Brochure 2004
Transcription
Brochure 2004
FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 CONTENTS FOREWORD FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & SECURITIES MARKET IN 2003 6 ¡ Financial Institutions 6 ¡ Securities Market 12 PRUDENTIAL REGULATION & SUPERVISION IN 2003 15 ¡ Supervision of Financial Institutions 15 ¡ Supervision of Securities Market 19 ¡ Examination of Financial Institutions 22 ¡ Transition to Risk-Based Supervision 23 ¡ Corporate Disclosures 23 ¡ Consumer Protection & Consumer Debt Management 25 LOOKING AHEAD ¡ Reinforcing Safety and Soundness of Financial Institutions and 26 26 Stability of the Financial System ¡ Consumer Protection & Support for Consumer Debt Management and 27 Credit Repair Programs ¡ Improving the Supervisory Framework Financial Supervisory Commission Financial Supervisory Service Laws Governing FSC/SFC/FSS Supervision FSC/SFC/FSS Officers 27 29 32 36 38 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 FOREWORD Although the recent growth prospect for the economy has been dampened by sluggish consumption and investment as well as problems in the credit card sector, Korea¡fl s financial system as a whole very much remain fundamentally sound. In no small measure, the underlying strength of the financial system can be attributed to the success Korea has had with its broad-based reform and restructuring efforts of past six years. In 2003, the Financial Supervisory Commission/Financial Supervisory Service continued to focus on prudential regulation and supervision backed by new policy initiatives directly aimed at promoting competition, innovation and market discipline and further improving the efficiency and the soundness of the financial system. Among others, efforts were undertaken to facilitate a smooth transition to risk-based supervision, establish an effective preventative and forward-looking supervisory structure and provide meaningful postexamination management guidelines and consulting for financial institutions. We also continued to reinforce the accounting and disclosure regimes to protect investors and ensure transparency and discipline in the marketplace. With a mixed outlook for the economy, we are likely to encounter some difficulties in the financial market. But our experiences and track record as well as our unwavering commitment to prudential regulation and supervision leave us with more than enough confidence that Korea¡fl s financial market will continue to gather strength and demonstrate its full potential in the near future. This brochure is intended to give an overall picture of market developments and financial supervision in 2003 and an outline of what¡fl s on the horizon for the Financial Supervisory Service in terms of its supervisory policy objectives. I very much hope that it will prove to be a useful reference and help you better understand our supervisory goals in the financial market. Thank you. Yoon Jeung-Hyun Chairman/Governor Financial Supervisory Commission/Financial Supervisory Service FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & SECURITIES MARKET IN 2003 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BANKS Banks Assets, Deposits and Loans (In KRW, trillions) As of the end of 2003, there were a total of 19 bankseight nationwide banks, six regional banks and five specialized banks-in business. There were also a total of 61 branch operations by 39 foreign banks. Bank employees numbered 60,608 for the eight nationwide banks, 7,312 for the six regional banks and 21,591 for the five specialized banks for a total of 89,511 at the end of 2003. Number of Banks & Bank Employees Domestic banks’ net income totaled KRW1.8 trillion for 2003, down 64.4% from KRW5.1 trillion in 2002. Much of the drop resulted from higher provisions for problematic loans to SK Global and LG Card as well as increased provisions for distressed credit card receivables and consumer loans. But income before provisioning jumped 12.9% to KRW16.9 trillion, suggesting improved income-generating ability of domestic banks. With a drop in net income for the year, the average ROA and ROE fell 0.19% and 3.77%, respectively, in 2003. Assets held by domestic banks rose 8.5% in 2003 to KRW1,132 trillion as the pace of lending slowed. With interest rates remaining low, bank deposits grew at a modest rate of 5.4% to KRW662 trillion, while bank lending rose 13.9% to KRW599 trillion, as business borrowing for capital investment remained sluggish and banks tightened credit screening for consumer borrowing. 6 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION Income before Provisioning & Net Income (In KRW, trillions) FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & SECURITIES MARKET Domestic banks’ BIS capital adequacy ratio, a leasing companies and 7 new technology venture barometer of capital strength, fell from 11.33% at the capital companies-operating at the year’s end. Credit end of 2002 to 11.2%. Loans classified as substandard, unions numbered 1,086 and credit cooperatives 1,555. doubtful or presumed loss averaged 2.6%, compared with 2.3% a year earlier. Bank Capital Adequacy & Bad Loan Ratios (In percent) Mutual Savings Banks For the fiscal year 2002 ended June 2003, mutual savings banks saw an 11.7% increase in their assets to KRW26.98 trillion on the back of higher deposit rates, expanded branch operations and integration into the electronic network system maintained by Korea Financial Telecommunication & Clearings Institute. Deposits increased 11.5% to KRW24.01 trillion and loans 25.6% to KRW21.41 trillion during FY2002. Mutual Savings Banks’ Assets, Deposits and Loans (In KRW, trillions) NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Non-bank financial institutions refer to merchant banks, money-brokerage companies, mutual savings banks, finance companies, credit card companies, leasing companies, installment finance companies, new technology venture capital companies, credit unions and agricultural, fishery and forestry credit As of the end of FY2002, mutual savings banks’ net cooperatives. income totaled KRW129.8 billion, up 5.79% from KRW122.7 billion a year earlier, with higher revenues There were two merchant banks and two money from project financing, interest income and service fees. brokerage companies in business at the end of 2003. There were also 114 mutual savings banks, 50 creditspecialized finance companies—8 credit card companies, 19 installment finance companies, 16 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 7 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 Mutual Savings Banks’ Net Income (In KRW, billions) Credit Card Companies Credit card companies’ assets in terms of total managed assets (i.e., B/S assets plus credit card receivables securitized), fell 33.8% from the previous fiscal year to KRW54,987.4 billion at the end of FY2003 ended December as credit card companies aggressively disposed of distressed assets and strengthened their liquidity positions. Total Assets on Managed-Asset Basis & B/S Assets (In KRW, trillions) The BIS capital adequacy ratio of mutual savings banks at the end of FY2002 averaged 9.95%, down from 11.21% a year earlier. On the other hand, the share of loans classified as substandard, doubtful or presumed loss averaged 11.27%, an improvement from 12.42% for FY2001. Mutual Savings Banks’ Capital Adequacy & Bad Loan Ratios (In Percent) Credit card companies’ net income came under pressure in 2003 as a result of rising consumer credit delinquencies, higher provisioning against distressed assets and business downsizing. For 2003, credit card companies reported net losses totaling KRW10,474.2 billion, a sharp drop from net income of KRW235.5 billion a year earlier. Credit card purchases fell 24% to KRW517.3 trillion from KRW680.8 trillion in FY2003. The number of credit cards issued fell to 95.2 million, down from a year earlier. 8 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & SECURITIES MARKET Credit Card Purchases (In KRW, trillions) Credit Cards Issued (In KRW, millions) FY2001 480.4 850.04 FY2002 680.8 104.80 FY2003 517.3 95.22 For the fiscal year 2003 ended March 2004, assets reported by insurance companies totaled KRW226,208.8 billion. Assets held by life insurance companies rose 14.1% to KRW187,361.5 billion and those by non-life insurance companies 9.7% to KRW38,847.2 billion. Net assets (shareholders’ equity) With LG Card and other credit card companies rose 65.18% to KRW15,315.8 billion for life insurance experiencing large net losses for FY2002, the adjusted companies and 35.86% to KRW5,863.7 billion for capital adequacy ratio averaged -5.45%, a sharp drop non-life insurance companies in FY2003. from 12.44% a year earlier. Credit card delinquency ratio (on the basis of payments overdue more than one Life Insurance Companies’ Assets and month) averaged 14.05% for 2003, sharply up from Shareholders’ Equity 6.6% in 2002. (In KRW, billions) INSURANCE COMPANIES As of the end of 2003, 23 life insurance companies (including 3 foreign branches) and 27 non-life insurance companies (including 11 foreign branches) were engaged in insurance business. Number of Insurance Companies and Employees Non-Life Insurance Companies’ Assets and Shareholders’ Equity (In KRW, billions) FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 9 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 Life insurance companies’ net income for FY2003 fell Insurance Companies’ Bad Loan Ratios KRW1.24 trillion or 43.9% to KRW1,587.4 billion from KRW2,828.2 billion a year earlier with much of the drop stemming from fewer new policies sold and higher policy cancellations amid continuing economic slowdown. Other than Seoul Guarantee Insurance, which saw its net income jump by KRW405.0 billion to KRW243.5 billion, non-life insurance companies saw the overall net income fall 33.8% or KRW163.9 billion to KRW320.8 billion, partly as a result of high loss ratios for auto insurance. Insurance Companies’ Net Income With the commencement of bancassurance on (In KRW, billions) September 1, 2003, premiums received from bancassurance between September and December totaled KRW1,899.6 billion for life insurance companies and KRW37.2 billion for non-life insurance companies. These figures represent approximately 9.6% and 0.5%, respectively, of the insurance premiums received during the four-month period in 2003. SECURITIES COMPANIES The solvency margin ratio, a key measure of the capital As of the end of FY2003 ended March 2004, there adequacy of insurance companies, averaged 217.2% were 59 securities companies (including 15 foreign for life insurance at the end of FY2003, modestly down branches), 14 futures companies, 45 asset from 225.9% a year earlier. But the ratio for non-life management companies (32 investment trust insurance companies rose sharply to 280.3% from companies and 13 asset management companies 234.1%. The bad loan ratio (i.e., ratio of loans created under the old Securities Investment Companies classified as substandard, doubtful or presumed loss), a Act) and 54 investment advisory companies in business. measure of the overall asset soundness, averaged 1.5% for life insurance companies and 1.82% for nonlife insurance companies. 