South Korea's ICT exports recorded a significant and historic leap in 2025, rising by 12.4% to reach a record high of US$264.2 billion. This exceptional performance was primarily driven by unprecedented global demand for artificial intelligence technologies and related digital infrastructure.
Record figures and a huge trade surplus
Official data released today by the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT revealed that the total value of exports surpassed $264 billion, compared to $235 billion in 2014. Meanwhile, imports in the same sector saw a slight increase of 5.8%, reaching $151.2 billion. This significant trade surplus contributed to a substantial $113 billion trade surplus for the South Korean economy, bolstering the country's foreign exchange reserves and supporting the stability of the local currency.
Semiconductors: The main driver of growth
According to reports carried by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, the semiconductor sector played a pivotal role in this achievement, with its exports surging 22.1% year-on-year to reach $173.4 billion. This significant increase is attributed to the recovery in memory chip prices in global markets, coinciding with the international race to develop data centers and implement generative artificial intelligence models that demand high processing power and advanced memory capabilities.
Variation in the performance of technology sectors
Despite the strong performance of the semiconductor sector, other sectors saw mixed results. Exports of computers and telecommunications equipment rose by 3.8% and 3.9%, respectively, reflecting the continued need to upgrade network infrastructure and peripherals. In contrast, exports of display products (monitors) and mobile phones faced challenges, declining by 9.5% and 0.5%, respectively, which can be explained by increased global competition and market saturation in some consumer markets.
Strategic and economic importance
This achievement underscores South Korea's position as a pivotal player in the global technology supply chain, particularly in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. These figures are a positive indicator for the export-oriented Korean economy, reflecting the ability of Korean companies to adapt to rapid technological shifts and meet the evolving needs of the global market, especially in the fields of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence.
