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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lotte Energy Materials, Doosan Electronics sign MOU on copper foil for high-performance PCBs Lotte Energy Materials and Doosan Electronics’ Electronic BG division have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on evaluating, developing and supplying copper foil needed to produce high-performance printed circuit boards for artificial intelligence data centers and network equipment. According to industry sources on the 22nd, the two companies agreed to work together on next-generation materials aimed at reducing signal loss and improving reliability, as demand grows for fas March 22, 2026

BTS Returns as Full Group at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square in ‘Arirang’ Comeback Live Seoul’s central Gwanghwamun Square filled with cheers as BTS returned as a full seven-member group after 3 years and 9 months. The “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG,” held at 8 p.m. on the 21st, was streamed live to more than 190 countries, underscoring the group’s continued global reach. The show opened with sweeping drone footage over Bugaksan and Gyeongbokgung Palace. As 50 dancers lined up on the stage platform, the seven members appeared in black outfits that reinterpreted traditional armo March 21, 2026