Key facts
- South Korean financial holding firms achieved a record net profit of 17.6 trillion won in H1 2026.
- This profit is up 13.7% from the previous year.
- Banking operations accounted for the largest share of net income at 47.1%.
- Investment returns contributed 24.9% to the total net profit.
- Insurance firms accounted for 12.3% of the total net profit.
- Combined total assets reached 4,391.4 trillion won as of end-June 2026.
Financial holding companies in South Korea achieved a record net profit in the first half of 2026, driven by strong performances in their banking and insurance sectors, as well as successful investment returns. The combined net profit for 10 major financial holding firms reached 17.6 trillion won ($13.1 billion) between January and June, marking a 13.7% increase from the previous year.
According to preliminary data from the Financial Supervisory Service, banking operations were the primary contributor, accounting for 47.1% of the total net income. Financial investments made up 24.9% of the profits, while insurance firms contributed 12.3%.
As of the end of June, the total assets of these firms collectively stood at 4,391.4 trillion won, an 8% increase from the prior year. The nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio was reported at 1.03% at the end of June, a slight increase from six months prior, while the loan loss reserve ratio decreased to 96.5% from 106.8% during the same period.
The 10 financial holding firms include prominent entities such as KB Financial Group, Shinhan Financial Group, Nonghyup Financial Group, Hana Financial Group, and Woori Financial Group. These firms collectively operated 355 financial affiliates by the end of June, up from 342 six months earlier.