BOK official suggests potential shift from rate cuts to hikes amid strong growth, inflation pressure

A senior Bank of Korea (BOK) official signaled that the central bank may need to stop cutting rates and begin considering hikes, as stronger-than-expected growth and rising inflation pressures shift the policy outlook.

2026-05-04

Naphtha prices surge 68% in March, driving sharpest producer price hike in 4 years

Naphtha prices surged 68 percent in March, driving Korea’s producer prices to their sharpest monthly increase in nearly four years, the Bank of Korea said Wednesday.

2026-04-22

Shin Hyun-song’s playbook: How new BOK chief diverges from his predecessor

Shin Hyun-song’s arrival as governor of the Bank of Korea (BOK) is poised to reshape Korea's monetary policy direction, with investors watching for a shift away from easing and a reassessment of the forces driving the won’s weakness.

2026-04-21

New BOK chief calls for 'cautious, flexible' monetary policy amid Middle East crisis

New Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song on Tuesday vowed to pursue a prudent and cautious monetary policy amid heightened uncertainties stemming from the Iran war.

2026-04-21

F1 Grand Prix in Incheon would be economically viable: Study

A preliminary feasibility study has found that hosting the Formula One (F1) Grand Prix in Incheon would be economically viable, the city government said Thursday.

2026-04-16

BOK flags stagflation risk in worst-case Iran war scenario

The Bank of Korea (BOK) said that a worst-case escalation of tensions in the Middle East could tip the economy into stagflation and held the benchmark interest rate steady for a seventh straight meeting.

2026-04-10

Police release personal information of suspect in Daegu suitcase murder

Police on Wednesday disclosed the identity of 26-year-old Cho Jae-bok, who allegedly beat his mother-in-law to death and then abandoned her body in a suitcase in a stream in Daegu.

2026-04-08

High-risk households on the rise on year as debt burdens build

More than 80,000 additional Korean households fell into the high-risk category between March 2024 and March 2025, as debt repayment burdens became harder to bear.

2026-03-26

Korea's financial exposure to real estate market up in 2025, but pace of growth slows: BOK

Korea's financial exposure to the real estate market rose slightly in 2025, but the pace of growth slowed from a year earlier, a central bank report showed on Thursday.