Direct Answer
South Korea economic indicators come from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the Bank of Korea and the Korea Customs Service. CPI usually appears in the first days of the month, the employment survey in the second or third week, and industrial statistics at month-end, while the Monetary Policy Board sets the Base Rate at eight main meetings a year.
South Korea Economic Indicators: Investor Reference
This hub covers the major economic indicators released for this country. Each linked indicator page explains what the measure tracks, how it is calculated, when it is released, and how investors interpret changes in the data.
See the international indicators hub for other countries, or the full economic indicators hub for all 15 categories.
Who publishes South Korea's economic data?
The Ministry of Data and Statistics publishes CPI, the Economically Active Population Survey (employment and unemployment), industrial production and retail sales. The Bank of Korea publishes GDP, the Base Rate and the consumer sentiment survey. The Korea Customs Service publishes exports and the trade balance. The ministry's 2026 schedule runs in a fixed order each month, CPI first, then the employment survey, then Monthly Industrial Statistics, and notes that dates may change.
South Korea indicators at a glance
| Indicator | What it measures | Published by | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOK Base Rate | the main policy interest rate set by the Bank of Korea | Bank of Korea | Irregular |
| South Korea Consumer Sentiment | how confident South Korean households are about the economy and their finances | Bank of Korea | Monthly |
| South Korea CPI | consumer price inflation in South Korea | Ministry of Data and Statistics of South Korea | Monthly |
| South Korea Employment | the change in the number of employed people in South Korea | Ministry of Data and Statistics of South Korea | Monthly |
| South Korea Exports | the value of goods exported from South Korea | Korea Customs Service | Monthly |
| South Korea GDP | the inflation-adjusted output of the South Korean economy | Bank of Korea | Quarterly |
| South Korea Industrial Production | monthly output from South Korean factories, mines and utilities | Ministry of Data and Statistics of South Korea | Monthly |
| South Korea Retail Sales | the volume of retail sales in South Korea | Ministry of Data and Statistics of South Korea | Monthly |
| South Korea Trade Balance | the gap between South Korea's merchandise exports and imports | Korea Customs Service | Monthly |
| South Korea Unemployment | the share of the South Korean labor force that is unemployed | Ministry of Data and Statistics of South Korea | Monthly |
Each row comes from the same source file as the indicator page it links, so the publisher and frequency here match that page.
How does South Korea's central bank set policy?
The Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Board sets the Base Rate, the Bank's policy rate, at main meetings held eight times a year, with extraordinary meetings possible when conditions change rapidly. The Bank states a CPI inflation target of 2 percent, set in consultation with the government and reviewed every two years. The Monetary Policy Decision statement is written at the meeting, the Governor holds a press conference immediately after, and minutes follow two weeks later.
What is different about South Korea's data?
- The CPI is built on a 2020=100 base covering 458 items in 40 cities, with weights revised on a two to three year cycle. Agricultural, fishery and livestock products are priced three times a month, so fresh food prices can move the headline.
- In the 2026 schedule CPI for a month appears on the 2nd to 6th of the next month (December's is set for December 31), the employment survey between the 9th and 18th, and Monthly Industrial Statistics at or near month-end. Industrial output therefore arrives about a month after the reference month, well behind prices.
- The Korea Customs Service trade portal shows month-to-date totals (for example October 1 to October 10) beside completed months, on a clearance basis dated by acceptance, while a separate annual export figure is dated by departure. A partial month covers fewer days, so compare it with the same window a year earlier.
- The Bank of Korea's Consumer Tendency Survey is a soft-data series: about 2,500 households are interviewed in a window around the middle of the month and the composite sentiment index is released later in the same month, so it reflects opinion rather than spending or income.
Which South Korea releases should you read first?
Start with CPI in the first days of the month for price pressure, then the employment survey in mid-month for labour conditions, and Monthly Industrial Statistics near month-end for output. Customs exports can be read on a month-to-date basis within the month. The Base Rate decision and the Governor's press conference give the policy context. This is a reading order, not a trading recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does South Korea publish CPI and employment data?
In the Ministry of Data and Statistics 2026 schedule, CPI for a month appears on the 2nd to 6th of the next month and the Economically Active Population Survey between the 9th and 18th. Monthly Industrial Statistics follow at or near month-end, and the schedule is subject to change.
How often does the Bank of Korea set its Base Rate?
The Monetary Policy Board sets the Base Rate at its main meeting eight times a year, and the dates for the next year are released near the end of the current year. Extraordinary meetings can be held if economic conditions change rapidly.
What is the Bank of Korea's inflation target?
The target is 2 percent, measured by the year-on-year change in the Consumer Price Index, and applies from 2019 onward. The Bank sets it in consultation with the government and reviews the inflation targeting framework with the government every two years.