Fiatmap

Cost of moneySouth Korea

Real policy rate in South Korea

Does money at the central bank’s rate actually beat inflation?

South Korea's real policy rate is 0.88 % — #27 of 53 countries on the atlas (higher is better). Period 2026-09.

0.88%

Checked 24 Oct 2026Period 2026-09

Source: Fiatmap derived metrics (own calculation from separately sourced components)

Positive: money in the bank in South Korea currently grows 0.9 pp faster than prices.

Real policy rate in South Korea over time

0.88 %0.63 %0.38 %0.38 % · June 2026June 2026: 0.38 %July 2026: 0.63 %September 2026: 0.88 %June 2026July 2026September 20260.88 %
3 official observations, June 2026 → September 2026. Every point is a published value — never interpolated.
Rank
#27 of 53
higher is better
Ranked behind
49 %
26 of 53 countries
Latest move
▲ 0.25 pp
since July 2026
Full series
▲ 0.50 pp
since June 2026

In Asia: #10 of 12vs median 0.88 %: −0.00 pp (worse)

Among 53 countries

2 of 53 countries between -1.92 % and -1.62 %1 of 53 countries between -1.62 % and -1.32 %4 of 53 countries between -1.32 % and -1.02 %1 of 53 countries between -1.02 % and -0.72 %1 of 53 countries between -0.72 % and -0.42 %3 of 53 countries between -0.42 % and -0.12 %7 of 53 countries between -0.12 % and 0.18 %7 of 53 countries between 0.18 % and 0.48 %4 of 53 countries between 0.78 % and 1.08 %5 of 53 countries between 1.08 % and 1.38 %3 of 53 countries between 1.38 % and 1.68 %1 of 53 countries between 1.68 % and 1.98 %1 of 53 countries between 1.98 % and 2.28 %2 of 53 countries between 2.28 % and 2.58 %4 of 53 countries between 2.58 % and 2.88 %1 of 53 countries between 2.88 % and 3.18 %1 of 53 countries between 3.18 % and 3.48 %2 of 53 countries between 3.78 % and 4.08 %3 of 53 countries between 4.98 % and 5.28 %median 0.88 %South Korea: ahead of 49 % of the 53 countries with a published real policy rateSouth Korea 0.88 %-1.92 %5.28 %
Half of all 53 countries sit between -0.06 % and 2.16 %. South Korea is ahead of 49 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 3 values beyond it sit in the end bars.

The neighbourhood

#CountryReal policy ratevs South Korea
25 Italy0.97 %+0.09 pp
26 United States0.92 %+0.04 pp
27 South Korea0.88 %—
28 Germany0.33 %−0.55 pp
29 Chile0.29 %−0.59 pp

Policy rate minus annual CPI inflation — positive means money in the bank beats inflation. Our calculation from separately sourced components.

How to read this figure

Our own calculation: the central bank policy rate minus annual CPI inflation. It answers one question — does parked money beat rising prices? Both components are separately sourced official figures, and we never compute it when either leg is missing.

Next, about South Korea

Inflation rateLending rate
Real policy rate, all countries ranked →Compare South Korea with another country →Everything about South Korea →Methodology →
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