South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance published a response to concerns that the Supply Chain Stabilization Fund disproportionately supports large companies. It attributed their high share of financing by value to the substantial funding required to secure key economic security items, including crude oil, while pledging to expand support for small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized enterprises. Approved financing rose from KRW 2.1 trillion in 2024 to KRW 7.1 trillion in 2025 and KRW 8.1 trillion by the end of September 2026. Large companies represented 51% of cumulative support cases at that point, compared with 25% for mid-sized enterprises and 24% for small and medium-sized enterprises. Large-scale crude oil purchase financing during the Middle East crisis in the first half of 2026 increased the large-company share by value. The ministry plans to expand support through the Supply Chain Cooperative Finance Program introduced in May 2026. Under the program, the Export-Import Bank of Korea finances raw material supply and purchasing by smaller partner companies recommended by large lead companies, with preferential interest rates of up to 2.4 percentage points.
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance reports KRW 8.1 trillion in supply chain fund approvals, plans more support for smaller firms
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance attributed large companies’ high share of Supply Chain Stabilization Fund financing by value to capital-intensive support for key economic security items, including crude oil. Approved financing reached KRW 8.1 trillion by the end of September 2026, while small and medium-sized and mid-sized enterprises accounted for 49% of cumulative support cases. The ministry plans to expand their access through a program offering preferential interest rates of up to 2.4 percentage points.