Naver Financial, Dunamu to merge in $13.5 billion deal creating Korea's fintech giant SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Naver Financial, the country's top mobile payment provider, and Dunamu, operator of South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, will merge in a landmark deal valued at around 20 trillion won ($13.5 billion). The boards of both companies are set to convene on Wednesday to approve the merger, with a joint press conference scheduled for Thursday at Naver's headquarters in Seongnam, south of Seoul. The combined entity would become Korea November 25, 2025

Kia's EV6 GT outperforms Model Y, Polestar 4 in German magazine's comparison test SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Kia’s high-performance EV6 GT has topped a comparative test by German automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport, outperforming Tesla’s Model Y and the Polestar 4, the company said Tuesday. The publication, one of Germany’s most influential auto outlets, assessed the three models across seven categories: body, safety, comfort, powertrain, driving performance, environmental performance, and cost. The EV6 GT scored 597 points overall, ahe November 25, 2025

South Korea's central bank widely expected to freeze rate at Thursday's meeting: Survey Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong at the Oct. 23 monetary policy meeting/ Photo by Joint Press Corps SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.50 percent at its final policy meeting of the year, slated for Thursday, as it prepares to lift growth projections for both 2024 and 2025. The anticipated hold comes amid firmer economic activity and persistent concerns over a weak won, rising home prices and el November 25, 2025

Korean consumer confidence most upbeat in eight years SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - South Koreans turned markedly more upbeat about the economy in November, buoyed by the stock market’s record-setting rally, the settlement of a tariff deal with the United States, and stronger-than-expected third-quarter growth led by resilient exports. The Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) rose 2.6 points from October to 112.4, the highest since 113.9 in November 2017, the Bank of Korea said Tuesday. A reading above 100 signals optimism about cu November 25, 2025

Musinsa launches K-culture platform targeting global fans SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - South Korean fashion platform Musinsa launched K-KONNECT this month, a dedicated category featuring K-pop and K-culture merchandise including fashion items, albums, and event tickets. The service, which builds on Musinsa's limited-release platform "Musinsa Drop" launched in 2023 and "Musinsa Edition" brand collaborations from 2024, aims to connect Korean culture with global fans through exclusive products and offline pop-up stores November 24, 2025

BOK seen holding rates through early 2026 as won weakens and debt pressures mount SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea is widely expected to keep its key rate unchanged at 2.50 percent this week — and likely through the first half of 2026 — as the steep slide in the Korean won and heavy private-sector debt leave little room for further easing. The Monetary Policy Board meets Thursday for its final rate decision of the year. The base rate was cut twice in the first half, by a combined 50 basis points from 3.00 percent to 2.50 percent, and has November 24, 2025

Korean won nears 1,500, reshaping export gains and deepening cost pains across industries SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - The Korean won’s slide toward the 1,500-per-dollar mark — a level touched only during crisis periods — is raising alarms for a trade-dependent economy where a cheaper currency now delivers diminishing benefits to exports while magnifying cost burdens for companies with massive U.S. investment plans. According to Bank for International Settlements data, Korea’s real effective exchange rate (REER) fell to 89.09 at the end of October November 24, 2025

Food inflation may be brewing as the dollar–won rate stays at crisis levels SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - Kalguksu, flour dough cut by knife into noodles and served in a steamy broth, is one of the cheapest comfort meals for Korean office workers on cold winter days. But even this humble bowl is no longer cheap. A serving now averages 9,846 won ($7), up 5 percent from a year ago and more than 50 percent from a decade earlier. It is the latest addition to Korea's growing list of food-flation items, as the soaring dollar–won exchange rate raises the November 24, 2025

 NPS pushed to front line of FX defense as KRW sinks to crisis levels SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s fiscal and monetary authorities, constrained in their ability to slow the won’s steep decline, are turning to an unlikely player for relief: the National Pension Service (NPS), the country’s largest institutional investor and one of the biggest structural movers of the dollar–won rate. Working-level officials from the NPS met finance ministry counterparts at the Sejong Government Complex on Monday. In a press stateme November 24, 2025

Bakery chain Paris Croissant to be split into operating, investment entities SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s SPC Group said Monday it will divide its affiliate Paris Croissant into two separate business and investment entities as part of a corporate restructuring plan approved at a board meeting on Nov. 21. The company began notifying employees of the changes, which it said are intended to streamline decision-making and clarify the responsibilities of Paris Croissant, which also functions as a de facto holding company within the gr November 24, 2025