‘FSC approval of digital insurance to boost innovation, but intensify race’

An official green light given to the insurance unit of Kakao Pay and three peer-to-peer companies will pave the way for the country’s innovation in finance, industry experts said Thursday. 

The Financial Services Commission has given a preliminary approval of Kakao Pay’s insurance subsidiary as an online-only insurance firm, the regulator announced on Thursday. Kakao Pay will become the country’s first digital-only general insurance company. A digital-focused insurance company is defined as a company that sells 90 percent or more of its insurance products via telecommunication methods.

The FSC said the new digital insurance company, which can utilize mobile giant Kakao’s technologies and platform, could contribute to the promotion of consumer benefits and competition as well as innovation of the insurance industry.

“We will create new trends and innovations with technology-based insurance that protects users from everyday risks,” a Kakao Pay official said. The company will offer various nonlife insurance products in partnership with Kakao’s subsidiaries, including Kakao Mobility and Kakao Kids.

Kakao Pay, which is gearing up for an initial public offering later this year, is required to apply for the final approval within six months. The goal is to launch the insurance company within this year, officials said.

Kakao Pay holds 60 percent and Kakao owns 40 percent of Kakao’s general insurance firm.

The FSC also approved the first group of peer-to-peer companies under the new Act on Online Investment-Linked Financing and User Protection, promulgated in August last year. Out of six companies that initially applied, three companies -- People Fund, 8 Percent and Lendit -- were given permission for registration.

The FSC said that P2P service users can now be protected better, with the new law encouraging P2P companies to reinforce investor protective measures.

The financial regulator added that it will continue to review applications by other P2P firms, which have to be registered with the government by Aug. 26, 2021, to abide by the new law. As of June 9, 41 P2P companies have applied to be registered as an online investment business.

People Fund officials said that the company plans to relaunch loans for individual users from Monday next week, with a focus on mid-rate loans. They had halted loan services for individuals while applying for the registration.

“We have accumulated a database and know-how in mid-rate loans over the past five years and with these experiences we will provide differentiated loan products to our customers,” said People Fund CEO Joey Kim.

By Park Ga-young (gypark@heraldcorp.com)