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The Bank of Korea (BOK) said Thursday that it will supply an "unlimited" amount of liquidity over the next three months to financial institutions to help prevent a credit crunch caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
"The Bank of Korea decided to provide an unlimited amount of liquidity to financial firms to help minimize the economic fallout from the spread of COVID-19 and remove uncertainties in the financial market," the BOK said in a press release.
To this end, the central bank will regularly purchase local bonds in repo operations every week until the end of June.
"Also, it has decided to expand the list of firms and securities subject to its repo operations as part of this massive liquidity supply scheme," it said. The latest support measure will be implemented at the start of next month.
South Korea earlier announced a 50 trillion-won ($40.8 billion) support program for local businesses and financial markets that included market stabilization funds for both stock and bond markets.
The government on Wednesday doubled its support package to 100 trillion won amid continued jitters in the local financial market.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) has plunged nearly 25 percent since Jan. 20, when the country reported its first confirmed case of the disease.
The local currency has also dropped more than 6 percent against the U.S. dollar over the cited period.
The BOK earlier slashed its growth outlook for Asia's fourth-largest economy to 2.1 percent from the previous 2.3 percent and said another downward revision may be inevitable.
Many believe the local economy may even shrink this year.
Global rating agency S&P estimated the South Korean economy would decline 0.6 percent on-year in its latest report published Monday.
The BOK has slashed its policy rate to a new record low of 0.75 percent, in its first emergency rate cut in more than a decade.
The central bank may deliver yet another rate reduction to help spur spending and boost economic growth.
The bank's next rate-setting meeting is slated for April 9. (Yonhap)
