인터넷전문은행 도입에 관한 소고 - 법적 쟁점을 중심으로 -

Abstract

The Financial Services Commission(FSC) had approved two consortiums, led by Kakao Corp., a leading mobile messaging app operator, and KT Corp., the nation’s No. 2 telecommunications company, to launch web-based banking services. The two banks, which will have no brick-and-mortar offices, will begin providing most of the financial services provided by existing banks but without face-to-face contact, probably in the first half of 2016. Banking laws currently ban non-financial companies from owning more than 4 per cent of banks to prevent conglomerates from using banks as their own coffers. But the government plans to relax the rules to allow IT companies to own up to 50 per cent of internet-only banks. However, financial regulators have voiced concern over participation in the banking sector by big industrial groups. The plan for Korea’s internet-only banks is generally in line with the existing regulatory structure under the existing Banking Act, however, amendments are currently pending at the National Assembly aiming to introduce ICT company-led internet-only banks by allowing non-financial companies to own up to 50 percent of internet-only banks. There are still some legal issues to be in advance solved for the sound and new banking system with internet-only banks. In particular, this paper reviews some legal perspectives for introduction of the internet-only bank system in Korea, such as bank entry conditions, bank minimum capital, commercial bank ownership by companies mainly engaged in non financial activities, non face-to-face real name verification, etc. However, the most important thing is creation of employment. Therefore, it is important that the internet-only banks create an environment which can generate a job creation effect.