# South Korea fines 15 bond dealers 1.6 trillion won for collusion

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/south-korea-fines-15-bond-dealers-1-6-trillion-won-for-collusion/
- Published: 2026-11-11T03:42:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T06:50:46+00:00
- Original publisher: CNA (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/south-korea-fines-15-bond-dealers-16-trillion-won-collusion-6541701
- Topics: Asia, Business, Markets, World

## Key points

- South Korea fined 15 bond dealers 1.6 trillion won.
- Dealers coordinated bids in 145 government bond auctions.
- The regulator said the collusion artificially raised bond yields.

## Summary

South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has fined 15 domestic brokerage firms and banks a total of 1.6 trillion won (US$1.2 billion) for colluding in government bond auctions. The regulator said their coordination artificially raised bond yields, potentially increasing the government’s borrowing costs and affecting the efficiency of public finance.

From January 2020 to June 2023, the primary dealers shared information about bidding yields by phone or Telegram shortly before auction deadlines. They exchanged information in 150 auctions and directly agreed on yields and volumes in 145 of them. The commission said the penalties are intended to encourage effective competition in future auctions.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.