Vice Chairman Doh Kyu-sang held the 33^rd financial risk assessment meeting via teleconference on January 26 to discuss key risk factors in 2021 and review the implementation of the COVID-19 lending support for SMEs and small merchants. At the meeting, Vice Chairman Doh talked about a deepening socioeconomic polarization amid the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced by a quick turnaround in corporate earnings while small businesses continue to suffer the consequences of the social distancing rules, etc. As such, Vice Chairman Doh stated that the authorities will work to reduce the wealth gap by continuing to make lending support available through the KRW175 trillion-plus emergency support programs among others.

* Please see press release for details.