10 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & SECURITIES MARKET Number of Securities Companies in Business Securities Companies’ Assets (In KRW, trillions) Assets held by securities companies totaled KRW48.37 Securities Companies’ Net Income trillion as of the end of FY2003, down 4.1% from KRW (In KRW, billions) 50.48 trillion a year earlier mainly due to a drop in customer deposits and orders amid lingering sluggishness in the equity market. Likewise, assets managed by the 45 asset management companies came to KRW160 trillion, down approximately 2.2% from the previous year. Securities companies’ net income for FY2003 came to KRW1,281.7 billion, a substantial turnaround from FY2002 net loss of KRW601.7 billion brought about by Asset Management Companies’ Pretax Income gains from securities trading amid rising stock prices. (In KRW, billions) Asset management companies’ net income came under pressure as a result of intense competition and falling asset management fees. For FY2003, asset management companies reported pretax income of KRW133.1 billion, a drop of 27.1% from a year earlier. FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 11 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 Net Buying by Investor during 2003 SECURITIES MARKET EQUITY MARKET (In KRW, trillions) 6 The equity market began 2003 on a bearish note amid geopolitical concerns emanating from North Korea and 2 Iraq, SK Global accounting fraud and problems in the credit card sector, but soon began to rebound on the -2 termination of hostilities in Iraq, heavy buying by foreign investors and expectations of global economic recovery. Equity Indices and Trading Volume during 2003 Stocks issued through the Korea Stock Exchange (KSE) and the KOSDAQ rose 11% to KRW9.4 trillion in 2003. Initial public offerings (IPOs) fell 35.7% to KRW1.1 trillion, mostly due to weaknesses in the KOSDAQ market. In contrast, seasoned public offerings (SEOs), helped by debt-to-equity swap by Hynix Semiconductor and new equity issued for the takeover of Chohung Bank by Shinhan Bank, jumped 23.0% to approximately KRW8.3 trillion. IPOs and SEOs during 2003 (In KRW, billions) While domestic retail and institutional investors largely remained net sellers, foreign investors led the market 2002-03 2002 2003 IPOs 17,156 11,024 -35.7% SEOs 67,310 82,816 23.0% Total 84,466 93,840 11.0% with aggressive buying beginning in the second quarter of the year. The share of foreign equity holdings reached 40.1% by the end of 2003. BOND MARKET The sluggish economy kept bond yields fairly low and steady during the first half of the year, but expectations of economic rebound pushed yields higher in the second half. With investors increasingly becoming more risk-averse and showing a strong preference for safety, 12 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & SECURITIES MARKET the spread between the treasury and corporate bonds the issuance of financial bonds (debt issued by financial (debentures) widened in 2003 compared to 2002. In institutions) fell sharply amid falling consumer credit the corporate bond market, demand for corporate demand and liquidity problems of credit card bonds were heavily biased toward issuers with strong companies. The corporate debt market also came credit ratings, and yields among bonds with varying under pressure from SK Global accounting fraud and credit ratings showed a sharper contrast in 2003 than anemic business investment and fell 9.1% from a year in 2002. earlier. Benchmark Bond Yields and Spreads Debt Issued in 2002 & 2003 2002 2003 2002-03 Yield on 3-Year Treasury Bonds 5.11% 4.82% -0.29 pp Yield on AADebentures 5.68% 5.58% -0.10 pp Spread between AADebentures and 3-Year Treasury Bonds 0.57 pp 0.76 pp 0.19 Spread between BBBand AA- Dentures 3.40 pp 4.31 pp 0.91 Benchmark Bond Yields (In KRW, trillions) 2002 2003 Government Bonds 36.8 60.7 Monetary Stabilization Bonds 69.9 89.7 Financial Bonds 81.5 68.0 Corporate Bonds 55.5 50.2 Special Bonds 14.5 13.9 258.0 282.6 Total Note: Bond issued by certain non-private, public-purpose companies authorized under the law Debt Issued in 2003 Despite a somewhat modest pace of bonds issued by Bond trading was led by treasury and Monetary financial institutions and businesses, new bond Stabilization Bonds and rose 26.9% to KRW1,434 issuances for 2003 jumped 9.5% to KRW283 trillion trillion for the year. Strong investor preference for risk- with increased issuances of government bonds and free investments as well as structural improvements in Monetary Stabilization Bonds. Both rose in 2003 to the way treasury bonds are issued and traded finance higher government expenditures, maintain contributed to the increased trading of treasuries. stable exchange rates and adjust market liquidity. But FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 13 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 FUTURES AND OPTIONS MARKET Trading Shares of KOSPI200 Futures and Options by Investor In the futures and options market, trading of KOSPI200 futures and options continued to gain strength in 2003, while trading of treasury bond futures fell. With ample liquidity and active trading by individual investors, the average daily trading of KOSPI200 futures and options reached 250,000 and 11.48 million contracts, respectively, which in total represents an increase of 48.2% from 2002. In contrast, the daily trading of 3-year treasury bond futures averaged 41,472 contracts, down 20.8% from a year earlier. Stable interest rates and declining hedging by investors are said to have contributed to the drop. Average Daily Trading of Futures and Options (Number of contracts) KOSPI200 Futures KOSPI200 Options 2002 2003 175,689 251,841 2002-03 76,152 7,744,551 11,488,765 3,744,214 3-Year Treasury Bond Futures 52,369 41,472 -10,897 5-Year Treasury Bond Futures - 1,927 1,927 Institutional investors were more active in futures and options trading at the Korea Futures Exchange than individual investors. In particular, the share of trading by investment trust management companies fell 8% in 2003 as a result of a drop in government bond futures trading. Trading by individual investors made up more than 50% of the KOSPI200 futures and options trading. Whereas the share of KOSPI200 futures trading rose modestly from a year earlier, the share of KOSPI200 options trading fell somewhat due to an increase of the initial account deposit from KRW5 million to KRW15 million in March. The share of futures and options trading by foreign investors rose from a year earlier as they increasingly sought to hedge their positions on equity-linked securities. 14 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION Trading Shares at the Korea Futures Exchange PRUDENTIAL REGULATION & SUPERVISION PRUDENTIAL REGULATION & SUPERVISION IN 2003 The FSC/FSS focused on prudential regulation and notification that had previously been used only for the supervision with a particular emphasis on preventative quarterly general examinations to partial examinations, and forward-looking supervisory posture to respond to which are conducted in connection with specific rapid changes taking place in the marketplace and supervisory policies. promote the safety and the soundness of the financial service industry. With respect to bank supervision, the Based on the extensive examination experiences of the FSC/FSS came up with plans for bank-specific, entity- past five years, the FSC/FSS also set forth and has been tailored capital adequacy supervision, provided new implementing in phases “Mid- to Long-Term Plans for guidelines on issuing debt to increase capital and closely the Advancement of Examination” that consist of monitored progress with the reduction of distressed supervisory objectives for risk-based examination, assets. To ensure the soundness of consumer loans, the strengthening the management improvement aspects FSC/FSS made downward adjustments to the loan-to- of examination, and encouraging self-regulation of value ratios banks use to determine lending against the financial institutions. In step with the growing focus of borrower collateral. Steps were also taken to strengthen supervision and examination on risk management and the oversight of the credit card assets. For the non-bank prevention, the FSC/FSS also established plans to financial institutions, the FSC/FSS focused on preventative further strengthen and improve supervisory sanctions. supervision of credit card companies and protecting consumer rights. A number of measures were also taken to step up supervision of mutual savings banks and other small lenders that serve low-income groups and small SUPERVISION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS businesses. For the supervision of insurance sector, the FSC/FSS set forth a comprehensive plan for risk-based BANKS supervision and began to work on building riskmeasurement models and laid the groundwork for an Supervisory regulations were amended in April to allow “early warning system.” In August, bancassurance banks to issue new bond-type hybrid securities (hybrid began. The FSC/FSS also completed a continuous tier 1) for capital addition. In July, bank supervisory monitoring system designed to strengthen the oversight regulations were amended to clarify the criteria for of the risk management of securities companies. recognition of tier-1 capital from preferred shares so that bank share capital can be more clearly classified With respect to examination, the FSC/FSS focused on risk into subordinate debt or new hybrid capital in management and providing management consultation accordance with the BIS criteria on the basis of the so as to strengthen the managerial soundness of financial redemption period or who holds the right to call. institutions. A number of new initiatives were also In response to the rise in bad loan ratios during the first launched to improve the transparency of the financial quarter of 2003, the FSC/FSS began quarterly market, raise market confidence, and enhance consumer inspections of the status of bad loans and progress on protection. As a way to encourage self-policing and raise reducing distressed loans. Banks were instructed to the transparency of