Inflation calculator
Calculate what past money is worth today (e.g. ₩10,000 in 2000 = how much now?) and what today's money will be worth in the future. Korea CPI 1990–2025 auto-apply option.
Inputs
Nominal value by year
2000 → 2026How it works
- Formula: Future value = Present value × (1 + annual rate)^years. Compound structure — each year's % stacks on the last.
- Korea CPI auto-fill: Geometric mean of Statistics Korea KOSIS annual CPI data (1990–2025) pre-loaded as the average rate.
- Bidirectional: Past → today / today → future. The future direction uses the input assumption (not a forecast).
- Limitation: Assumes a constant average rate. Actual year-to-year volatility, FX effects, and asset-specific inflation require separate analysis.
Korea inflation snapshots
1998: 7.5% spike. FX and food price shocks hit simultaneously.
2014–2020 avg ~1.0%. 'Disinflation' concerns → BOK cut to record-low 0.5%.
2022: 5.1% — highest in 24 years. Global supply chain + energy prices led. Stabilized to 2.1% by 2025.
FAQ
How does Korea CPI auto-apply work?
Annual CPI change rates from Statistics Korea (KOSIS) for 1990–2025 are built in. In 'Past → Today' direction, when both years are within range, the geometric mean of annual rates for that period is automatically applied.
Why geometric mean instead of arithmetic mean?
Inflation compounds — each year's price level multiplies the previous year's. The geometric mean gives the accurate single-rate equivalent for a multi-year compounding chain.
Why do I enter the rate manually for 'Today → Future'?
No one can know future inflation. The Bank of Korea's 2% target is commonly used; comparing 2%, 2.5%, and 3% scenarios is a reasonable approach.
What is the difference between nominal and real value?
Nominal value = the number shown 30 years from now. Real value = its purchasing power in today's money. This calculator converts nominal values in both directions.
Why does the data include recent years like 2025?
Statistics Korea publishes CPI monthly, with annual rates finalized in January of the following year. The 2025 value here is a preliminary figure as of December 2025 and may be slightly revised after the official release.
Does this include exchange rates?
No. This calculator only shows purchasing power change within a single currency (Korean won).
Related tools
This calculator is for informational purposes only. Korea CPI data is based on Statistics Korea (KOSIS, kosis.kr) published figures. Future estimates assume a constant annual rate — a simplified simulation.