Outstanding credit card loans in South Korea climbed for a third consecutive month to reach a record 42.99 trillion won (approximately $29.2 billion) at the end of March, according to the Credit Finance Association. The surge has been driven by financially strained households turning to card lenders as banks tighten lending conditions and raise interest rates in response to government pressure to contain rising household debt. The trend reflects broader economic stress in the country, where slowing growth and persistent inflation are pushing consumers toward high-cost borrowing alternatives.