K Bank IPO Draws Tepid Demand on First Day of Retail Subscription K Bank, seen as this year’s first major IPO, posted weaker-than-expected results on the first day of its retail share subscription. Even after setting its offering price at the bottom of the indicated range, investor interest was markedly cooler than during KakaoBank’s 2021 listing. According to the financial investment industry on the 22nd, subscription deposits collected by lead managers and underwriters NH Investment & Securities, Samsung Securities and Shinhan Investment Corp. totaled about 608.2 billion won as of the close on Feb. 20, the first day of retail subscriptions. By firm, subscription competition ratios were 7.88 to 1, 8.74 to 1 and 45.24 to 1. The number of subscription applications totaled about 320,000. The contrast with KakaoBank’s 2021 IPO was sharp. KakaoBank drew about 12.0522 trillion won in deposits on the first day and posted a combined competition ratio of 37.8 to 1, with about 960,000 subscription applications. K Bank set its offering price at 8,300 won, the low end of its indicated range of 8,300 to 9,500 won. The total offering size is 498 billion won, and its expected market capitalization after listing is about 3.3673 trillion won. That is a steep cut from the roughly 5 trillion won valuation discussed during its second attempt to go public. Analysts say valuation premiums for internet-only banks have been shrinking as the interest-rate environment shifts and household lending rules tighten. A stronger investor focus on profitability and asset quality has also weighed on demand. Ko Kyung-beom, an analyst at Yuanta Securities, said market expectations for internet banks have fallen during K Bank’s three IPO attempts. He added that a decline in net interest margin, compared with other internet banks, is a key burden. Attention now turns to the final subscription results on the 23rd. Based on first-day deposits alone, many observers say it will be difficult to expect a breakout hit. While IPO subscriptions often see a late surge on the final day, it remains unclear whether enough money will flow in to quickly change the tone. Cho A-hae, an analyst at Meritz Securities, said valuation premiums for internet banks are rooted in growth expectations, but recent return on equity has been lower than that of major commercial banks. With a household-loan-heavy portfolio and tighter lending regulations raising the risk of slower growth, Cho said how well the company proves its growth prospects will be a key driver of the stock price. 2026-02-22 07:03:00

Kim Yu-ran, Jeon Eun-ji Place 16th in Women’s Two-Woman Bobsled at Milan-Cortina Olympics Kim Yu-ran of Gangwon Provincial Office and Jeon Eun-ji of the Gyeonggi federation finished 16th in the women’s two-woman bobsled at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Racing at the Cortina Sliding Center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, the pair posted a four-heat total of 3 minutes, 52.04 seconds after completing heats three and four on Feb. 22 (Korea time). They were 15th among 25 teams after the first two heats in 1:55.79. In the third heat, they clocked 58.15 seconds to stay 15th at 2:53.94 overall and secure a spot in the fourth heat, reserved for the top 20 teams. They trimmed their time slightly to 58.10 in the final run but slipped one place to 16th in the final standings. South Korea last competed in the event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, when Kim teamed with Kim Min-seong and placed 15th. The country did not qualify for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, making this its first women’s two-woman entry in eight years. Germany’s Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi won gold in 3:48.46 to repeat as Olympic champions. Teammates Lisa Buckwitz and Nelle Schuten took silver in 3:48.99. The United States’ Kaillie Humphries and Jasmine Jones earned bronze in 3:49.21. Humphries added her second bronze medal of these Games after also taking bronze in monobob.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 06:15:00

Choi Min-jeong, Hwang Dae-heon to carry South Korea flag at Milan Olympics closing ceremony Short track skaters Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) and Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Office) will carry South Korea’s flag at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. The International Olympic Committee said the Games will end with the closing ceremony at 4 a.m. on the 23rd (Korea time) at the Verona Arena in Italy. The Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics featured competition for 116 gold medals across 16 events in eight sports. Choi was selected after a standout Olympics in which she won gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay and added silver in the 1,500 meters. Those results gave her seven career Olympic medals, the most by any South Korean athlete across the Summer and Winter Games, surpassing Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speed skating), who each won six. Choi also moved into a tie with Jeon I-kyeong (four golds) for the most Winter Olympic gold medals by a South Korean athlete. Hwang also left his mark, winning silver in the men’s 1,500 meters after a persistent chase and helping South Korea reach the podium in the 5,000-meter relay as the anchor leg. He won medals in both individual and team events. At the opening ceremony, figure skater Cha Jun-hwan (Seoul City Hall) and speed skater Park Ji-woo (Gangwon Provincial Office) served as co-flag bearers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 05:15:00

