Korea Rebuilds: From Crisis to Opportunity
Additional Material
Korean Economic Data Referred to in Chapters 7-9 of Economic Analytical
Unit's report
Chapter 7: Macroeceonomic Management
IMF Agreements with Korea, 1997-99
Macroeconomic policies | |
---|---|
Objectives | The program should narrow the external current account deficit to below 1 per cent of GDP in 1998 and 1999, contain inflation at or below 5 per cent, and if confidence is restored quickly, limit the deceleration in real GDP growth to about 3 per cent in 1998, so recovery can occur in 1999. |
Monetary policy and exchange rate policy |
To demonstrate to markets the authorities' resolve to confront the In line with this policy, the large liquidity injection has been Money growth during 1998 will be limited to a rate consistent with A flexible exchange rate policy will be maintained, with intervention |
Fiscal policy |
A tight fiscal policy in 1998 should alleviate the burden on monetary The cyclical slowdown is projected to worsen the 1998 budget balance
|
Financial sector restructuring | |
Financial sector reform bill |
The following financial sector reform bills submitted to the National
a bill requiring that corporate financial statements be prepared on a |
Restructuring and reform measures |
Troubled financial institutions will be closed, or if they are deemed A credible and clearly defined exit strategy includes closures as
The Bank of Korea's international reserve management will be |
Other Structural Measures | |
Trade liberalisation |
Timetables complying with the WTO commitments, will be set at the
streamline and improve the transparency of the import certification |
Capital account liberalisation |
The present timetable for capital account liberalisation will be
|
Corporate governance and corporate structure |
By the first review, the timetable will be set to improve the
The commercial orientation of bank lending will be fully respected, Government subsidised support or tax privileges will not be provided The 'real name' system in financial transactions will be maintained, Measures will be worked out and implemented to reduce the high Measures will be worked out and implemented to change the system of |
Labour market reform | The capacity of the new employment insurance system will be strengthened to facilitate the redeployment of labour, in parallel with further steps to improve labour market flexibility. |
Information provision | Data will be published regularly on foreign exchange reserves, including the composition of reserves and net forward position with a two weeks delay initially. Data on financial institutions, including non-performing loans, capital adequacy, and ownership structures and affiliations will be published twice a year. Data on short-term external debt will be published quarterly. |
Source, IMF, 1997, 'Republic of Korea - Standby Arrangement, Letter of
Intent', www.imf.org
Government Finances
1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Expenditure (growth rate) | 27 437 (20.5) | 31 284 (14.0) | 33 362 (6.6) | 37 268 (11.7) | 42 795 (14.8) | 51 498 (13.6) | 58 480 (13.6) | 63 962 (9.4) | ||||||||
General administration | 2 811 | 3 500 | 4 174 | 4 454 | 4 760 | 5 453 | 6 282 | 6 821 | ||||||||
National defence | 6 856 | 7 961 | 8 625 | 9 158 | 10 128 | 11 368 | 12 945 | 13 653 | ||||||||
Education | 5 586 | 5 549 | 6 463 | 7 397 | 8 241 | 9 738 | 11 030 | 12 068 | ||||||||
Social development | 2 450 | 3 179 | 3 235 | 3 417 | 3 860 | 4 163 | 5 021 | 5 899 | ||||||||
Economic development | 3 868 | 5 136 | 6 216 | 7 696 | 9 875 | 11 507 | 13 123 | 16 281 | ||||||||
Subsidy for local government | 2 765 | 3 452 | 3 928 | 4 368 | 4 770 | 5 484 | 6 378 | 6 799 | ||||||||
Repayment of debt and others | 3 110 | 2 506 | 726 | 778 | 1 160 | 3 784 | 3701 | 1445 | ||||||||
General government account to GNP ratio | 25.0 | 26.1 | 27.2 | 27.8 | 29.8 | 28.8 | 30.2 | 35.0 | ||||||||
Central government account to GNP ratio | 18.2 | 18.4 | 18.4 | 19.3 | 20.5 | 20.9 | 21.7 | 23.6 | ||||||||
Local government Account to GNP ratio | 6.8 | 7.7 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 9.3 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 11.4 | ||||||||
Share of government debt to GDP |
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, Korea's Economic Reform, Progress Report, Seoul.
General administration | Defence, public order and safety | Education | Health | Social securityand welfare | Housing and community amenities | Other community and social services | Economic services | Unallocable and other purposes | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amount | Share | ||||||||||
1990 | 8.5 | 20.0 | 17.0 | 1.7 | 8.1 | 10.1 | 0.5 | 20.4 | 13.7 | 3 329.6 | 100 |
1991 | 8.8 | 19.6 | 13.9 | 1.8 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 0.5 | 20.7 | 17.0 | 4 031.2 | 100 |
1992 | 9.8 | 19.3 | 14.4 | 0.9 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 0.5 | 18.7 | 19.8 | 4 499.3 | 100 |
1993 | 9.8 | 19.3 | 14.4 | 0.9 | 9.3 | 6.2 | 0.6 | 19.9 | 19.4 | 4 499.3 | 100 |
1994 | 11.3 | 18.2 | 13.9 | 0.8 | 9.3 | 6.1 | 0.6 | 25.4 | 15.6 | 6 012.5 | 100 |
1995 | 11.2 | 18.2 | 19.2 | 1.8 | 8.3 | 11.9 | 0.43 | 31.6 | -3.2 | 9 048.2 | 100 |
1996 | 10.6 | 16.7 | 18.5 | 2.1 | 9.0 | 12.8 | 0.31 | 28.9 | 0.04 | 10 747.4 | 100 |
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, Korea's Economic Reform, Progress Report, Seoul.
