Hana Bank Automates Marketing and FX Reviews to Boost Efficiency Hana Bank said it is expanding the use of artificial intelligence across operations, from branch sales to customer service. To raise marketing productivity for branch staff, the bank introduced an AutoML (Auto Machine Learning)-based service that recommends marketing targets. It goes beyond product suggestions by analyzing each customer’s preferences and financial usage patterns to propose the most effective marketing approach. The bank is also applying AI to foreign exchange work. It March 18, 2026

IBK Industrial Bank Expands AI Use, Automates Guaranteed-Loan Reviews IBK Industrial Bank of Korea is expanding its use of artificial intelligence by rolling out an in-house system across frontline operations. The bank said it built an AI model called ‘IBK GenAI’ to boost efficiency and productivity across the organization and is applying it broadly to day-to-day work. IBK GenAI is an internal large language model trained on the bank’s own data. It provides tailored AI environments by department and can instantly search and answer from 12 March 18, 2026

NH NongHyup Bank Launches AI Service to Automatically Request Loan Rate Cuts NH NongHyup Bank said it has launched and is operating an artificial intelligence-based service that automatically applies for loan rate reductions on behalf of customers, allowing financial consumers to exercise their right to request a lower rate without a separate application process. The bank said its "AI Loan Rate Care" service uses AI to submit requests to cut interest rates for customers who hold loans. The right to request a rate cut allows borrowers to ask for a lower loan rate March 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun’s 2025 Pay Totaled 17.46 Billion Won, Up 51.6% Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun received total compensation of 17.461 billion won last year, the company disclosed.  According to Hyundai Motor’s annual business report filed on Tuesday, Chung received 9.001 billion won from Hyundai Motor, including 4.5 billion won in salary and 4.501 billion won in bonuses and other income. That was up 1.914 billion won, or 27.0%, from 7.087 billion won a year earlier. Chung also received 5.4 billion won from affiliate Kia and 3.06 billion won March 18, 2026

Korea Zinc Expands Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Output for Semiconductors, Eyes U.S. Hub Korea Zinc said March 18 it is producing ultra-high-purity, semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid by refining sulfur dioxide (SO₂) generated in its zinc and lead smelting process, and plans to expand annual capacity to 320,000 tons starting in the second half of this year. The company also said it will build a production line in the United States. After Chairman Choi Yun-beom took office, the company has pursued efficiency improvements and investment to expand production lines. It now operate March 18, 2026

CDMO Market Heats Up as Drugmakers Compete on Development Know-How, Not Just Capacity Contract development and manufacturing organizations, or CDMOs, are expanding rapidly beyond contract manufacturing into research and development, but industry officials say adding facilities alone is unlikely to secure an edge. They note that competition for orders is shifting from simple production pricing to development capabilities, and that as the market grows, specialization is increasingly determining winners and losers. Industry officials said March 18 that CDMOs provide a high-ba March 18, 2026

Korean Biopharma CDMOs Race to Expand Capacity to Lock In Long-Term Clients The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) market is heating up again as biopharma companies move to expand production capacity to secure long-term clients. Because biologic drug development takes years and customers typically commit volumes for extended periods once a partner is chosen, capacity has become a key battleground. According to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the global pharmaceutical CDMO market is projected to grow 9.7% annually, to $ March 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor Boosts R&D to 5.5 Trillion Won Despite Headwinds, Stays Focused on Future Tech Hyundai Motor Co. increased research and development spending last year despite external uncertainty, including U.S. tariff measures, as it sought to secure future competitiveness. The company is expected to continue investing this year in key technologies such as electrification and software-defined vehicles, or SDVs, to strengthen its response to global markets. According to its annual business report filed March 18 with South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service, Hyundai spent 5.5354 March 18, 2026

Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae Earned 14.58 Billion Won in Pay Last Year Cho Won-tae, chairman of Hanjin Group, received 14,578,180,000 won in pay last year from the holding company and major affiliates. According to filings on the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system, Cho was paid a total of 14,578,180,000 won last year from Hanjin KAL (6,176,000,000 won), Korean Air (5,705,000,000 won), Jin Air (1,710,000,000 won) and Asiana Airlines (987,180,000 won). The total was about 43% higher than his 2024 pay. His c March 18, 2026

Korean Pharma and Medtech Updates: New Chondroitin Supplement, China Dividend Win, AI Project, CGM Study, FDA Fast Track, KGMP Renewal Daewon Pharmaceutical launches “Chondroitin King 1200” with individually approved functional ingredient Daewon Pharmaceutical said March 18 that its health supplement brand Daewon Health has launched “Chondroitin King 1200,” a functional health food that may help support joint and cartilage health. The product’s main ingredient is chondroitin sulfate, which has been recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for joint and cartilage health functionality. The company said it is the March 18, 2026