Secondary Lenders Face Pressure to Expand Mid-Rate Loans as Funding Costs Rise Financial regulators are pushing to expand mid-rate lending to improve access for borrowers with mid-tier credit, but much of South Korea’s nonbank sector — including credit card companies and savings banks — is pushing back, citing rising funding costs and tighter profitability. The widening gap between policy goals and business realities is also raising questions about how effective the measures will be. According to the Korea Financial Investment Association on April 28, the yield on th April 28, 2026

SEA LIFE COEX Aquarium to Host Zanmang Loopy Collaboration Campaign SEA LIFE COEX Aquarium will begin a special collaboration campaign with the popular character 'Zanmang Loopy' on May 1. The campaign will run through Aug. 2, about three months, and will feature Zanmang Loopy redesigned to match the aquarium theme. Visitors will see SEA LIFE-exclusive displays including 'Mermaid Zanmang Loopy' and 'Fish Zanmang Loopy' placed along visitor routes and in themed zones. The Rainbow Lounge zone will include a photo spot using Little Merm April 28, 2026

FSS chief urges outside directors to step up oversight at regional financial groups Lee Chan-jin, head of South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service, told newly appointed outside directors in the financial sector that they should “fairly and objectively represent shareholders’ interests” and actively check and monitor management. Lee spoke on April 28 at the Korea Banking Institute in central Seoul, appearing as the first lecturer in a new outside-director training program run by the Korea Banking Institute. He said the role of outside directors is “more important than April 28, 2026

South Korea Expands Research Funding Flexibility, Eases R&D Rules The Ministry of Science and ICT said it is moving to significantly expand researchers’ discretion in using grant funds and to streamline what it called unnecessary administrative rules, aiming to let scientists focus more on research and less on paperwork. The ministry said a revision to the enforcement decree of the National Research and Development Innovation Act was approved at a Cabinet meeting on the 28th. The revision is a follow-up to the “R&D ecosystem innovation plan to lead the April 28, 2026

Hana Financial’s ‘Hana Universe’ Tops 23 Million YouTube Views With Star Cast Hana Financial Group said its brand content series “Hana Universe,” released to mark the group’s 20th anniversary, has surpassed 23 million cumulative views on YouTube. The big-budget project, which brings together top names from film, sports and music, is drawing attention as a new approach to brand marketing in the financial sector. According to the financial industry on Monday, the main “Hana Universe” video posted April 10 on Hana Financial’s official YouTube channel, HanaTV, April 28, 2026

Seoul to Open One-Stop Center to Help International Students Find Jobs and Settle Seoul is shifting policy to move foreign students from “potential talent” to long-term residents, aiming to link study with employment and settlement rather than simply increasing arrivals. The city said April 28 it will open the Seoul Global International Student Support Center in the Sinchon university district and begin full operations in May. The center is designed as a one-stop platform offering integrated help with jobs, startups and daily life, positioning Seoul as a hub April 28, 2026

Jipyeong, Criminal Procedure Law Society Hold Seminar on Attorney-Client Privilege and Corporate Legal Strategy Jipyeong Law Firm and the Korean Association of Criminal Procedure Law said April 28 they held an online and in-person seminar the previous day on corporate legal strategy in the “ACP era,” covering responses to investigations and global best practices. On Jan. 29, 2026, a revision to the Attorney-at-Law Act aimed at institutionally protecting confidential communications between lawyers and clients passed the National Assembly plenary session. It is set to take effect Feb. 20, 2027. The c April 28, 2026

South Korea Assembly Passes Election Law to Add 3 Incheon District Council Seats Ruling and opposition parties on the 28th approved revisions to the Public Official Election Act to adjust the number of basic local council members in Incheon ahead of an administrative system overhaul. Under the bill, Incheon’s total will increase by three seats, to 128 from 125. The National Assembly passed the measure at an afternoon plenary session, revising the number of basic local council seats for the June 3 local elections. Of 246 lawmakers present, 234 voted in favor and 12 abs April 28, 2026

Korea Financial Investment Association Launches Mandatory Online Course for Single-Stock Leveraged, Inverse Products The Korea Financial Investment Association has created a mandatory pre-trade education course for investors seeking to trade single-stock leveraged and inverse exchange-listed products, strengthening investor protections for high-risk instruments. The association’s Financial Investment Education Institute said on the 28th that it opened an online course titled “Pre-Trade Education for Single-Stock Leveraged and Inverse Exchange-Listed Product Trading.” The requirement was introduced ahead April 28, 2026

Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol Meets AMCHAM Chief to Discuss Korea’s Global Finance Hub Push Koo Yun-cheol, deputy prime minister and minister of finance and economy, met Monday with James Kim, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, to discuss policy directions for South Korea’s push to become a global financial hub.  The meeting at the Government Complex Seoul included Koo and the ministry’s international economic affairs chief. AMCHAM attendees included Jeffrey Jones, chairman of the Future of Korea Partnership Foundation, among others. Kim said that as Singapor April 28, 2026