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Industry

Global ESG focus shifts to governance, South Korean companies face urgent response

The focus of global ESG is shifting rapidly toward corporate governance, as shareholder proposals in the United States increasingly target board structure and capital policy. In South Korea, a series of Commercial Act revisions and mandatory treasury share cancellations are strengthening governance rules and raising pressure on major groups. Some companies are moving early to cancel shares, while others are adding exception clauses or reshaping board structures, prompting warnings of longer-term governance risk premiums.

Finance

Four major financial groups' Q1 results split as AI, digital finance spread

South Korea's financial sector has entered the first-quarter earnings season, with non-interest income and non-bank units driving diverging results among major financial holding companies. KB Financial Group, Shinhan Financial Group and Hana Financial Group posted record results, while Woori Financial Group recorded a decline. Strong stock markets lifted securities firms' earnings, and new savings and investment products were launched. The industry is also accelerating a shift toward AI and digital finance, alongside calls for stronger controls and risk management.

Games & Commerce

Dark and Darker Supreme Court ruling nears; focus on scope of protecting game development outputs

South Korea's game industry is watching a Supreme Court ruling due on April 30 in the dispute between Nexon and Ironmace over "Dark and Darker". The industry focus is on how far courts recognise non-public development outputs accumulated during development and how they separate copyright from trade secrets. Lower courts rejected copyright infringement but upheld trade secret infringement. They also rejected a request to ban the game’s service, citing an expired protection period.