South Korea\'s fintech sector is expanding payment infrastructure while strengthening security and user protection. The Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Fintech Industry Association launched a consultative body with major payment gateway firms to curb suspicious transactions. The Bank of Korea raised its policy rate to 2.75 percent, the first hike in 3.5 years, prompting tighter household lending management. Authorities also plan higher deposits and trading units for single-stock leveraged ETFs.

KB Kookmin Bank was selected for a third consecutive time as the preferred bidder to serve as Seoul Metro’s main banking partner. If it signs a final contract, it will handle Seoul Metro’s funding and payment operations from 2027 to 2030. The bank has managed those tasks since 2020. It plans to provide operating fund management, an integrated cash management system and digital financial services.