{
  "id": 7395806,
  "title": "Insurers suffer 1st losses in 6 yrs from auto insurance biz in H1",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/insurers-suffer-1st-losses-in-6-yrs-from-auto-insurance-biz-in-h1",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-14T21:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yonhap News",
    "slug": "yonhap-news",
    "url": "https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260914009900320"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Insurance companies in South Korea reported their first loss from auto insurance in six years during the first half of the year, according to preliminary data released by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on Tuesday. The combined profit for 12 insurance firms offering car insurance amounted to 238 billion won (US$177 million) from January to June, marking a significant decline of 37.7 percent compared to the same period last year, when the net profit was 382 billion won. The profit figures also include gains from investment returns.\n\nThe auto insurance segment experienced a net loss of 185 billion won in the first half, marking the first such loss in six years. Investment returns rose by 20.2 percent year-on-year to 423 billion won during the same period. The average loss rate for the insurers stood at 84.9 percent in the first half, a 1.6 percentage point increase from the previous year. The loss rate represents the proportion of coverage that non-life insurers pay to policyholders from insurance premiums, with a higher rate indicating a greater likelihood of the insurer incurring losses. The primary cause of the insurers' losses from auto insurance was attributed to rising insurance-related costs, while the number of accidents decreased by 4.5 percent year-on-year to 1.74 million during the cited period.",
  "summary": "SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Insurance firms in South Korea suffered their first ...",
  "key_points": [
    "South Korean insurers posted first loss in auto insurance since 2016",
    "Combined profit for 12 firms dropped 37.7% YoY to 238 billion won",
    "Auto insurance loss rate rose to 84.9%, up 1.6 percentage points"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}