BNK, iM Financial Activate Emergency Response to Middle East Risks, Aid Affected Firms As instability in the Middle East intensifies, BNK Financial Group and iM Financial Group said they have activated emergency response systems to help stabilize markets and support companies affected by the situation. BNK Financial said Tuesday it convened its Group Crisis Management Committee with key executives in attendance. The committee reviewed the potential impact of the Middle East situation on domestic and overseas financial markets and the real economy. It also monitored the risk of higher inflation from rising global oil and raw-material prices and the possibility of increased market volatility. BNK Financial said it will also roll out direct support measures. BNK Busan Bank and BNK Kyongnam Bank will each set up 100 billion won in new recovery financing to help regional companies directly or indirectly affected by the Middle East situation. Eligible firms include small and midsize companies facing cash-flow strain among exporters and importers trading with the Middle East and related partner companies. Support will be capped at 500 million won per company. For existing loans, the banks plan to offer relief such as maturity extensions and deferrals of installment repayments. iM Financial said it has also established an emergency response system to address growing geopolitical risks tied to the Middle East. An emergency-response meeting chaired by iM Financial Chairman Hwang Byung-woo brought together executives and department heads from the holding company and its bank and securities units, among others. The group said it is proactively reviewing risk ratios and foreign-currency liquidity across affiliates including iM Bank, iM Securities, iM Life and iM Capital, and preparing customer-protection response plans by affiliate. It also plans steps such as tighter oversight of oil- and exchange-rate-sensitive industries and management of FX positions for companies linked to the Middle East. iM Financial said that if the situation worsens and its crisis-management level is raised from the current “caution” to “alert,” it will form an emergency response council and expand meetings to all affiliates to share groupwide response updates. “Geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East is expanding, so we are strengthening groupwide monitoring to prepare thoroughly for volatility in global markets,” Hwang said. “For companies facing difficulties related to the Middle East situation, we will work to reduce real damage through financial support by each affiliate.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 16:24:00

Iranian embassy in South Korea condemns military strikes by US and Israel SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - The Embassy of Iran in South Korea issued a formal statement on Tuesday strongly denouncing recent military operations by the United States and Israel against Iranian territory. The embassy characterized the air strikes as a criminal act of aggression and a violation of national sovereignty, asserting that Tehran had pursued every available diplomatic avenue to prevent the outbreak of hostilities. The statement follows a large-scale military campaign launched on February 28 by the US and Israel, which targeted various cities across Iran. While the coalition stated the strikes were aimed at military and nuclear infrastructure, the Iranian embassy reported that civilian areas were also hit. According to the embassy, an attack in the city of Minab resulted in the deaths of more than 165 female students. Reports from the Iranian Red Crescent Society and news agencies such as Reuters and The Guardian have corroborated that a girls' elementary school in Minab was struck during the opening salvo of the operation. The embassy emphasized that the military campaign occurred while diplomatic processes between Iran and the US were still underway. The statement noted that Tehran had engaged in negotiations mediated by international partners in early February to fulfill its moral and legal responsibilities and to ensure that no pretext could be used to justify military intervention. In its communication to the South Korean public and media, the embassy stated that the Iranian people have made every possible effort to prevent war. The embassy further noted that because these diplomatic efforts were met with military force, Iran now maintains a firm defensive posture to protect its territorial integrity. The Iranian military is currently invoking Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which provides for the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs. The embassy stated that Iranian forces are mobilizing all available resources to repel threats and will hold those responsible for the strikes accountable for what it described as war crimes. This stance comes amid reports from the International Institute for Strategic Studies that the initial strikes killed several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The embassy called on the international community and the South Korean government to condemn the military actions and take effective measures against the participating powers. The statement urged global leaders to uphold the United Nations Charter and ensure that the violation of Iranian sovereignty does not go unpunished. 2026-03-03 16:13:17

