South Korea’s Self-Employed Debt Shifts to Nonbank Lenders, Raising Default Risks Debt held by South Korea’s self-employed is nearing a breaking point and is emerging as a broader financial risk as more borrowers are pushed out of banks and into higher-cost nonbank lenders. As bank lending standards tighten, delinquencies and business closures are rising in tandem, reinforcing a negative cycle. According to Korea Credit Data on April 13, outstanding loans to sole proprietors totaled 729.2 trillion won at the end of last year, up 13.2 trillion won from a year earlier (7 April 14, 2026

BIGBANG Brings Trot to Coachella, Kicking Off 20th Anniversary Activities Korean trot music made an unexpected appearance at Coachella, one of the United States’ best-known music festivals. BIGBANG appeared at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 12 (local time) in California. G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung performed an official set under the name BIGBANG, signaling the start of activities marking the group’s 20th anniversary. It was BIGBANG’s first official performance since its 2017 “Last Dance” tour, nine years ago. The group took the April 13, 2026

Kiss of Life dance challenge for new song draws sexualization backlash Girl group Kiss of Life has come under criticism over a dance challenge for its new song, with some viewers calling the choreography sexually suggestive. The group recently posted a choreography challenge video for its new track, ‘Who is she,’ on its official YouTube channel. In the clip, members face each other and perform a move that appears to mimic choking. The routine also includes both members thrusting their hips at the same time, drawing surprise and complaints online. April 13, 2026

Union Berlin Names Marie-Louise Eta as Interim Coach, First Woman to Lead a Top 5 Men’s League Club Germany’s Union Berlin, the club of South Korea international Jeong Woo-yeong, has appointed a woman to lead a men’s first team in Europe’s top five leagues for the first time. The Berlin club said on the 12th (Korean time) it named coach Marie-Louise Eta interim head coach to replace Steffen Baumgart, who was fired after poor results. Eta is the first woman to take charge of a senior men’s first team across the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie April 13, 2026

Na Hong-jin’s Cannes Competition Film ‘Hope’ Lands NEON for North American Release Na Hong-jin’s new film “Hope” (HOPE), invited to compete at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, has secured a North American release through a partnership with U.S. distributor NEON. Founded in 2017, NEON has handled North American distribution for high-profile international titles, including multiple Palme d’Or winners at Cannes and an Academy Award best picture winner. NEON has brought a run of Cannes Palme d’Or winners to North American audiences since 2019, including Bong Joon-ho’s “Paras April 13, 2026

Mortgage Rates Near 7% While Deposit Rates Stay in 2% Range, Widening Bank Spreads Mortgage loan rates have pushed toward 7% while deposit rates remain stuck in the 2% to 3% range, widening the gap between what banks charge borrowers and what they pay savers. With loan rates jumping amid the Middle East situation, borrowers’ interest burdens are rising. According to the financial sector on the 13th, fixed-rate (five-year) mortgage rates at the five major commercial banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup — stood at 4.16% to 6.76% a year, with the top en April 13, 2026

Woori Bank, Kim & Chang and Samil PwC Form Joint Team for Business Succession Support Woori Bank said on the 13th it signed a memorandum of understanding with Kim & Chang and Samil PwC to cooperate on business succession services. The agreement aims to provide integrated support across finance, legal services and tax matters. The three organizations said they will work together to address issues that arise during succession and to jointly design practical, executable succession strategies, going beyond simple advice. As founders of small and midsize companies age rapi April 13, 2026

Review Preview: 'Hind’s Voice' Recreates Gaza Girl’s Final Call for Help War often reaches people first through social media — a sudden surge of posts on X, many showing children injured or killed. At first, it is hard to look away. Over time, the images become unbearable, and the instinct is to scroll past — even as the scenes linger. When news reports later describe airstrikes hitting military sites, schools or hospitals somewhere far away, the faces of those children return. For many viewers, that is where the mourning stops. The docudrama “Hind’s Voic April 13, 2026

Celltrion Expands Omliclo Prescriptions Across Europe, Wins Key Tenders Celltrion expands Omliclo prescriptions across Europe Celltrion said April 13 that Omliclo (omalizumab), used to treat chronic idiopathic urticaria and allergic asthma, is gaining prescriptions across Europe and posting tender wins. In Italy, Celltrion’s local unit won bids from 10 regional governments. Supply has begun in some areas, including Umbria, Trentino-Alto Adige and Tuscany, the company said. In the United Kingdom, Celltrion said it won National Health Service tenders in all f April 13, 2026

Shinhan Bank CEO Jeong Sang-hyeok Joins SOL Mate Trusts to Boost Senior Wealth Services Shinhan Bank CEO Jeong Sang-hyeok has moved to strengthen the bank’s competitiveness in senior wealth management. Shinhan Bank said April 13 it held a pledge ceremony for executives to enroll in its Shinhan SOL Mate will-substitute trust and dementia-care trust. Jeong and 21 executives took part. The bank said the campaign was designed to have management consider the purpose and need for specialized trust products from a customer’s perspective. The Shinhan SOL Mate will-substitute tru April 13, 2026