Secondly, the downturn in consumer confidence has also had a knock-on effect on the labor market. Faced with the dual difficulties of shrinking demand and falling profits, companies may choose to lay off employees or cut salaries to cope with the difficulties. Such measures will undoubtedly exacerbate the trend of economic recession and lead to an increase in unemployment and underemployment, thus forming a vicious cycle.

In addition to these short-term visible impacts, there are some long-term trends that deserve our attention. Relevant forecasts show that compared to the rapid growth of the South Korean economy over the past few decades, future economic growth is expected to slow significantly. This expectation is subtly influencing people’s confidence in economic development and, to some extent, weakening consumers’ willingness to consume. Under economic pressure, consumers may be more inclined to invest their funds in other economic sectors rather than short-term consumption.

Furthermore, the demographic crisis faced by South Korea is also one of the important factors leading to long-term economic slowdown. It is predicted that by 2050, South Korea’s working-age population will decline significantly, and the death rate will be much higher than the birth rate, which means that South Korea will face a serious aging population problem. This demographic change will inevitably lead to a decline in gross domestic product and further affect consumer confidence and consumption behavior.

To address this challenging economic environment, the South Korean government and businesses need to take active measures to restore consumer confidence. This may include implementing policies aimed at controlling inflation, such as price controls or subsidies for basic commodities. Meanwhile, companies should provide more competitive pricing and promotional activities to attract customers, strengthen communication and interaction with consumers to enhance brand image and trust. In addition, investing in innovation and product development is also key to meeting changing consumer needs.

The government can also consider providing economic assistance to poor families to ensure that they can maintain their living standards during the economic downturn. These measures will not only help reduce the immediate financial burden on consumers but also boost confidence in the long run.

When comprehensively address these issues can better revitalize consumer confidence and form a positive economic growth cycle to promote sustained economic development in the future.

By Han Gao