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Jun Ji-hye

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Hello, I am Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at The Korea Times. I primarily cover financial authorities and write articles on a wide range of topics related to finance and capital markets. If you have any information to share, feel free to email me at jjh@koreatimes.co.kr, and I will review it carefully. I am committed to always doing my best to communicate with readers through high-quality articles.

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Companies

K-pop industry expected to post record earnings in 2026 as BTS, BigBang return

The Korean entertainment industry is expected to post record-high earnings in 2026 as both BTS and BigBang return to full-group activities, analysts said Friday. Hana Securities analyst Lee Ki-hoon said in a report that with BTS planning to resume full-group activities next year, revenue is likely to match the combined sales of YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. Lee also highlighted strong expectations for a potential full-group comeback by BigBang to mark the 20th anniversary of their debut. “Should BTS and BigBang resume activities at the same time, it would naturally drive record-breaking results for the overall K-pop industry,” Lee said. “Maintaining a strategy of gradually increasing exposure remains advisable until clear performance results are observed.” Specifically, the analyst suggested that investment in HYBE, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, should continue to be scaled up until its market capitalization reaches 15 trillion won ($10.5 billion). Currently, HYBE’s market cap stands at around 11 trillion won. Hyundai Motor Securities analyst Kim Hyun-yong noted tha

Oct 10, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
K-pop industry expected to post record earnings in 2026 as BTS, BigBang return
Banking & Finance

Financial sector braces for CEO reshuffle as Shinhan, Woori chiefs eye reappointment

The process of appointing new leaders for major financial groups, state-run banks and financial companies is set to kick off in earnest at the end of the year, with all eyes on whether Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong and Woori Financial Group Chairman Yim Jong-yong will secure reappointment, industry officials said Friday. Attention is also focused on who will take the helm of state-run lenders such as the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) and the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK). Shinhan Financial Group was the first in the industry to launch its leadership selection process, convening its chairman candidate recommendation committee on Sept. 26 to discuss the criteria for evaluating potential successors to Jin, who assumed the post in March 2023 and whose term will expire in March next year. The committee plans to draw up a shortlist of candidates by late November and select the final nominee in early December during an expanded meeting attended by all outside directors. The chosen candidate will then undergo a board review before being officially approved as chairman at

Oct 10, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Financial sector braces for CEO reshuffle as Shinhan, Woori chiefs eye reappointment
Banking & Finance

Woori Bank launches loan for promising regional industries under president’s productive finance push

Woori Bank introduced a new loan program aimed at fostering promising industries outside the Seoul metropolitan area, in line with President Lee Jae Myung's drive to shift toward productive finance, the bank said Thursday. The program is part of Woori Financial Group Chairman Yim Jong-yong’s broader 80 trillion won ($56 billion) plan to expand productive and inclusive finance. Of that total, 16 trillion won is earmarked to nurture advanced strategic industries in regional areas. Through this initiative, the bank seeks to strengthen region-specific financing support. The Lee administration has made productive finance a central pillar of its financial policy, aiming to revitalize the Korean economy by redirecting funds previously tied to real estate or dependent on interest income toward advanced industries. In line with this vision, Woori Bank’s new loan program offers preferential interest rates and expanded credit limits for promising companies based outside the capital region. Regional enterprises recommended by public institutions or industry associations, as well as those engaged

Oct 9, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Woori Bank launches loan for promising regional industries under president’s productive finance push
Banking & Finance

Card issuers on alert over potential delinquencies following gov’t credit amnesty

Credit card companies are expressing concern over potential risks to credit quality following the government’s recent large-scale credit amnesty, industry officials said Thursday. While around 290,000 people are now eligible to receive new credit cards under the amnesty, historical trends indicate a significant chance many of these individuals will become delinquent again. On Sept. 30, financial authorities implemented an amnesty, reinstating the credit of individuals and small business owners who have fully settled overdue debts. The program applies to overdue debts of up to 50 million won ($35,000), acquired from January 2020 through August this year, that are either already repaid or will be paid in full by the end of the year. The latest amnesty will restore the credit of some 3.7 million people, including 2.95 million individuals and 750,000 small business owners. Credit for 2.58 million people will be reinstated immediately, and delinquencies will be erased. Those who have yet to repay their debts in full will see their credit scores increase, as long as overdue amounts are settle

Oct 9, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Card issuers on alert over potential delinquencies following gov’t credit amnesty
Banking & Finance

Banks' Friday hour cut plan sparks customer concerns

Concerns are growing that consumers may face increased inconvenience after the workers' union and management in the financial sector reached an agreement in sector-wide negotiations to reduce Friday working hours by one hour. According to industry officials Sunday, the Korean Financial Industry Union (KFIU), which represents workers at major commercial and policy banks, and the Korea Financial Industry Employers Association reached a tentative agreement Thursday that includes a one-hour reduction in Friday working hours and a 3.1-percent wage increase. The deal was reached about a week after the KFIU initiated a full-scale strike, Sept. 26, calling for the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek. Regarding the implementation of this, the union and management agreed to establish a task force to continue discussions going forward. The employers’ association stressed that the one-hour early leave on Fridays is intended to be “applied flexibly according to each institution’s circumstances while maintaining current business hours,” emphasizing that the agreement does not automatically mea

