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Jun 20, 2023
- Government to Provide Active Support to Facilitate Innovative Tech Companies to Raise Funds
- The Financial Services Commission announced on June 20 that the government will make all out efforts to facilitate innovative tech companies to raise funds through capital markets. To this end, the government plans to make changes to tech companies special listing rules and facilitate fundraising through MAs (mergers and acquisitions) and venture capital investment. First, in an inter-ministerial collaborative effort, the government plans to go on a series of roadshow in search for deep tech businesses to help cultivate their growth and listing on the stock exchange for about a month starting from June 21. Also, authorities will revamp the special listing system for tech companies and announce the improvement measures in July. Since 2005, the Korea Exchange has been operating various special KOSDAQ listing tracks for technologically innovative businesses or those with growth potential even when they are making no profit or have no sales record. So far, 184 companies made the listing on KOSDAQ through special listing tracks but still there are many startups and SMEs that are unaware of their eligibility or that lack relevant information. Thus, a month-long tech special listing roadshow will provide opportunities for tech companies to get information about the listing procedure and necessary preparatory work. Second, the FSC, the FSS and the KRX will set up a taskforce with relevant government ministries and other research and industry organizations with an aim to draw up measures to improve the rules and operation of special listing tracks for tech companies. The taskforce will look into the problem of having to go through a time-consuming and costly tech evaluation process for tech companies. Despite growing significance of open innovation where a startup company and a mid-sized company can make joint investment, the current regulations are restrictive for promising tech startups to scale up and commercialize their technology due to certain restrictions in the tech
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Nov 29, 2021
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Sep 08, 2021
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Jul 22, 2021
- FSC Selects Eight More 'Innovative Financial Services' for Financial Regulatory Sandbox
- The FSC decided to designate eight more financial solutions as innovative financial services at its regular meeting held on July 21. This brings the total number of designated services to 153 since the regulatory sandbox program was first launched on April 1, 2019. Overview of Newly Added Innovative Financial Services 1. A real-name identification and verification service using facial recognition technologies which allows consumers to visit bank branches and use financial services without presenting their ID cards (Daegu Bank, expected in Apr. 2022) 2. A real-name identification and verification service using facial recognition technologies for checking customers personal identification in contactless settings, which will allow customers to open up bank accounts even after the banks regular work hours (Busan Bank, expected in Oct. 2021) 3~5. Online-based telemarketing insurance subscription services using mobile devices that reduce the hassle of reading and recording scripts for insurance telemarketers while still guaranteeing supplemental measures for consumer protection (Toss Insurance, DB Insurance and NongHyup Life Insurance, expected in Oct. 2021, Feb. 2022 and Mar. 2022, respectively) 6~7. QR code enabled credit card payment services which require no physical point-of-service (POS) terminal for businesses to process credit card payments which will help improve convenience for consumers while allowing more small-scale businesses to adopt mobile simply payment methods (Seeroo Information and Paycoq, both expected in H1 2022) 8. A non-recourse accounts receivable factoring service which assumes the risk of buyers failure to honor payment obligations in place of the seller, thereby helping firms with new technologies to raise funds and carry out business operations in a more stable manner (Korea Technology Finance Corporation, expected in Jun. 2022) * Please refer to the attached PDF for details.
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May 31, 2021
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Apr 20, 2021
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Apr 14, 2021
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Apr 13, 2021
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Mar 03, 2021
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Feb 18, 2021
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Feb 08, 2021
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Jan 27, 2021
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Dec 22, 2020
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Dec 18, 2020
- Tech Financing Guildeline to Facilitate Effective Lending Support For Innovative SMEs
- The FSC announced the introduction of a new tech financing guideline, which outlines details about the specific target business sectors and relevant procedures of tech financing. The guideline will go into effect from January 2021.BACKGROUNDSince it was first introduced in January 2014, tech financing grew significantly as more banks and tech credit bureaus (TCBs) became interested in offering financing options to innovative SMEs based on their technological prowess and future growth potential. Until now, five tech credit bureaus and ten banks have been providing tech credit evaluation service using their own evaluation models. In order to strengthen the accountability and stability of tech financing and improve its qualitative standards, a guideline on tech financing has been established as follows.KEY DETAILS1) Setting up necessary infrastructure for tech financing- Require TCBs to set up a division specializing in tech financing and specify division members’ professional qualifications- Introduce a standardized TCB evaluation model to enhance consistency and stability- Establish an independent organization charged with inspecting the standard TCB evaluation model2) Providing support to SMEs with technological prowess and innovativeness- SMEs with innovative ideas in manufacturing, knowledge and content industries, tech-based environmental or construction sectors, new and renewable energy sectors, as well as those with proven records of technological prowess through patents, etc.3) Establishing clear procedures on tech financing- Provide specific guidelines on tech financing procedures for SMEs, banks, TCBs and Korea Credit Information Services- Make site inspections mandatory in principle with specific cases for exemption- Require tech credit evaluating institutions to set up internal inspection frameworks to ensure the appropriateness and fairness of their tech credit evaluation4) Recommending a set of professional rules and ethics for banks and TCBs- Promote
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Nov 19, 2020
- FSC Designates 5 More ‘Innovative Financial Services’ for Regulatory Sandbox
- The FSC added five more financial solutions to the financial regulatory sandbox on November 19, bringing the total number of ‘innovative financial services’ to 120 since launching the financial regulatory sandbox program on April 1, 2019.OVERVIEW OF NEWLY ADDED ‘INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES’1.A mobile app-based real name verification service for bank customers who visit bank branch without a government-issued identification (Shinhan Bank, expected launch in September 2021)2.A safe driving reward program, which offers a gift certificate of KRW10,000 to navigation app1 users with a car insurance policy2 when their driving records collected via a driving-tag3 meet safe-driving standards (Carrot Insurance SK Telecom, expected launch in December 2020)3.A point-payment service for an insurance claim that allows customers to purchase products or services at a discount with given points on an online platform (Hanwhalife, expected launch in April 2021)4.A credit card membership solution, which allows merchants to join membership through a mobile app (PayHere, expected launch in July 2021)5.A mobile credit card terminal solution, which uses the app on a smartphone as a card reader instead of a terminal machine (ANB Korea, expected launch in May 2021)* Please refer to the attached PDF for details.
