In January 2025, South Korea's exports declined by 10.3% compared to the same period last year, totaling $49.1 billion. This marked the first trade deficit in 20 months. Notably, semiconductor exports bucked the trend, rising by 8.1% to reach $10.1 billion, the second highest figure for the month in history, and maintaining a streak of nine consecutive months surpassing the $10 billion mark. Conversely, exports of products such as automobiles saw a sharp decline.
