South Korea Maintains Key Interest Rate Amid Economic Resilience

South Korea's central bank announced on April 10 that it will keep the seven-day repo rate unchanged at 2.5%, continuing its steady policy stance since July last year, in line with market expectations. According to Jin10, this decision comes amid stable inflation and relatively resilient economic growth. In March, South Korea's consumer prices rose by 2.2% year-on-year, slightly up from February's 2% increase, yet still close to the central bank's target level. In February, the central bank had already raised its growth outlook for 2026. However, the ongoing Middle East conflict is posing risks to both inflation and growth. As a major importer heavily reliant on Middle Eastern energy, South Korea faces rising import costs due to global oil and gas price hikes. Additionally, the South Korean won has weakened significantly in recent weeks, influenced by foreign capital outflows and rising oil prices. Despite these challenges, South Korea's economic growth remains resilient. March exports showed strong momentum, driven by record demand for AI-related semiconductors and robust exports to China.