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Dec 29, 2025
- Promoting Measures to Strengthen the Effectiveness of the Stewardship Code
- On December 29, 2025, the Stewardship Code Council, the Korea Institute of Corporate Governance and Sustainability (KCGS), and relevant ministries and agencies including the Financial Services Commission, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Personnel Management, and Korea Post, jointly announced measures to strengthen the effectiveness of the Principles on Institutional Investors Stewardship Responsibilities (hereinafter referred to as the Stewardship Code). The Stewardship Code, a set of principles designed to guide institutional investors that manage assets in fulfilling their stewardship responsibilities, was introduced in December 2016 as a private-sector voluntary code. Over the subsequent 9 years, through December 2025, a total of 249 institutional investors have participated in the Stewardship Code. These include 4 public pension funds, the National Pension Service, the Government Employees Pension Service, the Private School Teachers Pension, and Korea Post, as well as 63 asset management companies. Since its introduction, the Stewardship Code has contributed to more active exercise of shareholder rights by institutional investors. This is evidenced by an increase in the proportion of dissenting votes cast(from 1.84% in March 2016 to 4.59% in March 2024) and a rise in the number of shareholder proposals. However, the effectiveness of the Stewardship Code has been still limited due to the absence of implementation review, insufficient systematic disclosure, and a lack of alignment with global standards. It was not possible to recognize the status of compliance with the Stewardship Code of individual participant as the implementation review was not officially provided. And even when participants reported the Stewardship Code implementation, the reports were posted only on their individual websites, resulting in the limitation of information access as well as the lack of comparability. Moreover, such information was difficult to v
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Dec 15, 2025
- FSC Holds Market Monitoring Meeting and Decides on Continuous Operation of Market Stabilization Programs
- Chairman Lee Eog-weon of the Financial Services Commission presided over a meeting with relevant authorities, research institutions, and market experts on December 15 to review financial market conditions and risk factors going forward. A Summary of FSC Chairmans Remarks In the first half of this year, there were growing anxieties over financial markets due to the Trump administrations tariff policy and uncertainties regarding domestic politics. However, in the second half of the year, the Korean economy and market conditions recovered backed by rigorous policy efforts of the new government and improvement in corporate earnings in the semiconductor sector. Despite this overall sense of stability, there is growing vigilance over domestic financial markets with government bond yields showing an upward movement and the foreign exchange market showing an expanded level of volatility recently. Nonetheless, the Korean economy is sufficiently equipped with the resilience and the policy capacity to respond to crisis situations backed by strong fundamentals. First, domestic financial institutions have been maintaining an adequate level of soundness. Second, Koreas foreign exchange reserve is the ninth largest in the world. Third, credit default swap (CDS) premium in Korea has been brought down significantly from the beginning of this year. In addition, some of the potential risk factors and structural problems for the economy, such as household debt, real estate project finance, and the soundness of nonbank financial institutions, are also being adequately addressed and stably managed through ongoing policy measures. However, since it is possible to see growing market volatility in the future, the FSC will continue to closely work with related authorities to carefully monitor market conditions and take bold and proactive steps to employ market stabilization measures when it becomes necessary. Next year, the FSC will strive to push for major transformation in the financial in
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Dec 11, 2025
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Dec 03, 2025
- Capital Market Rules Change Proposed for Establishing Regulations on Business Development Companies
- The Financial Services Commission introduced a revision proposal for the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (FSCMA) and supervisory regulations on financial investment business for establishing regulations on business development companies (BDCs) on December 3. This revision proposal prescribes detailed provisions for establishing rules on BDCs under the revised FSCMA (promulgated on September 16, 2025 and scheduled to go into effect on March 17, 2026), while upgrading other regulations on publicly traded funds and financial investment business in general. Key Revision Details Rules regarding the operation of BDCs BDCs will be required to invest 60 percent or more of their total assets in their main investment target, such as unlisted startups or venture businesses, venture investment associations, and KONEX-listed or KOSDAQ-listed businesses. To promote reinvestments