Photo News - Financial Services Commission

Photo News

Period: start
~
end

1month 3month Reset

Requirement

Vice Chairman holds seventh consultative body meeting on policy finance supportJul 04, 2024

Vice Chairman Kim Soyoung of the Financial Services Commission presided over the seventh consultative body meeting on policy finance support with officials from related government ministries and policy financial institutions on July 4. At today's meeting, officials discussed the latest status in the provision of policy finance support to the five key strategic sectors and announced plans to newly supply KRW3.5 trillion to support the development of artificial intelligence technology and related ecosystem. Until the end of 2024, Korea Development Bank will make available KRW3 trillion in low interest rate loans to AI related sectors, with a preferential interest rate reduction of up to 1.2 percentage points granted to those engaged in AI modeling, AI cloud computing, and other key AI application sectors, such as AI robotics and automated driving technologies. Moreover, KDB will newly create a fund (tentatively called "AI Korea Fund") worth KRW500 billion to invest in the development of AI technology and ecosystem. In this regard, Vice Chairman Kim said that the availability of this investment support will help promising AI firms to expand their business operations or make transitions to move forward. The availability of expanded and prompt policy finance support is also expected to promote competition and provide a source of relief in the AI sector, Vice Chairman Kim said.
One-stop microfinance platform to be introduced and support for employment and welfare services to be bolsteredJun 27, 2024

Chairman Kim Joo-hyun of the Financial Services Commission held a meeting with officials from related government ministries and organizations on June 27 and announced a launching of a one-stop integrated microfinance platform from June 30 and the government's plan for bolstering the provision of joint financial, employment, and welfare assistance forthose in need. The one-stop integrated microfinance platformwill offercomprehensive microloan support programs forthose in needand providevarious referral services tailored tothespecific needs of each individual, helping to connect them tofurther assistance throughemployment, welfare, and/or debt workout programs. In his opening remarks, Chairman Kim discussed the significance of launching this platform as a way to bolster support for financial inclusion. Along this line, Chairman Kim said that the FSC will also seek to strengthen supportto help thevictims of illegal private lending activities in close coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the Financial Supervisory service.
Vice Chairman holds this year's first financial education council meetingJun 26, 2024

Vice Chairman Kim Soyoung of the Financial Services Commission presided over this year's first financial education council meeting with officials from related government ministries and public and private organizations on June 26. At the meeting, authorities discussed plans for pursuing financial education campaign for young adults and the result of financial literacy survey on consumers. At the beginning of the meeting, Vice Chairman Kim delivered opening remarks where he outlinedplans for pursuing financial education campaign for young adults. In this regard, Vice Chairman Kim said that some of the key financial policy initiativesimplementedby the government, such as the youth savings account program, expanded benefits for individual savings accounts (ISAs), and the Corporate Value-up program, are all intended to promote accumulation of assets for the public. To ensure that these programs can work effectively for the people, Vice Chairman Kim said that it is crucial to have financial education programs that can help to improve financial literacy of individuals.
FSC holds signboard unveiling ceremony for Digital Financial Policy BureauJun 25, 2024

The Financial Services Commission held the signboard unveiling ceremony to commemorate the launch of the Digital Financial Policy Bureau on June 25. At the ceremony, FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun took time to have pep talks with the staff of the newly launched Digital Financial Policy Bureau and called for strong commitment to continue toseek innovation and serve as a control tower for digital finance. After having a ceremony, Chairman Kim met with virtual asset service providers and held talks on theprogress andpreparation for implementing the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users from July 19.
One-stop debt workout service for financial debts and missed mobile payments expected to help up to 370,000 vulnerable debtorsJun 20, 2024

Chairman Kim Joo-hyun of the Financial Services Commission visited the central inclusive finance support center in Seoul on June 20 and held talks with the counseling staff about the demand and expectation for the one-stop integrated personal debt workout service newly made available by the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service (CCRS).Starting fromJune 21, debtors can receive one-stop debt adjustment on their financial debts and missed mobile phone bill payments from the CCRS. Until now, debtors were required to applywithindividual telecommunication service providers to be able to get support for spreading out their late payment dues in five-month installments. However, from June 21, the CCRS will offer an integrated and one-stop debt adjustment on their financial debts and missed mobile payments through which debtors may be eligible to receive up to 90 percent of relief in principal payments depending on their individual payment capabilities. During his visit, FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun said that the government will continue to provide active support to help vulnerable debtors to recover financially and regain footing on their own.
MOU to create syndicated loan signed by 5 banks and 5 insurance companies as part of measures to seek soft-landing in real estate project finance marketJun 20, 2024

Vice Chairman Kim Soyoung of the Financial Services Commission attended a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing event held among five banks and five insurance companies on June 20. The agreement signed today is for creating a syndicated loan of up to KRW5 trillion, which is part of the measures to seek a soft-landing in the real estate project finance market unveiledpreviously. The syndicated loan set up by major banks and insurers in the amount of KRW1 trillion at first, with a potential for gradual expansion thereafter, will supply loans to development projects that are deemed to be viable without any risk of legal complications or conflicts between lenders. In his remarks, Vice Chairman Kim emphasized the significance of the commitment shown by private sector financial companies as this syndicated loan is being set up exclusively with funds contributed by commercial banks and insurance companies without any backstop from the public sector. In this regard, Vice Chairman Kim said that the support made available by syndicated loan is expected to provide a pump-priming role forthe normalization ofthe real estate project finance market.
Stronger financial cooperation sought with AfricaJun 17, 2024

