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  Shinhan Bank Hires Big Tech AI Talent to Speed Digital Transformation Shinhan Bank is expanding recruitment of outside talent in artificial intelligence and digital transformation, known internally as AX, as it seeks to strengthen its AI capabilities. The bank has been bringing in engineers and executives with backgrounds at major technology companies including Samsung Electronics and SK. On March 5, the financial industry said Shinhan Bank this month appointed Choi Cheol as head of its AX Digital division. Choi previously led the SK AIX Convergence Group March 5, 2026
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  Korea Tightens Delisting Rules, Raising Risks for Low-Priced Pharma Stocks Tighter delisting requirements are heightening anxiety across South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech sector, particularly among smaller drugmakers that have posted losses for years and now trade below 1,000 won a share. Industry officials said March 5 that starting in July, any stock that stays below 1,000 won for 30 consecutive trading days will be designated an “issue for administration.” If it then fails to recover for at least 45 trading days within 90 days, it must enter delisting March 5, 2026
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  ABL Bio to Join East-West Biopharma Summit; Dongkook Launches Centellian24 Ampoule; Medytox Promotions ABL Bio to attend East-West Biopharma Summit ABL Bio said March 5 it will attend the 5th East-West Biopharma Summit: Seoul, set for March 9-11. The event is co-hosted by global biotech publication BioCentury and biopharma executive network BayHelix, with McKinsey & Company participating as an insights partner. The summit brings together pharmaceutical and biotech industry officials to share insights on global markets and explore new business opportunities. Companies expected to atten March 5, 2026
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  Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group Chair Song Young-sook Apologizes Over Sexual Misconduct Controversy Song Young-sook, chair of Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group, issued a formal apology over a recently raised sexual misconduct controversy and reiterated the company’s commitment to an independent, board-led governance structure under a professional management system. In a statement released on the 5th, Song said that as a family member of the company’s founder and one of its major shareholders, she feels a heavy responsibility for failing to prevent the situation. She apologized “sincerely” to March 5, 2026
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  Posco Future M to Invest 357 Billion Won in Vietnam Synthetic Graphite Anode Plant Posco Future M will build a synthetic graphite anode material plant in Vietnam as it seeks to stabilize supply of key battery materials. The company said its board on Wednesday approved an investment of about 357 billion won ($3570억원) to build the plant in Thai Nguyen, an industrial city in northern Vietnam. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of this year, with mass production planned from 2028. The plant will be built on a site that can be expanded to a maximum capac March 5, 2026
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  Culture Minister Choi: BTS Concert Will Test Anti-Scalping Efforts, Platforms Must Act 최휘영 문화체육관광부 장관은 5일 "최근 국민적 관심이 집중된 BTS의 공연은 암표 대응의 중요한 시험대가 될 것"이라며 민관이 함께 암표 근절에 적극적으로 나서야 한다고 밝혔다. Choi said at the launch ceremony in Seoul for a joint public-private anti-scalping task force that the group must become a practical platform that carries out enforcement, built on constant cooperation between government and the private sector. The task force, which officially began work that day, brings together the M March 5, 2026
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  Actress Ku Hye-sun Defends Price of Patented ‘KOOROLL’ Hair Roller Actress Ku Hye-sun has addressed criticism over the price of her patented hair roller, ‘KOOROLL.’ Ku wrote on her social media on the 5th that KOOROLL “removes more than 80% of the plastic” used in conventional round hair rollers. She said that unlike round rollers, which can tangle with hair and become dirty, KOOROLL can be unfolded to remove hair easily and then returns to its original shape. She added that the product is durable and “can be used permanently.” Ku said the initial prod March 5, 2026
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  Korean Industry Urges Action as Hormuz Closure Fears and U.S. Tariffs Add Pressure U.S.-Iran fighting has heightened fears that the Strait of Hormuz could be blocked, prompting South Korean industry leaders to press for swift countermeasures at an emergency meeting at the National Assembly on the 5th. Exporters and energy companies attended the “Democratic Party-industry emergency meeting on Middle East issues,” urging the government to respond quickly to what they called a compound crisis driven by Middle East instability and U.S. tariffs. Democratic Party lawmaker K March 5, 2026
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  Jinyoung and Kim Minju Lead JTBC’s New Friday Romance Series “Shining” Actors Park Jinyoung and Kim Minju are betting a first-love story can help revive JTBC’s Friday series. JTBC’s new Friday drama “Shining,” directed by Kim Yoon-jin (“Our Beloved Summer”) and written by Lee Sook-yeon (“One Fine Spring Day”), layers a teenage first meeting with a reunion in the characters’ 30s. The creators said the series aims to prove love through the passage of seasons rather than through big “incidents.” On the afternoon of the 5th, JTBC held a production presentation March 5, 2026
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  Hyundai Motor-Kia AVP Chief Park Min-woo Urges Staff to Embrace Conflict as 'One Team' Park Min-woo, head of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s AVP division, urged employees to keep a “one team” mindset even when disagreements arise. Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday that Park, who took office Feb. 23, met employees in a town hall meeting and told them, “There will be countless clashes and differences of opinion, but let’s not avoid them.” He added that conflict can be “positive friction” aimed at building the most complete product. Park stressed collaboration as “One Team,” saying March 5, 2026