동북아에서의 공급망 금융의 과제

Abstract

In Korea, the concept “supply chain management” has increasingly attracted entrepreneurs. But the supply chain finance (SCF) has failed to make bankers get interested in such topics. As a matter of fact, its apparatus has been set in motion. For example, the legislation which allows SMEs to use machinery and equipment in use as security for additional financing has been enforced with relevant electronic registration of collateralized assets. Also SMEs’ accounts receivable to be paid by big corporations become the security basis for their banks to make online loans to such suppliers available in place of proceeds to be paid by buyers. The recent amendment of the Commercial Act included provisions of financial lease, franchise and factoring which are usually favored by SMEs. However, bankers’ lackluster response to supply chain finance would be changed into enthusiasm by taking advantage of supply chain platforms which enable financiers to have access to related information on a consolidated basis. For example, the financial scandal caused by Moneual was enlarged to unprecedented damages to lenders because of some blind spots in the ex post management of loans. Sharing necessary data information among such platform users including manufacturers, suppliers, banks, transporters, etc. is supposed to prevent unfaithful participants from committing fraud or breach of contract. Timely advice on financial assistance could be available to clients in need. Furthermore, brand new services will emerge to meet needs for proper appraisal and monitoring service of new types of security. To this end, an appropriate SCF platform should be in operation to make a virtuous cycle of ecosystems among supply chain participants. Manufacturers, suppliers, banks, etc. participating in the platform may exchange data and information necessary to seek and discuss new business chances and financing schemes. In the long run, a U.S. type of asset-based lending (ABL) could be used by banks and SMEs with timely services of appraisers, field examiners and liquidators. If necessary, active/passive RFID tags as well as smartphone-based NFC tags may be used to identify and monitor collateralized assets by creditor-banks. The resultant database will be utilized for fair assessment of security and search for would-be buyers of such collateral to be liquidated. If such databases are accumulated on a nationwide IoT basis, additional profit will be created by big data-based logistics and other services. Corporate credit rating would be necessary for such SCF platform to be properly operative. For the efficient operation of SCF platform, it should be accessed and managed by mobile phones. Collaboration among SCF participants, and their extension to big data and fintech services will be inevitable. South Korea, China and Japan have experienced similar developments of supply chain finance and related infrastructure. In order to establish the combined Northeast Asian digital single market, the efficiency in cross-border provision of SCF-related services and transparency in transactions are in greater need than ever before.