K-Bank's Small Business Loans Exceed 3 Trillion Won, Focus on Guarantees and Collateral K-Bank is rapidly expanding its corporate finance sector, primarily through small business loans. By increasing the proportion of loans based on guarantees and collateral, the bank has enhanced its stability while significantly reducing its delinquency rate, achieving growth alongside improved financial health. As of May, K-Bank announced that its small business loan balance has surpassed 3 trillion won. This marks a 1 trillion won increase within just six months after exceeding 2 trillion May 18, 2026

North America World Cup Faces Extreme Heat Risks, More Dangerous Than 1994 The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place from June 11 to July 19 across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is under a heat advisory. Climate scientists warn that nearly a quarter of the matches could be played in extreme heat stress conditions. On May 15, the World Weather Attribution (WWA), a multinational climate research group, emphasized in a public letter and analysis that due to global warming, players and fans at the 2026 World Cup will face significantly harsher May 18, 2026

Missing Woman Found Dead After Hiking in Bukhansan National Park A woman in her 50s who went missing after hiking in Bukhansan National Park was found dead 28 days after her family reported her disappearance. According to the Songpa Police Station in Seoul, the woman, identified as A, was reported missing by her family on April 17 at around 11:28 a.m. A's husband contacted her workplace around 9 a.m. that day after learning she had not shown up for work. He began searching for her and subsequently filed a missing person report with the police. Fol May 18, 2026

Kang Dong-won, Um Tae-goo, and Park Ji-hyun Star in 'Wild Thing' with K-Pop and Comedy Elements The film 'Wild Thing' has unveiled key viewing points ahead of its release. Set to premiere on June 3, 'Wild Thing' is a comedy that follows a once-popular mixed-gender dance group, 'Triangle,' which disbanded overnight due to an unexpected incident. The story revolves around their reckless challenge to seize a chance at revival after 20 years. One of the most striking aspects is the cast's combination. Kang Dong-won plays Hyun-woo, the leader of 'Triangle,' showcasing both comedic acting and May 18, 2026

NH Bank Launches Non-Face-to-Face MMT Subscription Service NH Bank is accelerating the expansion of its non-face-to-face services in response to changes in the digital financial environment.On May 18, NH Bank announced the launch of its non-face-to-face subscription service for specific money trusts (MMT), becoming the first bank to do so.MMT products aim to generate returns by investing in short-term financial instruments, such as issued notes. They are characterized by high liquidity, allowing for frequent deposits and withdrawals. Demand for these pr May 18, 2026

BC Card Automates Financial Operations with Multiple AI Models, Reduces GPU Costs by 70% BC Card has enhanced the efficiency of its financial AI operations by connecting multiple specialized small AI models. This approach reduces costs and increases processing speed compared to the traditional method of relying on a single large language model (LLM). On May 14, BC Card unveiled its 'Agentic AI Operating Platform,' developed in collaboration with Red Hat, at the Red Hat Summit 2026 in Atlanta. The summit is an annual conference focused on open-source, cloud, and AI technologies May 18, 2026

Shinhan Bank's Leadership Transition: From Trust Restoration to Future Finance Jung Sang-hyuk's leadership at Shinhan Bank began in a time of crisis. The financial sector was grappling with structural issues, including failures in internal controls and a loss of consumer trust. From the outset of his tenure, he prioritized 'trust restoration' as a key objective. However, labeling his leadership as merely stabilizing would be inaccurate. Jung is also pursuing aggressive goals such as productive finance, digital transformation, and exploring new customer markets.The challeng May 18, 2026

Meritz Securities Maintains Target Price of 7,500 Won for CJ CGV Amid Film Industry Recovery Meritz Securities on May 18 maintained its target price of 7,500 won and a "buy" rating for CJ CGV, citing the potential recovery of the South Korean film industry. In a report, analyst Jeong Ji-soo noted that the government's distribution of 4.5 million movie tickets, combined with an increase in film productions, positions the Korean film industry on the brink of recovering to pre-COVID-19 levels. Jeong pointed out that while audience attendance has shifted towards general screenings, May 18, 2026

South Korea Aims to Boost Regional Tourism with Global Tourism Zones and Festivals To address the disproportionate concentration of foreign tourists in Seoul, where over 80% of visitors stay, the South Korean government is focusing on revitalizing regional tourism. The plan involves designating local hubs outside the Seoul metropolitan area and Jeju as "global tourism zones" to enhance their capacity for foreign visitors. Additionally, the government aims to promote ten major "global festivals" to attract tourists to these regions. On May 18, the Ministry of Culture, Spor May 18, 2026

Korea Investment & Securities Raises PSK Target Price by 21% Amid Strong Growth Korea Investment & Securities announced on May 18 that PSK is expected to experience strong performance growth momentum this year and in the medium to long term, as both top-line and bottom-line figures continue to grow. The firm raised its target price for PSK to 160,000 won, an increase of 21%, while maintaining a "buy" rating. Kim Yeon-jun, a researcher at Korea Investment & Securities, stated, "This year, we can expect benefits from the capital expenditures of Samsung Electronics, SK May 18, 2026