Heavy Snow Delays Women’s Freeski Halfpipe Final at 2026 Milan Games Heavy snowfall in the Italian Alps has postponed the women’s freestyle ski halfpipe final. Organizers said the final, scheduled for 3:30 a.m. Korean time on Feb. 22 at Livigno Snow Park, was delayed because of severe weather. The start time was moved to 6:40 p.m. the same day. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said, “Due to heavy snowfall in Livigno, we determined it was impossible to prepare the pipe in a way that ensures a safe and fair competition,” adding, “Today’s competition was canceled.” Livigno, which hosted snowboarding and freestyle skiing events at these Games, has already seen weather-related disruptions. The women’s snowboard slopestyle featuring South Korea’s Yoo Seung-eun (Seongbok High School) and the men’s freeski halfpipe qualifying with South Korea’s Lee Seung-hoon (Korea National Sport University) were postponed before eventually being held. South Korea’s Kim Da-eun (Kyung Hee University) and Lee So-young (Sangdong High School) competed in this event but failed to advance from qualifying, leaving no South Korean athletes in the final. With the final pushed back, the number of gold medals to be awarded on the last day of competition on local Feb. 22 increased to five from four. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 05:12:00

Hungary’s Kim Min-seok says he changed citizenship to keep skating career alive Kim Min-seok, a South Korean middle- and long-distance speedskater who changed citizenship to Hungary, said he made the decision to keep his career going.  Kim was eliminated after finishing 12th in the second semifinal heat of the men’s mass start at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics at the Milan speedskating stadium on Saturday (Korea time).   Afterward, he told reporters, “Skating was my whole life,” adding, “I decided it would be hard to continue my career if I couldn’t train for two years. I thought about it a lot.”  He said he “really loved” South Korea and agonized “day and night” because he had competed as a national team athlete, but added, “I loved skating more, so I looked for a way to keep competing.” Kim caused a drunk-driving accident in July 2022 at the national training center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province. In August, the Korea Skating Union’s Sports Fairness Committee suspended him for 18 months. In a May 2023 court ruling, he was fined 4 million won, and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee imposed a two-year suspension of his national team eligibility. He could have entered the 2025-2026 national team trials and still competed at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics as a South Korean athlete, but chose to change citizenship. He said he believed that if he went two years without training while unemployed, he would not be able to compete with national team status.  Lee Cheol-won, a South Korean coach with Hungary’s national skating team, proposed the switch, and Kim changed nationality along with short-track skater Moon Won-jun.  Kim did not post strong results at these Games. He finished seventh in his main event, the men’s 1,500 meters, placed 11th in the 1,000, and was eliminated in the mass start semifinals.  “I have no regrets because I gave everything I could,” he said. “I learned a lot through this competition, and I believe I can grow more.” He also said that, during preparations, he was able to train with the South Korean team thanks to consideration from South Korea head coach Baek Cheol-ki.  Kim became one of South Korea’s top speedskaters after winning a silver medal in the men’s team pursuit with Lee Seung-hoon (retired) and Jeong Jae-won (Gangwon Provincial Office) at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and a bronze medal in the men’s 1,500.  He called PyeongChang “an honorable stage” and said it would remain unforgettable. Looking ahead to the 2030 Alps Winter Olympics, he said, “Of course I’ll prepare,” adding, “I’ll work to stand on the podium again.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 04:06:00

Speedskater Park Ji-woo vows to keep chasing Olympic mass start medal after 14th-place finish South Korea’s long-distance speedskating standout Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office missed a medal in the women’s mass start and said she plans to try again in four years. Park placed 14th in the final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics at the Milan speedskating stadium on Feb. 22 (Korea time). It was her first time reaching the Olympic final, but she did not make the podium. After the race, Park told reporters in the mixed zone, “I’m sorry to deliver a disappointing result to speedskating fans in Korea who supported me,” bowing her head. Park failed to advance past the semifinals at both the 2018 PyeongChang Games and the 2022 Beijing Games. In Beijing, she collided with another skater with two laps remaining, ending her bid to reach the final. This time, she advanced comfortably through the semifinals to make her first final, but fell short of medal contention. “I was worried about fighting for position and where I’d be with one or two laps left,” Park said. “It’s disappointing I couldn’t fix that, but I showed what I could. I have fewer regrets than at PyeongChang and Beijing.” She said Kim Bo-reum contacted her from Korea earlier in the day and offered advice on positioning. “I really wanted to follow in Bo-reum’s footsteps, but it’s a shame I couldn’t show a great performance,” Park said. Kim, who announced her retirement from competition late last year, won silver in the mass start at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, becoming the first South Korean woman to medal in the event at the Games. Park said she intends to keep pursuing an Olympic medal. “The athletes who made the podium today are in their mid-30s, at least eight years older than me,” she said. “I have a real chance to keep challenging in four years and even eight years. I’ll work to reach a higher place at the next Olympics.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 03:12:00