after the recovery of initial investment in the venture investment market, BDCs will be permitted to invest in venture associations and KOSDAQ-listed companies. However, in order to prevent the potential of concentration toward certain sectors, only up to 30 percent of investments made in venture associations and KOSDAQ-listed companies each will be counted toward the calculation of the minimum investment requirement of 60 percent. The KOSDAQ-listed companies eligible for investment will be limited to those with a market capitalization of KRW200 billion or less (about 75 percent of KOSDAQ-listed companies). Investment can take the form of either purchasing shares or lending money. Share purchases will be limited to stocks and equity-linked bonds (convertible bonds, exchangeable bonds, and bonds with warrants). The proportion of money lending to total investment on major investment targets should be limited to maximum 40 percent, and the establishment of internal control mechanisms is required to ensure the appropriateness of money lending and the assessment
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Nov 19, 2025
- FSC Announces Designation of CFIBEs and Capital Market Rules Change to Propel Supply of Venture Capital
- The Financial Services Commission announced the designation of comprehensive financial investment business entities (CFIBEs)at the 20th regular meeting held on November 19. The FSC decided to designate Korea Investment Securities and Mirae Asset Securities as CFIBEs with the minimum equity capital level of KRW8 trillion, while Kiwoom Securities has been designated as a CFIBE with the minimum equity capital level of KRW4 trillion. Kiwoom Securities has also been authorized to engage in a short-term financing business. The newly designated CFIBEs have each been making relevant preparations for the operation of investment management account (IMA) and promissory note services, by acquiring the satisfactory level of personnel and facilities capacities, preparing internal control mechanisms, and setting up measures to prevent conflicts of interest. Korea Investment Securities and Mirae Asset Securities plan to develop IMA products with the goal of introducing them in the market within this year. Kiwoom Securities also plan to introduce promissory notes within this year. This will help to open up and diversify investment options and mechanisms made available for the public and facilitate the sharing of profits from CFIBEs asset management services. Meanwhile, the government approved the revision bill for the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (FSCMA) at the cabinet meeting held on November 18, 2025. The revised rules, which make CFIBEs subject to the supply of venture capital, are intended to propel the financial investment sectors transition toward productive finance. Along with expected revisions to subordinate rules and regulations, the revised Enforcement Decree will take effect next week (between November 25 and 27). Key Revision Details Requiring CFIBEs to supply venture capital To promote more active supply of venture capital from the CFIBEs that are engaged in IMA and promissory note services, the revised rules will make
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Sep 10, 2025
- Government Plans to Set Up National Growth Fund Worth KRW150 Trillion to Propel Economic Growth
- The Financial Services Commission along with related government ministries, industry officials, and financial companies held a public conference on September 10 to seek ways to propel economic growth through the establishment and operation of National Growth Fund in the size of KRW150 trillion-plus for the next five years. At the conference, the FSC introduced plans to establish National Growth Fund and its operating strategies. Key Details of National Growth Fund (Background) The high-tech strategic industries, such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotech, and robotics, are critical industries that could serve as a game changer for the prosperity of future generations. In attempt to position themselves as the leader in global competition over high-tech industries, each country has rolled out plans to introduce significant investments and high level tariffs to gain competitive edge. From the construction of Gyeongbu Expressway, the shifting paradigm of economic development toward the heavy and chemical industries and export sectors, and the establishment of high-speed telecommunications network, the Korean economy had shown strategic determinations at major turning points in the past. However, amid low birth and aging population and deepening competition over key industries, the factors that have traditionally been driving economic growth are rapidly deteriorating recently with this years growth expectation forecast to be near zero percent. Against this backdrop, it is imperative to propel future growth prospects of the Korean economy by strategically selecting key megaprojects to support their growth in response to global competition over high-tech industries. (Purpose) National Growth Fund created in the amount of KRW150 trillion will function as a key foundation to propel Koreas economic growth through industrial restructuring. Over the next five years, KRW150 trillion worth of investments will be made in high-tech strategic industries and related ecosystems (va
