Why did South Korean corporations accumulate record net financial funds in the second quarter?

Strong semiconductor exports boosted corporate earnings, helping nonfinancial corporations raise their net financial funds to 67.1 trillion won. The measure subtracts financial liabilities from financial assets.

How did South Korean households’ financial position change in the second quarter?

Households’ net financial funds fell to 60.7 trillion won from 79.2 trillion won in the first quarter. The decline was partly attributed to lower incomes and increased home purchases, while household liabilities rose by 28.2 trillion won.

What happened to South Korea’s household debt-to-GDP ratio in the second quarter?

The household debt-to-GDP ratio declined to 81.1 percent at the end of June, down from 85.3 percent three months earlier, according to Bank of Korea data.

Corporations' excess funds hit record high in Q2 on robust chip exports

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Summary

South Korean nonfinancial corporations increased their net financial funds to a record 67.1 trillion won at the end of June as strong semiconductor exports boosted earnings. The figure rose from 20.8 trillion won three months earlier, marking the highest level since the Bank of Korea began compiling the data in 2009. Household net financial funds declined to 60.7 trillion won as incomes fell and home purchases increased.

Key Facts

Households and nonprofit organizations held 6,930.2 trillion won in financial assets at the end of June, an increase of 513 trillion won from three months earlier.
Household liabilities rose by 28.2 trillion won over the quarter to 2,495.8 trillion won.
The ratio of household financial assets to liabilities was 2.78 percent at the end of June.
Household debt as a share of gross domestic product fell to 81.1 percent from 85.3 percent three months earlier.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 7, 2026 12:18 pm KST

US dollar bills at Hana Bank, Seoul, Dec. 3, 2025. Yonhap

Excess funds held by South Korean businesses hit an all-time high in the second quarter as strong semiconductor exports boosted corporate earnings, central bank data showed Wednesday.

Net financial funds -- the value of financial assets minus financial liabilities -- held by non-financial corporations totaled 67.1 trillion won ($50.1 billion) at the end of June, sharply up from 20.8 trillion won three months earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

It marked the highest quarterly figure since the BOK began compiling the data in 2009.

Households' net financial funds fell to 60.7 trillion won in the second quarter from 79.2 trillion won in the first quarter, partly due to a fall in incomes and more purchases of homes.

Financial assets held by the country's households and nonprofit organizations totaled 6,930.2 trillion won at the end of June, up 513 trillion won from three months earlier.

Their debts rose by 28.2 trillion won from three months earlier to 2,495.8 trillion won over the cited period.

The ratio of financial assets to liabilities owned by households stood at 2.78 percent, and that of household debt to the gross domestic product (GDP) stood at 81.1 percent as of end-June, down from 85.3 percent three months ago, the data showed.

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