SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s central bank and financial regulator have received below-average marks for their response to the climate crisis, ranking in the lower tier among ASEAN+3 economies, according to a new international assessment. The report by Positive Money, a U.K.-based think tank, evaluated 13 countries in the ASEAN+3 group — comprising [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Once a symbol of comfort and affordability, fried chicken has become an expensive indulgence for many South Koreans, as soaring prices trigger public frustration and social media backlash over what consumers are calling “chickenflation.” “I tremble when paying for chicken these days,” said Lee, a 27-year-old college student in Seoul. [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — As soaring bakery prices push past 10,000 won for just a few items at franchise shops, Koreans are increasingly turning to low-cost private label (PB) bread sold at convenience stores and large retailers. The shift has fueled what industry insiders are calling a “budget bakery boom,” with PB bread [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Food prices in South Korea have risen more than 20 percent over the past five years, far outpacing overall inflation and placing a growing strain on household budgets. According to data released Wednesday by the National Data Office, the consumer price index for “food and non-alcoholic beverages” in September [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s corporate ecosystem has been steadily weakening over the past decade, with fewer employees per company and a rising share of struggling firms unable to cover even their interest payments, a new report shows. According to a study released Sunday by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — The likelihood of South Korea facing a debt problem as seen in some European economies remains “limited,” a local analyst said Thursday, dismissing concerns that President Lee Jae Myung’s expansionary fiscal policy may strain the local economy. Ahn Jae-kyun, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities Co., made the [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s economy is expected to rebound in 2026, driven by easing uncertainties and accommodative policies, an official from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday, calling on the country to put in efforts to revitalize domestic consumption and accelerate structural reforms to further boost growth. “Prolonged domestic political [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean civic groups have accused two leading food delivery platforms of unfair and misleading practices tied to their popular “one-person meal” promotions, filing complaints with the Fair Trade Commission (FTC). On Thursday, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun), and the Korea Consumer Federation [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — The U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to lower its benchmark interest rate for the first time under President Donald Trump is fueling cautious optimism in Seoul’s financial markets, with analysts predicting improved liquidity and renewed foreign inflows — but also warning of lingering risks tied to trade negotiations. On Wednesday [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea could soon face a tipping point where traditional monetary policy loses its potency, Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong warned Friday, citing the country’s rapid demographic decline as a structural risk that could push interest rates toward their effective floor. Speaking in Washington at the International Monetary [...]