Against the backdrop of the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, sustained market demand for high-performance chips has propelled South Korea’s exports to their largest increase in nearly half a century. In June, the country’s export volume soared by 70.9% year-on-year, reaching USD 102.25 billion—a figure that far surpassed market expectations. Meanwhile, imports grew by 30.1%, amounting to USD 66.10 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 36.15 billion. This marks the first time the surplus has exceeded USD 30 billion.

Earlier, the South Korean government, in partnership with industry giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, unveiled a large-scale investment initiative aimed at strengthening the nation’s foothold in the global semiconductor supply chain. Semiconductors have emerged as the primary engine behind export growth, with chip exports hitting a new monthly high of USD 44.82 billion in June.