National Taxes | Proportion of total taxation revenue | Local Taxes | |
---|---|---|---|
Total National | 81.4 | Proportion of total tax 18.6 | |
Direct Taxes (42.1) |
Income tax Corporation tax Excessively increased value of land tax Inheritance tax Excess profit tax Assets revaluation tax |
24.4 15.5 0.0 1.9 - 0.3 |
Acquisition tax Registration tax Licence tax Inhabitant tax Property tax Automobile tax Farmland tax Butchery tax Aggregate tax |
Indirect Taxes (37.4) |
Value added tax Special consumption tax Liquor tax Telephone tax Securities transaction tax |
32.1
5.0 - - 0.4 |
Horse race tax |
Earmarked Taxes1 | Education tax Transport tax |
- 9.5 |
City planning tax Community facility tax Workshop tax Regional development tax |
Note: 1 is revenue from earmarked taxes which is invested in social and economic infrastructure.
Shares of categories in total tax are given for national tax only.
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, Korea's Economic Reform,
Progress Report, Seoul.
Chapter 8: Financial Market Management and Reform
Activities of the Korea Asset Management Corporation
The Korea Asset Management Corporation will purchase non-performing loans
with Won 32.5 trillion of public funds, raised by issuing Non-performing Loan
Management Fund Bonds, NPLMFB (Table 8.1).The Korea Deposit
Insurance Corporation will also issue bonds.
Nov 97 -Aug 98(a) | Sep 98 | Oct 98 - Dec 98(b) (est) | 1st half 1999 (c) (est) |
Total |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Financed by Korea Asset Management Corporation Bonds | |||||
Non-performing loans purchased (i) | 16 | 23 | 30 (d) | 17 (d) | 86 (d) |
Purchase price (ii) | 8.6 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 5.0 | 32.5 |
Purchase ratio (per cent) | 54 % | 40 % | 33 % | 29 % | 38 % |
Financed by Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation Bonds | |||||
Recapitalisation (iii) | 1.5 | 4.9 | 3.1 | - | 9.5 |
Compensation (iv) (e) | - | 7.0 | - | - | 7.0 |
Deposit insurance (v) | 6.6 | - | 1.9 | 6.5 | 15.0 |
Total Costs (ii+iii+iv+v) | 16.7 | 21.0 | 14.8 | 11.5 | 64.0 |
Notes: The figures are for all commercial banks including Seoul Bank, Korea First Bank, and all merchant banks, and fidelity/surety insurance companies.
The figures are for specialised banks, some sound banks, merchant banks, securities companies, and trust companies
The figures are newly realised non-performing loans.
Assumes the higher end of the Won 76-86 trillion range estimated by Government.
Compensation payment for loss coverage in purchase and assumption operations. It is the difference between assumed liabilities and assets acquired following purchase and acquisition of 5 closed banks and 4 insurance companies dealt with in late 1998.
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, 'The Year in Review, Korea's Reform Progress', MOFE, Seoul.
The Government guaranteed Korea Asset Management Corporation bonds usually have a 3 to 5 year maturity and either fixed of floating coupon rates. These
bonds are issued directly to banks and other financial institutions in
exchange for non-performing loans. Recipient financial institutions are
required to hold NPLMFB bonds for several (3-5) years before they can be sold
on the open market, to prevent markets being swamped with Government bonds.
The banks' holding on NPLMFB bonds will also add to their Tier 1 capital, boosting their capital adequacy ratios.
Factories are largest the collateral asset category the Korea Asset
Management Corporation has acquired through its purchases (Table 8.2).
Collateral Type | Number of Properties | Proportion by Numbers( per cent) | Proportion by Appraisal Value( per cent) |
---|---|---|---|
Residential | 1,340 | 51 | 12 |
Commercial | 312 | 12 | 14 |
Land | 201 | 8 | 12 |
Factories | 624 | 24 | 46 |
Others | 132 | 5 | 16 |
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, 'The Year in Review, Korea's Reform Progress', MOFE, Seoul.
In the beginning, the purchase prices paid by Korea Asset Management
Corporation for non-performing loans were very generous, offering 75 per cent
on substandard, 20 per cent on doubtful and 3 per cent on expected losses.
However, the Corporation has cut the price paid for non-performing loans on
several occasions and is currently offering 45 per cent on substandard
collateralised loans and 1-3 per cent on unsecured loans. The average has
fallen to 38 per cent of loans' face value.
The majority of non-performing loans acquired by Korea Asset Management
Corporation are currently under court protection or court restructuring
proceedings. The two non-performing loans types are ordinary non-performing
loan whose assets are currently in default and on which debtors are making no
payments and special non-performing loans whose assets are under court
protection or in restructuring proceedings. The final price adjustments paid
for the latter is contingent on the outcome of these proceedings. In disposing
of the non-performing loans, Korea Asset Management Corporation's strategy
is to pool, and possibly securitise acquired assets to improve their value and
marketability hence maximising returns on assets. The action programs to
achieve this goal include:
- selling lower value non-performing assets through court auctions
- selling asset backed securities in the international capital market to
secure cash from its collateral - retaining potential gains through debt equity swaps or the Real Estate
Investment Trust.
The ultimate goal is to dispose of the non-performing loans for at least
their purchase price and distribute any profits to contributors (mainly the
taxpayer).
In October 1998, at its first international auction Korea Asset Management
Corporation sold about Won 208 billion of unsecured non-performing loans to
Goldman Sachs. This was followed in December with a successful auction of Won
201 billion of real estate secured non-performing loans for 36 per cent of the
outstanding principal balance to a US based real estate firm, Lone Star Fund.
The purchased asset portfolio comprised loans secured on about 1,500
individual residential, commercial and other properties throughout Korea,
bought by Korea Asset Management Corporation from Korean financial
institutions.
Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation
The Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation's new deposit insurance system
divides deposits into three categories: protected, temporarily protected until
the year 2000 and not protected.
