South Korea\'s financial authorities raised their target for household loan growth this year and NH Nonghyup Bank resumed variable-rate mortgage lending, drawing attention to whether mortgage hurdles will fall across the sector. COFIX rose for a fourth month, increasing borrowers\' interest burdens. Financial support for mid-to-low credit borrowers and small businesses is spreading, while the government and regulators advance plans tied to regional finance hubs and debate over a won stablecoin shifts toward payment, distribution and custody infrastructure.

Big Tech, financial firms and payment companies in South Korea are widening digital-asset initiatives by teaming up with global blockchain companies. Kakao Group and Toss and Toss Bank are working with Circle to review stablecoin-based payment and settlement infrastructure and tokenised financial services. Banks are developing cross-border remittance and payment models. Separately, the top four financial holding groups posted combined first-half net profit above 11 trillion won, while regulators step up group-level oversight of fintech expansion.