Good news and bad news together... What is the domestic economic outlook?

<Anchor>

Let's discuss this with reporter Lim Tae-woo of the Ministry of Economy. 

[Reporter Lim Tae-woo: Yes.

This year was also difficult, but next year, especially the first half, will not be very good, as are many statistics and experts.

As you know, our economy is export-oriented.

In particular, semiconductors account for 20% of total exports, and they are buying less from China, the largest exporter.

Then, the electronics industry that goes into semiconductors is getting worse and the manufacturing industry is also taking a hit, but it is clear that even consumption, which had endured for a while, is weakening, so it is said that next year's economy is more worrying.

There are also companies that reduce their size, so office workers are worried.]

[Reporter Lim Tae-woo: First of all, the influence of the United States is great.

For the first time in history, the United States raised its key interest rate by 0.75 percentage points for the fourth consecutive time, rapidly collecting money released on the market.

But since President Powell said that he can control the pace of interest rate hike, wouldn't money circulate little by little in the financial market

[Reporter Lim Tae-woo: Yes.

The Governor of the Bank of Korea once said this in the past.

It is independent from the Korean government, but it seems that it is not independent from the US central bank.

In other words, when the interest rate is decided, if the US raises it, we have to raise it, and if the US stops, we owe it to the current situation.

Raising the interest rate is burdensome because the debt of households and small business owners is enormous, but so far, we have to keep up with the US interest rate and keep up with inflation, so we have kept raising interest rates.

If the US slows down, we can also raise interest rates less while watching the economy, so this is good news.] 

(Video editing: Moo-Hwan Jo)