supervisory examination of financial write off loans classified as presumed loss from the institutions, the FSC/FSS expanded the pre-examination previous quarter in the current quarter. In particular, FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 15 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 banks were urged to promptly write off small credit card also reached among the main creditors to grant debt debt (less than KRW5 million) that had been classified as maturity extension to CCCs. In June, supervisory presumed loss. Banks whose bad loan ratio exceeded regulations were amended to include securitized assets 3% were instructed to submit to the FSC/FSS plans to in determining the delinquency ratio in light of the fact clean up distressed loans (including plans for disposition that asset-backed securities issued by CCCs constituted of sub-standard and doubtful loans). The FSC/FSS also approximately 40% of their total debt obligations. urged banks to reduce at least by half loans classified as doubtful as of the end of March. The FSC/FSS also stepped supervision of CCCs by incorporating delinquency ratio and net income in the NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS criteria for prompt corrective actions (PCA). The stiffer PCA criteria brought about such positive developments Mutual Savings Banks as more aggressive efforts by the CCCs to reduce their delinquency ratios and raise capital for additional write- Beginning in March, the FSC/FSS allowed healthy mutual offs of distressed assets. But they also led to increased savings banks that met or exceeded certain financial conversion of credit card debt into loans (converted soundness requirements to expand their branch loans) by the CCCs to avoid PCA as well as higher losses operations and authorized a total of five new branches due to excessive asset write-offs and dispositions. In and smaller units by the end of 2003. The provisioning response, the FSC/FSS adjusted its earlier approach and requirements for small loans of KRW3 million or less (as announced in October new measures that included of the end of June) that had been classified as normal or signing MOUs with the CCCs to lower the delinquency precautionary were set at 1% and 7%, respectively, to ratio and incorporating the converted loans in ensure sufficient capital reserves. Mutual savings banks computing the delinquency ratio. were also encouraged to conduct a thoroughly review of the business feasibility of project financing, consumer Credit Unions and Cooperatives loans requiring daily repayment and other niche market businesses as well as bancassurance to ensure strict Supervisory regulations on credit unions and cooperatives credit risk and loan management. were amended in December to significantly reinforce the oversight of the business activities of credit unions and the Credit Card Companies agricultural, fishery and forestry credit cooperatives. The amended regulations enable the FSC/FSS to directly Throughout the year, the credit card sector came under provide management improvement guidelines for pressure as a result of problems precipitated by the SK distressed credit unions without a recommendation from Global accounting fraud in March. In a joint effort to the credit unions’ national headquarters and to oversee respond to the distress in the market, the regulators implementation of financial soundness improvement implemented a set of measures that called for, among plans. For capital adequacy ratio computation, only up to others, substantial new capital injections by the principal 1.25% of the total assets were allowed as capital from shareholders of credit card companies (CCCs) and other loan-loss provisioning set aside against assets classified as aggressive restructuring measures. An agreement was sub-standard. As a way to encourage the management 16 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION PRUDENTIAL REGULATION & SUPERVISION normalization efforts of the credit union members, systematic basis, the FSC/FSS initiated the Early Warning subordinated borrowings were introduced, and additional System for insurance supervision. As a first step toward steps were taken to improve the net capital computation building the new system, the FSC/FSS developed 156 key rules. As part of an effort to encourage and facilitate the insurance business indicators in early 2003. From the 156 ongoing management normalization of the National key indicators, those that were found to be reliable Credit Union Federation of Korea, the national predictors of past distresses in the insurance sector were headquarters of credit unions, the FSC/FSS conducted selected and are currently used for four basic early regular monitoring checks on the status of the warning models (two for life and two for non-life implementation of the normalization plan. insurance companies). Quasi-Financial Service Companies Bancassurance Information on illegal activities of 133 quasi-financial Financial service providers were allowed to offer service companies outside FSC/FSS jurisdiction was bancassurance through insurance sales offices or agents collected and supplied to the law enforcement for the first time in August 2003. In light of concerns authorities for criminal prosecution. Of the 3,184 over policyholder protection and potentially adverse complaints on usury and questionable debt collection impact of bancassurance on the insurance industry, the activities that had been reported to the FSC/FSS, 210 FSC/FSS decided to gradually expand the range of cases were forwarded to the law enforcement insurance products and services to be offered to authorities. In addition, 1,614 cases involving illegal credit consumers through March 2007. As a part of this plan, card discounts and other credit-card-related transactions banks and other financial service providers were allowed that had been identified through a credit card to offer annuity, savings-type insurance and other monitoring unit jointly run by the FSC/FSS and the credit consumer policies through March 2005. As of the end of card industry were forwarded to the law enforcement December, 101 financial service providers—18 banks, 18 authorities and the National Tax Service. The FSC/FSS securities companies and 65 mutual savings banks— also initiated new measures aimed at curving lending by were registered as insurance sales agents. Policies sold unregistered sub-prime lenders. To curb illegal credit card totaled approximately KRW2 trillion (a monthly average discounting through payment gateway service providers, of KRW500 billion), which is somewhat higher than the FSC/FSS directed CCCs to build and maintain initially expected. delinquency-monitoring controls for the payment gateway service providers. INSURANCE COMPANIES Reduced Entry Barriers to Insurance Business The regulations on entry into insurance business were eased as a result of amendments to the Insurance Early Warning System Business Act in May. Under the amended regulations, insurance businesses were grouped into life, non-life, In an effort to measure insurance companies’ risk and the “third” insurance businesses. Each of the three exposures and their potential danger on a more insurance types was further divided into specific FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 17 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 insurance services (to be individually authorized). The 2002, steps have been taken to improve the disclosure minimum requirement for capital for each line of regimes for insurance policies to better protect insurance business was also adjusted to vary from consumers and help them make more informed policy KRW5 billion to KRW30 billion. For companies offering choices. Beginning in January 2001, insurance a single line or limited lines of insurance services, the companies were required to disclose the contract terms minimum capital requirement was reduced from and other relevant information for all the policies they KRW10 billion to KRW5 billion. To promote competition sell to consumers on the Internet. In addition, among insurance companies through more diverse sales disclosures on such basic indicators as interests channels, insurance businesses specializing in telephone assumed, expected risk rates and expense ratios were and/or online sale of insurance policies were allowed required. Since January 2003, insurance companies with capital requirement at roughly two-thirds of that have been required to disclose the types of protection for other insurance companies. and premiums for all the insurance policies that are sold to consumers. To help consumer make more informed Supervision of Asset Management policy decisions, industry groups representing domestic insurance companies have been required to provide The regulation of insurance companies’ asset comparative information on the policies they sell so as management was changed from a positive system that to enable consumers to compare the policies offered by enumerated the types of investments insurers were other insurance companies and make more informed allowed to make (e.g., marketable securities and real policy decisions (effective November). estates) to a negative system that provided for regulatory oversight to achieve more general objectives SECURITIES-RELATED COMPANIES such as preventing abuses by the principal shareholders and concentrated lending to certain borrowers. To Promoting Competitiveness of Securities Industry ensure more effective supervision of insurance companies’ exposure to credit risks, the FSC/FSS In February, the Securities Exchange Act was amended instituted a credit-ceiling system that brings together all to designate equity-linked securities, warrants and other the asset management and investment activities of new instruments as securities. In August, 5-year treasury insurers and sets an overall limit on the credit risks that bond futures and options on treasury bond futures insurance companies may take on. For investment and began trading at the Korea Futures Exchange. As a way asset management activities involving foreign to promote a market environment more favorable for currencies and derivatives that can result in substantial restructuring in the securities industry, the FSC/FSS losses, the FSC/FSS established a boundary for the types allowed in November the addition of treasury stocks that of foreign currency and derivatives trading in which had been acquired as a result of a merger in the net insurance companies may engage. operating capital of securities companies. In December, securities companies were allowed to promptly reflect a Disclosures on Insurance Policies drop in the risk amount resulting from foreign capital