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  Delayed Korea Household Debt Plan Leaves Banks Uncertain; KB Kookmin, Toss Watch Closely South Korea’s Financial Services Commission has delayed its annual household debt management plan by more than a month, leaving banks unable to lock in yearly caps for household lending and finalize business strategies. With talk that regulators could tighten overall lending limits, some lenders are weighing broader changes to their loan portfolios. Financial authorities are now expected to push the plan — originally slated for late February — to after the end of this month, the financial March 3, 2026
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  Shinhan, Hana Intensify Battle for 1.6 Million Nara Sarang Card Customers As the second phase of the Nara Sarang Card program ramps up, Shinhan Bank and Hana Bank are intensifying their fight to win customers. With tighter household lending rules limiting growth in interest income, banks are increasingly turning to institutional business as a way to secure both low-cost deposits and a large base of young customers estimated at about 1.6 million. According to the financial industry on Monday, Shinhan Bank recently created a new key performance indicator categor March 3, 2026
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  K Car Names aespa’s Karina as New Brand Ambassador for 2026 Campaign Used-car platform company K Car said Tuesday it has launched its new 2026 brand campaign, “People Who Put Cars First,” and selected Karina of the K-pop group aespa as its brand model. Through the campaign, K Car said it aims to highlight its expertise as the No. 1 used-car company, emphasizing a message of “professional staff who do not compromise when it comes to cars” and a platform for people who value and care for their vehicles. The company said the campaign reflects its direct-ope March 3, 2026
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  Chong Kun Dang Foundation Expands Scholarships; ABL209 Wins FDA IND; HK inno.N Runs WoW Promotion The Chong Kun Dang Gochon Foundation held its 2026 scholarship certificate ceremony Feb. 27 at Chong Kun Dang’s headquarters in Seoul’s Chungjeong-ro district, the foundation said Monday. The foundation said it will support 403 scholarship recipients in Korea and abroad, including 110 newly selected this year, with scholarships and free dormitory housing through graduation. It said its annual scholarship programs, including academic initiatives, total about 3 billion won. Among those sel March 3, 2026
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  Kang Ho-dong Shows Off Spring Cabbage Bibimbap Mukbang, Says It Beats Meat Broadcaster Kang Ho-dong has posted a mukbang video featuring “spring cabbage bibimbap.” On the 2nd, the Coupang Play web variety show “Kang Ho-dong Neighborhood Bookstore” uploaded the clip to its YouTube channel. In the video, Kang greets viewers, saying, “Everyone, the spring cabbage bibimbap is here.” Appearing with the on-screen phrase “본인등판,” he adds, “This is no joke,” as he prepares the dish. Saying, “Just one spoonful of rice,” Kang then scoops a full ladle into a large bowl March 3, 2026
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  HMM Union Threatens April General Strike Over Proposed Move of Headquarters to Busan HMM’s labor dispute over a proposed relocation of its headquarters to Busan is escalating toward a general strike. HMM’s onshore union said Tuesday it will take legal action and launch a general strike in April if the government and major shareholders push ahead with the move without an agreement with labor. In a statement, the union said it believes the government and major shareholders could move to finalize the relocation through a sequence of steps: a March shareholders meeting, an March 3, 2026
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  Singer Yoon Jong-shin Says Red Sox Outfielder Masataka Yoshida Resembles Him Singer Yoon Jong-shin has pointed to a baseball player he says looks like him.  On Monday, Yoon posted photos and video on social media, writing, “Every time I see him, I feel like he looks like me when I was young.”  The player was Masataka Yoshida, a Japan national team member and an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball, known for his hitting. Yoshida batted .266 last season, but hit .289 in 2023, his first year in MLB, and .280 in 2024. His career MLB batting av March 3, 2026
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  BoA Launches New Agency, Baypal Entertainment, After Leaving SM Singer BoA, who recently ended her long relationship with SM Entertainment, has announced the launch of a new entertainment company. BoA posted photos on social media on March 3 showing herself and acquaintances with bags pulled over their heads. She tagged both her own account and the Baypal Entertainment account. Baypal Entertainment also posted photos with BoA, adding the caption “???” and hashtags. Baypal Entertainment said BoA “chose a new structure to more clearly realize March 3, 2026
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  LIG Nex1 Opens Large-Scale Hiring for First Half of 2026 LIG Nex1 said Tuesday it will conduct a large-scale open recruitment drive for the first half of 2026. Applications opened Tuesday and will be accepted through March 18 via the company’s recruitment website. Openings include missile systems, electronic warfare, radar, maritime, unmanned and robotics, electro-optical and information convergence, satellites and AI, the company said. The hiring will cover a range of roles, including R&D positions in hardware, software and mechanical engin March 3, 2026
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  Shinhan Bank, K-Sure Expand Support for Small Exporters Up to 120 Million Won Shinhan Bank said Monday it will strengthen direct guarantee support tailored to small exporters in partnership with the Korea Trade Insurance Corp. The agreement targets small exporters that have struggled to obtain financing because of low credit ratings or limited export track records. The partners said they will expand small-amount guarantees and help promote overseas market entry. Under the deal, Shinhan Bank and the trade insurer will expand the lineup of non-face-to-face guarantee March 3, 2026