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Feb 26, 2025
- Authorities Propose Comprehensive Measures to Prevent Mis-selling of Highly Complex Investment Products
- The Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service introduced a set of measures intended to prevent mis-selling of highly complex financial investment products on February 26. Background In the aftermath of large-scale losses incurred to investors regarding the sales of Hong Kong index-linked ELS (equity-linked security) products by domestic financial companies in early 2024, the FSS prepared the guidelines for compensations on March 11, 2024, and the banking sectors compensation programs have been in progress. As a result, the numbers of compensations being paid out to investors, of cases in which investors have agreed to the terms of compensation, and of the ratio of compensation amount on average have all continued to increase between the end of June 2024 and the end of 2024. On-site inspections conducted by the FSS revealed that most bank branches had no clear distinction of counters between the ones selling highly complex financial investment products and those handling ordinary deposit-taking functions. As a result, great numbers of consumers could have been misled into believing that these highly complex financial investment products were principal-guaranteed products. Moreover, their sales practices revealed that financial companies placed a higher priority on sales performance rather than on the compliance of sales regulations. As a consequence, there was inadequate information provided to investors regarding the risk associated with highly complex financial investment products, and the sales of ELS products took place without the establishment of sufficient internal control mechanisms designed to prevent mis-selling and ensure protection of consumers. Against this backdrop, the FSC and the FSS have prepared measures to prevent mis-selling of highly complex financial investment products after having a series of meetings with related experts and industry groups. Key Measures a) Making improvements to financial investment products sales c
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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 13, 2025
- Transactions of Virtual Assets by Corporate Entities to be Allowed in Stages
- Vice Chairman Kim Soyoung of the Financial Services Commission presided over the third meeting of the virtual asset committee on February 13 and held discussions with related ministry officials and private sector experts on the final policy measures aimed at allowing corporate transactions of virtual assets in the virtual asset market. At the meeting, the committee also discussed ways to bring about improvements to the best practice guidelines for listing virtual assets to help resolve the problem of listing competition among exchange service providers and reviewed the progress of regulatory reform regarding the introduction of security token offering (STO). A Roadmap for Allowing Corporate Participation in the Virtual Asset Market Background The transaction of virtual assets by corporate entities has been prohibited in principle following government regulations introduced in 2017. At the time, in comparison to transactions by individuals, the government was concerned that corporate transactions of virtual assets could pose significant threats of money laundering and market overheating. Thus, the government decided to ban corporate transactions of virtual assets to help ease the highly speculative market conditions, and as a routine practice, banks have been restricting the opening of real-name verified accounts for corporations intended for virtual asset transactions. However, with the implementation of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act from July 19, 2024, the legislative foundation has been established to provide protections for users. In addition, there have been changes in market environment with major countries around the world widely accepting corporate transactions of virtual assets and the demand for pursuing new blockchain-related business opportunities rising among domestic businesses. As such, there has been growing demand for permitting corporate entities to engage in virtual asset transactions in the domestic market. Against this backdrop, the virtu
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Feb 12, 2025
- Household Loans, January 2025
- In January 2025, the outstanding balance of household loans across all financial sectors declined KRW0.9 trillion (preliminary), turning back down from the growth of KRW2.0 trillion in the previous month. (By Type) Home mortgage loans increased KRW3.3 trillion, growing at a slightly slower rate from the previous month (up KRW3.4 trillion). Mortgage loans expanded at a faster rate in the banking sector (up KRW0.8 trillion up KRW1.7 trillion) but at a slower rate in the nonbanking sector (up KRW2.6 trillion up KRW1.6 trillion). Other types of loans fell KRW4.2 trillion, declining at a faster rate compared with the previous month (down KRW1.4 trillion), as the pace of decline expanded significantly in the nonbanking sector (down KRW0.3 trillion down KRW2.0 trillion). (By Sector) Household loans in the banking sector saw a similar level of decline from the previous month but shifted back down in the nonbanking sector. In January 2025, banks saw a drop of KRW0.4 trillion in household loans, showing a similar level of growth from a month ago (down KRW0.4 trillion). Government-backed policy loans increased at a slower rate (up KRW2.5 trillion up KRW2.3 trillion), while banks own mortgage loans declined at a slower rate (down KRW1.7 trillion down KRW0.6 trillion). Other types of loans including credit loans dropped at a faster rate compared with the previous month (down KRW1.1 trillion down KRW2.1 trillion). In the nonbanking sector, household loans fell KRW0.5 trillion, shifting back down from the growth of KRW2.4 trillion a month ago. Mutual finance businesses (up KRW2.2 trillion down KRW0.2 trillion) and insurance companies (up KRW0.3 trillion down KRW0.5 trillion) saw household loans edging down from increases in the previous month. Specialized credit finance businesses experienced a slower pace of decline (down KRW0.3 trillion down KRW0.01 trillion) and savings banks saw a faster rate of growth (up KRW0.1 trillion up KRW0.2 trillion). (Assessment) The outstanding balan
