The Bank of Korea (BOK) introduced an enhanced News Sentiment Index on September 1, its first update in more than four years since the gauge was introduced in February 2022. The index converts sentiment in economic news into a measure of conditions affecting consumption and investment and is published every Monday as an experimental statistic, with readings above 100 indicating sentiment above its long-term average. The revised methodology uses newer Korean-language models, more precise selection of articles relevant to South Korean economic activity, timing classifications for present and future events, and 20,000 sentence samples instead of 10,000. Neutral sentences remain part of the calculation to reduce distortion and volatility. The BOK said the index has a clear relationship with survey-based consumer and business sentiment measures, and that improvements preceded changes in sentiment as well as actual consumption and investment, with consumption rising within one month. Its analysis found that news about future events had a greater effect on actual investment and consumption than news about ongoing events. The revised index also showed stronger leading properties than the previous gauge and official sentiment measures, while providing business-cycle information beyond indicators such as industrial output.