Korean Economy on the Brink... Lowest Q1 Growth Among 19 Countries [3-Minute Brief]

①Q1 Negative Growth of -0.246%, Lowest Among 19 Countries
②Joint Survey Results on "Youth Financial Capability and Financial Happiness"
③Middle Class Tightens Wallets... Luxury Market Sees First Negative Growth in 15 Years

MARKET INDEX

○US and China to lower tariffs by 115 percentage points each over 90 days
○Tariff war on the brink enters a temporary truce
○Trump: "China to open its markets... phone call with Xi Jinping over the weekend"

TOP 3 NEWS

■ Korea's Q1 negative growth ranks among the lowest globally... Major IBs lower outlook by 0.6 percentage points in a month

○"Korea will struggle to achieve 1% growth this year," sharp downward revisions by domestic and international institutions
○Major IBs average forecast at 0.8%... outlook lowered by 0.6 percentage points in a month
○Bank of Korea also expected to sharply revise its economic outlook downward this month

■ "Afraid my life will be ruined"... Young people rush into coins seeking a quick win

○Study reveals the relationship between capability and happiness
○Ownership of investment products also varies
○Young people have a lot of knowledge, but it does not translate into action

■ "Shouting YOLO leads to ruin"... As the middle class closes their wallets, the luxury market contracts for the first time in 15 years

○Down 2% in 2024... 50 million customers lost
○First negative growth in 15 years
○Luxury industry sales expected to decline by 2% this year

Graphic News: Shaky Korea, 9.54 million retirees waiting... No pension payouts, workforce draining

○Five-year income gap until age 65 for pension benefits
○Average life expectancy 83 years... 660 million KRW needed
○Labor unions push for 'retirement age extension', employers for 'rehiring after retirement'?sharp divide

Money-Making Law

■ Supreme Court: "Tenant's right to oppose is lost when possession is lost"

○Right to oppose is extinguished upon loss of possession
○Tenant registration cannot be applied retroactively
○Supreme Court overturns lower court ruling
☞Read article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025051215403311507

■ Defamation penalties for YouTubers earning hundreds of millions: "petty fines"

○Cyber-wreckers receive fines and suspended sentences in succession
○Effectiveness of defamation penalties questioned
○Calls for tougher sentencing guidelines
☞Read article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025051215491780178

■ Even if a lawyer is dismissed before sentencing, success fees are payable if the case is won

○Success fees recognized even if dismissed before sentencing
○Agreed-upon fees can be paid if there was substantial contribution
○Appellate court also sides with the law firm
☞Read article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025051215560433101

※ "Money-Making Law," a content partnership between Asia Economy and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today's Key Schedule

○Domestic

KOSDAQ Intocell, subscription price range: 12,500 KRW to 17,000 KRW

○International

03:00 US Federal Budget Balance (April)

15:00 UK Unemployment Rate (March)

18:00 Germany ZEW Economic Sentiment Index (May)

19:30 India Consumer Price Index (YoY) (April)

21:30 US Consumer Price Index (YoY) (April)

◇Lunchtime & Commute Weather

○Lowest temperature 15℃(▼4℃) ｜Highest temperature: 25℃(▲1℃)
○Precipitation probability: 10% in the morning｜10% in the afternoon
○Fine dust: Moderate in the morning｜Moderate in the afternoon

3 minutes is all you need?essential, cost-effective economic news. Published daily at 8:00 AM.