South Korea’s household lending growth slowed in September to its weakest since
March, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday, ahead of next week’s policy decision.
Household loans rose 600 bln won (about $444m) to 1,198.9 tln won, the smallest
monthly increase since March. Mortgage lending rose 2.9 tln won, the weakest
pace since April, as deposit-based jeonse lease transactions cooled and the
supply of newly move-in-ready homes fell. Other household loans, including
unsecured and stock-collateralized borrowing, fell 2.3 tln won, widening from a
600 bln won drop in August; the central bank cited reduced retail equity
investment, quarter‑end sales weakness, bad-loan write-offs and seasonal bonuses
inflows as drivers.
