The US central bank raised interest rates on Thursday, September 17, 2026, with a unanimous vote, according to 한겨레. The Korean outlet reported that the decision should not be read as a one-off move, describing it as the beginning of a series of consecutive increases.
The hike went ahead despite opposition from President Trump, according to a separate report cited in the same summary. Coverage also pointed to Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller as a driving force behind the tightening, with 뉴데일리 reporting that Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song has now raised rates twice and faces a decision on a possible third increase in October.
South Korea's government said the US move had already been priced into markets and expected limited market impact, according to 대한민국 정책브리핑, the government's policy briefing outlet. Wall Street analysts, meanwhile, described the Fed's stance as maximally hawkish, according to Investing.com 한국어.
The reports leave open how far the tightening cycle will run and what it means for Korean monetary policy. Attention now turns to whether the Bank of Korea follows with another increase at its October meeting, and to how Korean markets absorb the shift in US policy.