From the 25th to the 29st, the base rate decision and major real economy and household indicators are scheduled to be released in succession, which is expected to serve as a crucial watershed to gauge the economic trajectory for the second half of the year.

28th: BOK Base Rate Decision and First Message from Governor Shin Hyun-song The Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Board will hold a monetary policy direction decision meeting on the 28th to determine the base rate. As the consumer price inflation rate shows an upward trend again due to the aftermath of the war in the Middle East, the market is heavily weighing a 'hawkish freeze,' which would freeze the interest rate but leave the door open for a future hike. Key factors cited include the 1.7% real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate recorded in the first quarter, bolstered by an improvement in semiconductor exports; the increase in household loans due to rising housing prices in the metropolitan area; and the won-dollar exchange rate approaching the 1,520-won level. Governor Shin Hyun-song, who took office on the 21st of last month, will present his first monetary policy message through this meeting and hold a press conference immediately afterward. On the same day, the BOK's Economic Statistics Department will release revised economic growth and inflation forecasts for this year and next. In February, it presented a growth rate of 2.0% and an inflation rate of 2.2% for this year, but there are suggestions that both figures may be revised upward to reflect robust exports and high oil prices and exchange rates.

28th: Financial Authorities' Inclusive Finance and Voice Phishing Response The Financial Services Commission will hold the 5th Great Transition to Inclusive Finance meeting at the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 28th, to discuss the formation and operation of an 'Inclusive Finance Strategy Promotion Task Force.' A plan to transition the purchase claim collection business from a registration system to a licensing system is also expected to be revealed. On the same day, Kwon Dae-young, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, will hold a meeting on voice phishing response at the Government Complex Seoul to review the operation of a financial sector consultative body and guidelines for responding to new types of phishing.

28th: Release of Q1 Household Trends Survey The results of the first-quarter Household Trends Survey, set to be released on the 28th, are also drawing attention. For reference, the average monthly income per household in the fourth quarter of last year was 5.422 million won, up 4.0% year-on-year, while real income increased by 1.6%. However, the quintile distribution ratio of equivalized disposable income widened to 5.59 times, indicating that the income gap has expanded.

29th: Release of April Industrial Activity Trends On the 29th, Statistics Korea will release the April Industrial Activity Trends. The focus is on how trends in industrial production, consumption, and facility investment unfolded amid conflicting factors such as the semiconductor industry's recovery and rising oil prices. In March, the all-industry production index (seasonally adjusted, excluding agriculture, forestry, and fisheries) rose by 0.3% month-on-month, the retail sales index by 1.8%, and the facility investment index by 1.5%, recording a 'triple increase' for the first time in six months.

27th: March Population Trends This week begins with the release of the March population trends on the 27th. With the number of births in January and February this year increasing by around 2,800 each compared to the same month a year ago, showing signs of a rebound, attention is focused on whether the upward trend will continue.