- For accounts below Won 20 million, the Korea Deposit Insurance
Corporation will guarantee the principal plus interest at a rate up to the
prevailing one-year time deposit rate. - For accounts of Won 20 million or more, the Corporation will only
guarantee the principal for accounts opened or deposits made after 1
August 1998. For deposits made prior to then, both principal and interest
are guaranteed. - Certain short-term maturity instruments, such repurchase agreements
issued by banks and securities houses after 25 July 1998 and
fidelity/surety insurance policies entered into after 1 August 1998 are
not insured.
Since the onset of the crisis, the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation also
has become responsible for recapitalising inadequately capitalised financial
institutions. By late 1998, the Corporation has used Won 4.9 trillion of
public funds to assist two nationalised banks (Korea First and Seoul), five
acquiring banks (Kookmin, KHB, Shinhan, Hana, KorAm) and 3 merged banks
(Commercial Bank of Korea, Hanil, Boram). Of the Won 4.9 trillion, Won 3.3
trillion was spent assisting the merger of Commercial Bank of Korea and Hanil
Bank. All 8 banks' capital adequacy ratio will be above 10 percent after
recapitalisation.
An additional Won 7 trillion was paid to banks and life insurance companies
to cover their losses in assuming the liabilities and assets of closed banks
and life insurance companies through purchase and assumption transactions. Won
5.8 trillion was paid to 5 acquiring banks and Won 1.2 trillion was paid to 4
acquiring life insurance companies. As the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation
is a new institution, the bulk of its funds do not come from deposit insurance
premiums, but from bond issues and borrowing from financial institutions
(Table 8.3). To date all Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation bonds have been
bought by the Bank of Korea (Won 6.5 trillion) and financial institutions (Won
1.6 trillion).
Funding Source | Amount |
---|---|
Deposit Insurance Premiums | 3.2 |
Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation Bonds | 8.1 |
Borrowing from Financial Institutions | 7.0 |
Others | 1.4 |
Total | 16.8 |
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, 'The Year in Review, Korea's Reform Progress', MOFE, Seoul.
Post-crisis Bank Sector Rationalisation
Several large banks have merged as a result of the crisis, transforming the banking sector.
The Commercial Bank of Korea and Hanil Bank Merger
As of February, 1999, Commercial Bank of Korea and Hanil Bank merger was the biggest merger.
CBK | Hanil | Hanvit (Total) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Assets | 50 040 | 55 100 | 105 140 |
Total Equity | 1 989 | 2 102 | 4 091 |
Total Deposits | 25 773 | 27 167 | 52 940 |
Total Loans | 28 163 | 34 679 | 62 843 |
Total Staff | 7 810 | 7 492 | 15 302 |
Capital Adequacy Ratio | 1.81 | 4.53 | 11(a) |
Note: a is Estimated ratio at end 1998.
Source: Korea Herald Business News, 14 January 1999.
The Government spent Won 5.3 trillion recapitalising the merged Hanvit
Bank, raising its capital adequacy ratio rose to 11 per cent by the end of
1998. Korea Asset Management Corporation purchased about Won 4 trillion of
non-performing loans from the merged bank for around Won 2 trillion and the
Government has injected Won 3.3 trillion into the bank in the form of Korea
Deposit Insurance Corporation bonds. Due to the Government's fiscal support,
Hanvit was automatically nationalised as the Government's equity share rose
to around 95 per cent. To expedite the merger, the Financial Supervisory Commission ordered CBK and Hanil to reduce there capital by 90 per cent
-effectively this meant that every 10 shares in each bank was converted to one share so that the merged banks capital was reduced from around Won 1.8
trillion to Won 180 billion.
Some commentators have expressed doubts about the success of the merger,
with concern the union of Korea's largest banks with different corporate
cultures could falter because of internal disagreements (Korea Times, January
1999). Management improvement, independence from policy loans, and new foreign
capital will be very important to fully rehabilitate the merged bank. Hanvit
sees itself becoming Korea's leading bank by 2002, and with increasing
competitiveness playing a larger role in Asia by 2003 (www.cbk.co.kr).
Other Mergers
Kookmin Bank, which took over Daedong Bank in June 1998 and then merged
with the Korea Long-term Credit Bank has created another meg-bank with assets
of nearly Won 100 trillion. Kookim's capital adequacy ratio was around 10
per cent at the end of 1998, compared to 12 per cent mid year. The Kookmin-
Korea Long-term Credit Bank merger was seen as beneficial, combining Kookmin's
strong retail base with Korea Long-term Credit Bank's corporate finance
skills. In theory, the merger should maximise synergy and minimise layoffs
because the two banks have little in the way of overlapping operations.
However, the merged bank's operations may be heading in the wrong direction
with some reports suggesting the new bank will specialise solely in retail
banking, raising concerns that its wholesale banking skills will be discarded
over the longer term.
Korea's third largest bank is likely to emerge from the merger of
ChoHung, Kangwon and Hyundai Merchant banks. If successful, the merged bank
will have assets of over Won 60 trillion.
Housing and Commercial Bank, which acquired Dongnam last year, estimated
its BIS ratio at 10 per cent at end 1998. Shinhan Bank, which acquired the
severely undercapitalised Donghwa Bank estimated its BIS ratio at 13.1 per
cent at end 1998, while Koram Bank, which took over the regional Kyungi Bank
estimated its capital adequacy ratio at 14.5 per cent at end 1998. Its merger
with Boram it will create the seventh largest bank in terms of total assets,
but still too small to be considered a leading bank. Thus, over the
medium-term it is possible the Hana/Boram merged bank will seek another
partner from among the remaining non-merged commercial banks.
