(LEAD) Finance minister vows policy efforts to improve fiscal health

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 6-7)

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top economic policymaker has said the government will continue to make policy efforts to strengthen fiscal soundness as the country's national debt has grown at a fast pace during the COVID-19 pandemic, his office said Friday.

Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki made the remarks during his meeting with Roberto Sifon-Arevalo, sovereign managing director of global credit appraiser S&P Global, in Washington D.C. on Thursday (local time).

In the meeting, the two discussed South Korea's credit rating and economic situation. Hong stressed the need for multifaceted efforts to promote fiscal sustainability as the country's deficit and national debt have sharply risen due to stimulus spending aimed at tackling the pandemic.

He said the government will push for policy efforts to enhance fiscal health, including the introduction of a rule-based fiscal framework, according to the finance ministry.

In 2020, the ministry proposed a fiscal rule that would limit the country's debt to 60 percent of its GDP or its fiscal deficit to 3 percent starting in 2025. But the new rule is pending in parliament.

In a separate meeting with reporters, Hong said the incoming government of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol must adopt a new fiscal rule as around 150 nations have such fiscal frameworks to enhance the soundness of public finances.

Yoon earlier promised to introduce a new fiscal rule within one year after he takes office on May 10. He criticized the ministry-proposed rule for being "not realistic," given the fast growing debt.

The national debt is forecast to reach 1,075.7 trillion won (US$870 billion) this year, marking the first time the debt would exceed the 1,000 trillion-won mark, according to an estimate by Seoul's finance ministry.

The debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to rise to a record high of 50.1 percent this year and the fiscal deficit is likely to reach 70.8 trillion won, equivalent to 3.3 percent of the GDP.

Meanwhile, Hong said the government is reviewing policy measures to cope with the economic fallout from Russia's war with Ukraine as an economic slowdown is expected amid high inflation.

Asia's fourth-largest economy is expected to grow in the 2-percent range this year after the 4 percent expansion last year. Its consumer prices may shoot up close to 4 percent amid soaring energy costs and higher demand from the economic recovery.

He said the pandemic is expected to have limited impacts on the Korean economy as new virus cases are on the decline and the government lifted almost all COVID-19 social distancing starting this week.

S&P has maintained its credit rating on South Korea at "AA," the third-highest level on the company's table, since August 2016.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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