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Amidst these changes in international factors that will affect the Korean economy, it was found that the current account recorded a deficit for the first time in 14 years as of August.

It is analyzed that this is because imports of raw materials have increased significantly while exports have been sluggish.



This news is from reporter Jo Yoon-ha.



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According to the statistics of the Bank of Korea, the current account recorded a deficit of 3.05 billion dollars in August.



Although there was often a current account deficit in April when dividends flowed out abroad, the August deficit is the first in 14 years since 2008 during the financial crisis.



Exports increased by 7.7%, but imports increased by 30.6%, nearly four times that, resulting in a deficit of $4.45 billion in the goods account.



Energy imports in particular increased significantly in August.



Specifically, gas imports increased by 117%, coal imports by 132%, and crude oil imports by 73% compared to last year, raising the total imports.



In terms of exports, China's exports to electrical and electronic products such as semiconductors, which were the backbone of our economy, fell by more than 5%.



It also lost $1.2 billion in royalties to foreign countries and $970 million in overseas travel.



The government, which had said that there was no problem in the economy because the current account was in a surplus, began pouring out measures.





[Sangmok Choi / Chief Economic

Officer of the President's Office: We have decided to sequentially announce and implement 18 new measures, such as strengthening export competitiveness by industry, domestic conversion of imports, and measures to improve the service balance in all areas including tourism, logistics, and contents.]

"In September, as energy prices fall, the current account is highly likely to return to surplus," he said, but risk factors remain.



[Joo Won/Head of Economic Research Department, Hyundai Research Institute: If there is a recent crude oil production cut or other unexpected events, I think that raw material prices will rise again, and it can act as a factor in the current account deficit.]



If the current account deficit continues, the exchange rate To the extent that it can stimulate the