Regulatory easing on household-loan growth increased the combined annual target for KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH Nonghyup from 4.34 trillion Korean won to approximately 6.98 trillion won, a rise of about 2.64 trillion won, or roughly 60%. Certain lending categories, including group loans, are excluded from the calculation of overall loan-management performance. The five banks discussed the revised targets with authorities last week and were provisionally notified of higher quotas. Banks that had already surpassed their original targets faced penalties and received comparatively smaller additional allocations. However, household lending has already risen substantially: the five banks’ household-loan balance, excluding policy loans, reached 651.6377 trillion Korean won as of August 27, up 6.6677 trillion won from 644.97 trillion won at the end of last year. That leaves only about 300 billion Korean won between the balance and the new target, with limited room for further general household lending even after excluded categories such as group loans are removed.