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Jan. 12 (Asia Today) — The average outstanding loan balance per household borrower in South Korea exceeded 97 million won (about $75,000), the highest since related statistics began in 2012, central bank data showed Monday.

Data submitted by the Bank of Korea to ruling People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-hoon showed the average loan balance per household borrower stood at 97.21 million won (about $75,000) as of the end of the third quarter of 2025.

The per-borrower figure has risen for nine consecutive quarters since the second quarter of 2023, the data showed. It was up more than 2 million won (about $1,500) from 95.05 million won (about $73,000) a year earlier.

The increase came even as the number of borrowers fell. After edging up to 19.71 million at the end of the first quarter of 2025, the borrower count held steady in the second quarter before slipping to 19.68 million by the end of the third quarter, the lowest level since late 2020, the data showed.

Overall household lending continued to expand. Total household loan balances rose to 1,913 trillion won (about $1.47 trillion) by the end of the third quarter of 2025 after topping 1,900 trillion won (about $1.46 trillion) for the first time in the second quarter, according to the data.

By age group, the average bank loan balance for borrowers in their 40s reached a record 114.67 million won (about $88,000) at the end of the third quarter. Borrowers in their 50s averaged 93.37 million won (about $72,000) and those 30 and under averaged 76.98 million won (about $59,000), both record highs. Borrowers 60 and older averaged 76.75 million won (about $59,000), down slightly from the prior quarter, the data showed.

Average non-bank loan balances were 39.51 million won (about $30,000) for borrowers 30 and under, 48.37 million won (about $37,000) for those in their 40s, 45.15 million won (about $35,000) for those in their 50s and 55.14 million won (about $42,000) for those 60 and older.

Park said household debt burdens are weighing on consumer sentiment, citing constraints on monetary policy amid factors such as a weak won and arguing that the pressure is showing up in softer consumption and sluggish sales among the self-employed. He called for a longer-term strategy to improve financial structure and manage debt risks systematically.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Dec. 28 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s won strengthened sharply last week after market-stabilization steps by authorities and currency-hedging moves by the National Pension Service, but the currency’s annual average exchange rate still posted its highest level since the financial crisis, keeping investors on edge.

In Seoul trading, the won closed at 1,440.3 per U.S. dollar at 3:30 p.m. Friday, its lowest level in about six weeks since Nov. 4, when it ended at 1,437.9.

The exchange rate had neared this year’s peak earlier last week, briefly moving past the 1,480 level. It then fell more than 30 won (about 2 cents) per dollar on Wednesday after foreign exchange authorities announced supply-and-demand measures along with an unusually pointed verbal warning to the market. On Friday, reports that the National Pension Service had carried out strategic currency hedging pushed the exchange rate into the 1,420 range during the session.

After the drop, the year-end closing rate set to be finalized Tuesday is now likely to end below last year’s 1,472.5 per dollar, a benchmark used by companies and financial institutions to value foreign-currency liabilities on financial statements.

Seo Jeong-hoon, a senior research fellow at Hana Bank, said a high year-end exchange rate could hurt the credit profile of firms and financial institutions with large foreign-currency debts, potentially weighing on corporate lending and investment next year.

Even so, volatility concerns are expected to persist as the exchange rate remains elevated by historical standards. Through Friday, the average exchange rate this year based on weekly closing prices was 1,421.9 per dollar, above the 1998 average during the foreign exchange crisis of 1,394.9, data from the Seoul foreign exchange market showed.

Market talk has increasingly described the weak won as a “new normal.” Major global investment banks have forecast the won-dollar exchange rate will average between 1,420 and 1,440 next year. Three-month forecasts from 12 investment banks, including Standard Chartered and Nomura, averaged 1,440, while six-month forecasts averaged 1,426, the report said.

The International Monetary Fund last year estimated the appropriate won-dollar exchange rate at around 1,330, suggesting those forecasts imply the won would remain weaker than its estimated fair value next year.

Moon Jeong-hee, chief economist at KB Kookmin Bank, said an annual average exchange rate in the 1,420 range is “excessively high” relative to South Korea’s economic fundamentals. If it becomes entrenched, she said, expectations of a structurally weak won could take hold and further dampen domestic investment.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Jimmy Kimmel swapped his suit and late-night desk for a cardigan and Christmas living room scene as he shared with British viewers an important holiday message: “Tyranny is booming over here.”

Kimmel appeared on public broadcaster Channel 4 Thursday to deliver an “alternative Christmas message,” counter programming to the British monarch’s annual televised address.

Kimmel’s message focused on his battle with President Trump, who reveled in his talk show’s September suspension. Kimmel was benched for roughly a week after backlash to his comments about Charlie Kirk — and an ominous threat by the Federal Communications Commission chair. Kimmel had criticized MAGA supporters for attempting to “score political points” after the conservative activist’s killing. He also poked fun at Trump boasting about White House ballroom renovations after being asked about Kirk’s death.

