Rising Oil Prices Increase Burden on Cash Transport Industry, Bank of Korea Responds The Bank of Korea is facing increased pressure to maintain the currency circulation system due to a decline in cash usage and rising oil prices. On May 17, the bank announced that it discussed response measures with industry stakeholders during the regular meeting of the Currency Circulation System Related Institutions Council held on May 12. According to the Bank of Korea, while the proportion of cash as a payment method continues to decrease, the total amount of cash in circulation ha May 17, 2026

Electronic Financial Industry Surpasses 12 Trillion Won in Revenue Mobile-centric digital financial transactions have rapidly expanded, leading to significant growth in the electronic financial industry last year. However, smaller firms are struggling to improve profitability, exacerbating industry polarization. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, the electronic financial industry's revenue reached 12 trillion won last year, marking a 15.4% increase (1.6 trillion won) from the previous year. Payment gateway (PG) revenue accounted for 9 trillio May 17, 2026

Construction Firms Penalized for Shifting Liability to Subcontractors Construction companies that shifted the responsibility and costs of industrial accidents to subcontractors have faced penalties from regulatory authorities. The Fair Trade Commission announced on May 17 that it imposed corrective orders and fines totaling 729 million won (approximately $550,000) against KR Industries, Dasan Construction Engineering, and NC Construction for violations of subcontracting laws. This action follows an investigation initiated by the Fair Trade Commission in Jul May 17, 2026

Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-sung to Attend G7 Finance Track Meeting Shin Hyun-sung, the governor of the Bank of Korea, will attend the G7 Finance Track meeting, marking the first time a Bank of Korea governor has been officially invited to participate in this forum. According to the Bank of Korea on May 17, Shin is scheduled to attend the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Paris, France, on May 18-19 (local time). The meeting will include invited countries such as Brazil, India, and Kenya, alongside the G7 members. The G7 Financ May 17, 2026

Youth Unemployment Rises Amid Job Growth in South Korea South Korea's job market is experiencing deepening K-shaped polarization, with an increasing number of young people disengaging from the labor force. Despite rising employment figures, job growth is primarily concentrated in large companies and among older workers, while opportunities for youth and small businesses are dwindling. The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) released a report on May 17, highlighting key trends in the current employment landscape. The report indicates a worsening of May 17, 2026

Second Round of High Oil Price Relief Payments Begins on May 18 The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on May 17 that the second round of high oil price relief payments will begin at 9 a.m. on May 18, available through both online and offline applications. During the first week of applications, a system based on the last digit of birth years will be implemented to manage the flow of applicants. The second round of payments will target 70% of the population, with amounts varying by region: 100,000 won in the metropolitan area, 150,000 won in May 17, 2026

Household Loans Increase by 2.1 Trillion Won, Driven by Housing Loans Last month, household loans from banks increased significantly, primarily driven by housing-related loans. According to the Bank of Korea's report on 'Financial Market Trends' released on May 17, the balance of household loans from deposit banks, including policy mortgage loans, stood at 1,174.9 trillion won at the end of last month, marking an increase of 2.1 trillion won from the previous month. The rise in household loans was largely attributed to an increase in housing loans. The bal May 17, 2026

Phishing Emails Masquerading as Naver Plus Membership Notifications Phishing emails disguised as Naver Plus membership payment notifications are being circulated, aiming to steal user account information. These emails trick users into clicking links that lead to fake security pages where they are prompted to enter their passwords. According to the IT industry on May 17, Naver has issued a warning through its customer service about phishing emails posing as "Naver Plus Membership Payment Completed" notifications, urging users to exercise caution. Naver s May 17, 2026

Verdict Expected for Former National Intelligence Chief Jo Tae-yong on May 21 Jo Tae-yong, the former head of the National Intelligence Service, is set to receive a verdict on charges of dereliction of duty and violating the National Intelligence Service Act for failing to report the planned emergency martial law declaration to the National Assembly. According to legal sources, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 32, led by Judge Ryu Kyung-jin, will hold the first-instance verdict hearing on May 21 for Jo, who has been indicted and detained since la May 17, 2026

FIFTY FIFTY Releases 'After School Exorcism Club' MV Featuring Acting Debut FIFTY FIFTY has unveiled the music video for 'After School Exorcism Club,' marking the members' first foray into acting and generating significant buzz around the project.The music video was released on the KITZ YouTube channel, showcasing the five members of FIFTY FIFTY as they transform into the characters of the exorcism club, highlighting their upcoming adventures. The video captures the essence of a high school occult comedy, featuring vibrant visuals and the members' engaging portrayals.'A May 17, 2026