Restructuring Non-viable Non-bank Financial Institutions
Merchant Banks
Prior to December 1997, 30 merchant banks operated in Korea in a wide range
of business activities, including limited deposit and credit, trusts,
securities, international financing and leasing. In the 1990s, the merchant
banks' borrowed heavily in off-shore markets and lent in won, often extending
unsecured loans to the chaebol. Their difficulties commenced when the Hanbo
group, a large borrower from the merchant banks, declared bankruptcy in March
1997. The bankruptcy of Hanbo was followed by the failure of several other
conglomerates and numerous small-and medium-sized firms. Each major bankruptcy
further eroded international financial institutions' confidence in the Korean
economy and the merchant banks, exacerbating the merchant banks' borrowing
difficulties at home and abroad.
The Government suspended 14 insolvent merchant banks in December 1997.
Subsequently, all 30 merchant banks were required to submit rehabilitation
plans to the Merchant Bank Rehabilitation Plan Evaluation Committee,
established on December 29, 1997. This committee audited all merchant banks
and assessed their rehabilitation plans in consultation with the IMF and the
World Bank. The first evaluation of the rehabilitation plans was based on
whether a merchant bank could maintain a capital adequacy ratio above 4
percent. The second evaluation concerned capital adequacy, quality of assets,
liquidity, management strategies and legality of activities.
Based on the Committee's assessment reports, the licenses of 12 merchant
banks were revoked, followed by a further four by mid 1998. The Government is
monitoring the remaining merchant banks to ensure they improve their
management and reach the 8 per cent BIS capital adequacy ratio.
The bridge bank, Hannarum Merchant Bank, to which the assets and
liabilities of all closed merchant banks were transferred, was established
with funding from the Credit Management Fund.
Insurance Companies
At the end of 1997, the insurance industry comprised 21 domestic life
insurance companies, seven joint ventures with foreign insurance companies and
five subsidiaries of foreign life insurance companies. The non-life insurance
industry had 11 domestic direct non-life insurers, two fidelity and bond
insurance companies (credit guarantee insurance companies), and a single
reinsurance company. Since late 1997, small and medium-sized life insurers
have been experiencing liquidity difficulties largely due to a loss of
confidence in their creditworthiness and insufficient solvency margins
In August 1998, the Financial Supervisory Commission announced
restructuring measures for 22 insurance companies that had earlier submitted
rehabilitation plans. Four life insurance companies were ordered to close.
Their assets and liabilities will be taken over by solvent insurance companies
after due diligence reviews are completed. Acquiring insurance companies
estimate that purchasing the non-performing assets of these four life
insurance companies would require 4 billion won. The Government estimates that
1.2 trillion won of public funds will be required to meet the net liabilities
of the closed insurance companies, of which Won 0.9 trillion was injected by
end of September 1998. Purchases and acquisitions may be delayed until these
differences are resolved.
At the end of 1998, seven of the remaining insurance companies reported a
combined net capital deficit (difference between total assets and liabilities)
of 2.5 trillion won. The Financial Supervisory Commission is evaluating the
assets of these insurers.The Government is closely monitoring the
other sixteen insurance companies and by March 1999 plans to name other
non-viable firms that will have to close or merge.
Other Non-bank Financial Institutions
Most of Korea's 32 securities companies have reported net losses for the
past three years, mainly due to the weak stock market and rising operating and
financial expenses. Among these 32 companies, four have been determined
unsound, two of which have been liquidated while two others are undergoing
rehabilitation. The new capital adequacy requirement for securities companies
will force some inefficient securities firms to exit, protect investors and
improve the safety and stability of the securities industry.
Investment trust companies and investment management companies also have
suffered from weak stock and bond markets, causing unrealised capital losses
on the securities accounts. The high bond yields at the end of 1997 also
encouraged many investors to redeem their beneficiary certificates, seeking
higher interest rates elsewhere. In response, the investment trust companies
borrowed heavily short-term to redeem the bonds, which they were unable to
sell in the market. The resulting large debt and huge interest payments
aggravated the situation for investment trust companies. At end-1997,
investment trust companies' interest payments were estimated to be as big as
the sum of management fees and performance fees for most investment trust
companies. As of May 1998, investment trust companies had an aggregate
negative asset value of Won 4.2 trillion.
As investment trust companies continue to guarantee returns they are unable
to realise on their own investments, their losses continue to accumulate.
However, so far investment trust companies have undergone less restructuring
than other financial institutions because the Government is concerned about
the destabilising effect on the economy of liquidations in this sector. So
far, the authorities have revoked the license of one investment trust company
(Hannam) and another is currently under suspension. Additionally, one
investment trust management company has dissolved of its own accord and five
others are seeking dissolution.
The leasing industry was a major source of funds for the chaebols and hence
has been in difficulty since the mid 1990s. Increased competition and
continuing economic recession resulted in decreased profits, increased
non-performing lease assets and losses in security investments. Among 25
leasing companies the Financial Supervisory Commission ordered 10 to either
liquidate or be acquired, depending to decisions made by their major
shareholders. The assets and liabilities of companies under liquidation are
transferred to the Korea Non-Bank Lease Financing Company, a bridge leasing
company established in July 1998.
Out of 230 mutual savings and finance companies, the Non-Bank Supervisory
Authority has imposed management control measures on 20 companies and
management guidance measures on 11 companies, with the goal of inducing
rehabilitation. Those companies deemed incapable of recovery will be closed,
either through a business transfer, sale or liquidation. A bridge company
specifically created to manage the closure procedures for mutual savings and
finance companies was established in September 1998. In addition, 12 credit
unions were designated for closure and 27 credit unions became subject to
management guidance measures.
Chapter 9: Corporate and competition policy
1996 | 1997 | June 1998a | |
---|---|---|---|
Corporate debt | |||
- Domestic loans | 270 | 338 | 334 |
- Short term bonds | 69 | 74 | 73 |
- Long term bonds | 129 | 171 | 186 |
- Overseas loans | 30 | 54 | 42 |
- Government loans | 4 | 7 | na |
Subtotal | 502 | 644 | 634 |
Corporate financial assets | |||
- Deposits and other assets | 117 | 137 | 159 |
- Short term bonds | 18 | 14 | 7 |
- Long term bonds | 23 | 29 | 29 |
Subtotal | 158 | 180 | 195 |
Net debt | 344 | 464 | 439 |
Note: June 1998 data are unofficial estimates provided by the Financial
Services Commission.
