Yonhap’s survey of six economists found respondents expect the Bank of Korea on Thursday to raise its 2026 GDP forecast from 2.6% to as high as 3.4%. Analysts’ forecasts cluster around 3.1–3.4%; Korea Investment & Securities’ analyst set his growth call at 3.2%, while Nomura’s economist offered the 3.4% high-end and said the central bank could materially revise up growth for this year and next. Drivers cited: a semiconductor-led export upside, higher tax receipts supporting larger government spe

Yonhap’s survey of six economists found respondents expect the Bank of Korea on Thursday to raise its 2026 GDP forecast from 2.6% to as high as 3.4%. Analysts’ forecasts cluster around 3.1–3.4%; Korea Investment & Securities’ analyst set his growth call at 3.2%, while Nomura’s economist offered the 3.4% high-end and said the central bank could materially revise up growth for this year and next. Drivers cited: a semiconductor-led export upside, higher tax receipts supporting larger government spending, and a pickup in domestic demand. Market participants note AI-driven demand is lifting chip consumption but supply is responding slowly; some see supply tightness persisting into or beyond 2027. A deputy director at Hyundai Research Institute flagged a risk that the supercycle could peak earlier, citing a month-on-month decline in August chip exports, but expects semiconductor strength to hold into year-end and into 1H next year.