Seoul: The government of South Korea has successfully retrieved over 72 percent of the public funds that were utilized to bail out financial firms during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, as reported by the financial regulator on Tuesday. This significant recovery reflects ongoing efforts to manage and recover the extensive financial support provided during that period.

According to Yonhap News Agency, as of the end of March, the South Korean government has been repaid 72.6 percent, amounting to 122.4 trillion won (approximately US$83.2 billion), of the total 168.7 trillion won in bailout funds. This figure represents a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points from the previous quarter, indicating steady progress in the repayment process.

The data further reveals that during the first quarter of the current year alone, the government managed to recover approximately 161 billion won. This continued recovery underscores the long-term strategy and commitment of the South Korean government in managing its financial assets and liabilities effectively.