Korea think tank: The growth of semiconductor exports was strongly driven and the economy improved and expanded

IN ITS MONTHLY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT REPORT, THE KOREA DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (KDI) INDICATED THAT THE KOREAN ECONOMY, DRIVEN BY SEMICONDUCTOR-RELATED INDUSTRIES, SHOWED SIGNS OF WIDER IMPROVEMENT. KDI ADDED THAT EXPORT AND EQUIPMENT INVESTMENT CONTINUED TO GROW STRONGLY, DRIVEN BY THE SEMICONDUCTOR SECTOR, WHILE DURABLE CONSUMPTION ACCELERATED OVERALL CONSUMPTION. IT NOTED THAT, AS THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN ASIA, THE KOREAN ECONOMY STILL FACED UNCERTAINTIES SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES TARIFF POLICY AND GEOPOLITICAL INSTABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST REGION. FURTHERMORE, KDI STRESSED THAT THE COUNTRY IS STILL AT A HIGH LEVEL OF INFLATION AND THAT THE DETERIORATING EMPLOYMENT SITUATION IS POSING A CHALLENGE TO THE ECONOMY。