Korea's economic recovery remains solid, led by exports: finance ministry

Korea's economy continues to show solid signs of recovery, led by robust exports and improving domestic consumption, the finance ministry said Friday. The ministry kept its positive monthly assessment despite noting lingering uncertainty from the war in the Middle East and inflation pressure from high oil prices. It said exports rose 68.7 percent in August from a year earlier, while jobs increased by 184,000 and the unemployment rate stayed at 2 percent. The government also pledged measures to stabilize prices ahead of Chuseok and said consumer prices are expected to rise 2.7 percent this year if no other factors emerge.

Korea's exports surged 68.7 percent in August from a year earlier, helped by strong semiconductor shipments.

The country added 184,000 jobs in August, the largest on-year gain since March, when 206,000 jobs were added.

The unemployment rate in August remained unchanged at 2 percent, while the employment rate for people aged 15 to 29 fell to 44.1 percent.

Consumer prices rose 3.1 percent from a year earlier in August, up from a 2.8 percent increase in July.

A finance ministry official said fuel price caps should limit the initial impact even if crude prices stay above 100 dollars per barrel, and consumer prices are expected to rise 2.7 percent this year unless other factors intervene.

Published Sep 11, 2026 12:08 pm KST

Shoppers purchase fruit at a traditional market in Seoul, Sept. 6. Yonhap

Korea's economy continues to show solid signs of recovery, supported by robust exports and improving domestic consumption, the finance ministry said Friday.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy offered the assessment in its monthly economic report, known as the Green Book, maintaining its positive assessment from the August report while noting that uncertainties surrounding the war in the Middle East persist.

"Recently, the South Korean economy has been showing solid signs of recovery, supported by a substantial increase in exports and improving domestic consumption," the report said.

Korea's exports surged 68.7 percent in August from a year earlier, buoyed by strong semiconductor shipments.

"However, as uncertainties related to the war in the Middle East have widened somewhat, pressure on people's livelihoods continues amid inflation caused by high oil prices and employment difficulties faced by vulnerable groups and sectors," it added.

In August, Korea added 184,000 jobs from a year earlier, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2 percent. The increase marked the largest gain since 206,000 jobs were added on-year in March.

The employment rate for people aged 15 to 29, however, came to 44.1 percent, down 1 percentage point from a year earlier and marking the 28th consecutive month of decline.

Consumer prices rose 3.1 percent from a year earlier in August, accelerating from a 2.8 percent on-year rise in July.

The finance ministry vowed to shield the economy from the fallout of the Middle East war, including through measures to stabilize prices of key items ahead of Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, which runs from Sept. 24-27.

"The government will promptly implement the economic growth initiatives planned for the second half of 2026 to address post-war challenges, revitalize growth potential and tackle economic polarization," it said.

Touching on the recent surge in global oil prices, an official from the finance ministry said the impact on the Korean economy is expected to be limited due to the fuel price cap currently in place.

"Even if crude prices hover above $100 per barrel, there would be no initial shock to the economy due to the fuel price cap," the official said. "Unless there are other factors, consumer prices are expected to rise 2.7 percent this year."

韩国财政部周五表示，在强劲的出口和不断改善的国内消费的带动下，韩国经济持续呈现稳健复苏迹象。尽管中东战争带来的不确定性以及高油价造成的通胀压力依然存在，但财政部仍维持了此前对韩国经济的积极评估。财政部称，8月份韩国出口同比增长68.7%，新增就业岗位18.4万个，失业率维持在2%。政府还承诺在中秋节前采取措施稳定物价，并表示，如果没有其他因素影响，预计今年消费者价格指数将上涨2.7%。

受半导体出货量强劲的推动，韩国8月份出口额同比增长68.7%。

该国8月份新增就业岗位18.4万个，是自3月份以来最大的同比增幅，当时新增就业岗位20.6万个。

8 月份失业率维持在 2% 不变，而 15 至 29 岁人群的就业率下降至 44.1%。

8月份消费者价格同比上涨3.1%，高于7月份的2.8%。

财政部官员表示，即使原油价格保持在每桶 100 美元以上，燃油价格上限也应能限制其最初的影响，除非有其他因素介入，否则预计今年消费者价格将上涨 2.7%。

发布于2026年9月11日下午12:08（韩国标准时间）

9月6日，顾客在首尔一家传统市场购买水果。（韩联社）

韩国财政部周五表示，在强劲的出口和不断改善的国内消费的支撑下，韩国经济继续展现出稳健的复苏迹象。

财政经济部在其月度经济报告（即《绿皮书》）中提出了这一评估，维持了8月份报告中的积极评估，同时指出中东战争带来的不确定性依然存在。

报告称：“近期，在出口大幅增长和国内消费改善的支撑下，韩国经济已显现出强劲的复苏迹象。”

受半导体出货量强劲的推动，韩国8月份出口额同比增长68.7%。

“然而，由于中东战争带来的不确定性有所加剧，高油价引发的通货膨胀以及弱势群体和行业面临的就业困难，继续给人们的生计带来压力，”报告补充道。

8月份，韩国新增就业岗位18.4万个，失业率维持在2%不变。这是自3月份新增就业岗位20.6万个以来的最大增幅。

然而，15 至 29 岁人群的就业率为 44.1%，比上年同期下降 1 个百分点，连续第 28 个月下降。

8 月份消费者价格同比上涨 3.1%，高于 7 月份 2.8% 的同比涨幅。

财政部誓言要保护经济免受中东战争的影响，包括采取措施稳定关键商品的价格，以迎接中秋节（韩国的感恩节，从9月24日至27日）。

声明称：“政府将迅速落实计划于2026年下半年实施的经济增长举措，以应对战后挑战，重振增长潜力，解决经济两极分化问题。”

针对近期全球油价飙升，韩国财政部一位官员表示，由于目前实施了燃油价格上限，预计油价上涨对韩国经济的影响有限。

“即使原油价格徘徊在每桶100美元以上，由于燃油价格上限的存在，也不会对经济造成直接冲击，”这位官员表示。“除非出现其他因素，否则预计今年消费者价格将上涨2.7%。”