“You may have read in your colorful newspapers my country’s president would like to shut me up because I don’t adore him in the way he likes to be adored,” he said. He attributed the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to the “millions and millions of people” who fought to get him back on the air in the name of free speech.

“And because so many people spoke out, we came back. Our show came back stronger than ever. We won, the president lost, and now I’m back on the air every night giving the most powerful politician on Earth a right, and richly deserved, bollocking,” he said, referencing the British slang for scolding. Earlier this month, Kimmel signed a contract extension with ABC through May 2027.

Past hosts of the alternative Christmas message, which began in 1993, include Edward Snowden, Jesse Jackson and a deepfake of Queen Elizabeth II.

During his address, Kimmel called the president “King Donny the 8th.” “We don’t have a problem with your king, just the guy who thinks he’s our king,” he said, apologizing for the state of America and its democratic institutions.

“Don’t give up on us,” Kimmel said. “We’re going through a bit of a wobble right now, but we’ll come around.”

The 2025 celebrity festive special of Gladiators aired on Christmas day – with two winners crowed after a batch of stars took on the professional athletes – and the daunting travelator

Two celebrities have been crowned winners of the 2025 Christmas special of Gladiators. The festive edition of the revived sports entertainment TV show saw a number of stars take on the titular athletes and race through obstacle courses.

But in the end, only two stars could be crowned the winners of the latest episode of the show. Fitness coach Joe Wicks – who arguably had an advantage when it came to taking on the challenges due to his sporty background – was one winner.

While TV presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams proved her worth in the arena and was also found to be a champion. The pair succeeded after facing off against other celebrities, Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson and boxing champ Nicola Adams.

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After winning, Joe, 40, explained that he was truly challenged by the physicality of the special. He said: “Even though I had a bit of a breather, I still found that travelator hard. It’s much harder doing it in real life than watching it on TV. I’m really chuffed that I won but I have to say Sam has been an amazing partner.”

In defeat, Sam remained gracious and laughed about the self appointed Gladiators name he had awarded himself. He told the Utilita Arena in Sheffield: “El Cockroacho, baby – you can’t stamp him out!”

Meanwhile, Vogue, who won after only being two-hundredths of a second ahead of her opponent Nicola, gushed: “I honestly cannot believe it, I’ve had the best day ever. The crowd when I was doing so badly were so nice to me so thank you.”

And the Olympic gold medallist said in defeat: “I came down on the zipline and landed funny on my ankle and I just couldn’t get it going again. This is the first silver medal I’ve had!”

Nicola was the first woman to win Olympic gold in her sport when she took the flyweight title at London 2012, and successfully defended her crown in Rio four years later. Another four years later, she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing – making Strictly history as the first same-sex couple to perform after she was partnered with professional dancer Katya Jones.

Vogue’s time on Gladiators comes soon after her stint in the Australian jungle as a contestant on the 2025 season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! The mum-of-three – who has been married to former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews. Fans of the couple were concerned when Spencer failed to fly to meet his wife after she was ditched from the series.

Vogue was greeted by her manager – leaving some fans to fear for her marriage, which has been notoriously rock solid since they swapped vows in 2018. However, the reality star later took to social media to applaud his wife – even though they were far apart from each other.

Sharing a snap of themselves on holiday, he captioned his upload: “Disappointed to hear that my gorgeous Vogue is out of I’m A Celeb but I’m so proud of the brave stint she did in there. She showed heart, courage and fearlessness in challenges and, as always, was such a positive and pragmatic figure in camp! I would have loved nothing more than to have been there for her when she came out and am sending so much love from Antarctica.

“On the positive side, we can now all FaceTime – I know she will have missed the kids like mad and I can’t wait to hear her voice and for us to all be reunited next week.” His message came after Vogue had previously told fans that her husband was off on a wild adventure of his own.

Before her stint in the jungle, she wrote on social media: “Spence has landed in Antarctica – as I knew he would. This will be the most gruelling part of the whole challenge, but if anyone can push through it, it’s him.”

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Martin O’Neill, Nottingham Forest team-mate and manager at Celtic

He was a beautiful footballer who could play with both feet, terrific ability.

I keep getting back to this word, fulcrum. He very seldom missed football matches and we needed John to play every single one of those games. He’s played his part in footballing history, I think.

When you consider the things he’s won in the game, he’s an iconic figure, absolutely.

John coming back to Scotland to see his family was a really big thing for him. Very seldom would he have got home and he hears this opportunity to come home as an assistant manager [at Celtic].

John really enjoyed his role. He was a special partner, no question about that.

People, for want of a better phrase, bought into John, they really did. There was something about him.

The players had enormous respect for John as a player and anyone who was playing in his position would come and ask John for advice. I’ve heard of players now, top quality players in the Premier League, that have said that John was influential in his advice to him.