파죽의 증권업, ‘자산·이익’ 기준 보험·지방은행업 추월

The securities industry has surpassed insurance and regional banks in terms of assets and profits, according to recent developments. Following a recent report by Korean corporate rating agency, the trend can be seen in the growth of comprehensive investment and M&A finance activities by securities firms. By the end of 2025, large securities firms are expected to have assets worth 500 trillion won, surpassing the 189 trillion won held by insurance firms like Samsung, Hyundai and KT, and the 148 trillion won held by regional banks such as Hankyung Bank and Im Bank.

The report also noted that the profitability and growth of securities firms have outpaced those of regional banks and insurance firms over the past three years. The growth can be attributed to the expansion of investment activities and M&A finance by securities firms since 2021, which has resulted in larger size and higher profitability.

The financial environment has been supportive, allowing securities firms to expand their business scope and increase their assets since 2021. However, securities firms face higher risks compared to banks and insurance firms, as they invest a significant portion of their funds in equity markets and lend out a substantial amount.