A string of hacking incidents in South Korea’s financial sector has led to confirmed personal data leaks at savings banks and mutual finance groups, prompting authorities to step up inspections and security requirements. Banks are moving to raise cybersecurity spending and expand fraud prevention systems using AI. Market volatility and a steep stock selloff also drew a policy response. Political debate intensified over postponing digital asset taxation and regulating exchange shareholders.

South Korea\'s parliamentary audit spotlighted weakness in mutual finance at local agricultural cooperatives under the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, with joint-loan delinquency cited at 17.5 percent. Data presented by opposition lawmakers showed higher delinquency in loans to non-members and quasi-members and most estimated losses tied to those loans. Lawmakers also raised concerns about executive performance bonuses at loss-making cooperatives and questioned oversight, internal controls and the effectiveness of supervision and audits.