South Korean debt and financial deficit escalation

South Korea is facing rising debt challenges across both individual and public sectors. In the first half of the year, nearly 100,000 individuals underwent debt adjustment programs, a figure that has increased by 56.1% over the last three years. This trend is particularly pronounced among the elderly, with rapid debt adjustment cases for those aged 70 and older increasing more than sevenfold compared to 2022.

Simultaneously, the government is addressing escalating deficits within the public sector. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has designated 102 local public enterprises for intensive debt management following a 31.3% increase in net losses last year. These deficits are largely attributed to government policies that kept rates for essential services, such as water, sewage, and urban transit, low to stabilize inflation.

Financial strain is intensifying at the regional and institutional levels. In the Gyeongsangnam-do region, public institution debt has reached 1.83 trillion won, the highest in the country, leading to the designation of eleven institutions, including the Gyeongnam Development Corporation, as debt-intensive management entities. Specific projects, such as the Changwon Self-Sufficient Complex Administrative Town, have seen debt rise to 354.3 billion won.

On a national scale, the Korea Expressway Corporation is projecting its debt to grow from 47.85 trillion won this year to over 54.15 trillion won by 2029 due to corporate bond issuances for highway construction. The corporation’s financial position is pressured by highway tolls remaining frozen since 2015 and increased toll exemptions, which account for approximately 10% of revenue. Consequently, interest expenses are estimated to reach 1.47 trillion won by 2030.