South Korea's First-Half Current Account Surplus Quadruples to $191 Billion

South Korea's current account surplus dramatically expanded in the first half of 2026, reaching $191 billion. This represents a fourfold increase compared to the same period last year, primarily fueled by robust exports of semiconductors and solid-state drives (SSDs).

The surplus for June alone hit a record $49.7 billion, surpassing the previous monthly record set in May. This marks the 38th consecutive month of surplus, extending a streak that is the second longest in the 2000s for South Korea. The Bank of Korea projects the annual surplus could exceed its earlier forecast of $250 billion.

"The current account surplus hit an all-time monthly high, surpassing $100 billion for the first time, thanks to strong exports of goods like semiconductors and computer storage devices," explained Kim Young-hwan, head of the Bank of Korea's Economic Statistics Bureau.

Despite the strong current account performance, the financial account saw a significant downturn. Foreign investment in the South Korean stock market dropped by $31.6 billion in June, the largest monthly decrease on record. This decline is attributed to foreign investors realizing profits and rebalancing their investment portfolios.

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The current account surplus hit an all-time monthly high, surpassing $100 billion for the first time, thanks to strong exports of goods like semiconductors and computer storage devices.