South Korea’s financial markets showed mixed trends in January, with corporate lending rebounding while household borrowing remained sluggish, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK) on Wednesday. Large corporate loans surged $4.2 billion (6.1 trillion won), reversing December’s sharp contraction, as companies tapped fresh credit following year-end balance sheet adjustments and seasonal financing needs. Small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) lending also rose by $1.2 billion (1.8 trillion won), driven by tax payments and holiday-related expenses. However, household borrowing declined for a second straight month, with overall loans falling $344 million (500 billion won) despite a modest pickup in mortgage lending.