(LEAD) Gov't to expand liquidity programs amid corporate bond market jitters

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's financial authorities announced plans Sunday to expand liquidity supply programs to at least 50 trillion won (US$34.7 billion) as part of efforts to calm corporate bond market jitters.

Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho made the announcement right after an emergency meeting with the central bank chief and top financial regulators in response to increased concerns about a possible credit and liquidity crunch.

"Amid the growing concerns in the corporate bond and short-term money markets, and to prevent a liquidity crunch, we plan to activate more liquidity programs on top of existing market stabilization measures, expanding the fund to 50 trillion won and more," Choo told reporters.

In line with such efforts, the government plans to activate the bond market stabilization fund of 1.6 trillion won starting Monday, and proactively purchase corporate bonds and commercial papers.

It will also raise the ceiling for corporate bond-buying by such state-run banks as the Korea Development Bank and the Industrial Bank of Korea to 16 trillion won, double the current 8 trillion won.

The country will also supply 3 trillion won by utilizing the fund of the Korea Securities Finance Corporation to supply liquidity to brokerage firms facing challenges due to project-financing asset-backed commercial papers (PF-ABCP), according to the finance ministry.

It said the Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Co. and the Korea Housing Finance Corporation will allocate 5 trillion won each to support real estate project-financing programs facing a short-term liquidity crisis despite managing stable projects.

Attending the session were Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong; Kim Joo-hyun, the chair of the Financial Services Commission; Lee Bok-hyun, chief of the Financial Supervisory Service; and Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs.

South Korea's corporate bond market has been jolted by a default on debt linked to the construction of the Legoland theme park in Gangwon Province.

Late last month, Iwon Jeil Cha, a special purpose company established by the Gangwon Jungdo Development (GJC) that is to fund the construction of the resort, missed the debt payment. It was then listed as bankrupt earlier this month. The amusement park opened in the city of Chuncheon in the province, 75 kilometers northeast of Seoul, in May.

graceoh@yna.co.kr

colin@yna.co.kr
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