S&P to hold annual meeting in S. Korea

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- Global credit appraiser Standard & Poor's (S&P) will have its annual meeting with South Korean policymakers this week to assess the nation's overall economic situations and credit status, the finance ministry said Monday.

A delegation led by Kim Eng Tan, S&P's senior director, will stay in Korea for the meeting that will start on Tuesday for a four-day run, according to the ministry.

During the stay, it will meet with policymakers from government agencies, including the finance ministry, the Financial Services Commission, the Bank of Korea and the unification ministry, it added.

The main focus will be on the Seoul government's dealing with the recent global financial market volatility, household debts, fiscal status and the latest inter-Korean relations, the ministry noted.

S&P currently maintains its sovereign credit ratings on South Korea at "A," the sixth-highest level. Its long-term rating outlook remained "stable."

The meeting comes after the other two global credit appraisers -- Moody's and Fitch Ratings -- completed their annual meetings with South Korea in May and September, respectively.