Hyundai Motor February Global Sales Fall 5.1% to 306,528 Vehicles Hyundai Motor Co. said Tuesday its global sales in February totaled 306,528 vehicles, down 5.1% from a year earlier. Domestic sales fell 17.8% to 47,008 units, while overseas sales slipped 2.3% to 259,520, the company said. In South Korea, Hyundai sold 13,568 sedans. The Sonata led the segment with 4,436 units, followed by the Grandeur with 3,933 and the Avante with 3,628. Sales of recreational vehicles totaled 18,756, led by the Palisade (3,081), Tucson (2,972), Kona (2,876), Santa Fe (2,679) and Casper (1,171). The Porter posted sales of 4,634 units and the Staria 1,781. Medium and large buses and trucks totaled 1,122 units. Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, sold 6,942 vehicles, including the G80 (2,247), GV70 (2,206) and GV80 (1,689). A Hyundai official said sales fell because there were fewer selling days due to the Lunar New Year holiday. The company will pursue “optimal sales strategies,” including raising the share of eco-friendly vehicles and strengthening its hybrid lineup, the official said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 16:01:11

Actress Yang Mi-ra Says Japan Trip Video Controversy Was Not Her Channel A Japan travel video posted by actress Ji So-yeon ahead of March 1 Independence Movement Day has drawn backlash that also spilled over to actress Yang Mi-ra, who said she was being misunderstood. Yang wrote on social media on Monday that many people seemed worried or confused after seeing news reports that used her photo and name. “I only went to film in early February,” she wrote, adding, “It’s not my channel.” She said she struggled to accept the sudden situation and felt she could do nothing as stories poured out. “It made me realize this can happen even when you haven’t done anything,” she wrote, calling it unfair and frustrating. She added that she decided to speak up because staying silent felt like it would make her sick. The controversy began after a video titled “From today I’m a free woman!! (Japan trip with unni Yang Mi-ra)” was uploaded to Ji’s YouTube channel on Feb. 28. Some online commenters criticized the timing, saying it was posted a day before March 1. As criticism grew, Ji posted on social media on Sunday that the video documented a trip taken Feb. 11, but she failed to think deeply enough about what the posting date could mean. She said she felt heavy-hearted that criticism was also being directed at Yang, and said the upload schedule and decision to make it public were entirely her own.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 16:00:20

WAIFF D-3: WAIFF Seoul 2026 seeks to put Korea at the crossroads of AI and cinema SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - The upcoming World AI Film Festival Seoul 2026 aims to position itself as more than a standard cinematic competition, signaling that artificial intelligence-driven content creation has moved into a formal industrial phase. Organizers intend for the event to serve as a declaration that AI technology is no longer just an experimental tool but a cornerstone of modern media production. While the two-day event on March 6 and 7 will feature awards and screenings, organizers are framing the Seoul edition as a broader platform connecting creators, technologists and media companies at a time when generative AI is rapidly reshaping production workflows. Unlike traditional film festivals focused solely on finished works, WAIFF Seoul combines competition with a full-scale Creative Intelligence Forum, where discussions will address production pipelines, virtual production, copyright governance and the strategic direction of K-content in the AI era. The opening ceremony at Lotte Concert Hall is expected to draw around 1,500 participants, underscoring industry-level interest rather than niche experimentation. A special performance titled “The Symphony of AI & Human” aims to illustrate how artificial intelligence is extending beyond post-production tools into live artistic collaboration. Organizers have also emphasized long-term ecosystem building and ongoing dialogue on ethical standards in AI-assisted filmmaking, highlighting efforts to establish sustainable frameworks for AI-driven content creation. Coinciding with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and South Korea, the Seoul launch carries cultural as well as technological symbolism, positioning Korea as a strategic node in WAIFF’s expanding global network. As artificial intelligence continues to transform creative industries worldwide, WAIFF Seoul 2026 is set to serve as a meeting point for artists, innovators and industry leaders seeking to explore new possibilities at the intersection of cinema and technology. 2026-03-03 15:59:06