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, 'Reference Information for the Korea Forum', Seoul; Financial Services Commission, 1999, 'Corporate Restructuring; Progress to Date and Agenda Ahead', Seoul (in Korean).
Policy Framework | ||
---|---|---|
Step 1 | Planning corporate restructuring policies and implementing schedules (May 1998) |
|
Step 2 | Roughly analysing 'triages' to prevent bankruptcies of viable companies from the credit crunch, caused by the effective failure of financial intermediation (June 1998) |
|
Step 3 | Encouraging voluntary corporate workout programs with the help of advisory groups (ongoing) |
|
Step 4 | Implementing full scale chaebol restructuring including the top 5 chaebol (started) |
|
Strategies | ||
5 Biggest Chaebol |
|
|
6 to 64 biggest chaebol |
|
|
Small and Medium Enterprises |
|
Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, 'Reference Material for
the Seoul Forum', Seoul.
Article | Changes |
---|---|
External Audit Law |
Revised to mandate combined financial statements; now operating. External auditors and corporate accounting officers now are subject |
Securities Exchange Law |
The following rules were abolished to facilitate mergers and
Strengthened regulations requiring companies to reveal financial Minority shareholder rights are stronger, lowering the minimum number The floor to request dismissal of directors was lowered from 1 per The floor for the right to inspect and transcribe corporate accounts The ceiling for buyback of a company's own stocks was raised The procedure for merging listed and unlisted affiliates was |
Listing Requirements for the Korean Stock Exchange | From 1999, all company boards must include outside directors and at least one-quarter of the members of the board of a listed company must be outside, independent directors. |
Securities Investment and Trust Law | Amended on September 2, 1998 to abolish the shadow voting regulation, allowing institutional investors to freely the exercise their voting rights. |
Securities Investment Company Law | The Corporate Restructuring Fund was capitalised in October 1998 with Won 1.6 billion to improve the financial status of small and medium sized enterprises through equity investment and debt rescheduling. |
The Banking Act | The ceiling on bank's equity investment in individual corporations rose from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the corporation's outstanding stocks. |
Foreign Capital Inducement Act |
Hostile takeovers by foreigners were liberalised. The requirement for prior approval by the Minister of Finance and Government now allows foreign direct investment in almost half of the The ceiling on total foreign shareholdings in individual companies |
Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act |
The ceiling on equity investments by chaebol affiliates was abolished The law is being revised to allow pure holding companies to be |
Guidelines on Credit Management by Financial Institutions | Prohibits financial institutions from demanding debt payment guarantees by affiliates. |
Corporate Tax Law | Interest payments for debts exceeding five times equity capital are not to be classified as allowances, effective in 2000, two years earlier than originally planned. |
Corporate Reorganisation Law |
Criteria is to be introduced comparing the scrap value of a company The amended law also simplified reorganisation procedures by This law established the Reorganisation Management Committee to |
Corporate Composition Law |
Conditions for mutual settlement between a corporation and its The procedures of the composition law were simplified and procedural |
Commercial Code of Korea |
Revised substantially to improve corporate governance. Amendments
|
Total Assets | Equity-assets ratio | Paid-in equity capital | In-group share-holding ratio |
Totala sales | Number of affiliates | Number of listed sub-siduaries |
Number of 3-digit KSIC industries participating |
Number of financial affiliatesb |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Hyundai | 59 325 | 17.9 | 3 891 | 65.2 | 69 798 | 57 | 20 | 39 | 5 |
2. Samsungc | 82 438 | 17.9 | 4 202 | 46.7 | 75 605 | 80 | 16 | 31 | 5 |
3. LG | 45 482 | 21.1 | 3 593 | 40.1 | 48 635 | 49 | 11 | 28 | 2 |
4. Daewoo | 37 497 | 24.1 | 4 316 | 38.3 | 38 620 | 30 | 10 | 26 | 6 |
5. SK | 23 998 | 20.4 | 1 208 | 44.7 | 26 797 | 46 | 6 | 26 | 2 |
6.Ssangyong | 18 305 | 20.5 | 1 317 | 42.0 | 20 157 | 25 | 11 | 32 | 3 |
7. Hanjin | 17 594 | 14.3 | 923 | 41.4 | 9 972 | 24 | 9 | 26 | 3 |
8. Kia | 14 508 | 16.3 | 1 099 | 30.6 | 12038 | 28 | 6 | 17 | 1 |
9. Hanwha | 14 388 | 11.3 | 1 040 | 33.0 | 10 088 | 31 | 7 | 26 | 4 |
10. Lotte | 7 925 | 33.8 | 1 440 | 22.8 | 7 209 | 30 | 4 | 22 | 3 |
11. Kumho | 8 551 | 15.4 | 1 028 | 40.1 | 4 834 | 26 | 4 | 19 | 1 |
12. Halla | 6 657 | 4.8 | 294 | 49.5 | 5 297 | 18 | 4 | 17 | 1 |
13. Dongah | 8 873 | 13.2 | 451 | 54.2 | 5 416 | 19 | 4 | 15 | 1 |
14. Doosan | 6 402 | 12.6 | 324 | 49.7 | 4 046 | 25 | 8 | 27 | 2 |
15. Daelim | 6 810 | 21.2 | 412 | 34.2 | 4 970 | 21 | 5 | 19 | 1 |
16. Hansol | 6 431 | 18.8 | 560 | 37.3 | 2 700 | 23 | 7 | 16 | 2 |
17. Hyosung | 6 131 | 21.3 | 253 | 44.9 | 5 478 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
18. Dongkuk | 6 764 | 21.0 | 316 | 51.0 | 3 487 | 17 | 7 | 16 | 0 |
19. Jinro | 3 881 | 2.7 | 281 | 45.8 | 1 391 | 24 | 4 | 16 | 5 |
20. Kolon | 4 638 | 20.5 | 442 | 45.1 | 4 471 | 24 | 4 | 21 | 3 |
21. Kohap | 3 810 | 14.7 | 371 | 39.4 | 2 563 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 0 |
