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Bank of Korea to Hold Rates at 2.50% as War-Driven Uncertainty Persists
All 31 economists polled by Reuters expect no change as policymakers weigh higher oil prices, a weaker won and inflation risks.
- On Friday, April 10, 2026, the Bank of Korea maintained its base interest rate at 2.50%, aligning with predictions from a Reuters poll of 31 economists who forecast the freeze.
- Since the start of Israeli strikes on Iran, oil prices have increased over 50%, raising risks to growth and inflation in South Korea, which sources around 70% of its oil from the Gulf region.
- The Korean won has weakened 4% against the dollar since the war began, while inflation rose to 2.2% in March, slightly exceeding the Bank's 2% target.
- Stephen Lee, chief economist at Meritz Securities, said the Bank is monitoring the won, as currency weakness could feed into consumer inflation through higher import prices.
- Among 30 economists, 26 forecast no rate changes through 2026, with experts noting the freeze holds as long as the war's impact on headline inflation turns out to be "transitory.
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·Korea (the Republic of)
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left2Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Right
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Right
43% Right
L 29%
C 28%
R 43%
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