Speed skater Jeong Jae-won finishes fifth in Olympic mass start, vows stronger push for 2030 South Korea’s Jeong Jae-won, a leading long-distance speed skater, finished fifth in the men’s mass start at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics and said he will prepare even harder for the next Games. Jeong placed fifth in the final held at the Milan speed skating stadium on Saturday (Korea time). Midway through the race, Jorrit Berghsma of the Netherlands and Viktor Hald Thorup of Denmark increased the pace and broke away. Jeong, skating in the trailing group, could not close the gap. Berghsma won gold and Thorup took silver, with Jeong crossing the line in fifth. “It was a strategy we used a few times in the World Cup, so I thought I needed to latch on after the middle,” Jeong told reporters. “I tried to respond depending on the situation rather than forcing it, but it ended up being a disappointing result.” With no medal in the final, Jeong failed to win a medal at a third straight Olympics. He earned silver in the men’s team pursuit at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and won silver in the men’s mass start at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Jeong also said he felt the absence of Lee Seung-hoon, who competed with him at PyeongChang. Jeong, then a second-year student at Dongbuk High School, won team pursuit silver with Lee in 2018. “I was able to produce good results by sharing a lot of thoughts with Seung-hoon and learning his know-how,” Jeong said. “Without him at this competition, I don’t think I was able to prepare that way.” He added, “I really felt his absence and realized a lot. I’ll build more experience so I can become someone like him in the future.” Looking ahead to the 2030 Alps Olympics, Jeong said he would raise his level of preparation. “I thought I worked harder than anyone for this competition, but looking back, that was my own misconception,” he said. “I’ll prepare even more intensely until the next Olympics.” Jeong also noted that his wife attended the race. “She’s been through a lot,” he said. “I’m sorry and disappointed I couldn’t put a medal around the neck of my wife, who has been my support.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 02:24:00

Park Ji-woo places 14th in mass start as South Korea ends Olympics without speedskating medal South Korea’s speedskating team finished the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics without a medal, its first medal-less Games since 2002 in Salt Lake City. On Saturday (Korea time), South Korea wrapped up its schedule after failing to reach the podium in both the men’s and women’s mass start finals at the Milan speedskating stadium in Italy. In the women’s mass start, Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office placed 14th in the final. She crossed the line seventh but dropped in the standings after losing points in the intermediate sprint segments. Park advanced to the final by finishing third in the second semifinal heat. She stayed near the back early, then moved up on the outside with two laps remaining, but her time of 8 minutes, 36.31 seconds was not enough for a medal. Lim Ri-won, who is set to enter Korea National Sport University, did not reach the final after placing 10th in the first semifinal heat. Earlier, in the men’s mass start final, Jung Jae-won of Gangwon Provincial Office crossed fifth in 8:04.60 and missed the medals. In mass start, skaters complete 16 laps, with rankings determined by points from intermediate sprints and the finish. The skater who finishes first overall wins gold.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 02:00:00

Speedskater Jeong Jae-won finishes fifth in Olympic men’s mass start, misses third straight medal South Korea’s Jeong Jae-won, a leading long-distance speedskater, finished fifth in the men’s mass start final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, falling short of a third consecutive Olympic medal. Jeong scored six points to place fifth among 16 skaters in the final at the Milan speedskating stadium, held Feb. 22 (Korean time). Dutch veteran Jorrit Bergsma won gold with 68 points. Denmark’s Victor Hald Thorup took silver with 47, and Italy’s Andrea Giovannini won bronze with 21. The mass start combines elements of speedskating and short track, with skaters starting together without lane assignments. The race is 16 laps, with sprint points awarded every four laps: three points for first, two for second and one for third. On the final lap, first earns 60 points, second 40 and third 20, with overall points determining the standings. Jeong won silver in the team pursuit at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and silver in the mass start at the 2022 Beijing Games. He also raised expectations this season by winning two silvers in the men’s mass start across ISU World Cup events 1 through 4. He advanced from semifinal heat 1 in third place with 21 sprint points, boosting hopes of a podium finish. In the final, Jeong stayed near the back early to conserve energy as Bergsma and Thorup pushed the pace from the start. The gap to the leaders grew to more than half a lap, and Indra Medard of Belgium, who had also been in the back, moved up as well. Bergsma and Thorup crossed the line in 7:55.00 and 8:00.52, respectively, to secure gold and silver. Jeong, described as more of a sprinter, surged late but could not close on the lead group and finished fifth. Jeong ended the Games with a 14th-place finish in the men’s 1,500 meters on Feb. 20 and fifth in the mass start. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 01:21:00

Speedskater Park Ji-woo Reaches Women’s Mass Start Final at Milan Olympics South Korean speedskater Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office reached the Olympic women’s mass start final for the first time in her third Games appearance. Park advanced Saturday (Korean time) at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, finishing third in the second semifinal heat at the Milan speedskating stadium. She earned 20 sprint points and secured one of the eight final berths awarded in each heat. The mass start is a 16-lap race scored by points at intermediate sprints and at the finish. At laps 4, 8 and 12, the top three skaters receive 3, 2 and 1 sprint points, respectively, and up to 60 points are awarded based on the final placing. Park stayed near the back early before moving into the lead pack with two laps remaining. She closed the race in third place. Park also competed in the mass start at the 2018 Pyeongchang and 2022 Beijing Olympics but did not reach the final. This is her first final appearance in the event. The final is scheduled for 1:15 a.m. Sunday at the same venue. In the first semifinal heat, Lim Ri-won finished 10th and was eliminated.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 00:36:00