South Korea's financial sector has reshaped governance and refined strategies such as artificial intelligence and shareholder returns during annual general meeting season.

Shinhan Financial Group and Woori Financial Group each confirmed the reappointment of Jin Ok-dong (진옥동) and Lim Jong-ryong (임종룡) as chairman at their shareholder meetings, launching second-term leadership. Internet banks and securities firms also moved to overhaul their makeup, focusing on board composition and shareholder-return policies.

KakaoBank moved to strengthen management by appointing an inside director. Mirae Asset Securities and Daishin Securities kept up their push to bolster shareholder returns, including larger dividends and share cancellations. KB Securities joined the broader trend of strengthening internal controls and consumer protection by establishing a consumer protection committee within its board. Cucon also clarified its growth strategy by simultaneously pursuing higher dividends and new businesses.

• Jin Ok-dong confirmed for another term as Shinhan Financial chairman • Lim Jong-ryong confirmed for another term as Woori Financial chairman • KakaoBank appoints Vice President Kim Geun-soo (김근수) as inside director at shareholder meeting • Mirae Asset Securities holds annual shareholders meeting, expands shareholder returns • Daishin Securities holds annual shareholders meeting, confirms dividends and share cancellations • KB Securities establishes a consumer protection committee within the board • Cucon approves all key agenda items at annual meeting, including higher dividends and new business 추진

South Korea's financial market appears to have entered a phase of heightened volatility amid external influences. The KOSPI has seen the sidecar mechanism triggered 10 times this year, the most frequent level since the global financial crisis. Foreign investors have been net sellers for 6 straight sessions, pulling out more than 1,000,000,000,000 won on a weekly basis. The won-dollar exchange rate also crossed 1,510 won, rising to its highest level since the financial crisis, alongside growing unease in the foreign exchange market.

Despite the market instability, the securities industry is moving to secure new growth engines, intensifying competition over IMA. Brokerages are also rolling out RIA accounts targeting inflows from retail investors in overseas stocks and continuing a race to upgrade AI-based mobile trading systems. Frequent service disruptions remain an unresolved issue.

• KOSPI sidecar triggered 10 times this year, most since the global financial crisis • Foreigners extend net selling on the KOSPI to 6 straight sessions, weekly outflows top 1.0 trillion won • Won-dollar exchange rate tops 1,510 won early in the session, highest since the financial crisis • Korea Investment & Securities, Mirae and NH Investment & Securities start a three-way IMA race, but market enthusiasm cools • Brokerages roll out RIA accounts en masse, targeting returning overseas-stock retail investors • Securities industry upgrades AI-based MTS, but frequent service disruptions remain a task

Other major moves in finance and fintech are as follows.

KB Financial Group held a meeting of its productive finance council to review progress and confirm a detailed 2026 execution plan. To expand corporate investment, it will set up a master fund worth 200.0 billion won a year and is also pursuing a plan to invest a total of 1.0 trillion won over 5 years. KB Kookmin Bank will expand the scope of its foreign-currency loan operations and provide foreign exchange-related financial support to help stabilize management for import-export companies.

Shinhan Financial signed a business agreement with NC AI to advance an AI-based future financial channel. Shinhan Bank introduced a "credit screening support agent" that applies generative AI to corporate lending operations.

• KB Financial holds productive finance council meeting, launches "Kookmin Happiness Growth Project" in earnest • KB Kookmin Bank strengthens financial support for import-export companies • Shinhan Financial cooperates with NC AI to advance channels based on "physical AI" • Shinhan Bank introduces a generative AI-based "credit screening support agent"

Hana Financial Group is advancing services using AI and digital technologies while expanding tailored financial support for senior and dementia customers. Woori Bank is upgrading an AI-based suspicious-transaction detection system and strengthening marketing, while pursuing both customer-base expansion and stronger risk management capabilities.

• Hana Financial expands senior-tailored financial education • Hana Bank strengthens financial support by dementia stage, expands integrated asset management and education services • Hana Bank introduces the financial sector's first "non-face-to-face AI export document drafting guide" • Woori Bank advances an AI-based suspicious-transaction detection system • Woori Bank releases an advertisement for its "Samsung Wallet Money" demand deposit and savings products featuring Jang Won-young

KakaoBank launched a "special deal accommodation search" service in partnership with Agoda that allows users to look for discounted lodging in the app. K Bank introduced a "counterparty information inquiry" function for business customers.

Toss Securities unveiled an AI-based news curation service, "Real-time Issues". Finda and Upstage signed a business agreement to commercialize financial AI solutions.

The fintech industry has recently been expanding participatory content such as games and mini-apps in a competitive push, evolving into "stay-type platforms" that aim to capture users' daily time.

• KakaoBank teams up with Agoda to launch "special deal accommodation search" • K Bank launches "counterparty information inquiry" service • Toss Securities launches AI news ranking service "Real-time Issues" • Finda-Upstage sign MOU to commercialize financial AI solutions • Fintech rivals expand participatory content such as games and mini-apps to increase time spent