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May 15, 2025
- Rule Change Proposed to Increase Maximum Deposit Protection Coverage to KRW100 MN from September 1
- The Financial Services Commission issued a preliminary notice of legislative revisions intended to raise the maximum deposit protection coverage on May 15. The revision proposal will enter a public comment period from May 16 to June 25, 2025. For the first time in 24 years, the revised rule will increase the maximum deposit protection coverage to KRW100 million from the current level of KRW50 million from September 1, 2025. The increased deposit protection limit will apply to both banks and savings banks whose deposit protection is covered by the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) and mutual finance institutionswhose deposit protection is covered by their own federation funds. Thus, from September 1 this year, depositors are guaranteed deposit protection of up to KRW100 million in the event of a financial company turning insolvent or bankrupt and becoming unable to pay their deposits. This will not only help to strengthen protection for depositors but also alleviate the inconvenience of having to spread out savings across multiple financial institutions. Moreover, it will raise the domestic deposit protection level on a par with those seen in major overseas countries and push up the overall volume of insured deposits, which will help to shore up confidence about financial market stability. Prior to the Asian financial crisis in 1997, there were varying degrees of deposit protection coverage observed by different financial sectors, ranging between KRW10 million and KRW50 million. However, in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, blanket guarantees were temporarily introduced across all financial sectors between November 18, 1997 and the end of December 2000. In order to address the problem of moral hazard arising from blanket guarantees, limited coverages were reinstated In 2001 across all financial sectors with the maximum coverage of KRW50 million, which has remained the same for the past 24 years. Considering the level of growth seen in the economy
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Apr 09, 2025
- FSC Introduces Plans to Improve Competitiveness of Corporate Financing by Securities Businesses
- The Financial Services Commission announced plans to improve the competitiveness of corporate financing by securities businesses on April 9. Under the newly introduced plans, comprehensive financial investment business entities (CFIBEs hereinafter) will be subject to increased credit granting limits for corporate financing and required to supply 25 percent of capital raised from promissory notes and investment management account (IMA) for venture capital. The IMA scheme, which was first introduced in 2017 but has not been utilized since, will go through improvements. Based on the improved IMA scheme, the process for designating CFIBEs that are eligible to handle promissory notes and IMA will begin within this year. Moreover, the plans contain measures to provide incentives for overseas expansion of securities firms and regulatory reforms intended to bolster the soundness management over derivatives-linked securities (DLS) and derivatives-linked bonds (DLB). In June this year, the FSC plans to prepare and announce detailed measures to strengthen the soundness of real estate financing and liquidity management by securities firms and ways to improve rules on the soundness of CFIBEs. FSC Chairman Holds Meeting with CEOs of CFIBEs On April 9, FSC Chairman Kim Byoung Hwan held a meeting with the CEOs of ten major CFIBEs and introduced the governments plans to improve the competitiveness of corporate financing by securities firms centered on regulatory improvements for CFIBEs. At the meeting, Chairman Kim and the participants discussed future directions for securities businesses in sustaining an innovative growth of our economy and promoting value-up in capital markets. In his opening remarks, Chairman Kim underscored the important role of capital markets in making sure that our economy maintains vitality and continues to grow in the future. In this regard, Chairman Kim said that the plans being introduced today are intended to boost the role of securities businesses in co
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Mar 24, 2025
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Feb 18, 2025
- Revised Rules under FSCMA Pave Way for Resumption of Short Sale Transactions on Schedule from March 31
- The Financial Services Commission announced that the government approved the revision bill for the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (FSCMA) at the cabinet meeting held on February 18. This revision is aimed at upgrading rules on short sale practices. Imposing a Limit on Institutional Investors Stock Repayment Period (Article 208-6) The stock repayment period for institutional investors, which shall be determined by an agreement from both lender and borrower, should not exceed 12 months in total with maximum repayment periods of 90 days for renewal each time. However, in the case of delisting of stocks or suspended trading on the final day of repayment, or when an account-to-account transfer is being restricted, the final day of repayment will be moved to three business days from the day in which the cause of the payment delay is