Lee Bok-hyun, head of the Financial Supervisory Service, said on the 19th, "We will ensure that household loans are smoothly supplied to local actual users starting early next year." During a meeting with reporters that morning, he noted, "As the year changes, we will manage to supply funds to actual users who are experiencing difficulties in obtaining household loans."
Lee emphasized that the strengthened management stance of household loans by financial authorities will remain unchanged next year, while also noting that they are considering some regulatory relief for local actual users. He stated, "The principle of the debt service ratio (DSR), which dictates that we only lend money that can be repaid, will not change," but added, "We are contemplating how to effectively apply a tiered stress DSR considering regional characteristics."
Additionally, Lee mentioned, "We are examining ways to partially relax total volume regulations when regional banks supply household loans in non-capital regions," and added, "I think it would be fine to manage household loans more leniently in those areas."
On the same day, Lee also spoke about the reasons for the delay in announcing the results of the Korea Financial Group inspection. He explained, "The reason we postponed the announcement of the Korea Financial Group and Woori Bank inspection results, originally scheduled for December, is not because we want to treat the inspection lightly, but to inform the public and the market of the findings in a principled manner with a 'spicy' approach."
Recently, he took a reserved stance on Hana Financial Group's revision of internal norms. Lee noted, "Considering the character of Ham Young-joo, chairman of Hana Financial Group, he would say that even if he challenges re-election, he will not apply the regulations to ensure his term (is guaranteed)," and added, "Since we have communicated about the procedures for selecting and reappointing chairpersons with various financial groups, I believe he will not engage in actions that could be criticized as self-reappointment."