Inflation in Korea was one of the major economic
problems in the 70s and early 80s, during which consumer prices rose at annual
rates of 10-20 percent. Since 1982, Korea has managed to keep inflation down to
a single digit. The ratio of domestic savings to GNP grew from 3.3 percent in
1962 to 34.9 percent in 1993.
Recent Challenges
Beginning in 1989, the Korean economy began
experiencing slower growth, high inflation and a deterioration in the balance
of payments. The GNP growth rate fell to 6.7 percent in 1989 from the 12
percent level of previous years. A slump in the growth of the manufacturing
sector, from 18.8 percent in 1987 and 13.4 percent in 1988 to 13.7 percent in
1989, contributed largely to this decline in GNP growth rate. The export growth
rate on a customs clearance basis, which was 36.2 percent in 1987 and 28.4
percent in 1988, fell to just 2.8 percent in 1989. Reflecting this fall in the
export growth rate, the current account surplus lowered to around US$5.1
billion, a significant drop from the 1988 surplus of US$14.2 billion.
In 1991, the economic growth rate showed signs of
recovery. The GNP grew during the year 9.1 percent. However, most of this
growth was attributed to an increase in domestic demand, particularly domestic
consumption. Exports increased 10.3 percent compared to 1990, while the growth
rate of imports increased 17.7 percent. The trade balance deteriorate rapidly
to a US$7.0 billion deficit in 1991 from the US$4.6 billion surplus in 1989. In
addition, price stability, which had served to boost Korea’s competitiveness, weakened. Consumer prices, which had risen on an annual average of 2-3 percent
between 1984 and 1987, rose 9.3 percent in 1991.
Recent Economic Trends