lifted. Introducing Measures Intended to Prevent Naked Short Sale Activities (Article 208-7) Corporate entities that have plans to engage in short sales of listed stocks and securities companies that receive and place short sale orders will be obligated to comply with a set of naked short sale prevention measures. Corporate entities with a net short position balance of 0.01 percent of total issuance volume (excluding net short position balance of less than KRW100 million) or KRW1 billion or more as well as market makers and liquidity providers (institutional investors) will be subject to the following rules. First, they will be required to set up and operate electronic net short position balance management systems to facilitate item-by-item short position balance management and prevent naked short sale activities. Second, they will be required to prepare internal control standards, which should specify details about the role and responsibility of employees, short position balance management system, the recording and bookkeeping of short sale transactions details for at least five years, and the
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Feb 03, 2025
- Rule Changes Proposed to Establish Legal Grounds for Fractional Investment and Allow ATS to Trade ETFs
- The Financial Services Commission issued a preliminary notice of rule changes on February 3 regarding the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (FSCMA) and subordinate regulations on financial investment businesses and the issuance and disclosure of securities. The rule changes being proposed address the following. First, there will be legal grounds established for fractional investment platforms issuing beneficiary certificates and securities lending intermediary platforms (both currently operate under the regulatory sandbox program). Second, trading exchange traded funds (ETFs) and exchange traded notes (ETNs) will be made possible via alternative trading system (ATS). Third, IPO bookrunners will be required to conduct due diligence and prohibited from accepting compensation outside the confines of the contract. Other rule changes include the followingmaking backdoor listing (where a larger sized non-listed firm determined by corporate value merges with a smaller sized listed firm) subject to listing review, allowing more types of foreign currency-denominated bonds (supranational bonds and Korean paper) to be included in the foreign currency repurchase agreements (repos) offered to investors, and raising the limit on retail investors over-the-counter (OTC) bond transactions in small scale, which are eligible for same-day transaction settlement (T+0), to KRW10 billion from KRW5 billion currently. The rule changes are put up for public comment until March 17 and expected to take effect from June 16 this year after going through a legislative review and a successive approval process. Establishing Legal Ground for Fractional Investment Fractional investment involves the sale of a share in underlying asset, such as real estate and intellectual property, after it has been securitized, and takes the form of public offering of securities. In general, it can take the form of issuing either non-monetary trust b
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Jan 24, 2025
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Dec 19, 2024
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Dec 12, 2024
- Authorities Introduce Administrative Guidelines on Green Finance for Application on K-taxonomy
- The Financial Services Commission, the Ministry of Environment, and the Financial Supervisory Service announced on December 12 the establishment of administrative guidelines on green finance for application on the green economic activities specified by K-taxonomy. In 2021, the Ministry of Environment established K-taxonomy to provide clear standards on eco-friendly and green economic activities, and in 2022, the Financial Services Commission and the environment ministry introduced the guidelines on green bonds to facilitate the application of K-taxonomy in the financial sector. In this regard, the administrative guidelines on green finance being introduced today provide specific criteria for determining the appropriateness of financing green economic activities for financial companies, thereby creating conditions to promote green financing. In preparing for the administrative guidelines, financial authorities examined overseas cases, sought consultations from experts, collected opinions from taskforce meetings on climate finance, and conducted pilot tests. The administrative guidelines contain specific criteria for determining green economic activities when financial companies provide green finance to businesses, and address issues regarding the prevention of greenwashing and internal control of financial companies. Key details of the administrative guidelines are as follows. First, a clear definition on green finance has been established. Under the administrative guidelines, green finance refers to the financing of an economic activity that meets the standards specified by K-taxonomy with appropriate internal control procedures. This clarification will help to resolve uncertainties regarding greenwashing for financial companies and encourage them to more actively provide green finance. Second, internal control standards have been established for financial companies regarding their handling of green finance related works, detailing who should be in charge of determi
