(LEAD) Ukraine crisis, high inflation pose threat to S. Korean economy: finance chief

All News 16:01 March 10, 2022

(ATTN: ADDS gov't support for exporters with logistics in last 5 paras, additional photo)

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki on Thursday cited the Ukraine crisis, high inflation and currency volatility as the biggest risks to the South Korean economy, his office said.

Hong called for thorough policy efforts to better tackle the economic fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and cope with growing inflationary pressure amid surging energy costs.

He also called attention to increased external economic risks as the Korean currency has sharply weakened against the U.S. dollar on investors' demand for safer assets.

This photo, taken March 9, 2022, shows information about gas prices at a filling station in Seoul. (Yonhap)

His message came after main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol was elected as South Korea's next president to succeed outgoing President Moon Jae-in.

Yoon faces the daunting task of propping up the economic recovery amid growing concerns that the Ukraine crisis could undercut economic growth and stoke inflation.

The Ukraine conflict has sparked fears about global stagflation, a mix of high prices and slumping growth.

Oil and other raw material prices have surged as the Ukraine crisis has fanned concerns about supply disruptions. South Korea relies on imports for its energy needs.

Experts said the country's consumer inflation growth could spike to 4 percent in the coming months due to high energy costs and demand-pull price pressure from the economic recovery.

South Korea's consumer prices grew 3.7 percent on-year in February, marking the fifth straight month that inflation has grown more than 3 percent, above the central bank's inflation target of 2 percent.

The Bank of Korea has revised up its 2022 inflation growth rate to 3.1 percent from its earlier estimate of 2 percent.

Amid global distribution disruptions over the Ukraine crisis, the government vowed Thursday to help local exporters with their logistics operations.

The government will set up a system meant to instantly share security and other related information with private firms to help smooth out the flow of cargo shipping, according to the industry ministry.

It plans to cover part of transport costs and other fees in case companies are forced to send home export items to another destination due to a port closure, and other restrictions in Ukraine and surrounding regions.

The government also pledged to expedite customs clearance for such affected goods and provide counseling services to help firms find new sales channels, the ministry added.

Many Ukrainian ports are closed, and the number of cargo ships and flights bound for Russia tumbled recently over the crisis.