Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles highlights the significant impact of external factors, particularly U.S. tariffs and political uncertainty, on the South Korean economy, overshadowing domestic political changes [1][5] - The Bank of Korea has conducted four interest rate cuts in 2025, lowering the rate to 2.5%, the lowest since August 2022, in response to political uncertainty and market volatility [1] - South Korea's GDP growth unexpectedly contracted by 0.1% in Q1 2025, marking the first contraction since Q4 2020, leading the Bank of Korea to revise its GDP forecast for the year down from 1.5% to 0.8% [1] Group 2 - The Bank of Korea warns of risks associated with rising housing prices, particularly in the Seoul metropolitan area, which could exacerbate household debt and threaten financial stability [3] - From December 2013 to May 2025, the cumulative increase in housing prices in Seoul outpaced the national average by 69.4 percentage points, indicating a growing disparity between capital and non-capital regions [3] - As of June 2025, housing prices in Seoul have continued to rise, with core area prices reaching 120,000 to 150,000 RMB per square meter, and some luxury apartments exceeding 500,000 RMB per unit [3] Group 3 - South Korea's household debt remains high at 91.7% of GDP, second only to Canada, with a continuous increase over 17 years, raising concerns about economic growth and financial stability [4] - The Bank of Korea aims to gradually reduce the household debt-to-GDP ratio to 80% to mitigate economic constraints [4] - To address the polarization in housing prices, the report emphasizes the need for government initiatives to develop regional cities and reduce excessive regional imbalances [4] Group 4 - The U.S. tariffs imposed on South Korea, including a 25% tariff and specific tariffs on steel and automotive industries, have created significant uncertainty in the capital markets [5] - Ongoing negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. have yet to yield substantial results, with the South Korean Trade Minister emphasizing the need to prioritize national interests in trade discussions [5] - The Bank of Korea reported a record high current account surplus of $118.23 billion with the U.S. in 2024, driven by strong U.S. domestic demand and increased investments from South Korea [6]