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Feb 05, 2025
- FSC Grants Final Approval to Nextrade for Operation of ATS Scheduled to be Launched on March 4
- The Financial Services Commission held a regular meeting on February 5 and granted final approval to Nextrade for operating an alternative trading system (ATS). The introduction of an ATS in domestic stock market will officially set off a multiple-exchange and competition-based stock trading system in Korea. As part of capital market reform efforts, the government first established legislative grounds for ATS in 2013 with aims to make capital market more accessible through diversification of stock market infrastructures and improvement in transaction convenience for investors. After granting preliminary approval to Nextrade in July 2023, the FSC and related organizations held a seminar on May 9, 2024 where the authorities introduced a set of measures on ATS operation and integrated market management and oversight plans. Based on diverse opinions discussed at this seminar, Nextrade took steps needed to prepare its organization and set up a trading operation and filed an application to the FSC on November 29, 2024 to obtain final approval for operating ATS. After having an external review conducted by a committee of private sector experts and going through a screening of qualifications by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), the FSC decided to grant final approval to Nextrade for the operation of ATS. Expected Changes in Trading Experience with Nextrade Nextrade plans to begin operating from March 4, 2025. Nextrades launch is expected to bring about increased benefits to investors, such as extended trading hours, availability of more diverse order types, and reduction in transaction costs resulting from competition over fees. The market oversight and supervisory framework will also shift to an integrated system to ensure investor protections. I. A new stock trading experience Aside from regular trading hours, which will be identically operated by both the Korea Exchange (KRX) and Nextrade, the ATS will operate pre-market (between 08:00 and 08:50) and after-market
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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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Jan 21, 2025
- Reform Plans for IPO and Delisting Rules
- On January 21, the Financial Services Commission and related organizations including the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), Korea Exchange (KRX), Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA) and Korea Capital Market Institute (KCMI) held a joint seminar on improving initial public offering (IPO) and delisting rules, as part of the governments ongoing efforts for capital market reforms. At the seminar, the FSC unveiled reform plans for IPO and delisting rules and gathered feedback from various market participants. FSC Chairman Kim Byoung Hwan delivered his congratulatory remarks outlining the background and directions of the reform plans. The Chairman said that the market structural improvement is needed to boost the overall valuation of our capital market as the government has been pushing forward capital market reform initiatives since last year. Regulatory reforms on IPO and delisting rules will be pushed forward as another major task for the value-up initiatives, he emphasized. In regard with the IPO market, Chairman Kim said that reform plans will incentivize institutional investors to hold shares for a longer period under a lock-up commitment, which will help shift the IPO market more towards investments based on corporate value. Reforms will also strengthen the roles and responsibilities of underwriters for determining appropriate IPO prices and securing mid-to-long-term investors, he added. Regarding the delisting rules, Chairman Kim explained, the authorities will strengthen the requirements for companies to remain listed and streamline delisting procedures so that companies undermining market trust can be timely removed without delay. Along with this, Chairman Kim suggested that the government will consider overhauling the stock market structure to make it more efficient and provide stronger investor protection. We will seek differentiation and linkage between market segments so that companies can raise funds in the market tailored to their growth stage
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Jan 15, 2025
- Household Loans, December 2024
- Household Loans in 2024 In 2024, the outstanding balance of household loans across all financial sectors went up KRW41.6 trillion (preliminary), growing at a faster rate compared with the end of the previous year (up 2.6 percent). * Change (in trillion KRW, y-o-y): +112.3 (2020), +107.5 (2021), -8.8 (2022), +10.1 (2023), +41.6 (2024P) (By Type) Mortgage loans increased at a faster rate compared with the previous year (up KRW45.1 trillion up KRW57.1) led by the banking sector. Other types of loans fell at a slower rate over the same period (down KRW35.0 trillion down KRW15.5). (By Sector) Household loans grew at a faster rate in the banking sector compared with the previous year (up KRW37.1 trillion up KRW46.2 trillion), while declining at a slower rate in the nonbanking sector (down KRW27.0 trillion down KRW4.6 trillion). Mortgage loan growth from banks stayed at a similar level from a year ago (up KRW51.6 trillion up KRW52.1 trillion). Other types of loans from banks continued