BOK hikes rates for first time in 3-1/2 years, signals more

South Korea's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in three-and-a-half years on Thursday and flagged more to come, as brisk growth in Asia's fourth-largest economy fanned inflation risks.

The ‌seven-member monetary ⁠policy board ⁠at the Bank of Korea voted to raise the seven-day repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% to stabilise a slumping won and counter persistent inflationary pressure.

In a statement released shortly after, the bank also said the growth rate for South Korea is expected to "considerably exceed" the bank's May forecast of 2.6%, while inflation will remain high for "a considerable time."


"There are good reasons to expect further tightening over the coming months," Capital Economics economist Gareth Leather wrote in a note after the ⁠rate decision ‌was announced.

"Although the continued weakness in private consumption - retail sales are falling in real terms - remains a concern, we still expect growth to reach an above-consensus 4.0% ⁠this year."

The dollar-won rate remained muted on the widely expected decision. The benchmark KOSPI was off 7%, mostly due to renewed selling in chipmakers' stocks.

The economy has been rebounding faster than expected this year, thanks to a boom in semiconductor exports and investment, even as the local currency remains pressured, with the won weakening 3.4% against the greenback.

Gross domestic product expanded 1.8% in the first quarter, the fastest pace in nearly six years, prompting the government to raise growth forecasts to a five-year high of 3.0% for this year ‌on the back of a global semiconductor boom.

The rate hike aligns the BOK closely with regional neighbour the Bank of Japan, which recently raised its own benchmark rate to a 31-year high.

Central banks ⁠in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Philippines have also tightened their monetary policies.

With the headline inflation figure at a 2-1/2-year high in South Korea, a majority of analysts see the BOK delivering at least one more rate hike before the end of this year to take the policy rate to 3.00%.

Median forecasts showed the BOK would raise its key rate to 3.25% in the first quarter of 2027 and keep it there until at least the end of next year.

Governor Shin Hyun Song will hold a press conference at 0210 GMT, which will be livestreamed via YouTube.