Just caught up on South Korea's economic data and it's actually pretty interesting. The country's GDP rebounded in Q1 with stronger exports than expected, which is a solid turnaround after the contraction we saw in the previous quarter. The consensus among economists is looking at 0.9% quarter-on-quarter growth and 2.7% year-on-year growth for that period.

What caught my attention is the recovery momentum they're expecting beyond just exports. Equipment investment and construction activity are both projected to pick up in Q1, which suggests it's not just a temporary bounce. Compare that to Q4 2025 when we saw a 0.2% quarterly contraction and only 1.6% annual growth, and you can see the shift.

But here's where it gets interesting from a risk perspective. Goldman Sachs economists are flagging potential headwinds starting in Q2, specifically pointing to Middle East tensions. They're concerned about possible impacts on oil and petrochemical production, which could weigh on South Korea's economy moving forward. So while the GDP rebound looks solid on the surface, there's definitely something to watch in the coming months.