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COVID pandemic and a lot of people who took out loans for three years. In particular, debt in the 3,2s increased the most. If interest rates continue to be this high, I am worried that it will make it harder for young people who are struggling to live.

Reporter Joe Ki-ho reports.

<Reporter> As of the end of last year, 30.1 million people had borrowed from domestic banks,

or 490 out of 10 citizens.

The loan balance reaches 3.902 trillion won.

Compared to the end of 2, before the pandemic, the number of people who took out loans increased by 2019.17% and the balance of loans increased by 3.17%.

However, there are older age groups whose loan balances are growing.

It is young people in their 7s and 2s, and the balance of bank and non-bank loans reached KRW 30.514 trillion, an increase of 5.2019% compared to the end of 27.

Even compared to other age groups, the increase is noticeable.

Young people's reasons for borrowing were 4% housing-related, such as the previous month's tax deposit.

[Miru Kim/Research Fellow, KDI Economic Forecast Office: Young people in their 85~20s need housing services while creating new households and becoming independent, but the percentage of housing ownership itself is very low. During the COVID-30 period, charter prices rose rapidly, and as a result, charter loans increased rapidly.]

The age group where the average loan amount per capita increased the most was among young people in their 19s and 1s.

Over the past three years, the per capita loan balance growth rate has been 2.30%, compared to 3.1% in the 18s, 4.40% in the 10s, and 4.50% in the 3s.

This is why there are concerns that high interest rates and prices could increase credit risk, especially among young people with weak economic bases.

In fact, as the bank delinquency rate among young people has increased sharply in recent years compared to middle-aged people, it seems necessary to make policy efforts by the authorities, such as allowing existing loans to be converted into long-term installments.

(Video Editing: Shin Se-eun, CG: Choi Sky)