Korea's current account goods surplus rose to 119,635,700,000 in the April-June quarter, from 74,213,400,000 in the previous quarter. The reading also marked the fifth consecutive quarterly increase. The surplus was up from 35,898,200,000 a year earlier.

The series' all-time low was -8,070,100,000 in the first quarter of 2023. The latest reading is the highest since the series began in 1976, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Korea Current Account Goods Rise to Record High

South Korea's tourism revenues rose to $7,826.9 million in the second quarter of 2026, from $5,965.5 million in the previous quarter. This is the highest level on record since data began in 1976, surpassing the previous all-time high set in the same quarter. Revenues were also up from $5,820.4 million a year earlier, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Korea Tourism Revenues Rise to Record

South Korea's consumer price inflation rose to 3.09% in August 2026, up from 2.79% in July, according to data released by the International Monetary Fund. The latest reading marks the second consecutive monthly increase after a dip in July, with the pace accelerating from the 2.79% recorded the prior month. Year-on-year, the index remains well below the all-time high of 122.10% set in October 1952, and above the series low of -11.98% from April 1958. The August figure also compares with a year-ago rate of 1.67% in August 2025, reflecting a notable pickup over the past twelve months. The data, sourced from the International Monetary Fund, shows the index has fluctuated between 1.67% and 3.16% over the past year, with the latest reading near the upper end of that range.

Korea Inflation Rises to 3.09% in August

Korea's current account services deficit narrowed to $4.80 billion in the June 2026 quarter, from $6.97 billion in the previous three months. The deficit has now contracted for two consecutive quarters, following a record low of $10.56 billion in the December 2025 quarter. The latest reading is the smallest shortfall since the $4.80 billion recorded in the June 2025 quarter, though it remains well above the all-time low of $10.61 billion set in December 2017. The deficit is also narrower than the $8.07 billion recorded a year earlier. The data, which extends back to March 1976, shows the services balance has been negative throughout the recent period, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Korea Services Deficit Narrows to $4.8B

South Korea's consumer confidence index fell to 4.5 in August from a revised 6.8 in July, according to the OECD. The reading was sharply lower than the 11.2 recorded a year earlier. The index remains well below its all-time high of 23 set in October 2009 but above the historic low of -32.3 from December 2008, according to the OECD.

Korea Consumer Confidence Falls to 4.5 in August

Korea's business confidence index rose to -4.66666666666667 in August from -6.33333333333333 in July. The reading is the highest since June 2022 and compares with -14.3333333333 a year earlier. The index remains below its all-time high of 65 from February 1998 and above its all-time low of -37.6666666667 from December 2008. The monthly series began in July 1991, according to the OECD.

Korea Business Confidence Rises in August

The won strengthened to 1,406.3 per dollar in August from 1,497.43 in July, the lowest since September 2025. The August reading is down from a recent peak of 1,527.3 in June and remains above the 1,389.66 level a year earlier. The all-time high for the series is 1,706.8 in January 1998, while the all-time low is 50 in January 1960, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Korea Official FX Falls to 11-Month Low

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