July Corporate Sentiment Rebounds After 2 Months, Manufacturing Improves while Non-Manufacturing Struggles
Domestic companies' business sentiment showed a slight improvement in July. With semiconductor-led manufacturing sentiment showing clear recovery, the overall Corporate Business Sentiment Index (CBSI) rose, but non-manufacturing sectors including services continued to fall below the baseline, extending the divergence between industries.
2026.07.30
Middle East Risk Resurfaces, Cooling Corporate Sentiment...August BSI Retreats to 89.9
Companies' perceived economic conditions have cooled again due to rising tensions in the Middle East region. The index has fallen to the 80s, below the baseline, for the first time in three months since May, deepening concerns in the business sector.
2026.07.28
Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom "Delisting single-stock leveraged ETFs is impossible...concerns over 10 trillion won market impact"
Kim Yong-beom, the Cheong Wa Dae policy chief, firmly stated on the 19th that calls for delisting single-stock leveraged Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are "hard to imagine," and emphasized the need for additional supplementary measures to minimize market impact. During an appearance on KBS's "Sunday Diagnosis Live," Kim said "investors are already investing and the product market size has formed over 10 trillion won" and "if we were to proceed with delisting, that in itself"
2026.07.19
''Don't work but earn more money?'' Unemployment benefits ''surgery''…major transformation in employment market forecast
The government has finally taken action on 'unemployment benefits that exceed minimum wage,' which had been at the center of controversy over reduced work incentive, and through [Chosun Ilbo's] exclusive report, unemployment benefit payment days are being reduced from 7 days to 6 days per week, with reviews underway for amount adjustments and extended periods, signaling a major shift in South Korea's overall employment market. The paradoxical reality of ''earn more than minimum wage even without working?'' is set to change from July 1, 2026
2026.07.18
Bank of Korea Raises Base Rate by 0.25%p...Shifts to Tightening for First Time in 3.5 Years
The Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Committee raised the base rate by 0.25 percentage points from 2.50% to 2.75% on the 16th. This marks the first rate increase in 3 years and 6 months since January 2023, with assessments indicating that monetary policy has shifted back into a tightening phase. The decision is analyzed as reflecting a judgment that the need to maintain an accommodative monetary stance has diminished, as inflationary pressures have expanded while economic recovery has shown stronger momentum than expected.
2026.07.16
'Project Hangang' Phase 2 in Full Swing...Deposit Tokens to Include Remittance and Treasury Payment Functions
The Bank of Korea's central bank digital currency (CBDC)-based deposit token pilot project 'Project Hangang' is entering phase 2, expanding its user base five-fold and launching a full-fledged digital currency ecosystem equipped with remittance and treasury payment execution functions. The Financial Services Commission held a regular meeting on the 15th and newly designated 5 innovative financial services including phase 2 promotion of Project Hangang. The biggest change in this phase 2 transition is the participation of banks,
2026.07.15
CPI Consumer Price Index, The First Step to Economic Literacy
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a term that frequently appears when reading economic news or searching for information related to personal finance. However, most people only know it as a 'price index' without clearly understanding what it actually means and how it affects our daily lives. If you are reading this article now, you probably want to grasp the true meaning of CPI and its importance, and develop a better understanding of how to read the economy.
2026.07.15
Import Prices Fall 4.4% in June as Oil Prices Stabilize...Terms of Trade Improve on Strong Semiconductor Performance
As international oil prices, which had spiked due to Middle East instability, stabilized, import prices last month fell by the largest margin in three and a half years. With rising semiconductor prices and continued export growth, terms of trade have improved significantly, indicating improved profitability for domestic exporters.
2026.07.15
National Growth Fund Expanded to 200 Trillion Won…Accelerating Advanced Industry Development
The government has decided to significantly expand the National Growth Fund to strengthen competitiveness in advanced technology and future strategic industries. The plan involves increasing the existing 5-year supply plan from 150 trillion won to 200 trillion won, aiming to strengthen the long-term investment foundation for national strategic industries.
2026.07.15