<Anchor>



If the United States emerges like this, Korea will inevitably be affected.

Right now, the Bank of Korea is highly likely to raise interest rates for the second month in a row, following last month.

There is even talk that the width of the increase should be set as large as 0.5 percentage points, just like the United States.



This content was pointed out by reporter Jeon Yeon-nam.



<Reporter>



Korea's inflation is as serious as the US.



In April, consumer prices rose 4.8%, the highest in 13 years.



In addition, the sentiment that prices will rise in the future, that is, expected inflation, is also a problem.



This is because the idea of ​​getting higher service rates or wages spreads, which further fuels inflation.



Lee Chang-yong, governor of the Bank of Korea, has indicated that an interest rate hike is necessary to suppress such expectations in advance.



[Lee Chang-yong/Governor of the Bank of Korea: It is very unfortunate for the Bank of Korea, but if you do not give a signal in advance to catch an interest rate hike, expected inflation will rise and this may become a problem.]



It is also necessary to hold on to the investment funds in Korea .



Currently, Korea's base interest rate is 0.5 percentage points ahead of the US, and even if the US raises interest rates sharply just a few times like this one, it could be higher than ours.



If this happens, foreign investment funds in the country are shifted into more expensive dollars, which can lead to an increase in the exchange rate and an increase in import prices.



[Seong Tae-yoon/Professor of Economics, Yonsei University: If Korea's interest rate hike is not achieved gradually and continuously, it is thought that a large interest rate increase due to inflation in the future can have a big impact on the financial market.



] There is a high possibility that the interest rate will be raised again at the end of this month, and there is also a forecast that a 0.5 percentage point increase will be considered in order to see the effect immediately.



It is now time to prepare for loan repayment as it has become a known fact that interest rates rise rapidly.



(Video editing: Yonghwa Jung)