首尔：韩国总统李在明周二（10月13日）在内阁会议上表示，韩国无法避免在近期提高基准利率，以缩小与美国之间不断扩大的收益率差距，并顺应全球货币收紧的趋势。
SEOUL: South Korea cannot avoid raising its benchmark interest rate in the near future to narrow a widening yield gap with the United States and align with global monetary tightening, President Lee Jae Myung said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (Oct 13).
他指出，全球债务压力以及美国联邦储备银行鹰派的政策立场表明，国内加息几乎已成定局，尽管他也对家庭债务上升和违约风险表示担忧。
Pointing to global debt pressures and a hawkish policy stance by the US Federal Reserve, Lee signalled that domestic rate hikes were a near certainty, even as he voiced concern over rising household debt and default risks.
李在明说：“我听说韩国的关键政策利率低于美国的情况并不常见。如今政策利率出现倒挂，韩国利率低于美国，看来我们需要缩小这一差距。”
"I heard that it's not that often that South Korea's key policy rate is lower than that of US. Now that (policy) rates are inversed, and that the Korean rates are lower (than the US), it seems we need to narrow this gap," Lee said.
“最终，韩国别无选择，只能提高利率，而且加息几乎已成定局。”目前韩国的基准利率为3.00%，而美联储的联邦基金利率目标区间为3.75%至4.00%。
"Ultimately, South Korea has no choice but to raise its interest rates, and an increase seems almost a foregone conclusion." South Korea's benchmark interest rate is currently set at 3.00 per cent, while the Federal Reserve funds rate is in the 3.75 per cent-4.00 per cent target range.
李在明的言论标志着对利率政策的一次不同寻常的政治干预，因为该政策依法由韩国银行独立制定。
Lee's comments mark an unusual political intervention in interest rate policy, which is legally set independently by the Bank of Korea.
在一个历史上对央行独立性高度敏感的国家，这些言论可能引发人们对韩国银行独立性的担忧，尤其是在政策制定者正在讨论进一步加息之际。
In a country with a history of political sensitivity over central bank autonomy, the remarks risk stoking concerns about the BOK's independence just as policymakers deliberate on further rate increases.
分析人士指出，这些言论是在韩国银行考虑在连续加息后进一步收紧货币政策的情况下发表的。
The comments come as the BOK is considering additional monetary tightening, following back-to-back rate hikes, according to analysts.
在阐述国内经济面临的压力时，李在明将政策利率的收紧趋势描述为“一个可能将持续很久的全球现象”。韩国银行发言人尚未立即回应置评请求。
Elaborating on pressures facing the domestic economy, Lee described the race to tighten policy interest rates as "a global phenomenon that is likely to persist for a long time." A BOK spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.