The Bank of Korea (BOK) will overhaul its emergency lending framework in Jan. 2026, allowing banks to pledge corporate loan assets as collateral for liquidity support. Announced Thursday in the “2026 Monetary and Credit Policy Direction,” the change broadens eligible collateral beyond government bonds, strengthening the central bank’s ability to respond to liquidity stress when marketable securities prove insufficient. The BOK also confirmed it will extend its operating hours by April 2026 and pilot a 24-hour offshore won settlement system by year-end to improve global market accessibility.

While domestic inflation is projected near the BOK’s 2.1% target, the