The increase, reported Wednesday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, accelerated from 2.2% in March and matched the median Bloomberg survey estimate.
Higher oil prices and surging energy costs fed more strongly into the domestic economy, driving the fastest annual inflation pace since July 2024.
The data points to renewed price pressure after slower inflation in March, with energy costs again emerging as a key driver of consumer prices.
Can South Korea’s central bank tame inflation without pushing its fragile, export-driven economy into recession?
Are South Korea's fuel price caps a sustainable solution or just a temporary fix for a worsening crisis?
With the Hormuz blockade crippling its economy, what are South Korea's long-term options for energy independence?