South Korea’s Property Market Steadies, Giving BOK Room to Ease

South Korea’s property market showed signs of stabilizing after the government undertook steps to cool demand, with a gradual moderation in price growth that could offer the central bank scope to ease policy at its meeting next week.

Seoul apartment prices gained 0.09% in the third week of August, a slightly slower pace than the 0.1% rise a week earlier, Korea Real Estate Board data showed Thursday. Even with the moderation, prices have extended their streak of positive weekly gains to 29 weeks, underscoring persistent demand despite tighter rules and intermittent slowdowns.