Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won is set to visit Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek Plant 5 (P5) as early as this month. Banking industry executives will accompany him to reaffirm their commitment to supporting advanced industries.
According to financial industry sources on the 15th, Chairman Lee is reviewing plans to visit P5 with financial sector leaders. Samsung Electronics' P5 serves as a key base for next-generation semiconductor production and is the hub for manufacturing high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips. During the visit, banks are expected to reiterate their commitment to supporting national strategic industries while hearing about global semiconductor trends and corporate challenges.
The National Growth Fund and five major banks—KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH NongHyup—have previously committed to providing 2.5 trillion won ($1.8 billion) in low-interest loans. This underscores the symbolic significance for productive finance initiatives. An official at Korea Development Bank, which manages the National Growth Fund, said, "We are preparing for Chairman Lee's visit to P5."
The banking sector will also participate. Plans currently call for the chairmen of the five major financial groups to attend, though the attendee list may change or bank CEOs may attend instead. A financial industry source said, "I understand discussions are moving toward having major financial group chairmen attend together. Since this is an event the FSC chairman is attending, the financial group heads would likely join unless they have other commitments."
Market observers predict this event will accelerate the financial sector's execution of productive finance initiatives.