Consumer prices in South Korea were up 2.0 percent on year in May, Statistics Korea said on Thursday - exceeding expectations for a gain of 1.9 percent, which would have been unchanged from the April reading.
On a monthly basis, inflation added 0.1 percent after slipping 0.1 percent in the previous month.
Core CPI, which excludes volatile food prices, advanced 1.4 percent after rising 1.3 percent a month earlier.
Core CPI was up 0.3 percent on month after gaining 0.1 percent in April.
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com