[Alpha Biz= Kim Sang Jin] Nearly one in two South Koreans is planning to invest in assets other than real estate following the government’s tightened lending regulations, according to a new survey.

The IBK Economic Research Institute said on March 17 that 45.2% of respondents indicated plans to invest in non-real estate assets after the government’s June 27 loan curbs last year. The survey was conducted in October among 4,700 adults aged 20 to 64 who hold bank accounts.

Among those planning alternative investments, 22.9% chose financial assets such as stocks and funds, while 11.4% opted for tangible assets including gold and art. Another 10.9% viewed cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin as an alternative investment.

By contrast, only 15.7% of respondents said they still plan to invest in real estate.

Among respondents who said the loan restrictions affected their financial plans, 36.3% reported postponing or abandoning loans. Meanwhile, 23.1% said they proceeded with borrowing, while others turned to alternatives such as choosing rental housing (12.7%) or borrowing from family and acquaintances (10.0%).

When asked about future cryptocurrency investment plans, 40.7% said they had no intention to invest, while 32.0% expressed interest.

Although psychological barriers remain, perceptions appear to be shifting. The proportion of respondents who viewed cryptocurrencies as purely speculative assets fell by 12 percentage points—from 48.1% to 36.1%—following discussions around the proposed Digital Asset Basic Act.

Internet-only banks also continued to gain traction in the retail finance market. When asked to name up to three banks they currently use, KB Kookmin Bank ranked first with 39.5%, followed by Toss Bank at 31.2% and KakaoBank at 28.3%, highlighting growing competition for traditional lenders.

 

 

 

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