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Dec 10, 2024
- Plan for Promoting the Benchmark Rate Reform in 2025
- On December 10, the Financial Services Commission and the Bank of Korea held the 5th Benchmark Rate and Short-Term Financial Market Consultation with related organizations, such as the Financial Supervisory Service, the Korea Securities Depository, and the Korea Exchange, as well as academics and market experts, to discuss the Plan for Promoting Benchmark Rate Reform in 2025. Progress of Benchmark Rate Reform in 2024 The benchmark rate is an interest rate that is used to determine the value of money or financial instruments to be paid or exchanged as a result of a financial transaction. It is used to determine the profit or loss of financial transactions, evaluate investment performance, and generally represent the costof short-term financing for financial institution. In major countries, the global benchmark rate reform process, triggered by the LIBOR manipulation case in June 2012, firmly established the actual transaction-based risk-free rate (RFR) as the benchmark rate for financial transactions focusing on derivatives transactions. In 2020, Korea enacted the Act on the Management of Financial benchmarks in accordance with the recommendationsof international organizations such as the Financial Stability Board, and started calculating the Korea Overnight Financing Repo Rate (KOFR) as a critical benchmark rate in 2021. However, the efforts of the KOFR activation went slowly due to the need to prioritize financial market stability during the global liquidity reduction process that began in 2022. In 2024, the government and the Bank of Korea began discussions on revitalizing the KOFR based on stable market conditions and formed a joint public-private working group while strengthening communication with market participants. In August 2024, the government and the Bank of Korea announced the principle of transitioning to a KOFR-centered benchmark rate system. Since then, the working group has been discussing the strategy for activating KOFR and plans to implement the s
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Dec 09, 2024
- FSC Holds Market Monitoring Meeting (Dec. 9)
- Chairman Kim Byoung Hwan of the Financial Services Commission presided over a market monitoring meeting on December 9 with officials from the Financial Supervisory Service, five major financial holding companies, policy financial institutions, and related organizations and industry associations to check market situations and discuss response measures. The following is a summary of Chairman Kims opening remarks. A Summary of Chairmans Remarks At the Ministerial Meeting on Economic Affairs held yesterday, the government made an announcement that the economic team will spare no effort in ensuring a stable management of the economy despite looming uncertainties caused by recent political situations. In this regard, the FSC and the FSS will continue to do our parts and carry out our responsibilities in unwavering ways to ensure the maintenance of stability in our financial system and the external credibility in the financial sector. While continuing to maintain a real-time market monitoring system around the clock, authorities are prepared to promptly implement market stabilization measures when it becomes necessary, including a KRW10 trillion stock market stabilization fund, a KRW40 trillion bond market stabilization fund, the corporate bond and commercial paper (CP) purchase program, and the supply of foreign currency liquidity through the Korea Securities Finance Corporation. Meanwhile, authorities will seek to consistently pursue financial policy agendas according to the previously planned schedule. While ensuring a seamless implementation of the previously introduced measures, such as the Corporate Value-up Program, establishing a system designed to prevent illegal short sale activities, and granting a license to a new internet-only bank, authorities will keep pursuing the agendas that were slated for December, such as the measures to ease the financial burden of small merchants and self-employed business owners and the indemnity health insurance reform measures. To
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Dec 04, 2024
- FSC Holds Market Monitoring Meeting (Dec. 4)
- Chairman Kim Byoung Hwan of the Financial Services Commission convened a meeting on December 4 with officials from related authorities, financial institutions, and industry groups to check market situations and discuss response measures. The following is a summary of Chairman Kims opening remarks. A Summary of Chairmans Remarks Currently, the situation surrounding the foreign exchange market and overseas-listed stocks of Korean companies appear to be stabilizing. However, as there are concerns about a potential rise in volatility, financial authorities will utilize all available measures to prevent the spread of market anxiety and ensure a seamless and stable operation of financial markets in close coordination with policy financial institutions, related organizations, and industry groups. At the Emergency Meeting on Macroeconomic and Financial Issues (F4 Meeting) held earlier this morning, authorities decided to ensure the supply of unlimited liquidity support until the