22. Dongbu | 6 233 | 17.6 | 385 | 47.8 | 4 856 | 34 | 6 | 18 | 0 |
23. Tongyang | 9 558 | 13.6 | 580 | 50.1 | 3 602 | 24 | 4 | 17 | 2 |
24. Haitai | 3 398 | 13.2 | 207 | 30.9 | 2 716 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
25. Newcore | 2 803 | 7.6 | 121 | 98.7 | 2 279 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
26. Anam | 2 792 | 17.1 | 295 | 42.0 | 1 995 | 21 | 2 | 15 | 4 |
27. Hanil | 2 599 | 14.8 | 293 | 37.4 | 1 277 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 0 |
28. Kupyung | 4 963 | 14.0 | 277 | 59.0 | 1 387 | 22 | 5 | 19 | 4 |
29. MiWon | 2 235 | 19.4 | 258 | 52.5 | 2 116 | 25 | 5 | 15 | 2 |
30. Shinho | 2 237 | 17.0 | 298 | 36.9 | 1 223 | 25 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
Total/average | 425 226 | 18.2d | 30 475 | 43.0d | 385 023 | 819 | 185 | 19.8d | 64 |
Note: a is 1996; b is as of April 1993; c is average; d assets and sales
quoted in this table include those of financial affiliates. The Fair Trade
Commission ranks Hyundai largest as it has most assets excluding financial
affiliates.
Source : Fair Trade Commission, 1997, 'Stock Holdings of 30 Largest
Business Groups', July 2 Press release (in Korean).
1983 | 1987 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 30 Chaebol | 57 | 56 | 46 | 45 | 47 | 46 | 43 | 48 | 43 | 44 | 43 | 45 | |
Family | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | na | |
Affiliates | 40 | 40 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 35 | na | |
Top 5 Chaebol | naa | 60 | 49 | 50 | 52 | 52 | 49 | 48 | na | na | 45 | na | |
Family | na | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | na | na | 9 | na | |
Affiliates | na | 45 | 36 | 36 | 38 | 39 | 37 | 35 | na | na | 37 | na | |
Hyundai | 81 | 80 | na | 60 | 68 | 66 | 58 | 61 | 60 | 61 | 56 | 54 | |
Samsung | 60 | 57 | na | 51 | 53 | 58 | 53 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 47 | 45 | |
Daewoo | 71 | 56 | na | 49 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 42 | 41 | 42 | 38 | 41 | |
LG | 30 | 42 | na | 35 | 38 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 42 |
Note: a 'In-group ownership' is a weighted average (where the weight is
the size of capital) for shares of each business group of the family ownership
plus those of affiliates.
Source: Fair Trade Commission, 1997, 'Stock Holdings of 30 Largest
Business Groups', July 2 Press release (in Korean); and 1998, unpublished
data provided to the Korea Development Institute, Seoul.
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Non-financial | Total | Non-financial | Total | Non-financial | Total | Non-financial | |
Hyundai | 376 | 377 | 437 | 459 | 579 | 686 | 483 | 501 |
Samsung | 206 | 370 | 267 | 459 | 371 | 597 | 252 | 234 |
Daewoo | 337 | 310 | 338 | 315 | 472 | 462 | 355 | 327 |
LG | 313 | 323 | 347 | 373 | 506 | 543 | 315 | 279 |
SK | 330 | 334 | 384 | 391 | 468 | 480 | 240 | 245 |
Hanjin | 622 | 637 | 557 | 598 | 908 | 917 | 458 | 413 |
Ssangyong | 298 | 289 | 409 | 387 | 400 | 406 | 1403 | 1296 |
Hanwha | 620 | 643 | 751 | 789 | 1215 | 1 008 | 333 | 319 |
Kumho | 464 | 455 | 478 | 548 | 944 | 1 076 | 558 | 566 |
Dongah | 322 | 458 | 355 | 659 | 360 | 585 | 899 | 1701 |
Lotte | 176 | 174 | 192 | 196 | 217 | 220 | 118 | 117 |
Halla | 286 | 265 | 207 | 199 | -1 600 | -1 630 | -1460 | -1460 |
Daelim | 385 | 337 | 423 | 371 | 514 | 459 | 346 | 296 |
Doosan | 622 | 625 | 688 | 691 | 590 | 593 | 332 | 331 |
Hansol | 313 | 385 | 292 | 433 | 400 | 520 | 346 | 332 |
Hyosung | 315 | 315 | 370 | 370 | 465 | 469 | 281 | 280 |
Kohap | 572 | 562 | 591 | 579 | 472 | 469 | -701 | -707 |
Kolon | 328 | 349 | 318 | 389 | 434 | 511 | 335 | 327 |
Dongkuk | 190 | 346 | 219 | 376 | 324 | 493 | 198 | 176 |
Dongbu | 328 | 585 | 262 | 469 | 338 | 552 | 266 | 236 |
Anam | - | - | 479 | 485 | 1499 | 1345 | 8354 | 7630 |
Jinro | 244 | 241 | 377 | 362 | -894 | -902 | -588 | -591 |
Tongyang | 279 | 492 | 307 | 638 | 404 | 877 | 303 | 255 |
Haitai | 506 | 506 | 659 | 659 | 1501 | 1501 | -732 | -732 |
Shinho | - | - | 491 | 487 | 677 | 661 | -686 | -745 |
Daesang | - | - | 417 | 415 | 648 | 640 | 268 | 267 |
NewCore | 924 | 924 | 123 | 122 | 1 784 | 1 786 | - | - |
Keopyung | - | - | 348 | 615 | 438 | 777 | - | - |
Kangwon | - | - | - | - | 375 | 375 | 445 | 445 |
Saehan | - | - | - | - | 419 | 419 | 277 | 277 |
Kia | 417 | 408 | 517 | 516 | - | - | - | - |
Hanil | 936 | 936 | 577 | 577 | - | - | - | - |
Hanbo | 675 | 660 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Sammi | 325 | 325 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Kukdong | 471 | 208 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Byucksan | 486 | 500 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Average | 348 | 387 | 387 | 449 | 519 | 604 | 380 | 364 |
Note: a Debt equity ratios are measured at the end of accounting year,
except in 1998 which are mid 1998 data, and in 1999, which are earl;y 1999
data. Total refers to debt equity ratios for all businesses, including
financial subsidiaries. Non-financial refers to debt to equity ratios for
non-financial business;
b The groups in shaded rows refer to companies under syndicated loan,
reorganisation, composition, or workout in October 1998. Some already have
gone into default. Ssangyong, Kumho, Anam were added to the workout list in
November 1998. Smaller groups under reorganisation or composition include
Daenong, Hansin-gongyung, Susan Heavy Industries, Chung-ku, Bosung, Nasan,
Hwasung, Doorye and Tong-il.
