SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – The financial strain on South Korea’s working class has driven card loan balances to an all-time high, reflecting worsening economic conditions for vulnerable populations. As of November 2024, the total card loan balance across nine major card companies, including Lotte, BC, Samsung, Shinhan, and KB Kookmin, reached a record 42.54 [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean investors are increasingly turning to gold as a safe-haven asset, driven by a combination of domestic political turbulence and international geopolitical tensions. The trend comes as gold prices show signs of rebounding after a brief November dip, bolstered by news of renewed Chinese gold purchases following October’s record [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – Single-person households in South Korea have reduced spending due mainly to high housing expenses and a tough job market situation, affecting the recovery of private consumption, a central bank report showed Tuesday. The proportion of one-person households out of the country’s total has been on a constant increase from [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – “All cosmetic samples for just 10,000 won.” Such listings have become increasingly common on Danggeun Market, South Korea’s popular secondhand trading platform, reflecting a growing divide in the nation’s beauty market amid persistent inflation. While some consumers hunt for bargain cosmetics and sample-size products, others flock to luxury brands like [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – Following the recent suicide of a single mother in her 30s who was harassed by loan sharks, experts are calling for stronger enforcement of debt collection laws amid continuing reports of illegal collection practices. According to the Supreme Court’s Judicial Yearbook released November 24, only 13 cases (16.7%) out of [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – Outstanding credit card loans have risen sharply to reach an all-time high as of end-October amid tight lending regulations by banks and weak domestic demand, data showed Wednesday. Outstanding loans extended by nine major credit card firms amounted to 42.22 trillion won (US$30.25 billion) as of end-October, the largest [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – In response to the recent suicide of a sex worker driven to despair by illegal loan sharks, Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced comprehensive measures to combat predatory lending practices, particularly those targeting vulnerable populations. The city’s initiative, announced on November 3, comes after the tragic death of a single mother [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s household credit increased at a faster rate in October due to rising loans from savings banks and credit unions despite the government’s efforts to curb household debts, financial data showed Sunday. Outstanding household credit extended by all financial institutions, including commercial banks, savings banks, and insurance [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – A new study warns that the proliferation of cashless businesses could disproportionately impact older consumers who rely heavily on cash and have lower digital literacy, according to research released October 31 by the Bank of Korea. The study, conducted by Lee Kyungtae of the Bank of Korea’s Financial and Monetary [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – Household loan growth continued in October, rising slightly higher than the previous month, the country’s chief regulator said Wednesday, but added that it is unclear whether tightened curbs on loans for home rent would be implemented this year. Kim Byoung-hwan, head of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), told reporters [...]