SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s economic recovery remains elusive, hampered by fragile domestic demand and worsening export conditions, as the government warns of persistent downward pressures that have now stretched into a sixth consecutive month. In its latest monthly economic report, known as the Green Book, the Ministry of Economy and Finance painted [...]
SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreign investment in South Korean securities recorded the largest net inflow in nearly two years in May, supported by easing domestic political uncertainties and reduced concerns over the United States’ trade policy, the central bank said Friday. Offshore investors purchased a net US$9.29 billion worth of local stocks and [...]
SEOUL, June 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s top central banker on Wednesday emphasized the urgent need for economic stimulus to support recovery but warned of “serious side effects” if the government relies too heavily on such measures. Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Rhee Chang-yong made the remarks during a speech at a ceremony marking [...]
SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Leading global investment banks have begun upgrading their forecasts for South Korea’s economic growth in 2025, citing expectations of fiscal stimulus from the new administration and easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. After months of downward revisions driven by sluggish domestic consumption and weak exports, institutions such [...]
SEOUL, June 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea must embrace bold structural reforms and innovation to avoid falling into a prolonged period of low growth similar to Japan’s post-bubble stagnation, the Bank of Korea (BOK) warned in a policy report released shortly after President Lee Jae-myung’s inauguration. In its report titled “Lessons from the Japanese [...]
SEOUL, June 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean brokerage stocks are soaring on renewed optimism over the new administration’s stock market revitalization agenda, fueling a dramatic uptick in leveraged retail investing. But analysts warn that selective, fundamentals-based investment is now essential as market differentiation is expected to intensify. According to data compiled by Yonhap Infomax, credit-based [...]
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans are spending a smaller share of their income than they did a decade ago, signaling deeper shifts in household behavior amid demographic and economic changes, according to a new report released by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). The report, titled “Changes in Consumption Propensity by [...]
SEOUL, May 30 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s economy showed renewed signs of weakness in April, with industrial production, consumption, and investment all posting declines — the first “triple minus” since January — as the impact of new U.S. auto tariffs begins to ripple through key sectors. According to data released Friday by Statistics Korea, [...]
SEOUL, May 27 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s state-run think tank on Tuesday sharply cut its growth forecast for the local economy this year to 1 percent, citing a slowdown in exports and domestic consumption. The revised projection by the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) represents a 1.1 percentage-point drop from its [...]
SEOUL, May 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Major coffee chains and instant coffee producers in South Korea are raising prices amid an increase in raw material costs, according to industry data Friday. Angel-in-us Coffee, operated by Lotte GRS Co., said it will increase beverage prices by 200 to 300 won (US$0.15-0.22) Thursday. CJ Foodville Corp.’s bakery [...]