Financial stability is a prerequisite to innovation and inclusive finance policies. FSC maintains close market monitoring for any signs of market volatility and works to ensure stability in the financial markets. There are risk factors originating from abroad and from within. FSC focuses on making our economy more resilient from external shocks, such as a disruption in the global supply chain, and supporting Korea’s material, component and equipment industries to help boost their global competitiveness. Internally, FSC is closely monitoring the trends in household debt and seeking reforms to corporate restructuring in order to prevent domestic risk factors from turning into systemic risks. Policies aimed at increasing financial stability also include enhancing fairness in the financial markets by introducing a comprehensive legal framework for the supervision of financial conglomerates, improving market discipline and promoting transparency in corporate disclosure and accounting practices.
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Aug 11, 2020
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Aug 05, 2020
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Jul 30, 2020
- Plans to Improve Rules on Structured Products
- The FSC announced its plans to improve rules on retail structured products on July 30, with an aim to strengthen securities firms’ preparedness for market volatility, to encourage reduction in the size of the issuance as well as diversified investment for hedge assets and to bolster investor protection measures.BACKGROUNDThe market for retail structured products has grown significantly as the continuing trend of low interest rates made them an attractive alternative to bank savings. Although the structured products have provided relatively high yields and helped individuals to expand their assets, various risk factors began to surface. For securities firms, large volume of structured product issuance and management pose significant burdens on their financial soundness and liquidity. These burdens also may create shocks in the foreign exchange market and short-term money markets. In addition, both distributors and investors often espouse misperception that structured products are safe and non-risky products even though market volatility may rise depending on the performance of underlying assets. Therefore, it is necessary to draw up measures that will help minimize risks to securities firms, financial markets and investors.OVERVIEW OF STRUCTURED PRODUCTS(BALANCE) The outstanding balance of ELS, ELB, DLS and DLB issuance surged from about KRW22 trillion in 2010 to KRW108.6 trillion at the end of April 2020, maintaining an above KRW100 trillion level since 2016. About 60 percent of them are non-principal-protected structured products (ELS and DLS), accounting for KRW64.6 trillion. ELS and ELB (tracking stock indexes) account for 70 percent, or KRW75 trillion.(DISTRIBUTION) For ELS investment, retail investors made up about 98 percent, or KRW40.4 trillion at the end of March 2020. About 82 percent of all ELS issuance, or 88 percent of ELS issued to retail investors were distributed through banks.(RISK FOR SECURITIES FIRMS) Structured products make up increasingly larg
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Jul 29, 2020
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Jul 28, 2020
- FSC Issues Administrative Guidance on Private Equity Funds
- The FSC announced administrative guidance on July 28, which is aimed at strengthening the supervisory role of private equity fund sellers and trustees against fund management companies and providing specific guidelines to facilitate more systematic and effective self-inspection of private equity funds. (INVESTOR PROTECTION MEASURES) Fund sellers will be required to check details of investment information package as well as fund management, and will be required to suspend sales when redemption delays occur.Trustees will be required to check whether fund management companies are engaged in any unlawful or unfair sales practices.Cross trading of funds from the same entity and coercive sales practices will be prohibited.(SELF-INSPECTION) The guidance on self-inspection lays out specific requirements for fund sellers, managers, trustees and administrators. Site-inspection should be carried out through consultation and cooperation between fund sellers, managers, trustees and administrators, and the method of inspection should be determined through a consultative body.All private equity funds in operation as of May 31, 2020 will be subject to self-inspection. The self-inspection team will look into whether asset statements of administrators and trustees are in accordance with each other’s, whether assets do actually exist and the appropriateness of investment information, collective investment rules and fund management. Close cooperation is advised from participating institutions which will be subject to the rule of confidentiality.The administrative guidance is expected to go into effect on August 12. The FSC will work to improve the regulatory framework on private equity funds and make sure that inspections are carried out properly.* Please refer to the attached PDF for details.
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Jul 28, 2020
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Jul 23, 2020
- FSC Chairman Holds Talks with Heads of Financial Holding Groups
- FSC Chairman Eun Sung-soo held talks with heads of financial holding groups on July 23, and shared opinions about the recent issues surrounding the financial industry and expected changes in a post-pandemic era.At the meeting, Chairman Eun expressed appreciation for financial companies’ efforts in providing the government’s emergency financial support, which has earned recognition from both at home and abroad. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose risks, Chairman Eun emphasized the need to stay alert for any negative ripple effects. In this regard, Chairman Eun urged cooperation from financial companies in ensuring a smooth implementation of the working capital support program for the suppliers in key industries, which will go into effect at the end of July. With regard to the scheduled expiration of loan maturity extension and deferment of interest payment at the end of September, Chairman Eun and the heads of financial holding groups agreed to continue to discuss the possibility of extension while closely monitoring market conditions in August.On the government’s new deal initiative, Chairman Eun emphasized the important role of the financial system in spreading and sharing risks and providing necessary funds to support innovative new deal projects. In particular, Chairman Eun noted the need to channel concentration of liquidity currently existing in the real estate market to more productive sectors.As big tech companies are entering the financial services industry, Chairman Eun said that there are positive effects from a consumers’ point of view, such as improved convenience and lowered costs, although there remain concerns about issues of fair competition and systemic risks. In this regard, Chairman Eun proposed the launching of a public-private joint consultative body composed of the government, traditional financial industry and big techs to facilitate discussion on win-win growth strategies.Chairman Eun also discussed the need for financial compa
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Jul 21, 2020
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Jul 17, 2020
- SPV to Start Purchasing Corporate Bonds and CP
- The government announced the official launching of the special purpose vehicle intended to support businesses facing liquidity problems by purchasing corporate bonds and CP on July 17.BACKGROUNDThe government, the Bank of Korea and the Korea Development Bank unveiled a joint plan for creating an SPV on May 20. Since then, the relevant institutions have worked toward the official launching of the SPV on July 14. In the meantime, the passage of the 3rd supplementary budget at the National Assembly enabled capital injection of KRW1 trillion to KDB. Between May 20 and July 13, the KDB purchased KRW300 billion worth of low-rated corporate bonds to help stabilize markets before the launching of the SPV. In addition, the Bank of Korea announced its decision to lend KRW8 trillion to the SPV on July 17.KEY DETAILS(SIZE) Up to KRW10 trillion made up of KRW1 trillion (10%) in equity capital from KDB, KRW1 trillion (10%) in subordinated loans from KDB and KRW8 trillion (80%) in primary loans from BOK, with the possibility of expanding the size up to KRW20 trillion(PERIOD) SPV’s bond purchasing program will be operated on a temporary basis for six months from July 14, 2020 until January 13, 2021, with the possibility of extension afterwards.(TARGETS) Investment grade corporate bonds and CP issued by nonfinancial companies with priorities given to low-rated companies (A~BBB ratings) and ‘fallen angels,’ BB-rated bonds downgraded from investment grades due to COVID-19-related factorsThe SPV is expected to help alleviate liquidity problems for many low-rated companies.* Please refer to the attached PDF for details.
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Jul 16, 2020
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Jul 15, 2020
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Jul 15, 2020
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Jul 14, 2020
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Jul 07, 2020
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Jul 02, 2020
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Jul 02, 2020
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Jun 30, 2020
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Jun 30, 2020
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Jun 29, 2020
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Jun 29, 2020
