AI boom sustains S. Korea's growth despite global headwinds: IMF official国际货币基金组织官员：人工智能热潮支撑韩国经济增长，即便面临全球逆风。
BANGKOK, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea appears to be weathering global economi...
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BANGKOK, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea appears to be weathering global economic headwinds thanks to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, with the technology investment cycle unlikely to lose steam in the near term, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.
"Trade tensions among countries are putting negative pressure on the global economy," Choi Ji-young, executive director of the IMF Asia and the Pacific Constituency Office, said during a meeting with reporters in Bangkok on Thursday, citing the Middle East crisis and the war between Russia and Ukraine as lingering sources of uncertainty.
He was visiting Thailand to attend the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group.
"Despite these conditions, the growth forecast for South Korea has been revised upward," the director said.
Choi Ji-young, executive director of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Asia and the Pacific Constituency Office, speaks during a meeting with reporters held in Bangkok on Oct. 15, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Earlier this week, the IMF raised its growth forecast for South Korea in 2026 to 3.3 percent, citing strong semiconductor exports, driven by strong AI infrastructure demand, which more than offset the fallout from the Middle East war.
The figure was up 0.7 percentage point from the organization's July projection.
Choi said AI-related investment will likely continue for some time, citing robust investment in AI data centers and related infrastructure.
"Building AI data centers takes a long time, potentially around 10 years. Investment has only just begun, and these projects are unlikely to falter in a couple of years and make that investment meaningless," he said.
The IMF nevertheless sees significant potential downsides in AI, Choi added.
"South Korea could face a stock market correction, an adjustment in its current account and adverse effects on businesses should the AI boom falter," Choi said. "But within our organization, we expect AI investment to continue for a long time."
The executive director also noted the AI boom has expanded South Korea's fiscal room to invest more in future growth, setting the country apart from other nations.
He advised countries experiencing economic growth, such as South Korea, not to focus excessively on their debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratios, but instead to prioritize investment in innovation and growth.
"In discussions with IMF staff, we point out that the fund's general policy advice does not fit South Korea's circumstances," Choi noted, adding the fund recognizes the country's unique situation.
"IMF staff share the view that South Korea should continue investing to enhance its growth potential," Choi said.
Turning to the Future Fund, which the government plans to launch next year using so-called windfall revenue from the chip supercycle to lay the groundwork for long-term growth, Choi said the IMF views its structure positively, although it has yet to offer a detailed assessment of the initiative.
Choi added the IMF's latest growth forecast for South Korea appears not to fully reflect the potential impact of policies aimed at boosting growth, suggesting the projection may be somewhat "conservative."
Choi Ji-young (R), executive director of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Asia and the Pacific Constituency Office, speaks during a meeting with reporters held in Bangkok on Oct. 15, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr (END)
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曼谷，10月18日（韩联社）——国际货币基金组织（IMF）一位高级官员表示，得益于人工智能（AI）的蓬勃发展，韩国似乎正在抵御全球经济逆风，而且短期内技术投资周期不太可能失去动力。
国际货币基金组织亚太选区办公室执行董事崔智英周四在曼谷与记者会面时表示，“各国之间的贸易紧张局势正在给全球经济带来负面压力”，她还指出中东危机和俄罗斯与乌克兰之间的战争是持续存在的不确定性来源。
他此次访问泰国是为了参加2026年国际货币基金组织和世界银行集团年会。
“尽管存在这些情况，韩国的经济增长预测已被上调，”该负责人表示。
国际货币基金组织（IMF）亚太地区事务办公室执行主任崔智英于2026年10月15日在曼谷举行的记者会上发表讲话。（联营照片）（韩联社）
本周早些时候，国际货币基金组织将韩国2026年的经济增长预期上调至3.3%，理由是强劲的半导体出口（受人工智能基础设施强劲需求的推动）足以抵消中东战争带来的影响。
该数字比该机构7月份的预测高出0.7个百分点。
崔表示，人工智能相关的投资可能会持续一段时间，他指出，人工智能数据中心和相关基础设施的投资势头强劲。
“建设人工智能数据中心需要很长时间，可能需要10年左右。投资才刚刚开始，这些项目不太可能在几年内就失败，使投资变得毫无意义，”他说。
崔补充说，尽管如此，国际货币基金组织仍然认为人工智能存在重大的潜在弊端。
崔表示：“如果人工智能热潮放缓，韩国可能会面临股市回调、经常账户调整以及对企业的不利影响。但我们公司预计，人工智能投资将长期持续下去。”
执行董事还指出，人工智能的蓬勃发展扩大了韩国的财政空间，使其能够对未来的增长进行更多投资，这让韩国与其他国家区别开来。
他建议像韩国这样正在经历经济增长的国家，不要过分关注其债务与国内生产总值 (GDP) 的比率，而应该优先考虑对创新和增长的投资。
崔指出：“在与国际货币基金组织工作人员的讨论中，我们指出该基金的一般政策建议并不适合韩国的情况。”他还补充说，该基金也认识到韩国的特殊情况。
“国际货币基金组织工作人员一致认为，韩国应该继续投资以增强其增长潜力，”崔说。
谈到政府计划明年利用芯片超级周期带来的所谓意外之财启动的未来基金，崔表示，国际货币基金组织对其结构持积极态度，尽管尚未对该倡议进行详细评估。
崔补充说，国际货币基金组织对韩国的最新增长预测似乎没有充分反映旨在促进增长的政策的潜在影响，这表明该预测可能有些“保守”。
国际货币基金组织（IMF）亚太地区办事处执行主任崔智英（右）于2026年10月15日在曼谷举行的记者会上发表讲话。（联营照片）（韩联社）
colin@yna.co.kr (完)
财政部长在二十国集团会议上呼吁各方努力解决全球失衡问题
韩国央行行长强调，在人工智能蓬勃发展和中东危机的背景下，需要抑制通胀。
国际货币基金组织将韩国经济增长预期上调至3.3%，正值芯片行业超级周期之际。
国际货币基金组织官员：人工智能热潮支撑韩国经济增长，即便面临全球逆风。