Korea Development Bank Expands Emergency Operating Fund Support in Response to U.S. Tariffs

"Crisis Response Support Special Program"
Expanded Support Limits Per Company
Additional Interest Rate Benefits
Relaxed Eligibility Requirements

On September 3, Korea Development Bank announced that it has expanded and reorganized the "Crisis Response Support Special Program," an emergency operating fund launched last May to support companies expected to suffer direct or indirect damage from the U.S. government's tariff measures.

The bank has raised the support limit per company to 30 billion won for small businesses (previously 3 billion won) and 50 billion won for medium-sized enterprises (previously 5 billion won). In addition, it is offering further preferential interest rates on top of the existing ones, providing financial support at the lowest operating fund rate available from Korea Development Bank (2.79% as of September 3).

Previously, only small and medium-sized companies expected to be affected by tariffs were eligible for support. Now, eligibility has been expanded to include any company actively responding to tariffs, such as through export market diversification, regardless of size. For industries expected to be hit hardest by high product tariffs-such as automobiles and auto parts, steel, aluminum, and copper-the requirements for necessary documentation have been relaxed to enable faster support.

This measure aims to provide immediate and sufficient liquidity to companies facing tariff shocks before operational and financial damage becomes visible, thereby supporting the management stability of domestic companies. Eligible companies, regardless of size, will be able to proactively respond to tariff-related crises through increased support limits, additional interest rate reductions, and simplified procedures.

A Korea Development Bank representative stated, "We have prepared this expanded support program to help domestic companies quickly recover from the difficulties expected due to U.S. tariffs," adding, "We will continue to make every effort to provide policy-based financial support to protect the competitiveness of the Korean economy and industry in a rapidly changing global trade environment."