to decline but at a slower rate compared with the previous year (down KRW14.5 trillion down KRW5.9 trillion). Household loans in the nonbanking sector rose in the specialized credit finance (up KRW3.2 trillion), savings banks (up KRW1.5 trillion), and insurance (up KRW0.5 trillion) sectors, but declined in the mutual finance (down KRW9.8 trillion) sector. Household Loans in December 2024 In December 2024, the outstanding balance of household loans across all financial sectors rose KRW2.0 trillion (preliminary), growing at a slower rate compared with the previous month (up KRW5.0 trillion). (By Type) In December, mortgage loans from banks rose at a slower rate compared with the previous month (up KRW4.0 trillion up KRW3.4 trillion). Other types of loans turned back down from the growth a month ago (up KRW1.0 trillion down KRW1.4 trillion). (By Sector) Household loans shifted back lower in the banking sector from the growth in the previous month (up KRW1.9 trillion down KRW0.4 trillion), but in
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Jan 08, 2025
- FSC's Annual Work Plan for 2025
- The Financial Services Commission presented annual work plan for 2025 at the annual work report session jointly held for economic ministries under the theme of economic risk management and revitalization of the economy on January 8. With market stabilization at the top of policy priorities, the FSC plans to work on strengthening the function of financial services in support for peoples livelihoods while continuing to push for innovation in the financial industry. The FSCs annual work plan for 2025 is focused on three key goals(a) ensuring market stability and providing support for the real economy, (b) facilitating a recovery in peoples livelihoods, and (c) adapting to changes and promoting innovation in the financial industry. Under these broad objectives, the FSC plans to pursue nine specific policy agendas. Key Policy Agendas First, the FSC will work on ensuring market stability and providing support for the real economy. In close cooperation with related authorities and organizations, the FSC plans to establish an overarching framework that can help to ensure financial market stability through an array of measures, such as the continuing operation of market stabilization programs (about KRW100 trillion), introduction of financial stability account for financial companies, making improvements to the recovery and resolution regime of financial companies, and raising deposit protection limit to KRW100 million from the current level of KRW50 million. In addition, the FSC will continue to manage the pace of household debt growth within the level of annual GDP growth through the enhanced debt service ratio (DSR) rules and seek regulatory improvements on real estate project finance loans to prevent the recurrence of project finance loan defaults by strengthening the equity capital requirement for developers. At the same time, in order to bolster support for the real economy and industries, the FSC plans to expand the supply of policy funds to the largest level ever (KR
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Dec 24, 2024
- Rule Changes on Treasury Stocks of Listed Companies Scheduled to Take Effect from December 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 at the cabinet meeting held on December 24. The upgraded rules on treasury stocks of listed companies will go into effect from December 31, 2024. Background Treasury stocks are considered as an important mechanism for shareholder return alongside dividends. However, in Korea, companies often acquired treasury stocks to bolster the control of their major shareholders. To address this problem, the government had prepared measures to upgrade rules on treasury stocks as a way to strengthen protection for ordinary shareholders and which constitute a part of broader efforts at reforming capital market regulations. In particular, this year, with the expansion of Corporate Value-up Program and growing number of market participants and companies showing interest in enhancing shareholder value, the volume of treasury stock acquisitions and cancellations by listed companies has risen to the highest level in seven years, increasing about 2.3 times and 2.9 times, respectively, compared with the previous year. Thus, the rule changes on treasury stocks of listed companies are focused on facilitating the voluntary efforts of listed companies in enhancing protection for ordinary shareholders and boosting value for shareholders. Key Revision Details The proposed rule changes are intended to (a) restrict the allocation of new shares to treasury stocks when companies spin-off business units, (b) strengthen disclosure requirements, and (c) close loopholes and remove regulatory arbitrage throughout the process of acquiring and disposing treasury stocks. First, allocating new shares to treasury stocks will be prohibited when companies spin-off their business units. When it comes to treasury stocks, currently, almost all shareholders rights, such as voting rights, dividend rights, and preemptive rights, are non-ex
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Dec 19, 2024
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Dec 19, 2024
- FSC and FSS Announce Measures to Ensure Market Stability and Bolster Support for the Real Economy
