Seoul, March 6: South Korea achieved its fifth-largest monthly current account surplus in January, driven by growth in the semiconductor industry and robust exports, according to data from the Bank of Korea.
In January, the current account surplus reached $13.26 billion, a decrease from December’s $18.7 billion. However, this figure represents a remarkable 397.4% increase compared to the same month last year, marking it as the fifth-largest monthly surplus on record.
Since May 2023, South Korea has recorded a current account surplus every month, extending its surplus streak to 33 consecutive months, the second-longest in history. In 2025, the country reported its largest annual surplus of $123.05 billion, surpassing the previous record of $105.1 billion set in 2015.
The goods account surplus for January stood at $15.17 billion, the third-largest monthly figure on record. Exports surged to $65.51 billion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 30%, while imports rose to $50.34 billion, a 7% increase.
Chip exports soared by 102.5% compared to last year, while vehicle exports increased by 19%. However, the services account recorded a deficit of $3.8 billion in January, primarily due to increased demand for foreign travel.
The primary income account, which includes wages for foreign workers and income from dividends and interest from abroad, recorded a surplus of $2.72 billion, mainly due to dividend income.
The secondary income account showed a deficit of $830 million. In the financial account, the country’s net assets increased by $5.63 billion in January, down from a $23.77 billion increase the previous month.
Direct investment by South Korean residents abroad rose by $7.04 billion, while foreign direct investment in South Korea increased by $5.34 billion.
In securities investment, South Korean investors boosted their foreign stock investments by $13.46 billion in January, while foreign investors increased their investments in South Korea by $4.69 billion.
– NA/Piyush
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