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Then, let's take a look at our economic report card in the second quarter, which was difficult for everyone because of the corona. The economic growth rate was -3.3%, again showing negative growth following the first quarter. It is the lowest number in 22 years since the foreign exchange crisis, and it is the first time since the card crisis in 2003 that showed negative growth rate for two consecutive quarters.

Reporter Yoo Deok-gi pointed out if it would be better in the second half of our economy.

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Gross domestic product and GDP growth minus 3.3% in the second quarter were the lowest since the first quarter of 1998, just after the IMF foreign exchange crisis.

Above all, the impact of exports was affected by the country's economic blockade.

Exports in the second quarter plummeted by 16.6%, the largest drop in 56 years and six months since the fourth quarter of 1963.

However, private consumption, which declined significantly in the first quarter, recovered somewhat.

[Park Yang-soo/Director of the Bank of Korea's Economic Statistics Bureau: For private consumption, the emergency disaster subsidy is effective, and consumer sentiment begins in April, rather than when the initial corona occurred (improvement)… .]

The Bank of Korea projected its growth rate to be -0.2% this May, but downward revisions were inevitable due to sluggish 2Q.

The government was confident that the Chinese economy rebounded in the second quarter, and that the corona situation was calming down.

[Hong Nam-ki/Deputy Prime Minister: In the third quarter, when the corona calms down, it is possible to rebound the track similar to that of China… .]

However, there are many opinions that it will be difficult to expect an economic recovery that will be felt only by taking advantage of the base effect of the large negative growth in the second quarter.

[Professor Soyoung Kim/Department of Economics at Seoul National University: Employment status in the third and fourth quarters is expected to continue to be poor. Profits will still not be good for companies.]

To achieve even the -0.2% growth rate expected by the Bank of Korea this year, it will need to grow by 3% in the third and fourth quarters.

The point is that annual plus growth is not easy.

(Video coverage: Sunghwa Hwa, Video editing: Junhee Kim, CG: Hyunjung Jung)