ChungjuMan’s Kim Seon-tae Launches New YouTube Channel After Leaving Public Service Kim Seon-tae, known as "ChungjuMan," has opened a new YouTube channel. Kim launched the YouTube channel "Kim Seon-tae" on March 2. The channel description says it will "promote everything in the world." In just one day, subscribers topped 2,000. Kim retired from public service in late February. After that, speculation circulated about his next move, including reports of an offer from Cheong Wa Dae, a possible entry into politics, and recruitment by a major company or an entertainment agency. Kim instead chose to pursue work as a YouTuber. After retiring, he visited Chungju City Hall and told colleagues he planned to work as an independent YouTuber, saying he would live in Chungju and wanted to take on a new challenge in the YouTube field, according to reports. Kim joined the civil service in 2016 as a ninth-grade public official and led Chungju’s official YouTube channel, "ChungTV." ChungTV became the first local government channel nationwide to surpass 900,000 subscribers. After he left, ChungTV’s subscriber count fell sharply.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 15:46:46

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-operation model, in which it buys vehicles itself and takes responsibility from inspection and sales through post-sale support, portraying employees as “people who put cars first.” K Car said the campaign uses a simple, witty setup to draw attention. In the video, even as the popular, trend-setting Karina walks by, K Car employees keep their eyes on a car, humorously underscoring an attitude of putting cars ahead of Karina. The campaign will run across TV, YouTube and other digital platforms, as well as K Car’s app and website. To mark the launch, K Car said it will run a promotion through March 31 called “Super Week” with total benefits of 5 billion won, offering discounts, free delivery and free quality-warranty coverage to reduce customers’ purchase burden. The promotion includes: a “Weekly Special Price” discount of up to 5 million won; a nationwide free-delivery “Home Service Time Deal”; a “KW6 Free Special” offering warranty repair benefits of up to 10 million won; and a “KW3 Free Special” offering warranty repair benefits of up to 5 million won. K Car CEO Jeong In-guk said the campaign was designed to help consumers easily relate to the idea that K Car is a company where people who value and love cars come together. “Based on uncompromising expertise, we will work to repay customer trust,” he said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 15:42:17

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 industry said Tuesday. The delay is widely attributed to last-minute adjustments tied to tougher rules for loans to multi-home owners and rental business operators, which require further revisions to the target growth rate for total household lending. All banks face uncertainty without a confirmed annual target, but the burden is heavier for lenders that exceeded last year’s goals. Regulators plan to impose a penalty by deducting the overage from this year’s limit, though they have not disclosed the deduction rate or calculation method. Among the five major banks, KB Kookmin Bank was the only one to exceed its target. Its household loan growth last year totaled 2.127 trillion won, surpassing its 2.0061 trillion won target by 120.9 billion won. Some internet-only banks and regional lenders are also believed to have exceeded their targets, raising the prospect of tighter constraints on lending this year. Regulators are expected to keep the principle of deducting excess growth, but may consider that annual growth targets were cut to about half during last year’s June 27 real estate measures. That has fueled expectations that authorities could add safeguards rather than apply a uniform penalty, given the policy-driven adjustment. Tension is higher among mutual finance institutions. Saemaul Geumgo’s household loan growth last year exceeded its target by 5.31 trillion won — about four times the originally set growth-rate goal. Authorities are reviewing an option to set this year’s household loan growth target near 0%. If adopted, new lending would be effectively constrained, forcing a broad overhaul of business plans. Regulators also see a need to strengthen Saemaul Geumgo’s household debt management system, raising the possibility of additional measures. Analysts say tougher household debt controls could reshape banks’ growth strategies and earnings. Stronger caps would limit loan expansion and directly pressure interest income, a key revenue source. Internet-only lender Toss Bank is also watching closely. It plans to launch a mortgage product this year, but would need approval of terms and an allocation of lending capacity under a tighter cap regime. For now, it is focusing less on target calculations and more on building systems and reviewing risk management. “Stronger total-volume controls are an unavoidable trend, but the delay in detailed standards makes it hard to set strategy,” a banking industry official said. “If the regulatory intensity is higher than expected, it could affect loan growth plans and the profit structure as well.” 2026-03-03 15:39:00

