[Borrowing Money to Trade Stocks Becomes a Pipe Dream? Korean Media Reveals: 85% of Annual Household Loan Quota Used by South Korea's 5 Major Commercial Banks] Odaily Planet Daily News – According to data disclosed by South Korea's financial industry on July 12, as of the end of June, the total household loan balance (excluding policy loans) of the five major commercial banks—KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, Woori Bank, and NH NongHyup Bank—amounted to 647.58 trillion won, an increase of 3.70 trillion won compared to the end of last year. At the beginning of the year, South Korea's financial regulatory authorities set a total household loan growth control target for financial institutions, capping the annual growth rate at 1.5%, lower than last year's actual growth rate of 1.7%, in an effort to curb the rapid expansion of household debt. Based on this target, the five major banks are allowed a combined annual household loan increase limit of approximately 4.34 trillion won. By bank, the quotas are as follows: KB Kookmin Bank 909.2 billion won, Shinhan Bank 850 billion won, Hana Bank 880.5 billion won, Woori Bank 826.6 billion won, and NH NongHyup Bank 870 billion won. However, the actual increase of 3.70 trillion won in just the first half of the year already accounts for 85.3% of the annual limit. The remaining quota for the year is only about 639.5 billion won, leaving extremely limited room for the next six months. (Wall Street Insights)