharply expanding new-model launches. The push signals the company does not intend to abandon key markets, though intensifying competition from fast-growing local brands makes success uncertain. Hyundai said March 22 that CEO Jose Munoz, in a recent shareholder letter, set a goal of lifting combined annual sales in China and India to 1,276,500 vehicles by 2030. The targets are 832,500 March 22, 2026
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  Korean Banks Brace for Asset Quality Strain as Middle East Tensions Lift Rates, Oil Rising global oil prices and bond yields tied to turmoil in the Middle East are heightening concerns over asset quality at South Korea’s banks. Vulnerable borrowers such as the self-employed and small businesses have struggled with debt service since the COVID-19 pandemic, and higher costs from a spike in oil prices are seen further weakening companies’ ability to repay. As of the end of February, the overall delinquency rate on won-denominated loans at the five major banks — KB, Shinhan March 22, 2026
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  South Korea’s Lee Sang-ho Wins Season-Ending Snowboard World Cup, Claims Record Fifth Title Lee Sang-ho, known as "Cabbage Boy," won the final event of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Snowboard World Cup alpine season. Lee defeated Austria’s Christoph Karner in the men’s parallel slalom final at the 2025-2026 FIS Snowboard World Cup in Winterberg, Germany, on March 21 local time. The victory was Lee’s fifth career World Cup win, making him the first South Korean to reach five FIS World Cup victories. Choi Ga-on, who won gold in the women’s snowboard half March 22, 2026
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  BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Sweeps Spotify Global Chart, Tracks Fill Top 14 All tracks from BTS’ new album, ‘ARIRANG,’ have entered Spotify’s global charts. Spotify said on the 21st that BTS’ fifth full-length album, ‘ARIRANG’ (ARIRANG), has become the most-streamed K-pop album of all time. It also ranked as this year’s most-played album in a single day, underscoring the release’s strong momentum. On Spotify’s “Daily Top Songs Global,” the title track “SWIM” went straight to No. 1 on the March 20 chart, while every song from the album placed from No. 1 through March 22, 2026
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  TaylorMade Names Park Se-ri as Brand Ambassador TaylorMade recently said it has selected Park Se-ri, a former South Korea national golf team coach, as a brand ambassador. Park is a leading figure in South Korean golf, highlighted by her 1998 U.S. Women’s Open title and 25 LPGA Tour victories, including five major championships. In 2007, she became the first South Korean player inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. After retiring, Park has worked as a coach and mentor, contributing to player development and the growth of golf cultu March 22, 2026
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  Woo Sang-hyeok Takes Bronze in Men’s High Jump at World Indoor Championships Woo Sang-hyeok won a medal for the fourth straight time at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, taking a share of bronze in the men’s high jump. Woo cleared 2.26 meters to finish tied for third in the final held March 21 (Korea time) at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena in Torun, Poland. The defending champion fell short of a repeat title but extended his medal streak at the event. Woo opened by clearing 2.17 meters on his first attempt, then made 2.22 and 2.26 on his first tries as well. March 22, 2026
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  NH NongHyup Bank Conducts On-Site Internal Controls Checks to Prevent Mis-Selling NH NongHyup Bank said March 22 it conducted on-site internal controls inspections to prevent consumer harm from mis-selling and to promote sound sales practices. Park Jang-soon, the bank’s executive vice president for financial consumer protection, visited the South Chungcheong business office on March 20 to assess whether consumer-protection internal controls were being carried out and how they were operating. The inspection focused on compliance with the Financial Consumer Protection Ac March 22, 2026
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  Woori Bank Caps New Personal Credit Loan Rates at 7% Annually Woori Bank said March 22 it will expand its interest-rate cap to cover new personal credit loans, limiting rates to no more than 7% a year starting March 23. The bank also announced a new product, the “Woori WON Dream Living Expense Loan,” aimed at easing financial burdens for mid- and low-credit borrowers. Woori said the measures are part of Woori Financial Group’s “Future Shared Growth Project” to broaden inclusive finance, as economic slowing and rising living costs have increased pre March 22, 2026