injection, business transfers and other restructuring Since the deregulation of insurance premiums in April 18 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION activities in the computation of the overall risk amount. PRUDENTIAL REGULATION & SUPERVISION Managerial Soundness New Supervisory Initiatives on Asset Management Business In March, the FSC/FSS ordered securities companies dealing in OTC derivatives and new types of securities In July, the FSC/FSS conducted a review of regulations to se up risk-monitoring systems. As a step to on option CPs and barred trust funds from engaging in strengthen the supervision of the risk management of certain non-contractual transactions of option CPs and securities companies, the FSC/FSS established new other questionable practices. In August, new measures management evaluation items and criteria in April. To were implemented to improve the sale of fund shares prevent securities companies from taking on excessive and dividend distribution. In October, the credit rating risk by providing financial support to distressed and maturity of securities eligible for money market subsidiary units, the computation method for net funds (MMF) were reinforced to raise the safety and operating capital was amended in November to liquidity of MMF assets. Steps were also taken to discourage securities companies from large acquisitions improve the transparency of fund activities involving of securities issued by their subsidiaries. The FSC/FSS the acquisition and disposition of the treasury stocks of also put forth new guidelines designed to identify and the investor companies. prevent suspicious securities trading. Indirect Investment Asset Management Market-Friendly Supervision and Building Business Act Market Confidence In October, the Indirect Investment Asset Management The FSC/FSS took supervisory steps to keep pace with Business Act (IIAMBA), which combines and the continuing advances in information technology and streamlines the Securities Investment Trust Business Act its growing application and integration in the financial and the Securities Investment Company Act as well as service industry. In March, electronic authentication provisions on indirect (collective) investment advisory became mandatory for all online securities transactions. businesses from the Securities Exchange Act, was New guidelines on firewalls and other security enacted. The IIAMBA, which took effect in January measures for cross-border securities transactions 2004, broadens the scope of collective investments by became effective. The FSC/FSS also took a number of including derivatives, real estate and other tangible steps to restrain excessive retail investors’ participation assets and takes precedence over other laws applicable in the futures and options markets. They included (1) to collective investment activities. higher customer deposit requirements for futures and options accounts, (2) post-transaction deposit privilege for institutional investors, (3) higher risk-weighting for speculative option sales, (4) giving securities companies SUPERVISION OF SECURITIES MARKET the discretion to refuse speculative orders and (5) new measures designed to raise security deposit payments Much effort was undertaken in 2003 to fine-tune so as to lower uncollected customer payments for supervision and regulation of the securities market so as futures and options trading. to facilitate capital access to businesses and bring about FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 19 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 greater discipline in the securities market. To help Futures & Options Market companies gain easier access to capital, regulations were eased for companies issuing securities for capital increases. During the first half of the year, the FSC/FSS announced Regulatory measures were also taken to reinforce the a number of stabilization measures for the futures and listing requirements at the KSE and dividend disclosures options market and during the second half preparations and improve the price bid and offer rules. Likewise, at the for the move of certain futures and options trading from KOSDAQ, listing requirements were raised, and new the KSE to Korea Futures Exchange (KOFEX). The measures were instituted to promote M&A. stabilization measures the FSC/FSS announced included higher account deposits to encourage retail investors to In the bond market, the settlement dates for OTC bond exercise greater caution and restraint when engaging in trading were revised, and the number of counterparties futures and options trading. To prevent deep out-of-the- with which the OTC bond brokerage companies may money options turning into a vehicle for speculation, the deal was expanded. In the futures market, five-year risk weighting for such options was raised for treasury bond futures were introduced and security computation of the net operating capital of securities deposits required for futures and options trading by retail companies. During the second half of the year, the customers were raised. As part of the ongoing effort to FSC/FSS approved futures trading by securities curb unfair and illegal securities trading, the FSC/FSS companies in anticipation of moving trading of futures stepped up its efforts to collect and analyze information and options from the KSE to KOFEX. A number of on suspicious trading and actively encouraged securities supervisory regulations were also amended to ensure companies to build in-house surveillance systems to smooth transition of futures and options trading from identify suspicious buying and selling of securities. the KSE to KOFEX. Supervisory actions were also taken to improve and reinforce full and fair disclosures to help investors make Bond Market timely and informed investment decisions. Concerted efforts were made in 2003 to improve the Securities Underwriting and Offering infrastructure for bond market with the goal of enhancing market efficiency. Steps were also taken to Based on extensive studies and analyses of securities improve credit rating of bond issuers. The settlement underwriting and offering in the local securities market, period for OTC bond transactions was extended from the FSC/FSS adopted a number of new measures in between T+0 to T+14 to between T+1 to T+30, and 2003. They include greater latitude for securities institutional investors were actively encouraged to utilize underwriters and granting individual stock subscribers the DVP (delivery-versus-payment) bond clearing and put-back options, i.e., the option to sell the subscribed settlement system. The counterparties eligible to deal shares back to the underwriter. The 45% stock with primary bond dealers were expanded to include allotment (55% for KOSDAQ) given to high-yield funds ordinary companies, and a new electronic system from a public offering was adjusted to 30%. On-site due designed to monitor the pricing of bond-pricing diligence by the lead underwriter of a company about to companies became operational. In an effort to raise the go public was also mandated. credibility and objectivity of credit rating, the rating 20 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION PRUDENTIAL REGULATION & SUPERVISION coverage and disclosures by credit-rating companies give investors more efficient trading tools. New pre- were expanded. In addition, the standards for the hours trading was also added. In December, the delisting internal controls of credit-rating companies were criteria were revised so that companies whose share strengthened, and default analysis of credit ratings was ownership was well distributed—i.e., not concentrated instituted. Also, the foreign exchange stabilization fund to a few—were exempted from being placed on the bond was reclassified as a government bond, and the watch list (for potential delisting) even if the trading issuance gap for government bonds was uniformly set at volume fell short of the minimum requirement. six months to increase their liquidity. To prevent volatile interest rate movement that can be triggered by a In the KOSDAQ market, supervisory efforts were directed temporary supply shortage, a new bond trading that at enhancing investor confidence and market integrity. In allows the government to issue repurchase agreements March, regulations were amended to allow listing of ETF (RP) and meet the market demand was also adopted. and real estate investment trusts (REITs). To help investors better anticipate companies likely to be delisted from Regulatory Changes in the KSE and KOSDAQ KOSDAQ, those failing to comply with disclosure rules twice or more were designated for warning and automatically delisted if another disclosure violation In March, companies traded in the KSE were directed to occurred. In June, regulations were amended so that provide separate disclosures on their dividend policies for accounting misconduct became a sufficient cause for investors. To ensure timely corporate disclosures, rejection of listing application (and to remain effective for auditor’s report for periodic disclosures became three years thereafter). Listed companies that were found mandatory. In June, stiffer sanctions on fraudulent to have engaged in reporting misconduct were put on financial reporting and other accounting misconduct the watch list for possible delisting. Pretax income and were instituted against both listed and list-seeking market capitalization requirements were also newly companies. Companies that had been found to have added to the delisting criteria. In an effort to attract engaged in accounting fraud were denied listing in the financially strong or otherwise sound companies, the KSE and barred from applying for listing for a period of regulatory provisions concerning the capital and audit three years. To promote simultaneous listing of domestic requirements for new companies were strengthened companies at home and abroad, exemptions from the along with higher revenue requirements. minimum shareholder requirement and restrictions on pre-listing stock offerings were newly adopted. For Securitization of Distressed Assets investor protection, the re-listing eligibility requirements for delisted companies were strengthened and a In August, the FSC/FSS reinforced the supervisory preliminary pre-listing review system was newly guidelines for securitization of non-performing assets to instituted. To prevent price manipulation with fake stock (1) prevent banks from taking on excessive positions in orders, a five-minute random-end to the opening and the subordinate tranches, incurring losses from asset closing call periods was newly added (October 6). Two disposition, and merely lowering bad