{"id":2202141,"date":"2023-09-04T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202141"},"modified":"2023-09-05T17:24:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T08:24:29","slug":"how-chinas-ongoing-economic-struggles-impact-south-korean-exporters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/09\/how-chinas-ongoing-economic-struggles-impact-south-korean-exporters\/","title":{"rendered":"How China\u2019s ongoing economic struggles impact South Korean exporters"},"content":{"rendered":"
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese consumers haven\u2019t sustained the expected surge in spending as their economy reopened. As a result, China confronts a nexus of challenges, mainly stemming from a development model that appears to have reached its limits. This development holds significant consequences for the global stage, especially for South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite these implications, Chinese industrial policy, focusing on mercantilism, has steadily compelled South Korean exporters to diversify away from the Chinese market. China\u2019s economic challenges are liable to accelerate this departure even more.<\/span><\/p>\n A <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> analysis indicates that:<\/span><\/p>\n CHINESE REAL ESTATE<\/b><\/p>\n China faced economic headwinds last year as its stringent \u201czero-COVID\u201d policy hit households and <\/span>depressed<\/span><\/a> domestic consumption. Concurrently, a <\/span>ballooning crisis<\/span><\/a> emerged in the real estate sector. Chinese households traditionally <\/span>allocate<\/span><\/a> a significant portion of their savings to housing. Consequently, a downturn in real estate directly impacts household wealth, affecting Chinese consumers\u2019 ability and inclination to spend.<\/span><\/p>\n This year was <\/span>anticipated<\/span><\/a> to herald a resurgence of Chinese consumers, previously an <\/span>engine<\/span><\/a> of global demand. However, that resurgence has waned, and a significant factor is the prolonged downturn in the housing market that persisted into this year. This downturn originated from the Chinese government\u2019s 2020 decision to curtail the growth model of real estate developers, as outlined in its \u201c<\/span>three red lines<\/span><\/a>\u201d policy.<\/span><\/p>\n Beijing justified this restriction as a measure to curb speculative buying, emphasizing that housing should serve living needs, not <\/span>speculation<\/span><\/a>. It also stated that it was necessary to address the nation\u2019s escalating debt concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n By the end of 2022, China\u2019s total debt-to-GDP <\/span>ratio<\/span><\/a> stood at nearly 280%, excluding financial firms but encompassing other businesses, households and governmental entities. While this figure is already substantial, the <\/span>rapid accumulation<\/span><\/a> of this debt in recent years raises even greater alarms.<\/span><\/p>\n For South Korea, the slowdown in China\u2019s property market may dent demand for exports like petrochemicals, steel and semiconductors. However, South Korea is gradually reducing its dependency on China due to Beijing\u2019s efforts to <\/span>localize<\/span><\/a> high-end manufacturing.<\/span><\/p>\n While China\u2019s consumer and property markets do not rely heavily on Korean imports, this interdependence might further decrease over time. Thus, a decline in Chinese domestic demand could affect some Korean companies. However, prospects emerge elsewhere, such as North America and Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n