FX.co ★ South Korea’s Service Sector Stalls in January, Halting Previous Month’s Growth

South Korea’s service sector output showed no growth in January 2026, with the indicator holding at 0.0% month-over-month, according to data updated on 3 March 2026. This marks a clear slowdown from December 2025, when service sector output rose by 0.5% compared to November.

The data reflect a shift from modest expansion to stagnation in the space of one month. The “Actual” reading for January compares service sector activity to December, while the “Previous” figure for December measures the change relative to November. The flat January result suggests that the momentum seen at the end of 2025 did not carry over into the start of 2026, raising questions about the resilience of domestic demand and the broader services-driven component of South Korea’s economy.