asset ratios on the new order types—immediately executable limit order balance sheet and (2) bring the loss recognition criteria up and best bid/offer limit order—were added to the KSE to to the international standards. Under the new ABS FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 21 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 guidelines, banks are barred from providing such extra Examination Criteria credit enhancements as put-back options, cash reserves and credit lines. Banks were also instructed in principle The frequency of general examinations typically varied to treat the entire subordinate ABS they acquire as with the overall ratings financial institution receives for losses. If only partial losses were recognized as a result management status evaluation. But in the event of a of an independent assessment from credit-rating discovery of an unusual activity during the regular companies, a significant portion of the subordinate monitoring or the emergence of a significant event, classes was to be excluded when determining the BIS examinations took place irrespective of the previous capital adequacy ratio. examination schedule. Partial examinations were conducted on a more ongoing basis to prevent financial incidents or irregularities and unsound EXAMINATION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS business practices. The duration of the general examinations and the number of examiners assigned were usually dictated by the asset size of the subject The number of financial institutions (including branch institutions and their risk levels. For partial operations) the FSC/FSS examined in 2003 totaled examinations, the decision was mostly determined by 1,744, down 933 or 34.9% from 2002 mostly due to the nature and the purpose of the examination as well higher compliance of financial institutions with internal as the unique characteristics of the subject institutions. control requirements and fewer examinations conducted for crime-prevention purposes. For the non- Post-Examination Sanctions bank financial institutions (NBFIs), the number declined by 187 (30.1%) with fewer inspections of credit card The FSC/FSS issued a total of 82 sanctions on financial issuers. For securities companies and insurance institutions in 2003, compared with 122 a year earlier. companies, the number fell by 128 (33.7%) and 137 Of the total, 41 were issued against NBFIs. The number (28.5%), respectively. of sanctions issued against individuals also fell to 940 in 2003 from 1,225 in 2002. Of the 940, officers at NBFIs made up 192. For non-management staff-level Examinations in 2003 General Examination No. of Institutions employees, 278 sanctions were for those employed by Partial Examination No. of Branches Total KRW1.467 billion were also imposed as a result of 11 Banks 32 652 714 NBFIs 43 392 435 Insurance 23 229 252 Securities 41 302 343 139 1,605 1,744 Total securities companies and 190 by banks. Fines totaling separate post-examination actions. Mid- to Long-term Examination Planning In August, the FSC/FSS released a blueprint for Mid- to Long-Term Examination Plan designed to significantly improve examination of financial institutions based on an extensive review of the supervisory structure for 22 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION PRUDENTIAL REGULATION & SUPERVISION examination that has been in place since the creation Preparatory work for the transition to RBS for the of the FSC/FSS as an integrated financial supervisor. insurance sector began in earnest in 2003. In March, The blueprint embraces five basic approaches: the master plan for RBS for the supervision of insurance companies was completed, and work on developing (1) Transition to risk-based supervision that focuses on risk analysis and management; (2) Management consulting that emphasizes consolidated risk measurement system began in December as laid out in the master plan (measurement systems for insurance and interest risks were in the stringent sanctions against non-compliance development stage as of May 2004). A measurement and provides management consultations system for credit risk was also expected, and once all based on thorough diagnosis of credit the risk measurement systems are completed, they are decisions and other key management issues; expected to be brought together along with other (3) Self-regulation with particular focuses on selfcompliance and self-policing; (4) Tailor-made examination that emphasizes a monitoring and feedback systems into the Integrated Risk Information System. The FSC/FSS has also been closely monitoring and supervising the compliance and more differentiated and discriminated progress of insurance companies with the risk approach to examination, and management improvement plans insurance companies (5) Specialization of the examiners and improving themselves have established. the institutional structure and arrangement for the examiners. CORPORATE DISCLOSURES TRANSITION TO RISK-BASED SUPERVISION Fair Disclosure The FSC/FSS undertook much effort to ensure that the For the transition to risk-based supervision (RBS) that fair disclosure regime take root and its effectiveness began in earnest in October 2001, an FSC/FSS task force continue to improve. The “Fair Disclosure Q&A” was conducted a review of the applicability of the evaluation updated and widely distributed, and companies were criteria that had been set up in 2002 as the first phase mandated to include their compliance with fair of the transition to measure and manage risks disclosure rule in the reports they file periodically to the associated with the major operating activities of banks. FSC/FSS. Follow-up supervisory actions were also taken A pilot test was conducted on a number of banks using to raise compliance. Supervisory and regulatory support the risk evaluation criteria, and implementation of a plan was also given to the KSE and other self-regulatory to build a new risk information management system organizations to enable them to take stronger also began. The first phase of FSC/FSS credit risk enforcement actions against non-compliance. management system, which was designed to measure the economic capital for credit risks, was also Acquisition & Disposition of Treasury Stocks completed. Preparations for the adoption of the New Basel Accord (NBA) also continued in 2003. The ceiling on the price at which companies may bid for FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 23 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 their stocks was raised and other measures were became operational. Between July and November, the implemented to improve the rules on acquisition and FSC/FSS identified a total of 163 disclosure violations disposition of treasury stocks. Companies were also using the monitoring system. For the violations allowed to buy or sell shares during the regular trading discovered during 2003, the FSC/FSS issued 525 hours and bid for shares at the highest price during the warnings and 391 admonitions (a milder form of day’s trading. However, to prevent unfair trading, warning). Individual shareholders who failed to comply companies were allowed to bid for or offer treasury with the equity disclosure were ordered to disgorge stocks only up to 30 minutes before the daily closing. gains realized from stock trading (a total of 57 cases). Block trading during the after-hours session and trading through the ECN market were also allowed. When filing Accounting Supervision & Audit Review a report on treasury stocks acquired, companies were exempted from having to provide information already The FSC/FSS reorganized and expanded its accounting disclosed in the periodic filings to the FSC/FSS. supervision department into two and raised the audit review ratio of companies traded in the KSE and Enforcement against Non-Compliance KOSDAQ from 5% to 10%. New steps, including assigning each team in the accounting supervision The FSC/FSS stepped up review of registration filings and departments a specific industry, were also instituted to other disclosures and took aggressive enforcement raise specialization and efficiency of the audit review actions against non-compliance. The FSC/FSS issued a staff. Review of quarterly and semiannual financial total of 45 correction orders from the registration filings statement filings was also added to the supervisory it reviewed, mostly due to defective securities valuation review of annual flings to improve the consistency and and omissions of investment risks and the intended reliability of financial disclosures. For the year, the purposes of the capital sought. Disclosure filings were FSC/FSS conducted audit review of 93 companies and also closely scrutinized for any illegal loans to the found accounting violations in 17 companies. For principal shareholders and public offerings disguised as accounting violations, the FSC/FSS imposed fines on the overseas offering of convertible bonds and bonds with auditors involved in the accounting misconduct and warrants. Enforcement actions taken for these violations designated outside auditors for the companies involved. ranged from heavy fines to recommendation for For the accounting firms, the actions taken ranged from dismissal of the officers and employees responsible for cancellation of business registration to suspension of the violations. Of the 124 other disclosure violations duties. Companies involved in accounting impropriety detected, 66 were related to non-compliance with also faced restrictions on securities issuance and received periodic disclosure filings. recommendations for dismissal of individuals involved in the accounting misconduct. Monitoring Changes in Shareholder Equity In February, a monitoring system that verifies the disclosure compliance of companies reporting changes in the equity positions of the principal shareholders 24 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION PRUDENTIAL REGULATION & SUPERVISION CONSUMER PROTECTION & CONSUMER DEBT MANAGEMENT September, the FSC/FSS ordered banks that reported net losses for the previous year and credit card delinquency ratio 10% or higher to enter into an MOU to improve CONSUMER PROTECTION & SERVICE bank business management and announced that bank credit card businesses would be factored in CAMELS. The FSC/FSS launched a number of consumer education programs in 2003 to help consumers make more responsible and informed decisions on financial products CONSUMER DEBT MANAGEMENT & CREDIT REPAIR PROGRAMS and services. The FSC/FSS published the basics of financial products and services and distributed them to The FSC/FSS implemented supervisory policies and schools and other educational institutions and