SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) — South Korea
planned to raise 5.7 trillion won (5.37 billion U.S. dollars) this
month through Korea Treasury Bond (KTB) sales, the finance ministry said
Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, a total of 5. 7
trillion won worth of KTBs that mature in 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 years will
be issued through competitive bidding in January.

The ministry planned to sell 1.4 trillion won in three-year bonds,
1.55 trillion won in five-year treasuries, 1.5 trillion won in 10-year
bonds and 600 billion won in 20-year bonds. Issuance of the super-long
bonds that mature in 30 years will amount to 650 billion won this month.

For non-competitive bidding, individual investors will be allowed to
buy 1.14 trillion won worth of bonds, or 20 percent of the offering
amount, first at the highest accepted bid rate. Primary dealers will be
granted to purchase 10 percent of the accepted bid amount within three
business days after the auction is closed.

Primary dealers will be granted the right to purchase inflation-
linked Treasury bonds (KTBi) up to 25 percent of the accepted amount of
10-year government bonds within three business days after the close of
the auction. The issue rate will be calculated by subtracting spread
unveiled by the Korea Exchange from the highest accepted rate of 10-year
bonds.