Lee Chanjin, FSS Chief: "Major Improvements Planned for Financial Consumer Status Assessment" [2025 National Audit]

Expansion of Related Workforce and Organizational Structure

Lee Chan-jin, Chairman of the Financial Supervisory Service, listens to questions from lawmakers during the comprehensive audit of the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service at the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on October 27, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Lee Chanjin, Chairman of the Financial Supervisory Service, announced that the agency is currently working on comprehensive institutional improvements to the Financial Consumer Status Assessment and plans to expand the relevant organization.

During the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on October 27, Assemblyman Han Changmin of the Social Democratic Party pointed out that since 2021, the Financial Consumer Status Assessment has been divided into three groups, with only one group undergoing an actual assessment while the other two have been switched to self-assessment. In response, Lee stated, "The current two-stage self-assessment system-adequate and insufficient-makes it difficult to distinguish what is adequate and what is insufficient, leading to criticism that the evaluation is too abstract. We are planning to make significant improvements to address this."

Regarding criticism that the results of the five-grade evaluation are not made public and that nothing is disclosed about the self-assessment process, he added, "We have tentatively decided to overhaul the five-grade evaluation system and to apply the revised criteria to self-assessments as well."

Lee further explained, "We are currently pursuing organizational restructuring to establish a dedicated department for consumer protection by sector at the division level, or at the team level if necessary, depending on the sector. We are also working on personnel adjustments, but since this may result in a shortage of staff in the field, we have submitted a request to the Financial Services Commission for additional personnel."