On September 5, data released by South Korea Customs on Saturday revealed that the nation’s export volume has soared to US$709.4 billion since the start of this year, surpassing the total for the entire previous year. This remarkable achievement is largely driven by surging global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips, fueling sustained economic growth in South Korea. Last year, South Korea’s exports reached US$709.3 billion, marking a new annual high for the second consecutive year. According to the Korea Customs Service, Asia’s fourth-largest economy is now on track to achieve an annual export volume of US$1 trillion this year—a milestone that would position it as only the fourth country globally, following the United States, China, and Germany, to reach this landmark figure. Furthermore, South Korea’s export volume in August surged by 69% year-on-year, maintaining positive growth for 15 consecutive months.