Oct 5, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Banks' Friday hour cut plan sparks customer concerns
Politics

Lee faces backlash over variety show appearance amid national network outage

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung are facing criticism for appearing on the Chuseok special episode of JTBC’s variety show "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator" amid an ongoing national crisis triggered by a fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS). In the program, renowned chefs examine the contents of guests’ refrigerators and prepare meals using them. The presidential office explained that the presidential couple’s appearance on the program was planned to promote Korean food. However, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and other critics questioned whether it was appropriate for the president to take part in the entertainment program in the middle of the unprecedented nationwide network outage. The fire broke out on Sept. 26 at the NIRS facility in Daejeon, disrupting 647 online government services, including key first-tier administrative networks. During the major disruptions, a government official in his 50s who was involved in the system recovery effort died in an apparent suicide at the Government Complex Sejong, Friday. The PPP ar

Oct 5, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Lee faces backlash over variety show appearance amid national network outage
Health

Severance Hospital surgeons restore hand function for Filipino teacher with rare disorder

Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital medical staff have successfully treated Angeles Yvonne N-Jel from the Philippines, who was born with the rare congenital condition brachypolysyndactyly, the hospital said Wednesday. The disorder, characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of polydactyly (having extra digits) and syndactyly (webbed digits), had caused her hands to be fused together since birth. The 29-year-old, an art and music teacher in a rural area of the Philippines, was raised by her grandmother after losing her parents when she was just six months old. Brachypolysyndactyly involves complex entanglements of bones, joints and ligaments, making early surgery advantageous. However, limited health care access and financial hardship prevented Angeles from receiving treatment, forcing her to live with the hand deformity into adulthood. Earlier this year, Angeles lost her grandmother, leaving her entirely on her own. Her case was referred to the hospital by the nonprofit organization Mentoris. Upon receiving her information, Professor Yun In-sik, a specialist in plastic surgery,

Oct 2, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Severance Hospital surgeons restore hand function for Filipino teacher with rare disorder
Banking & Finance

Samil PwC turns to AI to evolve from accounting to business partner

Samil PwC is seeking to move beyond traditional accounting, tax and financial advisory services to become a comprehensive business partner that designs and executes the future of industries and clients alike. To that end, Yoon Hoon-soo, CEO of Korea’s largest accounting firm by revenue, said in a recent interview with The Korea Times that his company has placed the advancement of digital and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven services at the top of its strategic priorities. “AI and digital technologies are transforming the very nature of accounting firms, and we expect these innovations to become our key growth engine,” said Yoon, who concurrently serves as the territory senior partner of PwC Korea. “We are strengthening AI-based automation and analytical capabilities across audit, tax and financial advisory practices, while developing our own technology solutions under our dedicated AI unit, AX Node.” Samil PwC launched AX Node in July and is making substantial investments in its digital capabilities. The unit serves as a specialized team supporting companies throughout the e

Oct 2, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Samil PwC turns to AI to evolve from accounting to business partner
Banking & Finance

Hahn & Co. to acquire entire stake in SK D&D, seek voluntary delisting

Hahn & Co. will acquire SK Discovery’s entire stake in SK D&D and proceed with a voluntary delisting of the company, according to an electronic disclosure Wednesday. SK D&D, a real estate developer, has been jointly managed by Hahn & Co. and SK Discovery. Through the plan, Hahn & Co. is expected to increase its managerial flexibility by privatizing SK D&D and accelerating its exit strategy. SK Discovery is also anticipated to streamline its portfolio by divesting its real estate development unit, considered non-core, and focusing on its main businesses in energy and biotechnology. According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system, a special purpose company (SPC) established by Hahn & Co. has signed a share purchase agreement (SPA) with SK Discovery to acquire some 5.82 million common shares, representing a 31.27 percent stake, for about 74.2 billion won ($53 million). The SPC then plans to purchase all of the roughly 7 million remaining shares through a public tender offer, with the aim of voluntarily delisting SK D&D. The tender offer price has been set at

Oct 1, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Hahn & Co. to acquire entire stake in SK D&D, seek voluntary delisting
Others

Tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong boost foreigner card spending in Korea

Combined card spending by inbound tourists from seven major markets — the United States, Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand — increased 26 percent over the past year, supported by a sharp rise in visitor numbers, while spending by Taiwanese and Hong Kong travelers surged more than 50 percent, marking the fastest growth among them, according to Visa on Tuesday. Consumption has also broadened beyond traditional shopping, with growing interest in K-lifestyle experiences such as health care and beauty. The findings come from the global credit card and payment firm’s analysis of payments made with overseas-issued personal Visa cards at offline merchants in Korea between April 2024 and March 2025. The top three — the U.S., Japan and China — kept their previous year’s rankings and together made up over half of total spending, continuing to dominate Korea’s tourism market. Notably, Taiwan in fourth place and Hong Kong in sixth showed particularly strong growth, as their card spending jumped 54 percent and 50 percent, respectively, compared to the same period la

Oct 1, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong boost foreigner card spending in Korea
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