Containers at Pyeongtaek Port in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do Province (Yonhap News)

By Koh Hyunjeong

A Singapore-based think tank has kept its growth forecast for the Korean economy this year at 1.9%.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy on April 6 announced that the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said this in its 2026 Regional Economic Outlook.

The report said Korea will grow 1.9% this year, nearly double from 1% last year, thanks to strong demand for semiconductors and the supplementary budget.

AMOR cited expansion of investment demand driven by the development of artificial intelligence as an upside factor, but also the resumption of U.S. tariffs, rising global energy prices, and setbacks in regional energy supply as obstacles.

The report recommended flexibility in fiscal and monetary policies in a complementary manner.

The AMRO report annually evaluates economic trends in Korea, Japan, China and the 10 ASEAN member countries and offers policy recommendations.

The latest edition is available on AMRO's official website (https://www.amro-asia.org).

hjkoh@korea.kr