Finance
Financial innovation and bespoke finance accelerate amid Middle East risk
Geopolitical risk from the Middle East is shaking monetary and financial policy, with the Bank of Korea holding its policy rate at 2.50 percent for a seventh straight meeting. Governor Rhee Chang-yong warned stagflation cannot be ruled out depending on developments. Financial authorities are expanding support by 26.8 trillion won and boosting contributions and small loans for vulnerable groups. Banks are testing new credit-scoring models for small merchants and firms are widening AI- and platform-based services.