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Korea Rebuilds: From Crisis to Opportunity

Korea Rebuilds: From Crisis to Opportunity

Additional Material

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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

Table 7.1: IMF Stand-By Arrangement Summary of the Economic Program, Agreed by the Government of the Republic of Korea and the International Monetary Fund, 5 December 1997
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
present crisis, tighter monetary policy should restore and sustain calm
in the markets and contain the impact of the recent won depreciation on
inflation.

In line with this policy, the large liquidity injection has been
reversed, and the call rate was raised from 12.5 per cent on 1 December
1997 to 21 per cent, and will be raised further.

Money growth during 1998 will be limited to a rate consistent with
containing inflation at or below 5 per cent.

A flexible exchange rate policy will be maintained, with intervention
only limited to smoothing operations.

Fiscal policy

A tight fiscal policy in 1998 should alleviate the burden on monetary
policy and provide for the still uncertain costs of restructuring the
financial sector.

The cyclical slowdown is projected to worsen the 1998 budget balance
of the consolidated central government by about 0.8 per cent of GDP. The
present estimates of the interest costs of financial sector
restructuring is 0.8 per cent of GDP. Offsetting measures amounting to
about 1.5 per cent of GDP will be taken to achieve a balanced budget
and, preferably, a small surplus. This should be achieved by both
revenue and expenditure measures including:

  • increasing VAT coverage and removing exemptions
  • widening the corporate tax base by reducing exemptions and certain
    tax incentives
  • widening the income tax base by reducing exemptions and deductions
  • increasing excises, luxury taxes, and transport tax
  • reducing current expenditures particularly support to the
    corporate sector
  • reducing low priority capital expenditures.
Financial sector restructuring
Financial sector reform bill

The following financial sector reform bills submitted to the National
Assembly will be passed before the end of 1997:

  • a revised Bank of Korea Act, which provides for central bank
    independence, with price stability as its main mandate
  • a bill to consolidate supervision of all banks, including
    specialised banks, merchant banks, securities firms, and insurance
    companies in an agency with operational and financial autonomy, and
    with all powers needed to deal effectively with troubled financial
    institutions

a bill requiring that corporate financial statements be prepared on a
consolidated basis and be certified by external auditors.

Restructuring and reform measures

Troubled financial institutions will be closed, or if they are deemed
viable, restructured and/or recapitalised. The government already
suspended nine insolvent merchant banks on 2 December 1997. These banks
are have been placed under the control of MOFE and must submit a
rehabilitation plan within 30 days. These plans will be assessed in
consultation with Fund staff and, if not approved, the institution will
have its licence revoked.

A credible and clearly defined exit strategy includes closures as
well as mergers and acquisitions by domestic and foreign institutions,
providing new groupings are viable. Clear principles will be established
on how losses will be shared among equity holders and creditors.

  • The disposal of non-performing loans will be accelerated.
  • Blanket guarantees which will end in three years will be replaced
    by a limited deposit insurance scheme.
  • A timetable will be established for all banks to meet or exceed
    Basle standards.
  • Prudential standards will be upgraded to meet Basle core
    principles.
  • Any support to financial institutions will be strictly
    conditional.
  • All support to financial institutions, other than Bank of Korea
    liquidity credits, will be provided according to pre-established
    rules, and recorded transparently.
  • Accounting standards and disclosure rules will be strengthened to
    meet international practice. Financial statements of large financial
    institutions will be audited by internationally recognised firms.
  • Staffing in the unit supervising merchant banks will be
    sufficiently increased to make supervision effective and allow
    proper handling of troubled banks.
  • The schedule for allowing foreign entry into the domestic
    financial sector will be accelerated, including allowing foreigners
    to establish bank subsidiaries and brokerage houses by mid -1998.
  • Borrowing and lending activities of overseas' branches of Korean
    banks will be closely monitored to ensure that they are sound.
    Nonviable branches will be closed.

The Bank of Korea's international reserve management will be
reviewed to bring it closer to international practice. Deposits with
overseas branches of domestic banks will not be increased further, but
gradually withdrawn as circumstances allow. Financial institutions will
be encouraged to improve their risk assessment and pricing procedures,
and to strengthen loan recovery; actions in these areas will be reviewed
as part of prudential supervision.

Other Structural Measures
Trade liberalisation

Timetables complying with the WTO commitments, will be set at the
first review to:

  • eliminate trade-related subsidies
  • eliminate restrictive import licensing
  • eliminate the import diversification program

streamline and improve the transparency of the import certification
procedures.

