South Korea’s Fiscal Shortfall Climbs

(MENAFN) South Korea's budgetary gap expanded to over 46 trillion won (USD33.6 billion) throughout the initial four months of 2025, representing the third-largest deficit ever logged for the January-to-April stretch, according to a Thursday report by a Seoul-based news agency, which cited data from the nation's Finance Ministry.

The "managed fiscal balance" showed a deficit of 46.1 trillion won (USD33.75 billion), which signifies a minor enhancement compared to the equivalent timeframe in the previous year.

However, the figure still ranks among the most significant shortfalls recorded for the opening four months of any calendar year.

Officials from the Finance Ministry clarified that these statistics exclude the "supplementary budget" approved in May.

The ministry also cautioned that additional extra budgets anticipated for later in the year might "deepen the deficit even more."

By the conclusion of April, the central government’s cumulative liabilities stood at 1,197.8 trillion won, reflecting a rise of 22 trillion won compared to the prior month.

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