FX.co ★ South Korea Logs Record Current Account Surplus in 2025

In 2025, South Korea achieved a remarkable current account surplus of $123.05 billion, a significant climb from the previous year's $99.97 billion. This figure represents the highest annual surplus in the nation's history, propelled by robust export performance, particularly in the semiconductor sector. This result not only exceeded the previous peak of $105.1 billion set in 2015 but also surpassed the Bank of Korea’s projection of $115 billion. December saw an unprecedented monthly surplus of $18.7 billion, ascending from $12.9 billion in November. The goods account was a major contributor, delivering $18.85 billion, with exports experiencing a 13.1% year-on-year increase to $71.65 billion, while imports saw a modest rise of 1.7% to $52.8 billion. The services account faced a $3.69 billion deficit, largely attributed to heightened overseas travel demand during the winter vacation period. Meanwhile, the primary income account, which includes foreign workers' wages, dividend disbursements, and interest income, posted a significant surplus of $4.73 billion, a considerable increase from November’s $1.53 billion.