Korea’s skilful management of the COVID-19 pandemic protected its people and economy. GDP per capita surpassed the OECD average for the first time in 2020 on the back of one of the smallest GDP contractions among OECD countries, followed by a strong export-led rebound in 2021 and early 2022 (Figure 1).
OECD Economic Surveys: Korea 2022
OECD Economic Surveys: Korea
Executive summary
The economy is recovering
Figure 1. The economy has rebounded
Real GDP, 2019 Q4 = 100
Source: OECD Economic Outlook (database).
The labour market is recovering. Employment has surpassed pre-crisis levels, led by health and public services jobs and job creation programmes. Manufacturing jobs have recovered to pre-crisis levels, while contact-intensive services lag behind.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is weighing on economic activity and exposes supply chain dependencies. Korea’s direct trade and financial links with Ukraine and Russia are limited, and stockpiles of oil and gas are considerable. However, a dependence on the two countries for raw materials to produce semiconductors highlights the need for resilience and diversification in the sourcing of key inputs for industry.
The recovery will continue, albeit at a slower pace. Real GDP is projected to grow by 2.8% in 2022, helped by additional fiscal stimulus from the Yoon government, and 2.2% in 2023. The Omicron wave and supply disruptions weighed on economic activity in early 2022, while the lifting of practically all restrictions set the stage for consumption in contact-intensive services to recover from late spring, although with a drag from inflation (Table 1).
Table 1. The recovery continues
(Annual growth rates, %, unless specified)
1. As a percentage of GDP.
Source: OECD Economic Outlook 111, projections revised as of 12 September 2022.
Monetary policy has been normalising on the back of high inflation pressures (Figure 2). Despite a tick-down, headline consumer price inflation remained almost triple the 2% inflation target in August 2022. Core inflation reached 4%. Wage increases remain modest. In a timely response, the Bank of Korea initiated normalisation in August 2021. So far, it has raised the key policy rate in seven steps from 0.5% to 2.5%, helping to keep inflation expectations anchored.
Figure 2. Inflation has risen fast
Headline inflation (CPI), y-o-y % changes
Note: In boxes, the medium-term consumer price inflation target.
Source: OECD Economic Outlook (database).
Public debt remains low in international comparison despite large pandemic-related fiscal deficits. As consumption finds its new normal, continued pandemic support to businesses would hinder necessary structural change. Future ageing-related expenditure increases also call for a rebalancing of support going forward.
Emission targets require additional policy efforts
Korea is among the OECD’s largest greenhouse gas emitters. It has committed to reducing emissions by 40% from the 2018 level by 2030, and to net zero by 2050. High emission intensity leaves room for emission reductions with considerable co-benefits from cleaner air. A renewed emphasis on nuclear will help, but investments need to be stepped up for renewables, transmission infrastructure and energy efficiency.
Korea’s emission trading scheme (K-ETS), the first in East Asia, covers about three-quarters of domestic emissions, but is not yet aligned with the new and more ambitious emissions reduction targets. Improving the institutional framework for electricity supply would allow the marginal carbon cost to pass through, improving the effectiveness of the K-ETS for electricity generation, a major and systemically important emitting sector.
A large majority of Koreans support efficient climate policies, provided that an explicit price on carbon is combined with funding for low-carbon technologies and infrastructure (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Koreans support emission curbs
Proportion of people supporting measures (in %)
Source: Dechezleprêtre et al. (2022[1]).
Productivity gaps trigger inequalities
Sizeable productivity gaps between large and small firms raise concerns about insufficient competition. Regulations are stringent, notably in services. Large companies are highly productive and have considerable economic power. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with chronically low productivity receive numerous forms of support and special treatment allowing them to stay afloat. Compliance with worker rights to social insurance and minimum wages has room for improvement.
The productivity gaps lead to important income inequalities, which are compounded by labour market dualism. The incidence of non-regular workers is high in small companies relative to larger ones. Regular workers in large companies receive high wages (Figure 4), social insurance coverage and strong employment protection, while non-regular workers receive lower wages, are less likely to receive social insurance payments when they need it, and more likely to work in precarious jobs.
Figure 4. Large firms pay a premium
Per cent difference in wages compared to firms with less than five employees, 2020
Source: Statistics Korea.
Women tend to end up on the wrong side of labour market dualism after childbirth, with a vastly negative impact on future earnings and social security. This stark choice between career and family largely stems from social norms and unforgiving work practices, but employer co-payments of maternal leave also play a role. The situation holds back female employment and leads young women to postpone family formation and have fewer children over their lifetime.
Youth struggle to end up on the winning side of social divides
Faced with productivity gaps, labour market dualism and weaknesses in the education system, young people compete fiercely to enter good universties and land secure and attractive careers in large firms and the public sector.
This Korean “golden ticket syndrome” leads to low youth employment (Figure 5) and family formation, reduces life satisfaction, and potentially has a long-term scarring effect.
Figure 5. Youth employment is low
Percentage of youth aged 15-29 employed in 2019
Source: OECD Labour Force Statistics (database).
Competition to enter top universities is intense, leading to high pressure on students and large outlays on private tutoring. To gain admission, many students apply to departments that do not correspond to their interests and capabilities, resulting in sub-optimal use of talent. Universities face weak competition, in part due to admission quotas that are not flexible enough to respond to rapidly changing labour market demands.
The decline in vocational secondary education has contributed to mismatch between youth’s skills and labour market demand. The share of students attending vocational high schools fell from 40% in 1995 to 18% in 2021, reflecting in part a rise in vocational tertiary education. Moreover, their role has changed as the share of vocational graduates entering tertiary education has risen from 19% to 44%.
The social safety net is incomplete
Weaknesses in the social safety net contribute to persistently high income inequality and poverty, notably among the elderly (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Old-age poverty is high
Relative poverty rate¹, per cent, 2020 or latest
1. Individuals aged 66 and older. The poverty rate is the share of the number of people living with less than half of the median disposable income. Wealth, which increases consumption possibilities and is typically higher among older generations, is not reflected.
Note: OECD Income distribution (database).
Only around half of the labour force has access to unemployment benefits. Furthermore, Korea’s tax-benefit system may discourage taking up or returning to low-paid work from social assistance or unemployment benefits.
Korea’s pension system as a whole fails to secure adequate pension income for many seniors. The Basic Pension is poorly targeted. Beneficiaries of the National Pension Service generally receive a low level of benefits, partly reflecting short contributory periods. Both workers and employers prefer severance payments over pension annuities, and participation in the supplementary personal pension scheme is low.
Despite mandatory insurance, health and long-term care is unaffordable for many elderly. Too few poor elderly are eligible for healthcare benefits under the Basic Livelihood Support. Many recipients of long-term care are unnecessarily hospitalised, reflecting weak primary care, lack of coordination between long-term care and health care, and underdeveloped home and community-based long-term care.