Samsung Electronics' semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do Province (Samsung Electronics)

By Kang Gahui

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has maintained its economic growth forecast for Korea this year at 1.9%.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy on April 14 said the projection per the IMF report World Economic Outlook for April remained the same as the figure quoted in January.

The fund lowered its projection for the world this year by two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.1%, but retained that for Korea given the nation's relatively strong growth.

Analysts cited factors behind the outlook as strong semiconductor exports and the effects of the supplementary budget despite external uncertainty stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.

The government will continue measures to stabilize prices, supply chains, vulnerable sectors and financial markets until a definitive end of the war is declared, while also quickly disbursing the supplementary budget of KRW 26.2 trillion using surplus tax revenue to stabilize the people's livelihoods.

kgh89@korea.kr