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Dec 23, 2021
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Dec 22, 2021
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Dec 21, 2021
- Open Banking Net Users Reach 30 Million at Two-year Anniversary
- The FSC announced that the number of open banking net users reached 30 million with the number of accounts registered surpassing 100 million as the open banking system fully went into service two years ago in December 2019. In two years, the cumulative volume of transactions via open banking reached more than 8.38 billion with the daily average volume of about 20 million transactions occurring for the total amount of some KRW1 trillion every day. Statistical data so far have shown that the open banking users most frequently used the balance inquiry (68%) service, followed by the wire transfer (21%) and transaction inquiry (6%) services. At the onset, open banking was only available from banks and fintech firms but now the service availability has been expanded to a total of 120 financial institutions and fintechs including financial investment firms, card companies and small and medium-sized fintechs. The two years of operating open banking services contributed to the opening up of the financial market infrastructure that has been known for its exclusiveness traditionally. In the mean time, the authorities have worked to improve the system to boost its expandability, fairness and stability. With open banking, financial consumers have been able to enjoy various types of financial services much more conveniently while financial companies and fintech firms have been able to develop and launch more innovative services through platforms, etc. Building upon these outcomes, the authorities will work in the future to introduce an open finance system beyond open banking through which financial consumers can enjoy more comprehensive and personalized financial platform services tailored to their individual needs. In order to ensure strong security measures, the authorities will introduce a zero trust security requirement to strengthen the system-wide security management, guarantee data resiliency and prepare a quick response system for security-related issues. * Please refer t
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Dec 21, 2021
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Dec 20, 2021
- Financial Development Review Committee Holds Meeting to Discuss 2022 Policy Agenda
- The Financial Development Review Committee held a meeting on December 17 to discuss key policy initiatives for 2022 and review current trends and risks in the financial markets. In a keynote address, FSC Chairman Koh Seungbeom said that the governments financial policy for 2022 will be centered on ensuring stability in the financial system, promoting financial development, supporting an overall economic growth and expanding financial inclusion. The following is a summary of Chairman Kohs remarks. Chairmans Remarks Despite overall expectations for a sustained recovery momentum into the next year, there still exist uncertainties regarding domestic economic and financial market conditions. With the global tapering move, market instability may grow. As such, the FSC plans to preemptively tackle financial imbalances to maintain stability in the financial system. To this end, the FSC will work on a steady implementation of the household debt management measures and an orderly exit and normalization from the pandemic-era policy measures while closely examining and managing the vulnerable and the so-called shadow banking sector. In terms of promoting financial development, the FSC will maintain a well-balanced approach between promoting innovation and competition between traditional financial institutions and new players such as big tech and fintech companies and working on consumer protection. In the midst of important structural changes taking place in the economy and industries to achieve carbon net zero goals and make digital transformations, the financial sector should provide active support for businesses attempting to reorganize, searching for new growth areas and making transitions to lower carbon growth models. As the current economic condition demands an ever stronger measure for financial inclusion, the FSC will work to ensure a steady access to financial support for vulnerable groups including credit recovery while seeking improvements to consumer safeguards. Du
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Dec 20, 2021
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Dec 15, 2021
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Dec 15, 2021
- FSC Chairman Discusses Importance of Innovation and Advancement of Financial Services Platforms
- FSC Chairman Koh Seungbeom met with officials from platform service providers, financial companies and other relevant institutions on December 15 and held talks on ways to promote digital innovation through an advancement of financial services platform. In his keynote address, Chairman Koh said that the government will draw up strategies to promote digital innovation in the five key areas, such as big data, new technology, platform service, digital security and digital asset. The following is a summary of Chairman Kohs keynote address. Chairmans Remarks (Personalized Financial Services Platform) Recent trends in the financial industry have shown a growing tendency toward the provision of more platform-based financial services. Different types of financial services ranging from payment to advisory to asset management services are linked together in a platform to provide more comprehensive and personalized services in digital environments. The entrance of e-commerce businesses into the financial industry and the merging of traditional financial services with non-financial services through a single app are also significant trends. Against this backdrop, there exist concerns about platform service regulation, consumer protection and data monopoly. Platform-based financial services should also be provided with stability in the financial system, consumer protection and fair competition in mind. Based on these principles, the government will seek measures to promote digital transformation in the financial industry in the following areasbig data, new technology, platform service, digital security and digital asset. (Overview of Digital Innovation Strategies) First, the government will help build the infrastructure necessary for promoting innovation through big data. While working on a seamless operation and gradual expansion of MyData services, the authorities will seek ways to improve SMEs and small merchants access to financial services using big data analytics. Second, t
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Dec 14, 2021
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Dec 09, 2021
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Dec 09, 2021
- FSC Chairman Holds Talks with Fintech Industry and Pledges Support for Financial Innovation