Capital account liberalisation

The present timetable for capital account liberalisation will be
accelerated by taking steps to:

  • liberalise foreign investment in the Korean equity market by
    increasing the ceiling on aggregate ownership from 26 per cent to 50
    per cent by the end of 1997 and to 55 per cent by the end of 1998.
    The ceiling on individual foreign ownership will be increased from 7
    per cent to 50 per cent by the end of 1997
  • effective immediately, the supervisory authority will allow
    foreign banks to purchase equity in domestic banks in excess of the
    4 per cent limit requiring supervisory authority approval, providing
    such purchases contribute to the efficiency and soundness of the
    banking sector; legislation will be submitted to the first special
    session of the National Assembly to harmonise the Korean regime on
    equity purchases with OECD practices (with due safeguards against
    abuse of dominant positions)
  • allow foreign investors to purchase, without restriction, domestic
    money market instruments
  • allow unrestricted foreign investment in the domestic corporate
    bond market
  • further reduce restrictions on foreign direct investment through
    simplifying procedures
  • eliminate restrictions on foreign borrowings by corporations.
Corporate governance and corporate structure

By the first review, the timetable will be set to improve the
transparency of corporate balance sheets, including profit and loss
accounts, by enforcing accounting standards in line with generally
accepted accounting practices, including through:

  • independent external audits
  • full disclosure
  • provision of consolidated statements for business conglomerates.

The commercial orientation of bank lending will be fully respected,
and the government will not intervene in bank management and lending
decisions. Remaining directed lending will be eliminated immediately.
While policy lending (such as to agriculture and small business) will
continue, the interest subsidy will be borne by the budget.

Government subsidised support or tax privileges will not be provided
to bail out individual corporations.

The 'real name' system in financial transactions will be maintained,
although possibly revised.

Measures will be worked out and implemented to reduce the high
debt-to-equity ratio of corporations, and capital markets will be
developed to reduce the share of bank financing by corporations. These
will be reviewed as part of the first program review.

Measures will be worked out and implemented to change the system of
mutual guarantees within conglomerates, thereby reducing the risk
involved.

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

Table 7.2: Government Spending Increases as Share of GDP, Central Government Expenditure, Share of GDP (Won billion and Per cent)
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.

Table 7.3: Defence Spending Falling; Economic Service Spending Rising, Classification of Central Government Expenditure (Won billion, Per cent)
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.

Table 7.4: Many Small National and Local Taxes, Sources of National and Local Taxation Revenue, 1996
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

Tobacco consumption 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.

Table 8.1: Government Plans to Complete Disposal NPLs by March 1999, Disposal Schedule for Non-Performing Loans and Recapitalisation (trillion won)
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).

Table 8.2: Factories Korea Asset Management Corporation's Biggest Assets, Korea Asset Management Corporation's Portfolio of Secured Non-performing Loans, September 1998
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).

Table 8.3: Bonds and Borrowings Main Fund Sources, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation Funding, August 1998 (Won 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.

Table 8.4: Merger of CBK and Hanil Creates Korea's Largest Bank, Merged Bank's Status at 30 June 1998 (Won billion)
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

Table 9.1: Corporate Debt Explodes in 1997, Corporate Debt (Won trillions)
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).

Table 9.2: First Steps to Achieve Restructuring, Policy Framework and Strategies
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
  • Focus on enhancing long term competitiveness rather than short
    term liquidity
  • Drive restructuring plan using major creditors' council to
    increase bank negotiation powers
  • Revise chaebol Capital Structure Improvement Plan, which already
    have been submitted . Revisions must contain a specific and feasible
    restructuring plan
  • Accommodate voluntary restructuring plans of the chaebol in the
    final chaebol-wide restructuring plan
  • Ensure the 'big deal' proposal is just one part of a
    restructuring plan focused on core competencies
6 to 64 biggest chaebol
  • Ensure major creditor financial institutions undertake financial
    restructuring of distressed corporations
  • Derive optimal corporate workout plans using voluntary
    negotiations between financial institutions and corporations
  • Ensure financial institutions agree upon set fair game rules for
    the workout process
Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Triage analysis in June: establish first priority for
    support (35.4 per cent), conditional support (58.2 per cent) and
    others (6.4 per cent)
  • Implement workout process for conditional support category
  • Facilitate Corporate Restructuring Fund for small restructuring:
    Won 1.1.trillion for debt fund, Won 0.5 trillion for equity fund.

Source: Ministry of Finance and Economy, 1998, 'Reference Material for
the Seoul Forum', Seoul.

