FX.co ★ South Korea Q2 GDP Growth Revised Higher

In the second quarter of 2025, South Korea's economy experienced a quarter-on-quarter growth of 0.7%, surpassing earlier estimates by 0.1 percentage points. This marks a significant turnaround from the previous quarter's 0.2% decline. Private consumption increased by 0.5%, buoyed by higher expenditures on items such as automobiles and services, including healthcare. Government consumption also saw a rise of 1.2%, largely due to enhanced healthcare benefits. Conversely, construction investment fell by 1.2%, with both building and civil engineering sectors experiencing declines, while investment in facilities dropped 2.1% amid reduced machinery and transport equipment purchases. Export activity increased by 4.5%, driven by heightened demand for semiconductors, petroleum products, and chemicals. Imports rose 4.2%, largely attributed to increased demand for energy commodities like crude oil and natural gas.