Over 40 percent of Korean builders lost money in the first half of this year. According to the Korea Exchange on Wednesday, 14 of 33 listed construction firms posted net losses in the six-month period.

A prolonged slump in the property market is affecting especially those under court receivership or workout programs.

Prospects for the second half are also dim. Six out of seven major builders are likely to see their operating profits fall in the third quarter from a year earlier, according to a forecast by financial information provider FnGuide.