conducted measures aimed at helping distressed borrowers manage consumer education in collaboration with the Consumer debt and repair credit. In an effort to contribute to the Union of Korea and Korea Institute of Finance. Efforts on debt management and credit repair programs designed consumer protection were also stepped up to improve for debtors with multiple creditors, the FSC/FSS actively the quality of FSC/FSS consumer services and raise supported Credit Counseling & Recovery Service (CCRS), consumer satisfaction. A one-stop online counseling an agency administering the consumer debt management service was launched, and the processing of consumer programs, with financial contribution for its 2004 budget complaints was automated to analyze information and amended the supervisory regulation on credit collected more effectively and help the regulators better information service providers to enable it to access respond to consumer issues. The FSC/FSS Internet consumer credit information. Because the success of CCRS homepage was actively used to provide useful heavily depended on the participation of all the major information to consumers and continuously disclose how banks and other creditors in the consumer credit workout the FSC/FSS has handled consumer complaints and program, the FSC/FSS also actively encouraged financial disputes involving financial services and products. institutions that had not joined the workout program to do so. The FSC/FSS also closely scrutinized the monthly CONSUMER DEBT reports that the major creditors filed to the FSC/FSS on the status of the debt management and credit workout In response to the rapid growth of retail lending, the programs they instituted on their own initiatives. Aside FSC/FSS closely scrutinized bank lending in 2003. In June, from CCRS, a separate debt management & credit repair the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for new mortgage loans was program through a special-purpose company jointly lowered from 60% to 50% for loans with maturity of established by the Korea Development Bank and LG three years or less and backed by real properties located Investment & Securities began in November. Under the in speculative areas. In October, the bank LTV ratio for program, the special-purpose company takes over loans with ten-year or less maturity and backed by individual debt from ten creditors and applies for an apartment units in speculative areas was further reduced accelerated credit workout to the CCRS on behalf of the from 50% to 40%. Banks were ordered to prepare individual debtors whose debt to the ten creditors exceeds separate income statements for their credit card 50% of their total debt. For the debtors, the new program businesses beginning with the first quarter of 2003. In means a simplified and accelerated credit workout. FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 25 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 LOOKING AHEAD REINFORCING SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND STABILITY OF THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM SUPERVISION OF THE SECURITIES MARKET Reform on corporate accounting and disclosures, coupled with aggressive enforcement actions against Ensuring the safety and soundness of individual violations of securities laws and regulations, will financial institutions and fostering stability in the continue with the goal of bringing about a significant financial system will continue to remain at the top of improvement in market transparency and investor the supervisory agenda for the FSC/FSS. As a key confidence. As part of this effort, the FSC/FSS plans to component of the safety and soundness supervisory continuously expand the coverage of the audit review agenda, the FSC/FSS will step up both onsite and of publicly traded companies and impose stiffer offsite monitoring of financial institutions so as to sanctions for fraudulent financial reporting as well as identify potential risks at the earliest possible time and negligent audit. Fine-tuning of the disclosure regimes take timely and corrective supervisory actions. In will also continue to ensure full and fair corporate particular, the FSC/FSS plans to closely monitor the disclosures to investors. Investigations and enforcement soundness of retail lending and lending to small- and actions against market manipulation using online medium-sized companies as well as the credit default trading and abuses by principal shareholders of publicly trend. traded companies will also be stepped up. Securities companies will be expected to comply with stricter In the non-banking sector, the supervisory focus will be internal controls for and monitoring of suspicious on maintaining calm and ensuring stability as widely securities trading. Internal controls for stock analysts expected restructuring and consolidation begin to take and fund managers as well as their professional code shape. With respect to mutual savings banks and other of conduct will also continue to be fine-tuned and lenders that mostly provide credit to low-income and strengthened. small business borrowers, the focus of the regulators will be on ensuring capital adequacy and well-paced Supervision of Asset Management Industry disposition of distressed assets. As asset management services continue to grow in There are also plans to closely monitor and scrutinize importance, the supervisory policy will focus on the liquidity positions, capital adequacy and disposition fostering a well-disciplined market in which of distressed assets by credit card companies to ensure transparency and investor protection are respected and stability in the credit card sector. The FSC/FSS will also vigorously enforced. As a part of this goal, the FSC/FSS continue to encourage orderly resolution of the debt plans to require asset management companies to held by creditors of the credit card companies and operate within clearly established risk management continue to emphasize prudential supervision and guidelines and policies, improve risk management market discipline in the credit card sector. processes, and expand disclosures on their fund management activities. 26 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION LOOKING AHEAD New measures are also planned to ensure that brokers The growing reliance of consumers and businesses on selling funds to investors abide by high standards of electronic money and payment methods raises a conduct and do not mislead investors with unrealistic number of important consumer protection policy claims. Because of the beneficial role that trustees can issues. As the marketplace continues to evolve with play in providing the needed checks on the investment new technologies, the regulatory and supervisory goal activities of asset managers, supervision will be will be on promoting the safety and the security of the reinforced to ensure trustee perform their duties to electronic payment system and fostering competition better protect investors. Aggressive enforcement to ensure that consumer rights and interest are not actions will also be taken against fund managers who harmed. The FSC/FSS will also redouble its efforts on engage in trading practices that favor one investor to consumer harm that can be caused by anticompetitive another in the same fund and other abuses that harm business practices with bancassurance and other hybrid investor trust. financial services. Aggressive supervisory and enforcement actions will also continue to be taken against predatory lenders and other quasi-financial CONSUMER PROTECTION AND SUPPORT FOR CONSUMER DEBT MANAGEMENT AND CREDIT REPAIR PROGRAMS service providers that harm consumers. The FSC/FSS also will continue to lend its supervisory and policy support for consumer debt management and credit repair programs. One important part of this Consumer protection and providing support for effort will be directed at encouraging financial consumer debt management and credit repair institutions to improve their borrower credit-scoring programs will continue to remain high on the systems and promote credit bureaus in the consumer supervisory agenda. A key part of the effort on credit information market. There is room for consumer protection is raising public awareness and improvement in the way consumer credit history is understanding of the growing array of often-complex currently shared and processed by lenders and credit financial services and products being offered to rating companies, particularly with respect to credit consumers and educating the public of the importance delinquencies, and measures designed to further of responsible personal finance management. To this improve sharing and processing of consumer credit end, the FSC/FSS plans to continually expand information are under an active consideration. comparative disclosures on financial services and products to help consumers better compare differentiate them and step up the existing consumer education and awareness campaign. In particular, the IMPROVING THE SUPERVISORY FRAMEWORK FSC/FSS plans to emphasize youth education on the importance of responsible personal finance and The FSC/FSS remains committed to developing and maintaining “clean” credit history. Educational and advancing the supervisory system and will continue to counseling support to the Credit Counseling & upgrade and fine-tune the supervisory framework to Recovery Service will also be stepped up. effectively carry out its mission of ensuring the safety FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 27 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 and soundness of financial institutions and maintaining risk management processes on a continuing basis. stability in the financial system. More efforts will also be directed at reducing the compliance burden of financial institutions with, Risk-Based Supervision among others, shorter, less intrusive on-site examinations and fewer, less time-consuming Transition to risk-based supervision is one of the top document requests. Other areas where the regulators objectives of the efforts currently under way to improve will continue to pay close to attention to include (1) the supervisor framework. Under the new risk-based supervision of financial institutions on a consolidated supervision the FSC/FSS envisions, the risk exposures, basis, (2) more balanced supervisory approach for both risk management practices and risk management domestic and foreign financial service providers, and (3) performance of financial institutions would be eliminating or easing of excessively burdensome and monitored on a continuous basis and dealt with anticompetitive regulations. proactively to minimize the likelihood