South Korea looks aheadBloombergSouth Korea’s government is more optimistic about the economy’s prospects than the central bank, striking a more upbeat tone as authorities move to further open the nation’s currency and financial markets to global investors. In its economic growth strategy report for this year, the government forecast the economy would grow 2 percent, more than the Bank of Korea’s 1.8 percent estimate, the South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a statement Friday. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, center, rear, speaks during a meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. The foreign exchange reforms are part of a broader push to attract foreign investment as South Korea pursues inclusion in global benchmarks such as MSCI Inc’s developed markets index. The strategy reaffirmed the government’s industrial priorities, with artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing positioned as key growth engines.

Source: Taipei Times January 09, 2026 16:01 UTC