South Korea's cenbank expects economic growth around 3 percent next year

SEOUL: South Korea's central bank said on Thursday it expects the economy to grow by 3 percent in 2018, unchanged from this year, thanks to robust exports.

Inflation is expected gradually to reach the Bank of Korea's 2 percent target.

"Unless unprecedented North Korea risks crop up, South Korea's economy will continue to grow at a similar pace to this year," Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol told a news conference.

Lee noted, however, that there were still many uncertainties and risks for the economy ahead, among them household debt, international political conflicts and protectionism in global markets.