S. Korea's banks to operate nonfinancial services such as food delivery

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission will revise its regulatory system in July to allow local banks to operate nonfinancial services like food delivery via their mobile applications.

The country's top financial regulator will also enable financial entities, including banks, brokerages, and credit card operators, to set up “open banking” services, where customers can manage accounts at multiple financial entities by using a single mobile financial application.

Discussions and research are underway to expand the businesses in the finance sector.

The FSC will also implement emergency loan programs worth 3 trillion won for small merchants, who have were affected by the government’s ban on private gatherings of five or more people.

Maximum lending rates will also be reduced from 24 to 20 percent per annum starting February next year, which would ease financial burdens on pandemic-hit debtors.