한국 마이크로크레딧의 현황과 과제

Abstract

This paper examines the present situation of microcredit successfully launched by non government organizations early in 2000s in Korea. And it presents some tasks for the revitalization and successful growth of the microcredit and finds the ways to improve the MISO finance project in their context. In Korea the microcredit is very much expected to contribute to the increase in real income of the poor through producing jobs by lending them loans without collateral for starting new business. Recognizing the microcredit as a desirable alternative of solving poverty problems, the korean government actively introduced and is pursuing some big microcredit projects such as MISO finance and HATSAL loan. For the past 11 years the korean microcredit showed a big growth mainly led by government. The number of microcredit institutions has increased and some big funds were designed by government and contributed by the private sector. But there are still some important tasks to improve the microcredit system in Korea. The tasks are as follows. The microcredit institutions need to enhance their financial sustainability and build up their diversity. More importantly, the microcredit projects should not be led by government but led by private sector. And the construction of the infrastructures such as training the experts, developing the business standard model and constructing social supporting network is badly needed. The final task is to expand the business area to include deposit and insurance so on. As for the tasks for improving the MISO finance, firstly it is desirable that the present government-led system should be changed into the one where the government and private sector collaborate each other. And some drastic measures are needed to enhance the financial sustainability and the diversity of the institutions in charge. Finally, the rapid increase in the number of the microcredit experts to meet the shortage is urgently needed.