[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s export prices continued to fall in June, mainly on the back of lower international oil prices, according to preliminary Bank of Korea data on July 13. Export prices, in terms of the Korean currency, fell 4.9 percent on-year in June, with the pace quickening from a 4 percent decline in May. The country’s export price index came to 77.97 percent last month, up 0.7 percent from 77.44 percent the previous month, according to the central bank data.However, from a month ea

[THE INVESTOR] The Bank of Korea may lower its economic growth forecast again, and maintain the key rate at 1.25 percent. The central bank is set to hold a Monetary Policy Committee meeting on July 14, and announce a new growth forecast, and pundits say that the 2.8 percent target is likely to be lowered. BOK Gov. Lee Ju-yeol stated after last month’s meeting that the slowdown in global trade is bigger than initially anticipated, and that risks arising from corporate restructuring is likely to g

[THE INVESTOR] The South Korean government has a number of contingency plans in case China takes economic action in retaliation for Seoul’s decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, the finance minister said on July 13. Speaking at the National Assembly, Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho, who also doubles as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said that Seoul has contingency plans for a number of scenarios, but that major economic reprisal is not considered likely. Fina

[THE INVESTOR] Cross-border investment between South Korea and China has risen sharply this year, fanned by the Korea-China free trade agreement, industry data showed on July 13. The trade pact took effect in December 2015. According to the Kora International Trade Association, South Korean entities invested US$2.2 billion in China during the first five months of the year. The figure is 12.2 percent higher than that recorded during the same period last year. The Korea-China FTA signing ceremony

[THE INVESTOR] The South Korean economy could be hit hard if China increases non-tariff barriers that restrict the sale of Korean-made goods, as the country is heavily dependent on China for exports, industry data showed on July 12. According to a report released by Hyundai Research Institute, the amount of Korea’s export to China affected by the two most common non-tariff barriers -- technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures -- has sharply increased since 2008. The num