South Korean economy likely slowed in Q2 after robust Q1 growth: Reuters poll

BENGALURU, July 21 : South Korea's economy likely grew at a much slower pace in the second quarter compared to the first three months of the year, as robust export growth was offset by weakening domestic demand, a Reuters poll of economists showed.Asia's fourth-largest economy expanded by a seasonally adjusted 0.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, according to the median forecast of 24 economists, a slowdown from growth of 1.8 per cent in the January to March quarter, which was the highest in nearly six years. Forecasts for the survey taken July 7 to 20 ranged from 0.1 per cent to 1.0 per cent."Exports and investment are two key drivers for Q2 GDP, but domestic demand and consumption growth likely remain weak," said Jeong Woo Park, Asia economist at Nomura. Consumers "looked very con