IBK Industrial Bank Reports 4.4% Drop in First Half Profit Amid Currency Fluctuations IBK Industrial Bank's net profit for the first half of the year decreased due to increased currency evaluation losses and higher loan loss provisions. However, the bank's outstanding loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) surpassed 270 trillion won for the first time, marking a record market share in SME financing. On July 27, the bank announced that its consolidated net profit for the first half of the year was 1.44 trillion won, a 4.4% decline compared to the same period last yea July 27, 2026

Shinhan Bank Reports First Half Net Profit of 203.4 Billion Won, Up 3.6% Year-on-Year Shinhan Bank announced on July 27 that its preliminary net profit before tax for the first half of the year reached 203.4 billion won, an increase of 7 billion won (approximately 3.6%) compared to the same period last year. Total assets grew to 70 trillion won, up 6.7 trillion won from the end of last year.The bank plans to focus on generating non-interest income and exploring new business opportunities in the second half of the year.On July 24, the bank held its third management strategy meetin July 27, 2026

YK Law Firm Partners with Korean Construction Technicians Association for Legal Support YK Law Firm has partnered with the Korean Construction Technicians Association, which has one million members, to provide immediate legal support in the event of serious accidents and safety incidents on construction sites.On July 27, YK announced that it had finalized a service contract with the association for on-site reconstruction and initial legal response.Previously, construction technicians, such as site managers, often found themselves in a 'legal blind spot' during investigations follow July 27, 2026

CJ CheilJedang's 'Jari' Selected as a Model Case in Agriculture Ministry's Project CJ CheilJedang's premium K-distilled spirits brand 'Jari' has been selected as a model case in the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ministry's 'Everyone's Win Project.'On July 27, CJ CheilJedang announced its efforts and achievements in promoting traditional liquor through 'Jari' at the launch ceremony of the 'Everyone's Win Project' held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul. The event was attended by Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung and Jo Young-jun, head of the Chamber's July 27, 2026

High School Student Receives Impromptu Casting Offer at Psy's 'Wet Show' The identity of a high school student who received an impromptu casting offer during Psy's 'Wet Show' has garnered significant attention.On July 26, a video from the 'Wet Show' went viral, amassing over 11 million views within a day of its release on social media and online communities.The video captured a high school student dancing confidently on stage after her image appeared on the big screen during the performance. She captivated the audience with her energetic presence and lack of visible July 27, 2026

Four Major Financial Groups' Capital Firms Report 52% Increase in Net Profit 4 major financial group capital firms reported a significant increase in net profit for the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. The easing of concerns over real estate project financing (PF) failures has greatly reduced the burden of setting aside provisions for bad debts. According to the financial sector on July 27, the combined net profit of KB, Shinhan, Hana, and Woori Financial Capital for the first half of the year reached 414.3 billion won, a 52.3% increase fro July 27, 2026

NH Nonghyup Bank Purchases 5,254 Tons of Carbon Credits from Farmers NH Nonghyup Bank announced on July 27 that it has purchased a total of 5,254 tons of carbon credits from 20 farms across the country.These carbon credits are officially certified by the government, reflecting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieved through the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies. In September 2023, NH Nonghyup Bank established a system to directly purchase these credits from farmers through a partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affai July 27, 2026

Gopax Appoints Kim Na-young as New CEO Cryptocurrency exchange Gopax announced on July 27 that it has appointed Kim Na-young, the former head of financial business development at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Korea, as its new CEO.Kim holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a certified international financial analyst. She previously served as the country head for Bloomberg in South Korea and most recently was a member of the Korea Investment Corporation's operating committee, where she oversaw risk-related deliberations.With thi July 27, 2026

South Korean Prime Minister: Real Estate Accounts for 71.9% of Household Assets South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook stated on July 27 that, according to the 2025 National Balance Sheet, real estate constitutes 71.9% of household net assets. "As the Prime Minister overseeing the executive branch, I feel a significant sense of responsibility and weight regarding how to address your difficulties and concerns about real estate," she said.During her keynote speech at the National Forum on Real Estate Policy held that afternoon, she acknowledged, "It is entirely natural f July 27, 2026

North Korea's Smartphones Offer Digital Services Amid Tight Control North Korea is utilizing smartphones for various digital services, including payments, taxi calls, and medicine orders. The Washington Post reported on July 26, with the assistance of North Korean technology expert Martin Williams, that it analyzed two of the latest smartphones from North Korea. The smartphones featured a range of applications, including a 'women's health management program,' an 'economic information system for mobile phones,' and 'transportation fare guidance.' These apps provi July 27, 2026