The Bank of Korea has published household credit statistics for Q1 2026 showing total household credit outstanding increased by KRW 14.0 trillion from the previous quarter to KRW 1,993.1 trillion at end-March, a 0.7% quarter-on-quarter rise. Household loans increased by KRW 12.9 trillion to KRW 1,865.8 trillion, while merchandise credits increased by KRW 1.1 trillion to KRW 127.3 trillion. By lender type, the increase in household loans was driven by non-bank depository corporations and other financial corporations, while lending by commercial and specialized banks edged down. Commercial and specialized banks' household lending fell by KRW 0.2 trillion, compared with increases of KRW 8.2 trillion at non-bank depository corporations and KRW 5.0 trillion at other financial corporations. Within total household loans, housing-related lending increased by KRW 8.1 trillion to KRW 1,178.6 trillion and other loans increased by KRW 4.8 trillion to KRW 687.2 trillion. Merchandise credits rose by KRW 1.1 trillion after a KRW 3.0 trillion increase in Q4 2025, with credit-specialized financial companies accounting for KRW 0.8 trillion of the quarterly increase.
Bank of Korea2026-05-19
Bank of Korea reports household credit rose KRW 14.0 trillion in Q1 2026 to KRW 1,993.1 trillion
The Bank of Korea reported that total household credit rose by KRW 14.0 trillion in Q1 2026 to KRW 1,993.1 trillion, a 0.7% quarter-on-quarter increase, driven mainly by household loans and merchandise credits. Household loans grew by KRW 12.9 trillion to KRW 1,865.8 trillion, with gains at non-bank depository corporations and other financial corporations offsetting a decline at commercial and specialized banks, while merchandise credits increased by KRW 1.1 trillion to KRW 127.3 trillion.