Group 1 - The Bank of Korea has lowered the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.50% to mitigate the downside risks to economic growth [1] - Due to uncertainties surrounding tariffs, South Korea's exports are expected to continue slowing, significantly impacting economic growth [1] - A media survey predicts that South Korea's exports in May may decline by 4.9% year-on-year, following a 3.7% increase in April [1] Group 2 - A survey by Mono indicates that if the current U.S. tariff policy continues, South Korean exporters expect a nearly 5% decline in exports to the U.S. this year [2] - Among the top 1,000 exporting companies, the electrical and electronics sector anticipates the largest decline of 8.3%, followed by the automotive sector at 7.9% [2] - The Bank of Korea has revised its economic growth forecast for 2025 down to 0.8%, with a projected growth rate of 1.6% for 2026 [2] Group 3 - A Reuters survey indicates that the Bank of Korea is expected to lower the benchmark interest rate to 2.00% by the end of Q4 2025, down from a previous estimate of 2.25% [3] - The Bank of Korea forecasts the inflation rate in South Korea to reach 1.9% in 2025 and 1.8% in 2026, with inflation expected to stabilize around 2% [3] - Future inflation trends will depend on economic conditions, exchange rates, and oil prices, with a need to remain vigilant against rising household debt and increased volatility in the foreign exchange market [3]

Core Viewpoint - South Korean exporters anticipate a 4.9% decline in exports to the United States this year if current tariff policies remain in place [1] Industry Summary - Among the top 1,000 exporting companies, 150 firms expect an average export reduction of 4.9% to the U.S. by 2025 [1] - The electrical and electronics sector is projected to experience the largest decline at 8.3%, followed by the automotive and auto parts industry at 7.9%, petrochemicals and petroleum products at 7.2%, and general machinery at 6.4% [1] - In contrast, the shipbuilding and pharmaceutical sectors expect growth in exports to the U.S., with increases of 10% and 1.6% respectively, despite ongoing tariff concerns [1] Company Sentiment - 81.3% of surveyed companies believe that tariff measures will negatively impact businesses in both countries [1] - Additionally, 14.7% of respondents feel that while the tariffs will adversely affect South Korean companies, they may benefit U.S. firms [1]