보험사 상반기에 9조 순이익…생보사, 본업보다 투자로 더 벌어

This year's first half, Korean insurance companies reported a combined net profit of 9 trillion won, with life insurance companies generating more profit from their investments than from their core business. The Financial Services and Insurance Agency released the '2026 First Half Insurance Company Financial Results' on the 27th.

Life insurance companies, including 22 companies, reported a net profit of 9.138 trillion won for the first half, a 1.366 trillion won increase from the previous year. Investment profits contributed to a 5.903 trillion won increase in their net profit. Non-life insurance companies, comprising 30 companies, saw a net profit of 5.884 trillion won for the first half, a 4474 billion won increase.

Investment profits rose by 2.557 trillion won to 2.7601 trillion won, while insurance losses increased by 5.310 trillion won to 4.3261 trillion won. Combined investment profits total 5.4404 trillion won, with life insurance companies earning 7.506 trillion won more in investment profits than non-life insurance. The insurance sector's premium income reached 134.9348 trillion won, a 10.5525 trillion won increase from the same period last year.

Life insurance companies saw a 65.2045 trillion won increase, while non-life companies increased by 69.7303 trillion won. Profitability metrics were mixed, with ROA rising 0.04 percentage points from the previous year but ROE decreasing 2.75 percentage points. The total assets of insurance companies stood at 1467.9 trillion won as of June, a 123.8 trillion won increase from the previous year.

Total liabilities rose to 1213.3 trillion won, a 37.7 trillion won increase. Total capital surged to 254.6 trillion won, a 86.1 trillion won jump. The central bank noted the impact of rising interest rates on asset values and increased caution regarding financial stability, urging insurance companies to closely monitor performance and proactively address potential risks.