of a distress emerging out of individual financial institutions or the financial system. New efforts will also be undertaken to raise the efficiency with which the supervisory resources are allocated by tailoring supervisory activities to areas where risks are heavily concentrated. Market-Friendly Supervision The FSC/FSS will continue to give a full and serious attention to inputs and feedback it receives from market participants and take them into account when formulating supervisory policies and implementing them. Deregulation and self-regulation also remain high on the supervisory agenda. For one, the FSC/FSS will actively encourage and support self-examination and self-regulation of financial institutions and minimize or exempt all together on-site examinations and other supervisory interventions for those that demonstrate a proven track record of self-compliance. The FSC/FSS is also moving away from the old approach of demanding corrective actions ex post factor toward a new approach that emphasizes the responsibility and accountability of the entire management of financial institutions to monitor and take corrective actions to improve internal controls and 28 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION THE FSC COMMISSIONERS FSC FUNCTIONS The Financial Supervisory Commission is a government The FSC performs broad supervisory functions in three agency led by nine Commissioners: the Chairman, the primary areas: financial supervision, oversight of Vice-Chairman, the Standing Commissioner, and six restructuring in the financial sector, and delegation of Non-Standing Commissioners. Each of the supervisory authorities to the FSS. As part of its Commissioners is appointed by the President for a supervisory functions, the FSC sets forth broad policy three-year term and may be reappointed to serve parameters for the supervision of financial institutions additional terms. and securities markets. Matters pertaining to the securities and futures markets are largely delegated to The Chairman, who heads the FSC, concurrently holds the SFC. Under its supervisory authority, the FSC may the position of the Governor of the Financial issue and revoke the business licenses of financial Supervisory Service. The Vice-Chairman is appointed by institutions. the President with the recommendation of the Minister of Finance and Economy and concurrently holds the The FSC is organized along three offices: Planning and position of the Chairman of the Securities and Futures Administration Office (PAO), Financial Supervisory Policy Commission. The Standing Commissioner is appointed Bureau I (FSPB I), and Financial Supervisory Policy with the recommendation of the Chairman of the FSC. Bureau II (FSPB II). The PAO plans financial policies and issues vis-à-vis the National Assembly and coordinates Three of the six Non-Standing Commissioners are the matters pertaining to foreign financial institutions and Vice-Minister of Finance and Economy, the Deputy international supervisory organizations. The FSPB I Governor of the Bank of Korea, and the President of supervises financial institutions, such as authorizing the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation, all of whom banking and trust businesses and monitoring of serve as ex officio Commissioners of the FSC. The other financial markets. Oversight of restructuring in the three Non-Standing Commissioners are appointed with financial sector is another important function of FSPB I. the recommendations of the Minister of Finance and The FSPB II performs prudential supervision and Economy, the Minister of Justice and the President of oversees securities, insurance, and other non-banking the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The financial institutions. It also plans and conducts Minister of Finance and Economy recommends an investigations on suspicious stock market transactions. accounting expert, the Minister of Justice a legal expert, and the Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry an industry representative. FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 29 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION BOK, MOFE, AND KDIC Because of its regulatory oversight of Korea’s banks, The Securities and Futures Commission was created on the FSC/FSS closely consults with the Bank of Korea April 1, 1998, under the Act on Establishment of (BOK) on such matters as prudential regulations and Financial Supervisory Organizations to oversee the supervision of domestic banks, particularly on matters securities and futures markets. The SFC is led by five that may affect the monetary policy of the BOK, which Commissioners who are appointed by the President for a remains the exclusive domain of the BOK. Joint three-year term. The Vice-Chairman of the FSC inspection of financial institutions by the FSC/FSS, the concurrently serves as the Chairman of the SFC. The BOK and the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation Standing Commissioner and three Non-Standing (KDIC) may also be conducted. The FSC/FSS also works Commissioners are appointed with the recommendation closely with the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Chairman of the FSC. (MOFE) in carrying out its supervisory mission and formulating financial policies. The principal role of the SFC is to enforce securities laws by investigating insider trading and price manipulation in the securities and futures markets and overseeing accounting standards and audit reviews. The SFC also conducts a preliminary review on regulatory and supervisory matters pertaining to the securities and futures markets for the FSC. 30 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE FSC Financial Supervisory Commission Public Information Office Chairman Vice-Chairman Standing Commissioner Securities & Futures Commission Non-Standing Commissioner Chairman Standing Commissioner Non-Standing Commissioner Planning & Administration Office Financial Supervision Policy Bureau 1 Financial Supervision Policy Bureau 2 Innovation & Administration Division Financial Supervision Policy Division Securities Supervision Policy Division Planning & Coordination Division Banking Supervision Policy Division Insurance Supervision Policy Division International Cooperation Division Market Monitoring Division Non-banking Financial Institutions Supervision Policy Division Enforcement Planning Division FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 31 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE FSS FUNCTIONS AND ORGANIZATION The Financial Supervisory Service is Korea’s financial financial institutions, and (6) examination and regulator and supervisor with oversight and enforcement of unfair financial transactions. The enforcement authority over nearly every financial Internal Audit Office is responsible for the internal institution and other major participants in the auditing of the FSS financial markets. Under its statutory authority, the FSS conducts supervision and examination of financial institutions. The FSS also has the authority to summon documents and require other actions from financial institutions in support of its examinations and inspections. Currently, the FSS is headed by eleven officers who serve a three-year term. Under the existing statute, up to fifteen officers may be appointed and each of the officers may be reappointed once. There are three Deputy Governors and five Assistant Governors presently serving at the FSS. The Chairman of the FSC concurrently holds the position of the Governor of the FSS, who may recommend up to four Deputy Governors and nine Assistant Governors to the FSC. The Auditor, who is appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the FSC, heads the Internal Audit Office. The Chief Accountant, who is appointed by the Governor of the FSS, directs the Accounting Supervision Department. The FSS is organized along twenty-six departments and four offices. In addition to its headquarters in Seoul, the FSS maintains three overseas and four regional offices. The departments and offices are divided among six principal areas: (1) supervisory support and general affairs, (2) supervision of financial institutions, (3) accounting system and audit review, (4) consumer protection, (5) examination of 32 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF FSS Auditor Governor Internal Audit Office Deputy Governor Assistant Governor Planning & Coordination Dept. General Affairs Dept. Security Planning Office External Communication Office Investigation Dept. 1 Investigation Dept. 2 Headquarters Reconstruction Center Assistant Governor Research Dept. Supervision Planning & Coordination Dept. Examination Planning & Coordination Dept. Review & Enforcement Dept. International Affairs Dept. Deputy Governor Deputy Governor Assistant Governor Assistant Governor Assistant Governor Chief Accountant Insurance Supervision Dept. Bank Supervision Dept. Securities Supervision Dept. Accounting Supervision Dept. 1 Insurance Examination Dept. 1 Non-Bank Financial Institutions Supervision Dept. Disclosure Supervision Dept. Accounting Supervision Dept. 2 Insurance Examination Dept. 2 Consumer Protection Center Credit Supervision Dept. Asset Management Supervision Dept. Bank Examination Dept. 1 Securities Examination Dept. 1 Bank Examination Dept. 2 Securities Examination Dept. 2 Non-Bank Financial Institutions Examination Dept. 1 Non-Bank Financial Institutions Examination Dept. 2 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 33 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 Supervisory Support and General Affairs To support its supervisory activities and manage its internal affairs, the FSS has three departments and five offices. Their primary activities include planning and Supervision Supervision Planning & Coordination Department Securities Supervision Department coordination, internal auditing, budgeting, research on Disclosure Supervision Department financial supervision policies, public relations and Bank Supervision Department human resource development. Asset Management Supervision Department Suprevisory Support and General Affairs Planning & Coordination Department Headquarters Reconstruction Center Research Department External Communication Office General Affairs Department Security Planning Office Supervision of Financial Institutions Non-Bank Financial Institutions Supervision Department Insurance Supervision Department Credit Supervision Department International Affairs Department Accounting System and Audit Review The accounting system and audit review function of the FSS entails financial accounting standards as well as Ensuring that appropriate risk management by financial review of