Source: Lee, Jae-hyung, 1997 'The Current Picture and Performance of Korean Business Groups (Jebol),' Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, April 1997;
Fair Trade Commission 1997 'Stock Holdings of 30 Largest Business Groups', July 2 Press release (in Korean) __________________1998, unpublished data provided to the Korea Development Institute, Seoul.
Korea Times, 1999, various isues, www.koreatimes.co.kr.
As of January 1999 | Liquidation | Sell-off | Merger | Others | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of firms ordered to exit as unviable | 26 (3) | 13 (6) | 12 (7) | 4 (0) | 55(16) |
Top 5 chaebol affiliates | 7 (2) | 6 (3) | 7 (6) | 0 (0) | 20(11) |
Affiliates of top 6 - 30 chaebol | 15 (1) | 3 (2) | 4 (0) | 1 (0) | 23 (3) |
Others | 4 (0) | 4 (1) | 1 (1) | 3 (0) | 12 (2) |
Number of firms whose loans were suspended by creditor banks as unviable |
3 (2) | 7 (3) | 13 (4) | 2 (0) | 25 (9) |
Total | 29 (5) | 20 (9) | 25 (11) | 6 (0) | 80(25) |
Notes: a Means number of companies which have exited the market since last May.
Source: Ministry of Finance, 1999, 'The Road to Recovery in 1999: Korea's Ongoing Economic Reform', Seoul, February; Korea Economic Daily, 1998, 20 Non-viable Companies are to be Liquidated or Sold', pp.13, Seoul, July22.
Lead Bank | Group | Affiliates for Workout | Date of Selection | Creditors' Meeting | Status as of December 1998 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chohung Bank | Keopyung | Keopyung Chemical Co. | 16 July 1998 | 23 July 1998 | decided | ||
Keopyung Steel Chemical Co. | |||||||
Signetics KP Co. | |||||||
Sepoong | Sepoong Co. | 18 July 1998 | 24 July 1998 | decided | |||
Sepoong Construction Co. | |||||||
Kangwon Industries | Kangwon Industries, Ltd | 18 July 1998 | 28 July 1998 | decided | |||
Sampyo International Co. | |||||||
Sampyo Industry Co. | |||||||
Sampyo Kangwon Heavy Industries | |||||||
Anam | Anam Semiconductor Co. | 24 October 1998 |
- | 23 January 1999 | |||
Anam Electronics Co. | |||||||
Anam Environment Co. | |||||||
Ssangyong | Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co. | 3 November 1998 |
- | 2 February 1999 | |||
Nam Kwang Engineering & Construction Co. | |||||||
Commercial Bank of Korea | Kabool | Kabool Ltd | 15 July 1998 | 24 July 1998 | decided | ||
Kabool Textiles | |||||||
Byucksan | Byucksan Engineering Construction | 6 August 1998 | 14 August 1998 |
decided | |||
Byucksan Co. | |||||||
Tong Yang Mulsan Co. | |||||||
Korea ExchangeBank | Shin Won | Shin Won Co. | 18 July 1998 | 24 July 1998 | decided | ||
Shin Won Distribution Co. | |||||||
Shin Won JMC | |||||||
First Bank | Shinho | Shinho Paper Mfg Co. | 9 July 1998 | 16 July 1998 | decided | ||
Shinho Petrochemical Co. | |||||||
Dongyang Steel Pipe Co. | |||||||
Tongil | Tongil Heavy Industries Co. | 20 July 1998 | 29 July 1998 | decided | |||
Ilsung Construction Co. | (disqualified) | ||||||
Hankook Titanium Ind. Co | |||||||
Ilshin Stone Co. | |||||||
Tongkook | Tongkook Corporation | 17 October 1998 |
- | 16 January 1999 | |||
Tongkook Spinning Co. | |||||||
Tongkook Synthetic Fibers Co. | |||||||
Hanil Bank | Kohap | Kohap Ltd. | 6 July 1998 | 14 July 1998 | decided | ||
Korea Chemical Co. | |||||||
Korea Petrochemical Co. | |||||||
Kohap Inc. | |||||||
Seoul Bank | Jindo | Jindo Co. | 14 July 1998 | 23 July 1998 | decided | ||
Jindo Mulsan Co. | |||||||
Jindo Engineering & Construction | |||||||
Woobang | Woobang Housing Co. | 16 July 1998 | 25 July 1998 | decided | |||
Dongah | Dongah Construction Ind., Co. | 21 August 1998 |
31 August 1998 |
decided | |||
Taegu Bank | Taegu Depart.Store Co. | Taegu Department Store Co. | 10 September 1998 |
10 September 1998 |
decided | ||
Daeback Shopping Co. |
Source: Financial Supervisory Commission, 1999, 'Corporate Restructuring: Progress To Date and Agenda Ahead', January, Seoul, (in
Korean); Joong-Ang Daily, 1998, October 11
Lead Bank | Group | Affiliates for Workout | Date of Selection |
Status as of December 1998 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chohung Bank | Dongwha | Yoojin Tourist Co. | 18 August 1998 |
decided | |
Duty Free Shop | Dongwha Duty Free Shop | ||||
Dongwha Invest & Development Co. | |||||