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Nov 06, 2020
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Nov 03, 2020
- FSC to Work on COVID-19 Recovery, Cultivating Innovative Firms and Ensuring Market Stability
- The FSC held the 28th financial risk assessment meeting via teleconference on November 3, chaired by Secretary General Kim Tae-hyun. During the meeting, officials discussed the progress in implementing the COVID-19 financial support including the small merchant support program and market stabilization measures.(CURRENT ECONOMIC AND MARKET SITUATION) Recent economic indicators suggest that the Korean economy is on a track to recovery. The economy grew 1.9 percent in the third quarter while industrial production, consumption and investment all increased in September. Consumer sentiment and the Business Survey Index rose in October as well. Domestic financial markets have also shown signs of stability. The volume of corporate bond, CP and short-term debt issuances has grown in September while credit spreads have been falling steadily, backed by the government’s efforts of launching the bond market stabilization fund and the SPV aimed at purchasing low-rated corporate bonds and CP. However, there still exist uncertainties surrounding the US presidential election and the scale of economic stimulus measures as well as concerns over a possible second wave of virus outbreaks. Thus, the government will closely monitor risk factors and take preemptive measures when necessary.(PROMOTING INNOVATION THROUGH STRONG FINANCING SUPPORT) Promoting the development of new technologies by innovative businesses is crucial to ensure a further progress in the post-pandemic era. The recently published banking sector technology assessment result for the first half of 2020 shows that the banking sector has been steadily working to improve their own technology capabilities and providing lending support to innovative businesses while serving as a conduit of the government’s emergency financial support programs. In addition, the best practice guidelines on sanctions exemptions for banks, established by the Korea Federation of Banks on October 26, provides more consistency in line with the ru
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Sep 24, 2020
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Jul 30, 2020
- Government Announces Plans to Provide Targeted Support to 1,000 Innovative Firms
- The government announced its plans to designate a thousand innovative firms over the next three years and provide targeted financial support at the 12th Meeting of the Central Economic Response Headquarters held on July 30.BACKGROUNDWith the 4th industrial revolution and a protracted pandemic situation, rapid changes are taking place in different industries, including the rapid development of ‘untact’ services and digital transformation. In order to provide sufficient financial support to facilitate the growth of more innovative businesses, close cooperation is essential between the financial sector and different industries. It is also important to establish a cooperative framework through which sufficient investments from both the public and private sectors are made available to innovative firms.Against this backdrop, the government has drawn up plans to more systematically provide financial support to innovative businesses by promoting close cooperation between the financial sector and enterprises.KEY MEASURESI. SELECT 1,000 INNOVATIVE FIRMS IN DIVERSE INDUSTRIESThe government aims to select one thousand innovative firms throughout different industries, such as the digital and green new deal industries, future car, bio health, system semiconductor, materials, parts and equipment industries, as well as those planning to transform their businesses fit for new industries and those that are reshoring back to the country.So far, 32 innovative firms have been selected with the goal of designating 200 business entities by the end of this year. The government plans to select 200-plus innovative firms in every six-month period until the end of 2022.II. PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SELECTED FIRMSFor those selected as ‘innovative businesses,’ the government will work to provide financial support even for those with less favorable financial records, based on their innovativeness and technological prowess.Diverse financial support programs will be made available depend
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Jul 23, 2020
- FSC Adds 4 More 'Innovative Financial Services' to Regulatory Sandbox
- The FSC added four more ‘innovative financial services’ to the regulatory sandbox on July 23, bringing the total number of designated services to 110 since the sandbox program was first launched on April 1, 2019.In order to support digital transformation and promote the government’s new deal initiative, during the second half of this year, the FSC will begin to accept applications on a rolling basis with a particular focus given to new technologies such as big data, AI, digital authentication, payment, data security, etc. Interested firms may apply online throughout the year. OVERVIEW OF NEWLY ADDED ‘INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES’1. An intellectual property rights based investment and fund raising mechanism that allows SMEs to raise funds with IP rights through trust companies and recruit investors through a crowdfunding platform (Hana Bank Wadiz, expected launch in January 2021)2. A mobile-based comprehensive retirement pension advising service that analyzes individuals’ multiple pension accounts and offers advises on pension products (Doomoolmori, expected launch in December 2020)3. An online financial investment platform that conveniently allows investors to purchase coupons for purchasing investment products on securities exchange platforms (KB Securities, expected launch in February 2021)4. A data analysis service using homomorphic encryption, which makes possible the coding of personal financial information stored in different financial institutions for analyzing purposes (Korea Credit Bureau, expected launch in august 2020) * Please refer to the attached PDF for details.