the appropriateness of audit opinions on institutions and overall market stability is an important financial statements. Matters relating to the supervisory responsibility of the FSS. For its supervisory determination of corporate groups and affiliates that role, the FSS maintains nine departments that establish are required to submit consolidated and combined and enforce operating standards for financial financial statements fall within the purview of institutions with regard to activities such as business accounting system and audit review. The Accounting authorization, mergers, dissolution, and termination of Supervision Department also conducts research on business. The supervisory authority of the FSS also accounting systems and administers the national encompasses risk management of financial institutions examination for Certified Public Accountants. as well as accounting and auditing. Accounting System and Audit Review Accounting Supervision Department 1&2 34 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE Consumer Protection Examination of Financial Institutions To protect consumers, the FSS accepts and addresses For examination of financial institutions in such areas as public complaints for possible remedial action. It also risk management and regulatory compliance, the FSS oversees consumer protection organizations within the maintains a planning and coordination Department financial industry. The Consumer Protection Center and several departments that are divided along within the FSS handles and mediates disputes between banking, non-banking, securities, and insurance. An individuals and financial institutions. The Settlement integral part of FSS examination involves on and off-site Committee composed of thirty members from FSS examinations and investigations for unfair or unsound personnel and other finance industry professionals business practices and Prompt Corrective Actions for handles disputes submitted for arbitration. failure to comply with the established rules and regulations. Consumer Protection Examination of Financial Institutions Consumer Protection Center Examination and Enforcement Financial Transactions of Unfair The examination of and enforcement against unfair transactions and other illegal activities in the financial markets are carried out by the FSS to ensure the Examination Planning & Coordination Department Bank Examination Department 1&2 integrity of the financial markets and protect investors. Unfair transactions and other illegal activities generally cover insider trading, price manipulation, and fraudulent financial reporting. Two departments plan and coordinate investigations against these activities Non-Bank Financial Institutions Examination Department 1&2 Insurance Examination Department 1&2 Securities Examination Department 1&2 Review & Enforcement Department Internal Audit Office and make enforcement recommendations. Examination and Enforcement of Unfair Financial Transactions Investigation Department 1 & 2 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 35 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 LAWS GOVERNING FSC/SFC/FSS SUPERVISION The statutory duties and responsibilities of the FSC, the SFC and the FSS are stipulated in a number of laws TRUST BUSINESS ACT --Enacted in 1961 and last amended in 2000; it governing financial institutions and the securities regulates investment trust businesses, including markets. Whereas the Ministry of Finance and business authorization, management, organization Economy drafts and submits legislation pertaining to and operation. the supervisory authority of the FSC/FSS to the National Assembly, the FSC/FSS has the statutory authority to SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT issue specific rules and regulations pursuant to the laws --Enacted in 1962 and last amended in 2003; it passed by the National Assembly. The following is a governs business authorization of securities brief summary of the laws currently in effect. businesses and provides basic rules on securities transaction and requirements securities issuers ACT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF FINANCIAL must comply with when issuing marketable SUPERVISORY ORGANIZATIONS securities to the general public. --Enacted in December 1997 and last amended in 2003; it provides for the basic functions and responsibilities of the FSC, the SFC and the FSS. ACT ON EXTERNAL AUDIT OF CORPORATIONS --Enacted in 1980 and last amended in 2001; it stipulates accounting and audit-related rules to ACT ON STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT OF which business enterprises must conform; it also FINANCIAL INDUSTRIES provides for the regulatory duties and --Enacted in 1991 and last amended in 2001; it responsibilities of the SFC, individual firms and provides for mergers between financial institutions auditors in accounting and audit standards, and entry into and/or exit from financial service including rules on “combined” (in addition to businesses, and reorganization of distressed consolidated) financial statements for large financial institutions and their bankruptcy and business groups in Korea. liquidation. FUTURES TRADING ACT BANKING ACT --Enacted in 1950 and last amended in 2002; it is --Enacted in 1995 and last amended in 2002; it contains provisions governing derivatives the principal law governing banking regulations in transactions and futures market as well as the Korea; together with the Act on the Establishment establishment, membership, and trading system of of Financial Supervisory Organizations and the the futures exchange. Bank of Korea Act, it provides for the basic framework for Korea’s banking supervisory system; it also contains provisions for the INDIRECT INVESTMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT ACT --Enacted in 2004; it consolidated the provisions of establishment, operations, supervision and closure the former Securities Investment Trust Business Act of banking businesses, including business and Securities Investment Company Act that authorization of domestic branches of foreign pertain to the asset management of indirect banks. investment vehicles (e.g., investment trusts, mutual 36 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION LAWS GOVERNING FSC/SFC/FSS SUPERVISION funds, unspecified money trust accounts of banks, capital companies; it subsumes both the Credit and variable life insurance). Card Business Act and the Facilities Leasing Business Act. ACT ON ASSET SECURITIZATION --Enacted in 1998 and last amended in 2001; it establishes rules for asset securitization and CREDIT UNION ACT --Enacted in 1972 and last amended in 2003; it sets provides for the registration and issuance of asset- forth rules on business operation and supervision backed securities (ABS) as well as business activities of credit unions as well as the supervisory authority of specialized securitization entities like special- of the Credit Union Foundation. purpose vehicles (SPV). INSURANCE BUSINESS ACT --Enacted in 1962 and last amended in 2003; it sets forth rules and regulations governing insurance companies, including business licensing, operation and dissolution of insurance companies. MERCHANT BANKING CORPORATION ACT --Enacted in 1975 and last amended in 2000; it provides for the incorporation and business operation of merchant banks and their supervision; it also contains provisions concerning the establishment and operation of money brokerage companies for financial transactions among financial institutions. MUTUAL SAVINGS BANKS ACT --Enacted in 1972 and last amended in 2001; it sets forth rules on the business operation and supervision of mutual savings and finance companies; it also contains specific provisions concerning the protection of depositors of mutual savings and finance companies. CREDIT–SPECIALIZED FINANCIAL BUSINESS ACT --Enacted in 1997 and last amended in 2002; it governs credit card companies, leasing companies, factoring companies and new technology venture FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 37 FINANCIAL SUPERVISION IN KOREA 2004 FSC/SFC/FSS OFFICERS Financial Supervisory Commission Financial Supervisory Service Chairman Jeung-Hyun Yoon Governor Jeung-Hyun Yoon Vice Chairman Cheon-Sik Yang Auditor Young Min Bang Standing Commissioner Woo-Cheol Lee Deputy Governors Chang-Lok Kim Jung-Hoe Kim Kap-Soo Oh Members of Commission Gwang-Lim Kim (Vice Minister, MOFE) Seong-Tae Lee (Deputy Governor, BOK) In-Won Lee (President, KDIC) Tae Hoon Lee (Attorney, Back, Jang & Park Law Office) Sung-Keun Ha (Professor, Yonsei University) Sung-Bin Chun (Professor, Sogang University) Securities and Futures Commission Chairman Cheon-Sik Yang Standing Commissioner Jae-Woo Moon Members of the Commission Yong Suk Oh (Attorney, Bae, Kim & Lee Law Office) Sang-Bin Lee (Professor, Hanyang University) Su-Keun Kwak (Professor, Seoul National University) 38 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION Assistant Governors Young Ho Lee Sang-Baek Kang Yong-Hwa Cheong Jeong-Moo Je Hae-Yong Shin Chief Accountant In-Tae Hwang Senior Advisor to the Governor Ki-Won Kang FSC/SFC/FSS OFFICERS Main Office Overseas Office FSC/FSS 27, Yoido-Dong Youngdeungpo-Gu Seoul, Korea 150-743 New York Tel: +1-212-350-9388 Fax: +1-212-350-9392 Email: newyork@fss.or.kr FSC Tel: +82-2-3771-5000 Fax: +82-2-3771-5027 http://www.fsc.go.kr FSS Tel: +82-2-3771-5114 Fax: +82-2-785-3475 http://www.fss.or.kr Washington, DC Tel: +1-202-689-1210 Fax: +1-202-689-1211 Email: washington@fss.or.kr London Tel: +44-207-621-8490 Fax: +44-207-929-1677 Email: london@fss.or.kr Regional/District Offices Busan Regional Office TEL: +82-51-606-1700 Fax: +82-51-606-1755 Daegu Regional Office Tel: +82-53-760-4000 Fax: +82-53-760-4015 Gwangju Regional Office Tel: +82-62-606-1610 Fax: +82-62-606-1630 Jeonju District Office Tel: +82-63-277-7321 Fax: +82-63-277-7324 Daejeon Regional Office Tel: +82-42-472-7183 Fax: +82-42-472-7191 Frankfurt Tel: +49-69-7953-9911 Fax: +49-69-7953-9920 Email: frankfurt@fss.or.kr Paris Tel: +33-1-4421-8110 Fax: +33-1-4421-8111 Email: paris@fss.or.kr Tokyo Tel: +81-3-5224-3737 Fax: +81-3-5224-3739 Email: tokyo@fss.or.kr Hong Kong Tel: +852-2537-6200 Fax: +852-2537-6116 Email: hongkong@fss.or.kr Chuncheon District Office Tel: +82-33-252-2288 Fax: +82-33-252-7722 Jeju District Office Tel: +82-64-746-4200 Fax: +82-64-749-4700 FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY SERVICE 39 Please forward questions or comments regarding Financial Supervision in Korea 2004 to the International Public Relations Team, International Cooperation Office (Tel: +82-2-3786-7912; Fax: +82-2-3786-7899; e-mail: bylee@fss.or.kr), Financial Supervisory Service.