Dong Bang | Dong Bang Transport Logistics Company | 15 September 1998 | 14 January 1999 | ||
Dong Bang T&C Co. | |||||
Dong Bang Special Steel Co. | |||||
Choong Nam | Choong Nam Spinning Co. | 4 November 1998 | 1 February 1999 | ||
Spinning | Choongbang Co. | ||||
Commercial Bank of Korea | Shin Woo | Shin Woo Co. | 11 November 1998 | decided | |
Shin Woo Development Co. | |||||
Shin Woo Telecom Co. | |||||
- | Peeres Cosmetics | 17 August 1998 | decided | ||
- | XETEX Co. | 28 October 1998 | decided | ||
First Bank | Maxon | Maxon Electronics Co. | 31 July 1998 | decided | |
Electronics | Il-dong Pharmaceutical Co. | 9 September 1998 | 8 January 1999 | ||
Seoul Bank | Miju | Miju Corporation | 24 December 1998 | undecided | |
Miju Steel Corporation | |||||
Miju Metal Co. | |||||
Miju Steel MFG. | |||||
Korea | - | Young Chang Akki Co. | 19 September 1998 | decided | |
Exchange | Shin Song Food | Shin Song Food Corporation | 30 December 1998 | undecided | |
Bank | Corporation | Shin Song Industrial Co. | |||
Shinhan Bank | - | Korea Computer Inc. | 29 August 1998 | decided | |
Pusan Bank | Hanchang | Hanchang Corporation | 24 August 1998 | Applied for | |
Boo Il Mobile Telecom. Corp. | mediation by | ||||
Hanchang Paper MFG Co. | Corporate Restructuring | ||||
Tred Club | 3 September 1998 | Coordination Committee | |||
Hanchang Chemical Co. | |||||
- | Seshin Co. | 14 September 1998 | decided | ||
Kyongnam | - | Muhak Co. | 10 October 1998 | 9 January 1999 | |
Bank | |||||
Korea | Kyunggi Chemical | Kyunggi Chemical Industrial Co. | 12 September 1998 | 11 January 1999 | |
Development | Daljay Chemical Co. | ||||
Bank | - | Samil Kongsa | 9 September 1998 | decided | |
- | Namsun Aluminum Co. | 11 September 1998 | 10 January 1999 | ||
- | Dae Kyung Special Steel Co. | 14 September 1998 | decided | ||
Housing & Commercial Bank | Dong Bo | Dong Bo Construction Co. | 1 October 1998 | decided | |
Construction | Dong Bo Industrial Development Co. | ||||
Hanil Bank | - | Sung Chang Enterprise Co. | 16 October | decided | |
Taegu Bank | - | Seo Han Engineering & Construction | 9 November 1998 | 8 February 1999 | |
- | Hwa Sung Industrial Co. | 17 November 1998 | 16 February 1999 |
Source: Financial Supervisory Commission, 1999, 'Corporate Restructuring: Progress To Date and Agenda Ahead', January, Seoul, (in
Korean).
Business line | Plan of the deal | Controlling body | |
---|---|---|---|
Semiconductors | Samsung Electronics Company | Combinea | Samsung Electronics Company |
Daewoo Electronics Company | |||
Hyundai Electronics Industries | Combine | Hyundai Electronics Industries | |
LG Semiconductor Company | |||
Power-generation Equipment | Hyundai Heavy Industries Company | Hyundai Heavy Industries Company | |
Korea Heavy Industries and Construction Company | Combine | Korea Heavy Industries and Construction Company | |
Samsung Heavy Industries Company | |||
Petro-chemicals | SK, LG, Daelim, Lotte, Hanwha | SK, LG, Daelim, Lotte, Hanwha | |
Hyundai Petro-chemical Company | combine | Third party professional manager | |
Samsung General Chemical Company | |||
Aircraft manufacturing | Korea Air Line Company | Korea Air Line Company | |
Samsung Aerospace Industries Company | combine | Third party professional manager | |
Daewoo Heavy Industries Company | |||
Hyundai Space and Aircraft Company | |||
Railway vehicles | Hyundai Precision and Industries Company | Hyundai Precision and Industries Company | |
Daewoo Heavy Industries Company | combine | Third party professional manager | |
Samsung Motors Company | |||
Hanjin Heavy Industries Company | |||
Ship engines | Hyundai Heavy Industries Company | Hyundai Heavy Industries Company | |
Korea Heavy Industries | combine | Korea Heavy Industries and Construction Company | |
and Construction Company | |||
Samsung Heavy Industries Company | |||
Orefining | SK, LG, Ssangyong | SK, LG, Ssangyoung | |
Hyundai Oil Company | acquire | Hyundai Oil Company | |
Hanwha Energy Company |
Note a Daewoo gain control of Samsung Motors as part of this deal.
Source: The Korea Economic Daily, 1998, 'Incomplete Voluntary Big Deals', Seoul, October 8and Hankuk Daily, 1998, 'The Burden on the Corporate Sector', Seoul, October 8.