- The Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service announced on December 19 a set of measures intended to ensure financial market stability and enhance the financial sectors capacity to support domestic businesses and the real economy in preparation for a potential expansion of market volatility caused by ongoing uncertainties at home and abroad. After having a series of market monitoring and industry group meetings with financial companies, the capacity enhancement measures for financial companies soundness, liquidity, and financial conditions have been drawn up well within the scope of international standards, such as the Basel III framework. First, the stress capital buffer requirement for banks that was initially set to be introduced this year will be postponed until the second half of 2025. Authorities will reexamine the exact timeline and method for introducing stress capital buffers in the first half of 2025. Second, with regard to the foreign exchange (FX) positions of banks, the non-hedgeable types of FX positions, such as investments on overseas branches that are not significantly exposed to the risk of short-term volatility in the FX market, will not be counted toward the calculation of their FX risk exposures. Third, when insurance companies make contributions to the stock market stabilization fund through purchase of the fund, the amount being calculated toward the risk exposure of their K-ICS (Korea Insurance Capital Standard) ratios will be reduced from the entire amount to half the amount. Moreover, the following measures have been prepared to lower the burden of financial companies in issuing loans and investing in domestic companies, thereby enhancing financial companies capacity to support domestic businesses and the real economy. Fourth, changes will be made to the 400 percent risk weight currently applied across the board on new technology investment funds, venture funds, and other types of investment association funds estab
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Dec 17, 2024
- Revised Rules on Credit Information Businesses to Lower Entry Barrier
- The Financial Services Commission announced that a partial revision bill for the Credit Information Use and Protection Act has been approved by the government at the cabinet meeting held on December 17. The revision makes the entry barrier more reasonable for business credit rating service providers, improves the quality of business credit evaluation models by making them subject to a periodic review by an external verification committee, and incorporates into the law the current preliminary approval system for credit information businesses, which has been operating as part of a subordinate regulation. First, the revision bill abolishes the current investment requirement for financial companies toward business credit rating service providers. Currently, corporate entities that have secured at least 50 percent of investment from financial companies were allowed to apply for licenses to operate as business credit rating service providers. However, considering the need to promote the entry of more businesses that are equipped with various types of business data into the business credit rating service sector, stock companies established as prescribed under the Commercial Act will be newly authorized to operate as business credit rating service providers. Second, the revision bill will make business credit evaluation models subject to a periodic review by an external verification committee to regularly check their appropriateness and improve quality management. Under the current system, credit evaluation models for individuals and sole proprietors are subject to a periodic review performed by the verification committee operated by Korea Credit Information Services. However, an external review mechanism has been lacking for business credit evaluation models. Thus, this revision bill makes them subject to an external review, which will help to improve the quality management over credit evaluation models. Third, the revision bill brings into the law the current preliminary
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Dec 16, 2024
- Financial Authorities of Korea and Japan Hold 8th Shuttle Meeting
- The Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service announced that the 8thKorea-Japan shuttle meeting of financial authorities of Korea and Japan is held on December 16-17 in Tokyo, Japan. Joint Press Release of the Eighth Korea-Japan Shuttle Meeting of Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service of the Republic of Korea and Financial Services Agency of Japan (Tokyo, Japan, September 16, 2024) 1. The Eighth Japan-Korea Shuttle Meeting was held by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) of the Republic of Korea and the Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan in Tokyo, Japan, on December 16. 2. At the Shuttle Meeting, Mr. LEE Bokhyun, Governor of the FSS of the Republic of Korea and Mr. ITO Hideki, Commissioner of the FSA of Japan exchanged views on the global economic and financial situation and its impact on Korean and Japanese financial institutions. They also exchanged views on the recent developments in their respective markets. 3. Commissioner Ito welcomed Governor Lees visit to Japan, recognizing the importance of maintaining timely and close communication between the financial authorities of Japan and Korea for the stability of the financial market in the East Asian region. 4. Governor Lee reaffirmed the importance of both countries cooperation and coordination in enhancing financial stability in the region, introducing the Korean authorities measures to stabilize the financial markets in the wake of the recent market fluctuations, as well as their next steps to address them going forward. 5. In view of the coming 60th anniversary of the normalization of relations between the Republic of Korea and Japan in 2025, they reaffirmed that the authorities of both countries will continue to work together to respond effectively to common opportunities and challenges in the financial sector, anticipating that this shuttle meeting will continue to provide an important platform for this e
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Dec 16, 2024
- FSC Chairman Holds Meeting and Calls for Continuous Efforts at Market Stability and Policy Implementation
