BOK Governor Vows Proactive Efforts to Tame Inflation

Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song announced on June 17, 2026, that the central bank will undertake proactive measures to curb inflation until it is confident that price increases are stabilizing towards its target level. Shin indicated that consumer prices are anticipated to remain high for an extended period, citing the slow recovery of the energy supply chain and the subsequent stabilization of global oil prices.

He noted that the impact of elevated oil prices extends beyond the energy sector to other products, and that the recovery trend in the South Korean economy is also contributing to upward price pressures. Shin reported that following the Middle East war, global oil prices surged, leading to a more than 20 percent increase in petroleum product prices and pushing core inflation into the mid-2 percent range.

The governor acknowledged the significant economic burden high inflation places on the public and reiterated the BOK's commitment to closely monitoring consumer price trends. South Korea's consumer prices had previously risen by 3.1 percent in May compared to the previous year, the fastest growth in 26 months.

A report released by the BOK earlier on Wednesday suggested that South Korea would continue to experience elevated consumer prices, even after the resolution of the Middle East conflict, due to rising incomes fueled by a boom in the technology industry. The report also pointed to increasing upward pressure on public service charges and the impact of recent wage hikes in the technology sector on other industries. The BOK anticipates consumer price inflation to hover around 3 percent in the second half of 2026, with core inflation remaining in the mid-2 percent range.