Approximately 12% of businesses in South Korea faced insolvency last year because of the decline in the construction and property sectors, which represents the highest rate since 2019. These enterprises, weighed down by greater debts than their asset values, confront total loss of capital and fiscal insecurity.
Based on data from the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) dated March 23, approximately 4,466 businesses—representing 11.9% of the total 37,510 externally audited enterprises (financial institutions excluded)—are projected to face complete bankruptcy. This figure shows an uptick of 116 companies (+2.7%) compared to the previous count of 4,350 in 2023, marking the highest point within this span over the past six years since records started being kept in 2019. Additionally, the likelihood of these companies going bankrupt hit a new peak at 8.2% last year.
In terms of industries, those involved in real estate and rentals experienced the greatest vulnerability at 24.1%, directly affected by the decline in construction activities. Following closely were utility companies (15.7%), sectors related to healthcare and social assistance (14.2%), as well as entertainment and recreation services (14.0%). Construction saw the most significant rise; its insolvency risk climbed to 6.1%—almost double what it was five years earlier when it stood at 3.3%. This surge can be attributed primarily to reduced project orders amidst elevated interest rates and inflation levels.
A representative from FKI cautioned, “The swift rise of bankrupt firms intensifies ambiguity by deteriorating the actual economy and amplifying hazards within the financial sector,” further stating that “these threats can be mitigated via decreased borrowing expenses and enhanced liquidly assistance.”