- Chairman Kim Byoung Hwan of the Financial Services Commission convened an extended senior officials meeting on December 16 to discuss current situation and response strategies. The following is a summary of Chairman Kims remarks. A Summary of Chairmans Remarks In response to current political situation, the governments top priority has been to leave no vacuum in the administration of state affairs. In this regard, as public servants overseeing the countrys financial policies, financial officials should continue to carry out their responsibilities with a sense of duty. In order to boost confidence in the market and ensure external creditworthiness, it is necessary to have continuous efforts to ensure market stability and implement policies in a consistent way. Although market conditions have recently become less volatile, it is still necessary to stay vigilant and maintain a 24-hour market monitoring system, while continuing to closely communicate with financial companies and investors at home and abroad. In particular, officials are asked to quickly review suggestions raised from the financial industry for ensuring market stability, such as the potential of postponing the implementation of stress capital buffers, and promptly announce what can be done as soon as possible starting from this week. To help small merchants and self-employed business owners with their financial difficulties, it is necessary to introduce the measures intended to reduce the burden of card processing fees as they have been initially planned for this week. In addition, officials are asked to closely coordinate with the banking sector to make sure that we can announce within this month new support measures, such as a debt workout program for non-delinquent business owners and those undergoing business closure. To ensure that businesses face no difficulties in raising funds, officials are asked to closely check the financing situation of businesses by their size and gather opinions from relate
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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 11, 2024
- Household Loans, November 2024
- In November 2024, the outstanding balance of household loans across all financial sectors rose KRW5.1 trillion (preliminary), growing at a slower pace compared with the previous month (up KRW6.5 trillion). (By Type) Home-backed mortgage loans grew KRW4.1 trillion across all financial sectors, rising at a slower pace compared with the previous month (up KRW5.5 trillion). Mortgage loans in the banking sector continued to grow at a slow pace (up KRW3.6 trillion up KRW1.5 trillion). Other types of loans increased KRW1.1 trillion overall, keeping the same level of growth from a month ago. Banks saw a small increase in unsecured loans (up KRW0.3 trillion up KRW0.4 trillion), while nonbanks saw a slight decline (up KRW0.8 trillion up KRW0.6 trillion). (By Sector) The pace of household loan growth slowed down in the banking sector while expanding in the nonbanking sector month-on-month. In November, banks saw an increase of KRW1.9 trillion in household loans, a drop from the increase of KRW3.8 trillion a month ago. The growth of policy-based loans expanded (up KRW2.0 trillion up KRW2.3 trillion) due to continuing demand for government-backed mortgage loans, but the issuance of banks own mortgage loans shifted down (up KRW1.5 trillion down KRW0.8 trillion). Other types of loans including credit loans in the banking sector rose at a slightly faster pace (up KRW0.3 trillion up KRW0.4 trillion) compared with the previous month. Nonbanks saw an increase of KRW3.2 trillion in household loans, growing at a faster pace from the previous month (up KRW2.7 trillion). Mortgage loans from nonbanks expanded at a faster pace (up KRW1.9 trillion up KRW2.6 trillion), but the pace of grow decelerated for other types of loans (up KRW0.8 trillion up KRW0.6 trillion). Mutual finance businesses (up KRW1.6 trillion), insurance companies (up KRW0.6 trillion), specialized credit finance businesses (up KRW0.6 trillion), and savings banks (up KRW0.4 trillion) all saw increases in household loans. (As
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Dec 10, 2024
- FSC Chairman Holds Meeting with Foreign Financial Companies
- Chairman Kim Byoung Hwan of the Financial Services Commission met with officials from foreign financial companies on December 10 to have talks on recent political and economic situations in Korea and to assure that the Korean government has sufficient capacity to ensure stability in financial markets. At the meeting, Chairman Kim emphasized that despite increased political uncertainties, the countrys economic issues are being managed in a consistent and stable manner with the Deputy Prime Minister leading the governments economic team. Chairman Kim also said that the government has maintained a high level of preparedness for the implementation of market stabilization measures, and that key policy agendas, such as the soft-landing of the real estate project finance market, Corporate Value-up Program, and capital market reform initiatives, will continue to be pursued according to the previously set schedule. In this regard, Chairman Kim said that the government will make efforts to more closely communicate with foreign financial companies to provide adequate explanations about the ongoing situations and the governments plans. The officials from foreign financial companies attending todays meeting expressed a view that the current political situation will not significantly affect the fundamentals of the Korean economy or have negative impact on the economy on a continuing basis. They showed expectations that as long as the current political uncertainty is resolved quickly, financial markets will also return to stability in no time. However, to help ease short-term volatility in the stock market, participants also raised a view that it is necessary for institutional investors, such as pension funds, to play a more active role in the market. * Please refer to the attached PDF for details.
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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
