South Korea Banks Roll Out Emergency Support as Middle East Tensions Rise

South Korea banks emergency support programmes were activated after escalating Middle East tensions increased risks for financial markets and companies.

Hana Financial Group said it would provide KRW12tr (USD8.2bn) in assistance including emergency liquidity of up to KRW500m per firm, loan-maturity extensions, grace periods and rate reductions.

Woori Financial also tightened monitoring and strengthened cybersecurity checks.

Regulators said broader market stabilisation steps worth more than KRW100tr could be deployed if required, while authorities intensified 24-hour monitoring of exchange rates, oil prices and markets as part of the South Korea banks emergency support response.