conditions return to normal in the financial markets. The measures include stock market stabilization fund in the amount of KRW10 trillion, bond market stabilization fund in the amount of KRW40 trillion, and the corporate bond and commercial paper (CP) purchase program all aimed ensuring market stability. At the same time, authorities will closely monitor financial companies foreign currency liquidity conditions to ensure their soundness, while supplying foreign currency liquidity through the Korea Securities Finance Corporation to prevent the risk of margin call emanating from a potential weakening of the Korean won. In responding to market situations, each organization is asked to strictly follow its own contingency plan. In this regard, policy financial institutions are asked to mobilize all available resources to ensure an active and flexible supply of funds to make sure that vulnerable groups, small merchants, and businesses face no challenges in meeting their financing needs. The stock market
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Nov 29, 2024
- FSC Holds Meeting and Discusses Plans for Operating Temporarily Eased Financial Regulations
- The Financial Services Commission held a meeting with related authorities and industry organizations on November 29 to discuss plans for operating temporarily eased regulations in financial sectors. At todays meeting, authorities discussed plans for the operation of the eased regulatory measures in the banking, financial investment, specialized credit finance, and savings banks sectors that are currently set to expire at the end of December this year. Given that an improvement in money market conditions is expected in the future and that all financial sectors liquidity ratios as of September 2024 stood above the normal regulatory levels, officials at todays meeting shared the same view on the need to gradually normalize the eased regulatory measures on financial companies liquidity requirements, which have been introduced at the time of market instability. In this regard, the banking sectors LCR (liquidity coverage ratio) requirement currently standing at 97.5 percent will be rolled back to 100 percent from January 1, 2025, and for financial investment businesses, the cap on the amount of bonds (issued by specialized credit finance businesses) that can be included when hedging risks associated with derivatives-linked securities (DLS) will also be downsized to 8 percent as scheduled from January 1, 2025. Meanwhile, the loan-to-deposit ratio of savings banks and the KRW-based currency liquidity ratio of specialized credit finance businesses will be gradually rolled back in stages. From January to June 2025, savings banks will be subject to a loan-to-deposit ratio of 105 percent (down 5 percentage points from 110 percent currently), and specialized credit finance businesses will be subject to a KRW-based currency liquidity ratio of 95 percent (up 5 percentage points from 90 percent currently) during the same period. In the second quarter of 2025, authorities will decide on whether to extend the period or completely roll back the eased regulatory measures after consider
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Nov 21, 2024
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Nov 13, 2024
- FSC Holds Meeting to Review Market Conditions and Extends Operation of Market Stabilization Programs
- Vice Chairman Kim Soyoung of the Financial Services Commission held a meeting on November 13 with related organizations and market experts to go over economic and financial market conditions at home and abroad in the wake of U.S. presidential elections and Feds monetary policy pivot and discuss policy responses to ensure market stability. Market Stabilization Programs At the meeting, Vice Chairman Kim said that it is necessary to maintain backstops in order to be prepared for the potential of rising uncertainty and volatility in the market. Therefore, Vice Chairman Kim said that the market stabilization programs currently in place will continue to be operated at the same level in 2025. In order to ensure stability in financial markets, Vice Chairman Kim said that it is necessary to take into account comprehensive factors, such as the political and economic uncertainties in major economies including the U.S., ongoing geopolitical risks in the Middle East, deepening global competition for Koreas strategic industries and the potential of downward adjustment in GDP growth, and the restructuring and resolution of problematic real estate development projects. As it is possible that financial markets may experience a temporary rise in volatility affected by various external factors, Vice Chairman Kim said that the government and related organizations will continue to stay alert and make consistent efforts to ensure market stability. To this end, the government and policy financial institutions (Korea Development Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea, and Korea Credit Guarantee Fund) plan to continue to make available liquidity support programs worth up to KRW37.6 trillion to ensure stability in the corporate bond and money markets in 2025, which include the following(a) bond market stabilization fund of up to KRW20 trillion, (b) corporate bond and commercial paper (CP) purchase program of up to KRW10 trillion, (c) primary collateralized bond obligation (P-CBO) support program of
