South Korea reports large current-account surplus
The current-account surplus reached $116.63 billion in the second quarter, mainly driven by chip exports.
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South Korea recorded the second-largest current-account surplus among major economies in the second quarter of 2026. This is according to figures reported by Yonhap today, based on data from the Bank of Korea and the IMF.
The surplus stood at $116.63 billion between April and June. Only China recorded a larger surplus in the same comparison, at $193.72 billion.
South Korea thus overtook Germany and Japan. Germany recorded a surplus of $52.28 billion according to the cited data, while Japan’s stood at $50.62 billion.
The improvement is mainly linked to semiconductor exports. According to South Korean figures, chip exports rose by 181.6 per cent year on year in the second quarter, reaching $113.89 billion.
A current account measures not only trade in goods, but also services, income flows and transfers. A large surplus therefore does not automatically mean that all companies or households in the country benefit.
The development fits with the broader recovery in the global chip market, but also makes South Korea more dependent on a sector that responds strongly to prices, inventories and investment cycles. The Bank of Korea previously warned that concerns about the profitability of the semiconductor sector could lead to market volatility.
For European companies, the figure is particularly relevant to competition in chips, electronics and supply chains. It does not mean that the South Korean economy is performing more strongly in every area; the figures concern the external balance of payments in a single quarter.
The figures were newly reported on 25 October, but relate to the second quarter. They therefore do not constitute a current monthly measure of the economy.
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Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The quarterly figures and comparisons cited were confirmed by two recent South Korean news sources. The explanation of the meaning and limitations of a current account is general economic context and is not presented as new statistical data.
- confirmed South Korea’s current-account surplus amounted to $116.63 billion in the second quarter. — Yonhap cites IMF data available through the Bank of Korea. source
- confirmed The surplus was larger than those of Germany and Japan combined. — Yonhap and Korea Herald give the comparative figures. source
- confirmed South Korean chip exports rose by 181.6 per cent year on year. — Yonhap refers to figures from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. source
Editor's note
The figures and ranking were reported by Yonhap and Korea Herald, based on central-bank and IMF data. The article clearly distinguishes between the publication date and the measurement period; the effects on the Dutch economy are limited and indirect.Sources
- S. Korea’s Q2 current account surplus ranks 2nd on robust chip exports — Yonhap News Agency
- S. Korea’s Q2 current account surplus ranks 2nd on robust chip exports — Korea Herald
- Monetary Policy Decision and Opening Remarks, October 22, 2026 — Bank of Korea
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „zuid-korea halfgeleiders”
- NOS — „zuid-korea halfgeleiders”
- Het Parool — „zuid-korea halfgeleiders”