The most trusted economic forecast in South Korea!
2026 Survival Strategies from 8 Experts Chosen by 4.8 Million People
The Front Line of the Economic War: 50 Money Flows That Crack the Wealth Gap

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I bought it to prepare for my life next year.
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I buy it every year.
A good book that provides a comprehensive understanding of money flow, economic outlook, etc.
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A book that will give you the wisdom to foresee the future and solidify your economic perspective.
An exemplary guide to becoming rich.
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1.7 billion cumulative views! Economic insights captivating 4.8 million viewers.
The Return of the Money Trend That Will Drive 2026
In the Year of the Red Horse, now is your chance to get on the rising curve of wealth!

South Korea's most trusted economic forecast series, "Money Trend 2026," is back with its fourth volume.
Money Trends, which has been a hot topic since its launch, has become a must-read, with countless readers praising it as "the first book I open in the new year," "it changed my perspective on the economy," and "it has clarified my standards for investment and consumption."
As readers share their experiences of preparing for the volatile market ahead, it is establishing itself as a ‘barometer for predicting the Korean economy.’


"Money Trends 2026" features a team of Korea's top experts at the forefront of various fields, from macroeconomics to stocks, real estate, cryptocurrencies, tech, and cultural trends, drawing a big picture of the Korean economy in 2026.
Beyond predicting tomorrow's economy, it guides you to take control of your own direction and what to prepare for now.


The 50 insights in this book are a formula for success that will help you anticipate the flow of money.
Even beginners in financial technology can learn the fundamentals through this book, while it provides a new perspective for investors already deeply immersed in the market.
Furthermore, as uncertainty grows, this book contains essential insights for small business owners, marketers, and other professionals who must stay abreast of trends to survive, as well as executives and other stakeholders who must make key decisions amidst the waves of volatility.


The Money Trends series helps readers see through the economic landscape that fluctuates year after year and respond more quickly than anyone else.
This "Money Trends 2026" will also serve as a clear guide to help us assess the enormous upheaval we face and prepare for the year ahead.

The major trend that will run through the economy in 2026 is the power of liquidity.
This can be easily explained with the analogy of a faucet and a cup.
When you first turn on the faucet and pour water, the first thing that fills up is the first cup, the real economy.
As the dried-up real economy gradually begins to circulate and overflow, the second and third cups are filled. The second and third cups are usually considered to be the stock market and the real estate market.
Ultimately, liquidity supply helps restore the real economy to a certain extent, while also flowing into financial and asset markets, revitalizing them.

--- p.33

We need to watch closely now.
This is because the next two years will be the optimal time for the composite stock price index to exceed 3,000 points and reach 4,000 or 5,000.
If the global economy bottoms out, Korean companies, which are sensitive to economic conditions, could see strong performance.
The won is at an all-time low, making it a golden opportunity for foreign investors to invest.
Here, the new government is determined to boost the stock market through revisions to the Commercial Act and regulations on real estate speculation, and with luck, relations with North Korea may even improve, providing an opportunity to resolve the Korea discount.
--- p.121~123

If 2025 was a year in which various economic imbalances 'converged' toward a realistic equilibrium, 2026 will be a year in which the converged equilibrium 'branches' in a new direction.
Three things that stand out as intersections of change are the supply cliff, the disappearance of jeonse, and the new government's major policy shift.
In other words, three waves of decisive change are expected to hit the Korean real estate market simultaneously in 2026.
--- p.161

In the Korean real estate market in the second half of 2025, the phenomenon of "freezing to death but still building" has emerged as a variable that will influence the market structure beyond a simple preference trend.
The selling price of new apartments in the metropolitan area is approaching 30 million won per 3.3 m2, and in Seoul, it has surpassed 46.08 million won, but demand for new apartments is actually increasing.
This trend is the result of a widening gap between existing apartments and existing ones due to the introduction of floor plans that reflect the latest designs, amenities such as built-in appliances, and eco-friendly and smart systems.
As awareness spreads that newly built apartments have an advantage in terms of price appreciation and future value, demand is becoming more concentrated.
--- p.192

Nowadays, it feels a bit cheesy to show off something simply because it's expensive or famous.
On the other hand, experiential consumption becomes a taste and individuality in itself.
So, we are moving beyond experiential consumption to ‘experiential luxury.’
As experiential consumption spreads and becomes more widespread, it is inevitable that ‘experiential luxury’ created by more special and expensive experiences will emerge.
--- p.234

Desire always has scarcity and repulsion.
In today's digital world, analog orientation is unique and hip.
The emotion that analog gives is like 'an old future encountered for the first time' to Generation Z.
In an era where experiential consumption has become important, unique analog experiences from a generation ago are new, interesting, and attractive, rather than the universal digital experiences of the same generation.
So digital natives fall into analog.
A somewhat crude yet human feel, an inefficient yet handcrafted sense of accomplishment, and special properties because they are rare.
This is why Generation Z is so crazy about analog these days.
--- p.262~263

While China and Russia have opted for "control" with CBDCs, the United States is seeking to maintain its dollar hegemony through "private expansion" through stablecoins.
This trend demonstrates the potential for stablecoins to become the standard for global payments, remittances, and asset transfers.
Regulatory environment, issuer credibility, and collateral transparency are key considerations for future stablecoin investments.
Additionally, it seems difficult to deny that the US's rapid progress on stablecoins is provoking China.
Recently, voices calling for the full-scale adoption and use of yuan-based stablecoins have been gaining traction among policy advisors and economists in China.
--- p.312~313

The cryptocurrency market is in the spotlight and fluctuating amidst the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, discussions on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and strengthening domestic and international regulations.
In the chaos of countless cryptocurrencies emerging and disappearing, how can we discern the best ones? Many investors focus solely on price charts and market prices, but what truly matters is not price, but the technological reliability and innovation behind the coin, the size and activity of the community, global scalability, and regulatory risk.
--- p.366

Healthcare is one of the areas experiencing the most significant changes. AI is actively being used to improve efficiency and patient experience in healthcare settings, including through improved diagnostic accuracy, personalized treatment, automated clinical documentation, and appointment management.
Many companies, including Palantir, have achieved significant success in developing agents for the healthcare industry, but one area where AI is having a significant impact is drug development.
Based on large-scale investments, AI is being actively utilized in areas such as new drug development and clinical trial automation.
--- p.396

Typical AI services support human tasks and assist human judgment.
Going further, autonomous agents (agentic AI) take over some of the roles previously performed by humans by interpreting data and making judgments.
Big tech companies with a high market share in the cloud services sector are playing a leading role in this field. Autonomous agents are not only contributing to improving the efficiency of actual business processes, but are also attracting attention as a key element in business innovation, such as replacing human resources and automating tasks.

--- p.409