구윤철 재정장관은 월요일 중동 불안정을 이유로 연료 제품에 대한 임시 가격 상한선을 당분간 유지하겠다고 밝혔다.
구윤철 재정장관은 월요일 세종에서 기자들에게 중동 상황이 안정될 때까지 가격 상한 조치를 유지할 계획이라고 말했다.
정부는 지난 2월 말 미국-이스라엘의 이란 공격 이후 호르무즈 해협이 사실상 폐쇄되면서 급등한 세계 유가로 인한 인플레이션을 억제하기 위해 3월 중순에 이 가격 제도를 도입했다. 가격 상한은 2주마다 검토되며, 최근 목요일 발표된 조정은 세 번째 연속 동결이었다.
4월 소비자물가는 전년 동기 대비 2.6% 상승했으며, 이는 주로 갈등으로 인한 연료 비용 증가 때문이었다. 구 장관은 한국이 다른 주요 국가들보다 인플레이션 압력에 더 효과적으로 대응했다고 평가했다.
그는 또한 2026년 경제가 2% 이상 성장할 것으로 예상하며, 1분기 국내총생산(GDP)이 1.7% 증가한 점을 언급했다.
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Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Wednesday the government will decide whether to extend fuel price caps after a careful review, as the temporary measure expires this week. Introduced in mid-March to counter supply disruptions from the Middle East conflict, the system has shown positive effects despite mixed opinions. Kim made the remarks at a meeting on the crisis's economic impact.
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said the end of the US-Iran war and stabilization of fuel prices are preconditions for lifting domestic fuel price ceilings. Speaking at a press briefing on economy issues in Sejong on April 27, he outlined three conditions. The government froze price ceilings again on Thursday.
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President Lee Jae-myung on Friday called for close monitoring of local gas stations to ensure compliance with a fuel price cap, implemented to curb fluctuating costs from international uncertainty and ease consumer burdens. The government enacted the ceiling at midnight. This marks the first such measure since 1997.
Amid U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Korean government stated that oil and gas supplies remain stable for now. Emergency meetings confirmed reserves of several months' worth of oil and gas exceeding mandatory levels. However, preparations are underway for potential risks from the Strait of Hormuz closure, including alternative routes and support measures.
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South Korea's Bank of Korea unanimously kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5 percent on April 10, marking the seventh consecutive hold since July 2025 amid high uncertainty from the Middle East war, which has fueled inflation risks, growth slowdowns, and won weakness. Governor Rhee Chang-yong noted the won could strengthen quickly if tensions ease. The next policy meeting is May 28.
Hong Kong authorities have been urged to review the pricing mechanism for local fuel supplies after petrol retailers were accused of swiftly raising prices as conflict erupted in the Middle East, even though the city had not yet exhausted its weeks-long stockpile. Global fuel prices have soared since the US-Israel war with Iran broke out, disrupting traffic along the Strait of Hormuz – the key waterway that handles about 20 per cent of the world’s oil shipments. The Hong Kong, China Automobile Association criticised what it described as “unfair” price increases for fuel in the city, arguing that the petrol currently on sale would have been bought before the outbreak of the conflict.
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South Korea's government, ruling Democratic Party and presidential office agreed on a 25 trillion-won supplementary budget to address the Middle East crisis. The bill is set for submission to the National Assembly by end-March and passage on April 10. It aims to ease high oil prices and economic uncertainties.