On May 26, South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service released the evaluation results for the 2026 Main Debt Groups (주채무계열). As of the end of 2025, Samsung Group reclaimed the top spot with the highest total bank borrowing volume — marking its first number-one ranking since 2018. The top five groups by total debt are Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, Lotte, and LG; SK Group, which held first place last year, dropped to third. According to South Korean media analysis, Samsung’s rise is largely attributed to massive capital investments and an expansion in its subsidiaries — among the five major conglomerates, Samsung saw the largest net increase in affiliated companies, adding 117 new entities. Meanwhile, SK Group experienced a relative decline in borrowing volume due to the dissolution of certain corporate entities and business restructuring efforts.
A total of 42 large corporate groups were designated as Main Debt Groups this year (one more than the previous year); eligibility criteria require a total borrowing amount exceeding roughly 2.56 trillion KRW (~$1.76 billion) and outstanding bank credit above about 1.5 trillion KRW. Four new entrants to the list are Pan Ocean, SK Shipping, Hoban, and Dongkuk Steel; three groups exited the list after paying off their debts and no longer meeting the requirements. Collectively, these 42 groups hold approximately 386.9 trillion KRW (~$267 billion) in outstanding bank credit — up 4.1% year-on-year — while their total borrowing amounts to 743.9 trillion KRW (~$513 billion), representing a 5.0% annual increase. Companies classified as Main Debt Groups undergo financial assessments by their primary creditor banks and may be required to sign agreements aimed at improving their financial health.