South Korean stocks are seeing sharp swings as Middle East geopolitical risks broaden, raising the prospect of a prolonged war and pushing up oil prices and uncertainty in global markets. Extreme intraday moves have repeatedly triggered buying and selling sidecars. Financial groups and banks are reshaping governance ahead of annual meetings and stepping up efforts to expand women’s leadership. The industry is also accelerating AI-driven digital transformation across banking, payments and financial content.

Hana Bank said on Thursday it signed a business agreement with Hanwha Ocean a day earlier to help secure a competitive edge for Korean shipbuilding. The agreement aims to support stronger competitiveness in shipbuilding and expand funding to productive sectors. The two plan cooperation on funding and investment, loans tied to facilities and exports, direct and indirect support for partner firms, and joint tailored financial consulting.