South Korea’s economy continued to gain traction in the second quarter of 2026, with GDP expanding 3.8% year-on-year, up from 3.6% in the first quarter of 2026. The figures, updated on 08 June 2026, point to a modest strengthening in momentum compared with the start of the year.
Both the current and previous readings are based on year-on-year comparisons, measuring growth in each quarter against the same quarter a year earlier. The latest uptick suggests that the recovery path remains intact, with incremental improvement in overall economic activity as the year progresses. Investors and policymakers will be watching coming data closely to assess whether this trend can be sustained into the second half of 2026.
