Recovering global economy may help S. Korea turn around: finance minister

All News 11:43 April 13, 2017

SEJONG, April 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's finance minister said Thursday that the recent signs of a recovery in world trade will help Asia's fourth-largest economy make a rebound despite lingering uncertainties at home and abroad.

"As the South Korean economy highly depends on exports and global demand, the upside trend in the world economy will be a boon for the country," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said in a ministerial meeting in Seoul.

Hopes are high that the South Korean economy has entered a positive cycle on the back of robust exports and recovering domestic demand.

The country's exports posted positive growth five months in a row since November last year on stellar overseas sales of semiconductors led by recovering world trade.

Retail sales also gained 3.2 percent on-month in February, a rebound from a consecutive drop for the November-January period.

The top economic policymaker, however, said the government will not let its guard down as there are still downside risks that may spark a sudden foreign outflow from the local financial market.

"As we still face an array of internal and external uncertainties, the government will do our best to manage possible risks in the coming months," said Yoo.

He also said the Seoul government will seek ways to bolster cooperation with the United States at the scheduled visit by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence next week.

It is also focusing on dealing with trade tension with China, who raised non-tariff barriers against South Korean products in retaliation for the Seoul's decision to deploy a U.S.-led missile defense system, or THAAD, the minister said.