Some founders and investors in Silicon Valley, which prizes health management and productivity, are using cigarettes as an informal networking tool, voices say. They say smoking together eases work-related tension and can lead to unexpected conversations. Examples include a startup co-founder who said smoking helped build relationships and led to hiring, and investors who described similar encounters. The trend contrasts with falling U.S. smoking rates, and observations vary by sector.

South Korea\'s Financial Supervisory Service said rising complaints and disputes and short-term performance-driven sales practices remain key consumer-protection challenges. It plans to strengthen oversight focused on prevention rather than post-incident relief, including launching an AI-based integrated portal for handling complaints and disputes in January 2027. The FSS also cited progress in institutional improvements, dispute mediation, financial crime 대응 using AI, and new monitoring systems for digital finance and virtual assets.