On October 14, the Korea Development Institute (KDI), a think tank under the South Korean government, highlighted on Monday that the benefits of South Korea's economic resurgence have not yet been widely distributed to households, with household purchasing power experiencing only a modest recovery. In its monthly economic assessment report, the KDI pointed out that sluggish growth in base salaries, compounded by substantial inflationary pressures on the supply side—such as soaring oil prices—has hindered the restoration of household purchasing power. Although the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has been a driving force behind the sustained economic recovery, these gains have not been broadly disseminated to households.

However, the KDI also observed that vigorous growth in manufacturing output has maintained the momentum of South Korea's economic rebound. Against the backdrop of robust global demand for AI infrastructure investment, industries related to AI have spurred significant growth in exports and equipment investment. This includes rapid expansion in semiconductor and computer exports, as well as consistent growth in exports of AI infrastructure-related products, such as steel and non-ferrous metals.