- FSC Chairman Koh Seungbeom met with officials from the fintech industry and held talks on ways to further promote the growth of fintechs and financial innovation. Chairman Koh talked about the need for regulatory improvements aimed at facilitating financial companies investment in fintechs, providing incentives to enable more collaboration between financial companies and fintechs and providing more opportunities to launch financial services (including MyData service) via online and contactless channels. Chairmans Remarks (Fintech Innovation Overview) In the midst of the fourth industrial revolution driven by big data, artificial intelligence and platform-based services, fintech innovation has led major changes in the financial sector and how financial services are being delivered. First, there is the recent re-bundling phenomenon observed in the fintech industry. The unbundling of various financial services into different units was a major trend in the early era of fintech development. However, more recently, re-bundling of various services using a single platform is being observed. Second, there is more cooperation and collaboration between traditional financial institutions and fintechs. Financial institutions seeking digital innovation and fintechs in need of strategic partnership have created increased synergies between them. Third, the growth of fintechs led to the growth of platform-based financial services, which may have contributed to the increased level of consumer convenience but also raise concerns about consumer safeguards and monopolistic behaviors. (Fintech Innovation Strategy) Against this backdrop, the authorities plan to work on the following areas to support financial innovation. First, the authorities will help build regulatory foundations to facilitate innovation rooted in a safe and stable financial environment. To this end, the authorities will seek regulatory improvements to further promote digital innovation while ensuring consumer safeguard
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Dec 08, 2021
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Dec 08, 2021
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Dec 07, 2021
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Dec 07, 2021
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Dec 06, 2021
- FSC Chairman Discusses Key Policy Tasks for 2022 in Virtual Press Briefing
- FSC Chairman Koh Seungbeom held an end-of-year press briefing in a virtual format on December 3 to discuss policy outcomes for this year and explain key policy tasks for 2022. At the beginning of his keynote address, Chairman Koh touched upon some of the important policy initiatives and their outcomes for 2021, including policies on household debt management, COVID-19 financial support for small merchants and SMEs, virtual asset service providers, digital transformation in the financial sector and financial consumer protection. Chairman Koh then discussed key policy tasks for 2022 as summarized below. Chairmans Remarks on 2022 Policy Focus The global economy is expected to maintain its recovery momentum in 2022 but market uncertainties are growing due to asset price volatility, rising prices and persistent concerns about inflation. Domestic situations are also concerning. Financial imbalances and potential risks need to be managed while the provision of pandemic-related supports should be maintained. Excessive debt levels should be reduced while assistance for the lower income and vulnerable groups should continue to be available. Ensuring stability in the financial system and pursuing inclusive financial policies may be contradictory in nature but seeking a proper balance between the two is the task of the financial authority. In this regard, the FSC will focus on the following three policy areas. First, the authorities will continue to work on tackling financial imbalances. Unlike some of the other major economies where debt levels have increased much more in the public sector, Korea has seen debt levels grow much faster in the household and corporate sectors. The household debt management plan for 2022 will be focused on managing the total amount of debt extended with a longer term plan for gradually introducing a more systematic management plan. With the application of the individual borrower-level debt service ratios (DSRs), stable management of household debt
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Nov 30, 2021
- API-based Financial MyData Service to be Piloted from December
- The FSC announced that financial MyData service will be pilot launched from 16:00 (Korean Standard Time) on December 1, 2021 as the 17 service providers including banks, financial investment businesses, card companies, a mutual finance company and fintechsthat have successfully completed a closed beta testing will begin to offer MyData services prior to the full launch on January 1, 2022. The financial authorities have been working closely with the financial sector and fintechs to improve the way consumers manage and access their personal financial data in a more convenient and safe way while guaranteeing the right to data privacy through MyData services. The efforts made by the authorities have thus far led to (a) an expanded scope of the types of data made available for MyData services, (b) a simplified personal authentication identity verification process, (c) the provision of stronger consumer safeguards and (d) the creation of an environment to promote fair competition between service providers. From December 1, 2021, the API-based financial MyData service will be piloted from 17 financial institutions and fintechs at first with some 20 other service providers including big techs and fintechs joining by the end of this year and 16 other MyData service providers including insurance companies and a credit bureau expected to join in the first half of 2022. The ten other prospective service providers that have gained a preliminary approval are expected to join in the second half of 2022 after their final licensing procedure. The financial authorities along with the MyData service providers and relevant institutions will closely monitor issues that need to be improved upon during the pilot period and ensure a seamless preparation for the full launch on January 1, 2022. Any update on the list of service providers and further information can be found at www.mydatacenter.or.kr. * Please refer to the attached PDF for details.
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Nov 29, 2021
- FSC and BOK Launch Mobile App Providing Detailed Information on Bank Branches and ATM Locations
- The FSC and the Bank of Korea announced that a new mobile application (www.accountinfo.or.kr) providing detailed information about bank branches and ATM locations will go into service from November 29. The new mobile application integrates data and provides regularly updated branch information about banks, deposit taking nonbanks, such as Korea Post, savings banks and mutual finance companies, as well as securities firms. The information provided include operating hours, contact information, list of services available at a branch, service fees, language services offered and the availability of assistance for persons with disabilities. The mobile application also offers an ATM locator service which will help consumers find an ATM near them anywhere in the country and find out about the list of services available at a particular ATM and information on fees. With an automatic daily update of the database, information provided on the mobile application will be kept up to date with a high degree of accuracy. The establishment of an integrated database on branch information will also help the financial sector with a more effective management and operation of their branch offices, ATMs, etc. The authorities expect to see an increase in accessibility to financial services and much improvements in consumer convenience. The FSC and the Bank of Korea will continue to work with the financial sector in helping to strengthen financial inclusion. * Please refer to the attached PDF for details.
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Nov 29, 2021
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Nov 25, 2021
