31.   Korean banks would also preserve relationships with international lenders.

32.   Korean banks and finance companies are also big investors in emerging markets such as Russia and Latin America.

33.   Korean banks are taking the brunt of this, finding it necessary to sell fewer bonds with higher interest rates and shorter maturities to lure investors.

34.   Korean currency traders said that the won should strengthen if foreign banks increase the amount of loans they renew to Korean banks and companies.

35.   Large private banks in the United States, Europe and Japan tentatively agreed to let Korean banks and business firms postpone repayment of their overseas loans.

36.   Korean banks are being forced to pay more than other Asian borrowers because the failure of Hanbo in January raised concern about their finances.

37.   Korean banks are carrying billions of dollars of bad loans made to Korean corporations, many of which have gone bankrupt.

38.   Korean banks are cutting staff to improve their efficiency in the face of foreign competition.

39.   Korean banks are struggling under billions of bad loans caused by the collapse of nine leading industrial groups last year.

40.   Korean banks are under the gun as a record number of bankruptcies last year left them holding billions of dollars of bad loans.