South Korea is facing compounded pressure from higher oil prices, a weaker won and rising inflation, with the won-dollar rate nearing 1,540 and oil product prices up about 10 percent from a year earlier. The central bank is expected to hold rates this month, but prolonged price and currency pressures could raise the possibility of a second-half hike. Authorities have tightened household debt controls and pushed market reforms, while the Financial Supervisory Service has urged stronger IT internal controls at internet banks.

South Korean brokerages are adding AI-driven features to mobile trading systems, including market summaries, stock reports, video content and real-time issue analysis. Firms cited include Kiwoom Securities, Woori Investment & Securities, Toss Securities, Shinhan Investment Corp and Daishin Securities. The push has also raised expectations that MTS could evolve beyond trading into a broader platform. Persistent system outages and strained call-centre access remain key problems, as regulators warn of penalties for failures tied to weak internal controls.