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[BUSINESS] · South Korea · 3 sources

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South Korean major banks see rise in negative account loan delinquencies

Delinquency rates for negative account (minus) loans at South Korea's five major banks—KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH Nonghyup—have risen, signaling potential distress from debt-fueled investments.

As of the end of June, the delinquency rate for these credit line loans stood at 0.22%, up from 0.18% at the end of last year. While the total balance of these loans increased by 8.5% to 43.3 trillion won, the total amount in arrears surged by 33.2% to 94.7 billion won, indicating that unpaid amounts are growing faster than the loan balances.

Demographic data reveals that younger and older borrowers are disproportionately affected. The delinquency rate for those aged 20 and younger was 0.33%, and for those aged 60 and older, it was 0.37%, both significantly higher than the 0.22% average.

Industry experts attribute this trend to recent stock market volatility, suggesting that investors who used leverage to purchase stocks have struggled to repay principal and interest due to falling asset prices. Furthermore, elderly borrowers represent a significant portion of stock-collateralized loans, making them vulnerable to forced liquidations if stock prices drop significantly.

Entities

Hana Bank · KB Kookmin Bank · NH Nonghyup Bank · Shinhan Bank · Woori Bank

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