South Korea's current account surplus in June hit a new historical high, with chip exports increasing by 196.9% year-on-year

According to data from the Bank of Korea, South Korea's current account surplus in June reached 49.73 billion USD, setting a monthly record for the second consecutive month, further expanding from 38.61 billion USD in May, and compared to 13.97 billion USD in the same period last year. The cumulative surplus for the first half of the year was 191.01 billion USD, the highest in history for the same period, exceeding the Bank of Korea's previous annual target of 250 billion USD by 76%. The goods trade surplus of 47.89 billion USD also set a monthly record, with exports increasing by 84.5% year-on-year to 112.37 billion USD, surpassing the 100 billion USD mark for the first time, among which chip exports soared by 196.9%, and computer peripherals grew by 282.7%.

South Korea's current account has maintained a surplus for 38 consecutive months since May 2023. The services account deficit widened to 1.29 billion USD, mainly influenced by increased payments related to intellectual property; the travel account surplus was 440 million USD, the second highest since October 2008. The current account surplus for South Korea in 2025 is projected to be 123.05 billion USD, setting a historical annual record.