Table 9.3: A Changed Legislative Framework, Amendments to Government Legislation
Article Changes
External Audit Law

Revised to mandate combined financial statements; now operating.

External auditors and corporate accounting officers now are subject
to stiffer penalities, while the Auditor Nomination Committee must
approve the appointment of internal auditors for listed companies and
chaebol affiliates.

Securities Exchange Law

The following rules were abolished to facilitate mergers and
takeovers:

  • statutory tenders could only offer for 25 per cent of shares, and
    could be required to purchase over 50 per cent;
  • only the largest incumbent shareholder could acquire more than 10
    per cent of the stocks of a listed company.

Strengthened regulations requiring companies to reveal financial
transactions with their controlling shareholders (a public disclosure
requirement similar to the US Williams Act of 1968).

Minority shareholder rights are stronger, lowering the minimum number
of shares to be held for shareholder derivative suits from 1 per cent to
0.05 per cent (0.5 per cent for companies with net assets below W100
billion). This minimum was lowered again down to 0.01 per cent on 15 May
1998.

The floor to request dismissal of directors was lowered from 1 per
cent to 0.25 per cent (0.5 per cent for smaller companies).

The floor for the right to inspect and transcribe corporate accounts
was lowered from 3 per cent to 0.5 per cent (1 per cent for smaller
companies).

The ceiling for buyback of a company's own stocks was raised
initially from 10 per cent to 33 per cent, before being abolished.

The procedure for merging listed and unlisted affiliates was
simplified.

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
Economy was abolished for large scale mergers and acquisitions in all
sectors, except parts of the defence industry.

Government now allows foreign direct investment in almost half of the
48 business lines.

The ceiling on total foreign shareholdings in individual companies
was abolished in May 1998.

Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act

The ceiling on equity investments by chaebol affiliates was abolished
and new debt payment guarantees among chaebol affiliates are prohibited
and existing debt guarantees must be eliminated by the end of March
2000.

The law is being revised to allow pure holding companies to be
established under a set of restrictive conditions.

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
with its going-concern value; this will be used in court evaluations of
applications for reorganisation.

The amended law also simplified reorganisation procedures by
facilitating the consolidation of related cases under the same court,
shortening the deadlines for the approval and submission of
reorganisation plans to between 12 and 18 months and reducing the grace
period of debt repayment from 20 to 10 years.

This law established the Reorganisation Management Committee to
advise the court and major creditors.

Corporate Composition Law

Conditions for mutual settlement between a corporation and its
creditors specify those cases in which such a deal is undesirable. They
also restricts unfeasible applications for composition and strengthen
monitoring of mutual settlements.

The procedures of the composition law were simplified and procedural
exemptions for small and medium sized firms were introduced.

Commercial Code of Korea

Revised substantially to improve corporate governance. Amendments
include:

  • Made de facto directors (controlling shareholders or those who
    influence the decisions of the board of directors) as accountable
    and liable as the registered directors
  • Strengthened the fiduciary duty of corporate directors by newly
    introducing their duty of loyalty which reinforces the previous duty
    of care
  • Strengthened shareholders rights in line with those provided in
    the Securities Exchange Law
  • Introduced cumulative voting system in the appointment of
    directors
  • Introduced the right of shareholder proposal
  • Lowered the minimum nominal value of a stock from five thousand
    won to one hundred won
  • Introduced corporate spin-offs
  • Simplified the procedure for corporate mergers.
Table 9.4: Korea's Titans, Data on the 30 Largest Chaebol, July 1997 (Won billion, Per cent)
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).

Table 9.5: Cross Shareholdings Account for One-Third of Chaebol Capital, Chaebol' In-Groupa Ownership Concentration
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.

Table 9.6: Top 30 Chaebol Need to More Than Halve Debt Equity Ratios, Debt Equity Ratiosa of Top 30 Chaebolb
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.

Table 9.7: Government Directed Exit of Distressed Corporates, June 1998 Decision on 55 Nonviable Firms
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.

Table 9.8: Workout Status of Viable Large Affiliates, Bank-Led Workout Programs for 43 Affiliates of 16 Chaebol
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

Table 9.9: Workout Status of Viable Smaller Companies, Workout Programs for 28 Smaller Affiliates of 10 Chaebol and 12 Medium-sized Companies
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).

Table 9.10: Big Deal Increases Concentration, The Big Deal as of 7 December 1998
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.

This report was supported by the EAU's corporate sponsors

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Last Updated: 24 September 2014
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