REGULATION · APAC
South Korea inflation rebounds above 3%, complicating central bank policy
South Korea's inflation rate jumped above 3%, suggesting persistent price pressure despite monetary tightening—likely to keep Bank of Korea vigilant and delay rate cuts that fintech lenders expect.
WHY IT MATTERS
Higher for longer rates squeeze fintech lending margins in Asia's largest startup hub; Korean fintechs will shift to higher-risk lending or AI-driven underwriting to protect returns.
Source: WSJ · 2026-09-07