AI Data Insight
South Korea reported a real GDP quarter-on-quarter growth rate of 1.3% for the third quarter of 2026, marking a significant slowdown from the previous quarter's 4.4%, yet maintaining a steady pattern of positive growth. Driven by AI infrastructure demand, semiconductor exports and equipment investments have become the main pillars of support, outperforming market expectations. However, the unexpected decline in private consumption highlights an unbalanced phenomenon of 'strong external and weak internal demand,' necessitating close monitoring of the potential risks associated with reliance on a single industry in the future.