Korea Business Review · Section
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ISSUE BRIEFING
High Oil Price Damage Support Fund: Who Gets It, How Much, How, and When?
As a surge in international crude oil prices sparked by the prolonged Middle East war directly hits South Korean household economies, the government has begun distributing 'High Oil Price Damage Support Funds' through a massive supplementary budget. With global crude oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel, the government formulated a 26.2 trillion won supplementary budget to provide differential support ranging from a minimum of 100,000 won to a maximum of 600,000 won per person for citizens in the bottom 70% of income brackets.
이우리 기자 · 04/22/2026
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DEEP ANALYSIS
Where Next Beyond Semiconductors? Korea's Four New Growth Pillars Open Up in Defense, Shipbuilding, Bio, and Robotics
류현진 기자 · 04/21/2026

DEEP ANALYSIS
The Question More Important Than 'Is AI Eliminating Jobs?': Which Roles Are Being Redesigned?
최수진 기자 · 04/21/2026

DEEP ANALYSIS
From the Hormuz Crisis to Now: How Much Have Airline Fuel Surcharges Risen?
이태민 기자 · 04/16/2026

DEEP ANALYSIS
Has AI Really Extended Human Lifespans?
박소유 기자 · 04/14/2026
DEEP ANALYSIS
Evaluated on 'Future Growth Potential' Rather Than Collateral... Credit Evaluation Model Specialized for Small Business Owners Implemented in Earnest
At a chicken specialty restaurant in Seoul, employees divide the tasks of frying and packaging while continuing operations. [Photo = Korea Business Review DB] Financial accessibility for such small dining industry workers is expected to increase due to improvements in small business credit evaluations. Mr. A, a self-employed person in his 40s who runs a chicken restaurant, is currently unable to cross the threshold of bank loans despite a steady increase in delivery app orders.
최수진 기자 · 04/10/2026

DEEP ANALYSIS
The Secret of the 250 Trillion Won Jackpot — Samsung and SK Hynix on the Frontlines of the AI Memory War
Engineers in protective gear inspect memory production processes in a semiconductor cleanroom. Driven by exploding AI demand, the Korean semiconductor industry is executing record-breaking facility investments. [Photo = Korea Business Review DB] Semiconductors Have Stopped Being Mere 'Components'
이지영 기자 · 04/07/2026

DEEP ANALYSIS
What Do People Cut First When Oil Prices Rise: The 7-Map of Household Consumption Redrawn by Rising Fuel Prices
Amid growing household spending pressures due to rising oil prices, a woman in her 30s sorts receipts and organizes her household account book. Consumers are responding to the rising oil price phase by reorganizing their spending priorities. [Photo = Korea Business Review DB] As of April 2026, fuel prices at domestic gas stations are showing unusual signs.
강지혜 기자 · 04/04/2026

DEEP ANALYSIS
As of April 2026, How Much Have Bank Branches Decreased Compared to 10 Years Ago?
Driven by the expansion of digital banking, offline bank branches are rapidly decreasing. [Image = Korea Business Review DB] Domestic bank branches fell from 7,278 at the end of 2015 to 5,534 by the end of September 2025, with approximately 24% disappearing over a 10-year period.
류현진 기자 · 04/03/2026

DEEP ANALYSIS
Can the Iran War Be Brought to an End?
A war expected to last four days has now entered its 35th day. Optimism initially whispered in Washington that it would be over in days has faded, and as of April 1, 2026, the war between the US-Israel coalition and Iran remains mired in uncertainty with no clear end in sight.
박소유 기자 · 04/01/2026

