IMR Knowledge Cluster

2024

Key Economic Indicators of South Korea

Description Table Of Content

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of South Korea's key economic indicators, presenting an in-depth understanding of the nation’s macroeconomic landscape, fiscal policies, trade activities, financial markets, and infrastructure development. It begins with a detailed macroeconomic overview, focusing on GDP growth trends, purchasing power parity (PPP), and GDP per capita, which highlight South Korea's economic performance, productivity, and its role in the global economy. The analysis also includes GDP-based metrics and PPP conversion rates to give a nuanced perspective on the country's economic standing relative to other nations.

The report examines inflation and employment trends, analysing the trajectory of consumer prices and the unemployment rate. It also explores demographic factors such as population growth to assess their impact on labour market dynamics and economic stability. The fiscal and external balance section evaluates South Korea’s current account balance, government borrowing, debt levels, and revenue generation, providing insights into the country’s fiscal health and its trade competitiveness.

A key focus is on South Korea’s trade dynamics, with detailed insights into merchandise and service trade volumes. The report emphasizes South Korea's trade relationship with Hong Kong, identifying key import and export commodities while assessing bilateral trade performance. Financial and stock market indicators are analysed in detail, covering the MSCI Korea Index, sector weightage, top market players, and the evolution of market capitalization.

The energy and infrastructure section explore trends in energy consumption and the growth of residential construction permits, showcasing the country’s infrastructure advancements. The report concludes with a forward-looking perspective on South Korea's economic trajectory, identifying opportunities and challenges. By integrating key findings, the report serves as a vital resource for stakeholders seeking to understand South Korea's economic landscape and its future growth potential.

Introduction

This chapter outlines the report's scope and coverage, providing readers with a clear understanding of the key economic indicators analyzed. It sets the stage for an extensive exploration of South Korea's economic trends, fiscal health, trade dynamics, and future outlook.

Macroeconomic Overview

This chapter focuses on South Korea's GDP performance across various dimensions, such as real growth rates, current price values, and purchasing power parity (PPP). It delves into GDP per capita to measure individual economic prosperity and examines the nation's global economic contribution through PPP-based metrics. The chapter also includes the implied PPP conversion rate, offering insights into currency valuation.

Inflation and Employment Trends

Here, the report analyzes South Korea’s inflation trajectory, examining both average consumer prices and end-of-period rates. The chapter also investigates demographic trends, including population growth and unemployment rates, to assess the nation’s labor market and economic stability.

Fiscal and External Balances

This section evaluates South Korea’s fiscal and external positions, including current account balances, government borrowing, debt levels, and revenue generation. It paints a picture of the country's fiscal responsibility and its trade competitiveness on the global stage.

External Trade Dynamics

This chapter highlights South Korea's role in global trade, focusing on merchandise and service trade volumes. It examines trade relations with Hong Kong, identifying major import and export commodities while assessing overall bilateral trade performance.

Financial and Stock Market Indicators

The financial chapter reviews the performance of the MSCI Korea Index and the top 10 constituents in the stock market. It provides a sectoral breakdown of market weightage and traces historical and projected market capitalization trends, reflecting the vibrancy of South Korea's financial landscape.

Energy and Infrastructure Indicators

This chapter addresses South Korea’s energy consumption patterns and their year-on-year variations. It also evaluates residential construction permits as a metric of infrastructure development, providing insights into housing and urban planning trends.

Future Outlook

A forward-looking chapter that projects South Korea’s economic trajectory, identifying growth opportunities and challenges. It integrates findings from previous chapters to forecast potential trends and implications.

Appendix

The appendix details the research methodology, ensuring the reliability of the report’s findings. It also includes author credentials, reinforcing the expertise behind the analysis.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. SCOPE AND COVERAGE

2. MACROECONOMIC OVERVIEW

2.1. South Korea Real GDP Growth (Annual Percent Change)

2.2. South Korea GDP, Current Prices (Billions of U.S. Dollars)

2.3. South Korea GDP Per Capita, Current Prices (U.S. Dollars Per Capita)

2.4. South Korea GDP, Current Prices (Purchasing Power Parity; Billions of International Dollars)

2.5. South Korea GDP Per Capita, Current Prices (Purchasing Power Parity; International Dollars Per Capita)

2.6. South Korea GDP Based on PPP, Share of World (Percent of World)

2.7. South Korea Implied PPP Conversion Rate (National Currency Per International Dollar)

3. INFLATION AND EMPLOYMENT TRENDS

3.1. South Korea Inflation Rate, Average Consumer Prices (Annual Percent Change)