South Korea’s current account surplus surged to $123.05 billion in 2025, up from $99.97 billion the previous year, marking the largest annual surplus on record, driven by strong exports, particularly in semiconductors. The result surpassed both the previous high of $105.1 billion in 2015 and the Bank of Korea’s forecast of $115 billion. In December, the country posted a record monthly surplus of $18.7 billion, up from $12.9 billion in November. The goods account contributed $18.85 billion, as exports rose 13.1% year-on-year to $71.65 billion, while imports grew 1.7% to $52.8 billion. The services account recorded a $3.69 billion deficit, largely due to increased demand for overseas travel during the winter vacation season. Meanwhile, the primary income account—which tracks wages of foreign workers, dividend payments, and interest income—posted a $4.73 billion surplus, up sharply from November’s $1.53 billion. source: The Bank of Korea

South Korea recorded a Current Account surplus of 18700 USD Million in December of 2025. Current Account in South Korea averaged 2217.83 USD Million from 1900 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 18700.00 USD Million in December of 2025 and a record low of -4204.80 USD Million in January of 2023. This page provides the latest reported value for - South Korea Current Account - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. South Korea Current Account - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

South Korea recorded a Current Account surplus of 18700 USD Million in December of 2025. Current Account in South Korea is expected to be 8400.00 USD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Korea Current Account is projected to trend around 8700.00 USD Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-08 11:00 PM
Current Account
Nov $12.24B $6.81B $8.9B
2026-02-05 11:00 PM
Current Account
Dec $18.7B $12.9B $14.0B
2026-03-05 11:00 PM
Current Account
Jan $18.7B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 8740.00 12170.00 USD Million Jan 2026
Capital Flows 23771.60 8468.90 USD Million Dec 2025
Current Account 18700.00 12900.00 USD Million Dec 2025
Current Account to GDP 5.30 1.80 percent of GDP Dec 2024
Exports 65850.00 69580.00 USD Million Jan 2026
External Debt 738080.90 735572.70 USD Million Sep 2025
Imports 57100.00 57400.00 USD Million Jan 2026
Terms of Trade 101.81 98.32 points Jan 2026


South Korea Current Account
Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
18700.00 12900.00 18700.00 -4204.80 1900 - 2025 USD Million Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
South Korea Logs Record Current Account Surplus in 2025
South Korea’s current account surplus jumped to $123.05 billion in 2025 from $99.97 billion the previous year, marking the largest annual surplus on record on robust exports, particularly in semiconductors. The result surpassed both the previous high of $105.1 billion in 2015 and the Bank of Korea’s forecast of $115 billion. In December, the country posted a record monthly surplus of $18.7 billion, up from $12.9 billion in November. The goods account contributed $18.85 billion, as exports rose 13.1% year-on-year to $71.65 billion, while imports grew 1.7% to $52.8 billion. The services account recorded a $3.69 billion deficit, largely due to increased demand for overseas travel during the winter vacation season. Meanwhile, the primary income account—which tracks wages of foreign workers, dividend payments, and interest income—posted a $4.73 billion surplus, up sharply from November’s $1.53 billion.
2026-02-06
South Korea Current Account Surplus Widens in November
South Korea’s current account surplus widened to $12.24 billion in November 2025 from $6.81 billion in October, underpinned by strong export performance. The latest figure marked the 31st consecutive month of surplus and represented the largest November surplus on record. The goods account posted a $13.31 billion surplus, as exports rose 5.5% year-on-year to $60.11 billion, while imports edged down 0.7% to $46.80 billion. The services account registered a $2.73 billion deficit, driven mainly by shortfalls in the travel and other business services categories. Meanwhile, the primary income account recorded a $1.83 billion surplus, supported by higher equity income, while the secondary income account posted a modest $0.18 billion deficit.
2026-01-08
South Korea Current Account Surplus Narrows in Oct
South Korea's current account surplus shrank to $6.81 billion in October 2025 from $13.47 billion in September, with the decline driven by the Chuseok holiday and higher US tariffs. Still, it marked the 30th straight month of surplus, the second-longest streak on record, even as exports weakened. The goods account posted a $7.82 billion surplus as exports fell 4.7% to $55.88 billion while imports dropped 5.0% to $48.06 billion from a year earlier. The services account recorded a $3.75 billion deficit due to shortfalls in travel and other business services. The primary income account showed a $2.94 billion surplus on stronger equity income, while the secondary income account logged a $0.19 billion deficit.
2025-12-04