Arts Council Korea Wins Top Prize at U.S. LACP Vision Awards for Sustainability Report Arts Council Korea (ARKO) said its sustainability reports have received top ratings from recognized evaluators at home and abroad, underscoring its ESG management capabilities. ARKO said Monday it won a domestic Global Standard Management Award (GSMA) for its first-ever “2024 Sustainability Management Report,” and then took the top prize for its “2025 Sustainability Management Report” at the U.S.-based LACP Vision Awards. The organization said it has now won major awards in Korea March 9, 2026

Why South Korean Banks Aren’t Raising Deposit Rates as Money Moves Into Stocks South Korean banks are facing a growing dilemma. As a strong stock market pulls money out of bank accounts, lenders are still reluctant to raise deposit rates, constrained by the government’s household-loan management stance and heightened uncertainty tied to the Middle East. According to the Korea Federation of Banks on March 9, deposit rates at the five major commercial banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup — stood at about 2.60% to 3.05%. Base rates excluding pref March 9, 2026

South Korea Faces Must-Win vs Australia, Needs Big Margin to Reach WBC Quarterfinals South Korea’s national baseball team is on the brink of a fourth straight World Baseball Classic group-stage exit and must win its finale against Australia before turning to tiebreaker math. Even a victory may not be enough. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun’s team plays Australia at 7 p.m. on March 9 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo in its fourth Pool C game of the 2026 WBC. South Korea is 1-2 in pool play. It opened with an 11-4 win over the Czech Republic on March 5, then lost 8-6 to Japan on March 7 and March 9, 2026

South Korea falls to Taiwan in 10 innings, WBC quarterfinal hopes in jeopardy South Korea’s national baseball team suffered a costly loss to Taiwan, putting its bid for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in serious doubt. South Korea, managed by Ryu Ji-hyeon, lost 5-4 to Taiwan in 10 innings on March 8 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, falling in the tiebreaker format that begins with a runner on second base. After beating the Czech Republic 11-4 on March 5, South Korea then lost 8-6 to Japan on March 7 and dropped another game against Taiwan to fall to March 9, 2026

HD Hyundai, ABS to Develop Nuclear-Linked Electric Propulsion for Zero-Carbon Ships HD Hyundai said Monday it has signed a joint development agreement with the American Bureau of Shipping, or ABS, to begin concept design of a nuclear-linked electric propulsion system, as it moves to secure next-generation zero-carbon ship technology. The signing ceremony was held at HD Hyundai Global R&D Center in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, with Kwon Byeong-hun, head of the Electrification Center at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering; Sim Hak-mu, head of the design divi March 9, 2026

Hyundai Motor, Kia Picked for South Korea’s ‘K-Autonomous Driving’ Pilot in Gwangju Hyundai Motor and Kia said Monday they have been selected as the automaker and transportation platform operator for the government-led “K-autonomous driving cooperation model,” part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s autonomous-driving test city initiative. The project, to be carried out in the city of Gwangju, is South Korea’s first effort to test autonomous-driving technology at the city level. The ministry said the large-scale trials are expected to secure high-qua March 9, 2026

Shinhan Financial to Develop Corporate Growth-Focused Credit Rating System Shinhan Financial Group said Monday it will push ahead with a project to develop a “corporate growth credit rating system” as it seeks to expand support for corporate finance. The group said existing corporate credit rating methods in the financial sector are largely built around stability assessments based on past performance, such as financial results, making it difficult to fully reflect the future growth potential of technology-based companies and firms in emerging industries. March 9, 2026

TWS Wraps Sold-Out Stage Greeting for VR Concert 'Rush Road' TWS met fans at a stage greeting for its first VR concert, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD,” offering a closer-than-usual experience for audiences. The stage greeting, held March 6, sold out quickly as soon as ticket sales opened, underscoring strong interest. Fans packed the theater and cheered as the members appeared, while the group actively engaged with the audience. Members highlighted the VR format’s immersion. Jihoon said he watched the VR concert himself and was surprised by how clos March 9, 2026

BDH Foundation Chair Bae Dong-hyun Congratulates Kim Yun-ji on Historic Paralympic Biathlon Gold On March 8, Bae Dong-hyun, chair of the BDH Foundation, met BDH Paras athlete Kim Yun-ji at the awards ceremony site and congratulated her after she won a historic gold medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics. Competing in her first Paralympics, Kim won the women’s sitting 12.5-kilometer individual biathlon at the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium in Italy, taking first place in 38 minutes, 00.1 seconds. Kim drew attention for her focus and steady race management in biathlon, whi March 9, 2026

Si Woo Kim ties for 13th at Arnold Palmer Invitational; Akshay Bhatia wins in playoff Si Woo Kim finished tied for 13th at the PGA Tour signature event Arnold Palmer Invitational, which has a $20 million purse. Kim shot a 2-under 70 in the final round at Bay Hill Club & Lodge (par 72) in Orlando, Florida, with four birdies and two bogeys. He closed at 5-under 283, tying Viktor Hovland of Norway, Maverick McNealy, Billy Horschel and Daniel Berger of the United States, and Sepp Straka of Austria. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of the PGA Tour’s top-tier signature March 9, 2026