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With banks already nearing their household loan limits for the year, obtaining a mortgage has become difficult despite it still being long before year-end. As complaints pour in, the Financial Services Commission has announced that it will release a comprehensive package this week containing measures to adjust the total volume of loans.

Reporter Kim Hye-min has the details.

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We tried applying for a mortgage directly through internet-only bank KakaoBank.

Even during a weekday morning, a message pops up stating that "daily application limits have been exceeded, making loan applications unavailable."

KakaoBank accepts mortgage applications starting at 6:00 a.m. every day, and its daily application quota is exhausted in an instant.

Online, it is easy to find posts ranging from failed "open-run" attempts to shared tips for success.

The open-runs for internet bank loans are driven by the higher lending barriers recently erected by commercial banks.

The increase in household loans at the five major commercial banks has already exceeded their targets by more than 1 trillion won.

Starting with KB 국민은행 last month, banks have lowered mortgage limits and successively suspended new applications through non-face-to-face channels or loan brokers.

Urgency has struck home buyers who have completed sales contracts, as well as prospective residents in need of balance loans.

At a scheduled apartment complex in Seoul, prospective residents must send text messages at designated times by banks and make it into the first-come, first-served cutoff just to secure a consultation opportunity.

[Person A / Prospective Apartment Resident: I have to sit there 10 minutes or 5 minutes before and keep staring at my phone. I have to press it precisely when the clock hits 59 seconds so that the message goes out right on the hour and I can make it into the ranking.]

Situations even arise where conditions are tied to purchasing insurance products, taking advantage of borrowers in desperate need of loans.

[Person B / Bank Loan Counselor: If I can squeeze you in unofficially first, I will do it. I also design insurance plans on the side. I would appreciate it if you could sign up for a financial product later on.]

Some point out that while the government's tax revision proposals are pressing for property listings and moves in the Seoul area, a complex situation has emerged where transactions are blocked due to lending regulations.

As the controversy grows, the Financial Services Commission stated that it will unveil comprehensive measures this week, including plans to adjust the management targets for total household loans.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Reported by Lim Woo-sik | Video editing by Park Na-young | Design by Seo Seung-hyun)