Companies "next year is also difficult"..."The Longest Ever" Scary in 50 Years

"There is no problem with the Korean economy"...Economic Organizations Write Overseas
Chairman Woo Won-sik and acting Han Deok-soo meet to complain of difficulties
34th month of economic slowdown forecast..."The longest in 50 years."

[Anchor]
The year-end holiday will look back on the year and prepare for a hopeful new year, but the prospects for next year for our companies are only gloomy from the beginning.

The negative business outlook for companies continued for 34 months, the longest record in 50 years.

Reporter Choi Ah-young reports.

[Reporter]
"The Korean economy is working normally.We ask for continued trust and support from the "

" Korean economy."

Recently, domestic economic organizations sent appeals to the heads of global economic organizations instead of New Year's cards.

In the chaotic political situation, he also met with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik and Acting President Han Deok-soo to express the difficulties of the field.

[Kim Ki-moon / Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business: The buyer canceled the export consultation right before the contract, and the exchange rate suddenly rose to close to KRW 1,450 for raw materials brought in around KRW 1,300...]

Companies are struggling like this because next year looks darker than this year.

The economic forecast for the country's 600 largest companies in January next year is 84.6.

If the index is below 100, it means a negative outlook, but it has fallen the most in five years since COVID-19.

The dismal economic outlook for companies is already in its 34th month, the longest ever recorded in 50 years since the survey began.

By industry, the economic outlook for January next year was dark for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries.

We forecast a slump in everything from domestic demand and investment, employment, exports, financial conditions, profitability and inventory.

[Lee Sang-ho / Head of the Economic Industry Division of the Federation of Korean Industries: Companies hate management uncertainty the most. It is a difficult environment, but the most urgent priority is for the government to take the center stage and maintain policy consistency. Exchange rate stabilization efforts are needed.]

Until the inauguration of the second Trump administration, which has signaled unexpected political unrest and trade pressure, businesses are ahead of hopes for the new year.

I'm YTN's Choi Ayoung.


Video editing: Lee Eun-kyung
Design: Lee Won-hee