By bno - Taipei Bureau South Korea's central bank has opted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3% despite mounting concerns over the country's economic performance. This decision follows two consecutive rate cuts in October and November,

Korea faces economic growth gap with U.S.; need for measures to retain investments Koreas investment landscape faces challenges amidst diverging economic trends with the U.S.

The KOSPI 200 Index held steady on Thursday as Asian stocks cheered the performance in New York a day earlier. The index, which tracks the biggest 200 companies in South Korea, rose to KRW 335, up by near 7% from its lowest level in December.

South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Friday the government will make an all-out effort to stabilise the economy and will monitor financial markets around the clock to act if needed.

The high dollar and expensive U.S. stocks offer a chance to investors to buy cheap overseas assets as the risk of a bond market upset rises

South Korea experienced presidential impeachments and a tragic plane crash. But the Kospi index is now higher than it was a month ago.

Despite mounting woes leading to weak growth momentum, South Korea's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate frozen Thursday in the wake of the weak local currency and uncertainties stemming from the new Donald Trump administration.

The surprise decision came as South Korea's trade-dependent economy faces challenges from weakening export growth and a sluggish recovery in domestic demand, partly hindered by political turmoil following impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law in December.

Where Economists Think the Trump Economy Is Headed By Vicky Ge Huang WSJ's latest survey shows that forecasters expect higher inflation than they did in October-but also higher GDP growth. Also, a sluggish economy and President Trump's tariff threats prompt Beijing to tell big investor to buy more stocks.

A World Bank report last week highlighted that risks to the regional outlook remain tilted to the downside, primarily due to global policy shifts and trade policies in particular. It projected growth for East Asia and Pacific to decelerate to 4.6% in 2025 and to 4.1% in 2026, from 4.9% in 2024.

South Korea's central bank on Monday slashed its 2025 growth forecast because of the political crisis triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law last month.