The Financial Services Commission and the Korea Federation of Banks will invite and host the banking industry associations of Nigeria, Botswana, and Mauritiusand the Southern African Development Community from June 17 to 19 to seek stronger financial cooperation between Korea and Africa. The KFBsigned memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the banking associations of Nigeria, Botswana, and Mauritiuson June 17to seek stronger cooperation and mutual development of the banking industries.FSCChairman Kim Joo-hyun attended the MOU signing event and delivered congratulatory remarks where he emphasized the importance of todays agreement as a beginning for seeking stronger cooperation between Korea and Africa. In this regard, Chairman Kim said that he hopes to see Koreas strong advantage and know-hows in the field of digital finance being able to make great contributions to Africas economic development going forward. Chairman Kim added that Koreas financial industry will also benefit and grow from this process.
FSC Chairman speaks about significance of public-private partnership in promoting export financing support for SMEs and MMEsJun 17, 2024

Chairman Kim Joo-hyun of the Financial Services Commission attended an agreement signing event held between Shinhan Bank and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, which is aimed atpromotingcooperationbetween the two organizations in providingexport financing support for SMEs and MMEs on June 17. Under the agreement, a total of KRW1 trillion in export financing support will be made available for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and middle market enterprises (MMEs) to help them to more effectively cope with the changing structure in global supply chains, explore new markets, and build production facilities in overseas markets. At the event, Chairman Kim said that it is particularly significant that the two organizations can share andexchangekey information andcloselycooperateonvarious support programs made available to SMEs and MMEs. Chairman Kim added that this kind of public-private partnership should be promoted to more effectively support overseas operationand business expansionof domestic enterprises.
12 Financial Companies to Provide KRW15 Trillion in Export Financing SupportJun 17, 2024

The Financial Services Commission and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a meeting with major shipbuilders and financial institutions on June 17 to have talks on expanding export financing support for the shipbuilding industry. At today's meeting, measures to expand refund guarantee for shipbuilding contracts have been introduced through which 12 major banks and policy financial institutions will make available export financing support worth about KRW15 trillion to shipbuilders in the form of refund guarantees. With the recent rebound in the shipbuilding industry, five major banks will resume providing refund guarantees to mid-sized shipbuilders for the first time in eleven years. With the agreement signed today, Korea Trade Insurance Corporation will increase the guarantee ratio on refund guarantees from the previous level of 85 percent to 95 percent, which in turn will help to lower the guarantee burden on banks from the previous level of 15 percent to 5 percent. At the beginning of the meeting, FSC Chairman Kim Joo-hyun delivered opening remarks highlighting the significancethat commercial banks arenowable to resume the issuance of refund guarantees to shipbuilders. Chairman Kim added that the financial authorities will continue to closely communicate with industry officials to help resolve difficulties.
Vice Chairman holds media briefing on short sale reform measuresJun 13, 2024

Vice Chairman Kim Soyoung of the Financial Services Commission held a media briefing to announce the finalized version of short sale reform measures intended to prevent illegal short selling activities and protect investors on June 13. Under this plan, naked short selling activities will be prevented through establishment of electronic short sale processing and monitoring systems. Institutional and corporate investors will be required to set up internal control standards. The currently divergent stock borrowing conditions for institutional investors and retail investors will be made equal to create a level playing field. The severity of penalties on illegal short sales will be strengthened to ensure more effective enforcement of administrative sanctions.
Vice Chairman visits inclusive finance support center and holds talks on small-sum living expense loan programJun 12, 2024

Vice Chairman Kim Soyoung of the Financial Services Commission visited the central inclusive finance support center in Seoul on June 12 and held talks on the operation of the small-sum living expense lending program made available for vulnerable individuals. During his visit, Vice Chairman Kim emphasized the important role of microfinance assistance in seeking solutions to the problem of inequality and promoting inclusiveness in financial services. To help address these issues, the small-sum living expense loan program was launched in March 2023 to help improve access to microloan opportunities for vulnerable individuals who have low-credit backgrounds and often fall prey tothe danger ofillegal private lending activities. Since the introduction of this program, a total of 182,655 individuals received lending assistance worth about KRW140.3 billion as of the end of May 2024. To strengthen support made available through this program, authorities will allow theborrowers to have access to the small-sum living expense loanfor the second timeif their initial loan has been fully repaid. Moreover, authorities will also strengthen the provision of debt adjustment support for those having difficulties in paying back their loans.
Authorities hold meeting to check progress in implementing measures to seek a soft-landing in the real estate PF marketJun 05, 2024

The Financial Services Commission held a meeting with related authorities and industry groups on June 5 to review progress in the implementation of various measures intended to stabilize the real estate project finance market. For the application of upgraded standardstoevaluate financial viability of real estate development projects, financial industry groups will make relevant changes to their best practice guidelines and internal rules to be able to perform evaluation on development projects based on the upgraded standards and submit results to the Financial Supervisory Serviceuntilthe end of July this year. At the meeting, participants discussed various stabilization efforts made by individual financial sectors. For instance, savings banks are working to set up an additional fund worth more than KRW460 billion, while the specialized credit finance sector has set up another fund worth about KRW260 billion. Meanwhile, the delinquency rate on real estate project finance loans as of end-March 2024 rose to 3.55 percent (up 0.85 percentage points) from 2.70 percent at end-December 2023. Authorities saw that the rise indelinquencyrate was attributable to the strengthening of risk management by financial companies, and that the relatively high delinquencyrates exhibited by securities firms and savings banks werealsomanageable consideringhighlevels ofcapital ratios andreserves set aside in these sectors.