Korea’s Banks Have No GPU Loan Framework While the US and Japan Finance AI at Scale | November 05 2026 | Finance Daily

Korea’s big four banks have no plan for GPU-backed loans while the US and Japan finance AI infrastructure at national scale — and the regulator just closed a two-year enforcement cycle with a 370 billion won ELS penalty.

Mirae Asset Securities issued approximately 10 billion won in GPU-backed loans, the only documented domestic case, while the country’s big four banks cite absent valuation guidelines for inaction. Without a standardized GPU depreciation model, domestic lenders cannot price the collateral risk — Mirae Asset’s own data shows GPU units lose 85 percent of value over 12 months. At the same time, the Financial Supervisory Service finalized a 370 billion won penalty against KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, and NH NongHyup, closing the ELS mis-selling enforcement cycle that began in late 2023. A formal GPU valuation standard from the Financial Services Commission remains the single regulatory action that would unlock bank-backed AI lending in Korea.

Sources:

Korean Banks Without GPU Loan Framework as US and Japan Scale AI Infrastructure Lending — Seoul Economic Daily, November 5, 2026
ELS Final Penalty Fixed at 370 Billion Won for Major Korean Banks — Seoul Economic Daily, November 5, 2026

About AI PRISM:
AI PRISM is Seoul Economic Daily’s WAN-IFRA award-winning newsroom AI series, delivering Korean economic news adapted for global audiences. Episodes are produced with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor.

Tags:
#KoreaBanking #GPULoans #AIFinancing #KoreaFintech #ELSPenalty #KoreaFSS #FinancialRegulation #KOSPI #AIPRISM #SeoulEconomicDaily #WANIFRA