South Korean banks' household lending growth slowed in July as weaker retail stock investment reduced demand for credit loans and other borrowing, while mortgage growth also lost momentum. Household loans rose 5.4 trillion won from the previous month to 1,194.8 trillion won in July, according to the Bank of Korea's "July 2026 Financial Market Trends" released on the 14th. That was 2.2 trillion won less than June's 7.6 trillion won increase, though still about double the 2.7 trillion won rise recorded in July last year. Mortgage loans increased 3.4 trillion won, down from 4.3 trillion won in June, as the impact of stronger home transactions in the Seoul metropolitan area in April and May continued but was partly offset by fewer jeonse (lump-sum rental deposit) transactions and weaker demand for interim payments on existing presale units. Jeonse loans fell 800 billion won in July after declines of 600 billion won in May and 700 billion won in June. Other loans, including credit loans, rose 2 trillion won, slowing from 3.3 trillion won in June as individual stock buying cooled sharply. Net stock purchases by individuals dropped to 3.4 trillion won in July from 42.6 trillion won in May and 52 trillion won in June. Corporate lending moved the other way, with bank loans to companies rising 7.7 trillion won in July from 5.1 trillion won in June. Corporate bond markets saw net redemptions, while commercial paper (short-term corporate debt) and short-term bonds shifted to net issuance, and stock issuance increased on large rights offerings (sales of new shares to existing shareholders).