South Korea to unveil steps soon to support growth

"Sluggish sales in semiconductor and automobile-related industries were reported by some panellists, while demand from Europe, China and Japan was also reportedly subdued," said Joe Hayes, an economist at IHS Markit.. (File pic shows a man working at an assembly line of Hyundai Motor's plant in Asan, South Korea.)

SEOUL: Risks to South Korea’s economic growth have risen mostly from outside the country, warranting stronger policy measures to support growth, the country’s top presidential economic policy aide said.

The remarks came as investors have been increasing bets that the central bank would cut its policy interest rate in the next few months for the first time since mid-2016 to keep Asia’s fourth-largest economy from weakening further.