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Data from FMP. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
South KoreaSouth Korea Business Confidence climbed to 80.0% in May 2026
FMPMonthlyReleased May 2026
South Korea Business Confidence climbed to 80.0% in May 2026, up 6.0% from April's 74.0% reading. The print exceeded the 73.0% consensus by 7.0%. Business Confidence has now risen for 3 consecutive months. Over the past 3 months, Business Confidence averaged 72.5%, vs 71.67% in the prior 3-month window. Business Confidence is now the highest in 37 months.
Latest Release
80
Actual
73
Consensus
74
Previous
Median Absolute Error
±2.71 percentage points
across last 12 releases
Last Call
May 2026
Predicted: 74.5
Actual: 80
Error: -5.5
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Signal Bias | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | ▼ Inverse | −0.65 | INDEX | Bearish Nikkei 225 | → View |
| KOSPI | ▼ Inverse | −0.45 | INDEX | Bearish KOSPI | → View |
| XAU/USD | ▼ Inverse | −0.45 | COMMODITIES | Bearish XAU | → View |
| Hang Seng | ▼ Inverse | −0.40 | INDEX | Bearish Hang Seng | → View |
| USD/KRW | ▲ Direct | +0.37 | FOREX | Bullish USD | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Business Confidence (South Korea) was reported at 80% in May 2026. This beat the market consensus of 73% by 7%. The reading rose from the previous value of 74%. Trailing 12-month context per ETL data through May 2026. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged 71.09%, ranging from 68% to 80% across 11 releases. This is classified as a medium-impact indicator released on a monthly basis.
WHY IT MATTERS
The trailing three releases averaged 74.33%, up from the prior three at 71%. Volatility over the past year (σ 3.15%) is lower than the prior year (σ 3.92%). In May readings over the past 3 years, Business Confidence has averaged 75.67%.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is negatively correlated with Nikkei 225 (Bearish Nikkei 225). A secondary relationship exists with KOSPI, negatively correlated (Bearish KOSPI). Over the last 12 releases, the Sigmacast model's median absolute error is 2.71%.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The next release is scheduled for June 24, 2026. Same-country events in the next 14 days include Consumer Confidence (Jun 22) and Exports YoY (Jul 1).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update May 2026.
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Business Confidence - KR
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About Business Confidence — South Korea
DEFINITION
Business Confidence is a financial indicator that measures the level of optimism or pessimism among business owners and managers about the current and future state of the economy. It is often used as a gauge of overall economic health and can impact investment decisions, hiring practices, and consumer spending. A high level of business confidence indicates a positive outlook and potential for growth, while a low level may signal caution and potential economic downturn. This indicator is closely monitored by economists, policymakers, and investors to assess the overall sentiment and potential direction of the business sector.
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
Sentiment surveys are forward-looking inputs that often lead hard data on output and hiring. Sharp swings can drive cross-asset repricing. Surprises against consensus can drive short-term moves, particularly when the print breaks an established trend. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (May 2026): actual 80 %, consensus 73 %. Prior reading (Apr 2026): 74 %. Before that (Mar 2026): 71 %.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a similar reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook reinforcing that direction. Both horizons are aligned bullish for this indicator, suggesting a consistent trend signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary tailwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with Nikkei 225 (Bearish Nikkei 225, r=-0.65) — a useful reference for index-focused traders.