South Korean Economy News | Korea JoongAng Daily

Economy

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Four people stand and sit by the Han River, facing buildings across the water in Seoul.

OECD projects Korea's potential growth rate to hit record low in 2027

Korea's potential growth rate is projected to fall to a record low next year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Sunday, despite robust exports fueled by a semiconductor boom.

2026.6.7

Electronic board at Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul displays plunging KOSPI and KOSDAQ figures.

Won briefly passes 1,560 against the dollar, highest in 17 years

The won-dollar rate briefly topped 1,560 in overnight trading, reaching its highest intraday level in 17 years and three months amid a stronger dollar and foreign outflows.

2026.6.6

Popular in Economy

Korea posts second-largest current account surplus in April on semiconductor exports: BOK

Korea posted its second-largest monthly current account surplus in April, driven by strong exports of semiconductors, central bank data showed on Friday.

2026.6.5

A model poses for a photo with eggs imported from the United States at a Lotte Mart store on May 21. [YONHAP]

Gov't to utilize tariff-rate quotas and reserve releases to tackle lingering inflation

Korea will utilize tariff-rate quotas and reserve releases to tackle lingering inflationary pressure in the aftermath of supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said on Thursday.

2026.6.4

Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Lee Chan-jin, left, Bank of Korea Gov. Shin Hyun-song, second from left, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, third from left, and Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon pose for a photo in Seoul on June 4. [YONHAP]

Finance minister vows 'immediate' response to foreign exchange volatility

Korea's finance minister on Thursday vowed to take "immediate measures" when necessary to address excessive volatility in the foreign exchange market amid the recent sharp decline of the won against the greenback.

2026.6.4

Fresh eggs are on display for sale at a large store in downtown Seoul on June 2. [NEWS1]

Korea looks to imported eggs to 'Thai over' market during domestic production decline

Korean retailers are increasingly turning to imported eggs from Thailand as domestic egg production declines and the country grapples with "eggflation" — a pronounced surge in egg prices.

2026.6.3

Containers are piled up for export at the Pyeongtaek Port in Gyeonggi on April 1. [YONHAP]

OECD growth forecast for Korea soars to 2.6% on chip exports

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development raised Korea's 2026 growth outlook from 1.7 percent to 2.6 percent, the largest upward revision among Group of 20 countries amid a continuing semiconductor export boom.

2026.6.3

Lee Doo-won, a senior official at the Data Ministry, announces consumer price index data for May during a press conference on June 2. [NEWS1]

Same oil shock, different results: Inflation squeezes Korea, Japan while Taiwan sees smooth sailing

Korea and Japan face growing pressure to raise interest rates as growth and inflation accelerate together, while Taiwan still has room to keep rates unchanged despite a semiconductor boom, with inflation remaining relatively tame.

2026.6.3

An electronic display shows the Kospi index at 8,801.49 after the market closed on June 2 in a trading room in central Seoul. It also projects the price of a single Samsung Electronics share. [NEWS1]

Extreme volatility shakes Kospi as chipmaker ETFs spark short-term trading flood

Extreme volatility gripped the Kospi on Tuesday as investors piled into short-term trades in leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to chipmakers, with the benchmark index plunging from above 8,900 to 8,503.48 in just five minutes.

2026.6.2

The 2026 Korea-Africa Business Forum is held at Lotte Hotel in Jung District, central Seoul, on June 2. [YONHAP]

Officials discuss strategic cooperation amid global challenges at Korea-Africa business forum

Hundreds of business leaders and government officials from Korea and African nations attended a business forum Tuesday to discuss ways to deepen economic cooperation and expand industrial partnerships, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

2026.6.2

South Korean Economy News | Korea JoongAng Daily

Economy

Latest News

OECD projects Korea's potential growth rate to hit record low in 2027

Won briefly passes 1,560 against the dollar, highest in 17 years

Popular in Economy

OECD projects Korea's potential growth rate to hit record low in 2027

Won briefly passes 1,560 against the dollar, highest in 17 years

Workers fret over future, fearing cuts at Jinro plant

Cheap and cheerful

FedEx deals blow to Incheon in China move

Korea posts second-largest current account surplus in April on semiconductor exports: BOK

Gov't to utilize tariff-rate quotas and reserve releases to tackle lingering inflation

Finance minister vows 'immediate' response to foreign exchange volatility

Korea looks to imported eggs to 'Thai over' market during domestic production decline

OECD growth forecast for Korea soars to 2.6% on chip exports

Same oil shock, different results: Inflation squeezes Korea, Japan while Taiwan sees smooth sailing

Extreme volatility shakes Kospi as chipmaker ETFs spark short-term trading flood

Officials discuss strategic cooperation amid global challenges at Korea-Africa business forum