South Korean researchers develop world's most efficient stretchable OLED SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - A joint research team has developed a new stretchable organic light-emitting diode (OLED) that maintains its brightness even when stretched, overcoming a major technical barrier in the development of flexible electronics. The technology achieved world-record performance levels for brightness and efficiency, significantly improving the prospects for commercializing wearable displays and electronic skin. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on March 3 that a team led by Professor Cho Him-chan, in collaboration with the University of Chicago and Soochow University, created a hybrid liquid metal cathode. This component allows the display to remain conductive and bright while being pulled or deformed, a task that has historically caused stretchable screens to dim or fail. In conventional stretchable OLEDs, the electrodes often suffer from mechanical instability. When the material is stretched, the electrical connection weakens, leading to a sharp drop in performance. To solve this, the researchers used liquid metal particles thinner than a human hair. By densely packing these particles and rupturing only the top layer, they created a smooth, continuous metal surface that conducts electricity efficiently. The intact particles underneath serve as a cushion, absorbing physical shock and allowing the electrode to stretch like rubber. The resulting display reached a maximum brightness of 17,670 candelas per square meter at 9.5 volts, which is brighter than most high-end smartphone screens. It also recorded a current efficiency of 10.35 candelas per ampere, the highest level reported to date for this type of technology. Even when pulled to its limits, the device showed almost no loss in brightness, addressing the most significant weakness of previous stretchable display prototypes. Testing showed that the OLED remains stable even after being stretched and released multiple times. This durability is essential for practical applications, such as clothing-integrated displays or medical devices that must adhere to the moving surface of human skin or internal organs. The technology is expected to be used in various fields, including soft robotics and bio-interfaced optoelectronics. "We have solved the fundamental material problem that has limited the performance of stretchable displays," Professor Cho Him-chan said. "This hybrid liquid metal cathode technology will be a key foundation for next-generation flexible electronic devices." The study, with Lee Won-bum as the first author, was published in the journal Advanced Materials on December 28, 2025. It was selected as the inside back cover for that issue. (Paper information) Journal: Advanced Materials Title: Hybrid Liquid Metal Cathode Enables High-Performance Intrinsically Stretchable OLEDs DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202518254 2026-03-03 15:18:27

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 selected, 168 students will receive 1.1 billion won in tuition and living-expense support. The foundation will cover full university tuition for 98 tuition scholarship recipients — 57 in Korea and 41 overseas — and provide 500,000 won a month in living expenses to 70 students. The foundation will also provide free housing at its “Chong Kun Dang Gochon Dormitory” to 235 university students from outside the capital area. It said dormitory recipients can save more than 8 million won a year in housing costs, with total support valued at about 1.9 billion won. The dormitory program was established to help non-Seoul students facing housing pressures and is described as the first housing support facility created by a private scholarship foundation. It operates at four locations in Seoul: Donggyo-dong in Mapo District (Building 1), Hoegi-dong in Dongdaemun District (Building 2), Junggok-dong in Gwangjin District (Building 3), and Yeongdeungpo-dong in Yeongdeungpo District (Building 4). ABL Bio says FDA clears IND for U.S. Phase 1 trial of ABL209 ABL Bio said Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an investigational new drug application on Feb. 27 local time for a Phase 1 clinical trial of its bispecific antibody-drug conjugate candidate ABL209. ABL209 is a bispecific antibody-drug conjugate that targets EGFR and MUC1 and is linked to a topoisomerase I inhibitor. The company said targeting two complementary antigens at the same time could address limitations of competing candidates that target only EGFR or only MUC1. Neok Bio, which holds global development and commercialization rights to ABL209 and another bispecific ADC, ABL206, will lead development of both candidates, ABL Bio said. Neok Bio plans to release early clinical data for the two candidates in 2027. HK inno.N’s Hutgae Water teams up with Blizzard’s World of Warcraft for promotion HK inno.N said Monday it is running a special event with Blizzard Entertainment’s massively multiplayer online role-playing game “World of Warcraft.” The company said the promotion is designed to strengthen consumer engagement with its Hutgae Water brand and is timed to the worldwide simultaneous launch schedule for the game’s new expansion pack, “Midnight,” on March 3, Korea time. Customers who buy a 30-bottle Hutgae Water package at Naver Smart Store’s “Condition Mall” will receive a coupon for a special in-game item available only through the promotion, the company said. The event runs from March 3 until supplies run out.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 15:15:00