Surrender payouts and reserve requirements are climbing at both life and non-life insurers, raising questions over whether households are trading long-term protection for short-term liquidity.
Measures targeting insurance fraud, corporate governance, and AI adoption form part of the regulator's broader financial-sector reform programme for H2.
Asia recorded its lowest first-half insured catastrophe losses since 2017, but more than US$6bn in flood-driven economic losses in China underscored the region's significant protection gap.
The preferred bidder is expected to sign a stock purchase agreement in the third quarter, with the acquisition targeted for completion before year-end.
Swiss Re expects Asia to outpace global insurance growth in 2026, though the regional outlook is splitting sharply between AI beneficiaries, energy-exposed markets and reform-led growth stories.
Price negotiations remain a key hurdle as South Korea's largest financial groups line up for the sale of the mid-sized insurer, with Shinhan seen as the frontrunner.
