South Korea’s economy expanded by 0.6% QoQ in the second quarter of 2026, surpassing expectations of 0.4% but slowing from 1.8% growth in the first quarter, which was the strongest quarterly expansion since Q1 2021, preliminary estimates showed. GDP growth was mainly driven by robust exports, which offset downward pressure from the lingering conflict in the Middle East. Exports grew 1.4%, driven by IT products such as semiconductors and machinery equipment, while imports rose at a softer rate of 0.8%. Private consumption climbed 0.4%, supported by higher spending on both goods and services, while government consumption rose 0.2%. Investment in intellectual property products grew by 3.3%, while facility investment advanced 0.2%. By contrast, construction investment fell 0.2% as civil engineering activity declined. On a yearly basis, the economy grew 3.7% in Q2, easing from 3.8% in Q1, which marked the fastest annual growth since Q4 2021, while remaining above market estimates of 3.5%. source: The Bank of Korea

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Korea expanded 0.60 percent in the second quarter of 2026 over the previous quarter. GDP Growth Rate in South Korea averaged 1.65 percent from 1960 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 7.80 percent in the fourth quarter of 1970 and a record low of -7.00 percent in the first quarter of 1998. This page provides - South Korea GDP Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Korea GDP Growth Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Korea expanded 0.60 percent in the second quarter of 2026 over the previous quarter. GDP Growth Rate in South Korea is expected to be 1.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Korea GDP Growth Rate is projected to trend around 0.40 percent in 2027 and 0.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-08 11:00 PM
QoQ Final
Q1 1.8% -0.1% 1.7% 1.7%
2026-07-22 11:00 PM
QoQ Adv
Q2 0.6% 1.8% 0.4% 0.7%
2026-09-07 11:00 PM
QoQ Final
Q2 1.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
GDP Growth Rate YoY 3.70 3.80 percent Jun 2026
GDP Constant Prices 600405.70 596692.80 KRW Billion Jun 2026
GDP Growth Rate 0.60 1.80 percent Jun 2026
Gross Fixed Capital Formation 164323.70 163008.20 KRW Billion Jun 2026
Gross National Product 624001.30 616371.80 KRW Billion Mar 2026


South Korea GDP Growth Rate
South Korea has an export oriented economy and is the world's leading producer of displays and memory semiconductors and the second largest producer of ships. Services account for the highest percentage of GDP (around 57 percent of GDP). Within services the most important ones are public administration (6 percent ); education (5.3 percent); information and communication (5 percent); and business activities (4.6 percent of GDP). A strong manufacturing industry which has turned South Korea into a major exporter accounts for 32 percent of GDP.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
0.60 1.80 7.80 -7.00 1960 - 2026 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
South Korea Q2 GDP Growth Beats Estimates
South Korea’s economy expanded by 0.6% QoQ in the second quarter of 2026, surpassing expectations of 0.4% but slowing from 1.8% growth in the first quarter, which was the strongest quarterly expansion since Q1 2021, preliminary estimates showed. GDP growth was mainly driven by robust exports, which offset downward pressure from the lingering conflict in the Middle East. Exports grew 1.4%, driven by IT products such as semiconductors and machinery equipment, while imports rose at a softer rate of 0.8%. Private consumption climbed 0.4%, supported by higher spending on both goods and services, while government consumption rose 0.2%. Investment in intellectual property products grew by 3.3%, while facility investment advanced 0.2%. By contrast, construction investment fell 0.2% as civil engineering activity declined. On a yearly basis, the economy grew 3.7% in Q2, easing from 3.8% in Q1, which marked the fastest annual growth since Q4 2021, while remaining above market estimates of 3.5%.
2026-07-22
South Korea Q1 GDP Growth Revised Up to 1.8%
South Korea’s economy advanced by 1.8% QoQ in the first quarter of 2026, exceeding the preliminary estimate of 1.7% and rebounding from a downwardly revised 0.1% contraction in the fourth quarter of 2025. It was the strongest GDP growth since the first quarter of 2021, driven by solid exports and resilient domestic demand. Exports grew 5.9%, driven by IT products such as semiconductors, while imports rose at a more moderate pace of 3.9%. Private consumption increased 0.6%, supported by higher spending on both goods and services, while government consumption fell 0.4%. Construction investment climbed 1.4%, as both building construction and civil engineering activity increased. Facilities investment advanced 6.6%, supported by higher spending on machinery and transportation equipment. On a yearly basis, the economy expanded 3.8% in Q1, above the preliminary estimate of 3.6%, and accelerated from 1.6% in Q4 2025, marking the fastest growth since the fourth quarter of 2021.
2026-06-08
South Korea Q1 GDP Growth Strongest Since 2021
South Korea’s economy expanded by 1.7% QoQ in the first quarter of 2026, recovering from a 0.2% contraction in the previous quarter, and surpassing the market estimate of 1.0% growth, preliminary data showed. It marked the strongest GDP growth since the first quarter of 2021, driven by solid exports and resilient domestic demand. Exports grew 5.1%, driven by IT items such as semiconductors, while imports rose at a more moderate pace of 3.0%. Private consumption increased 0.5%, supported by higher spending on goods, while government consumption edged up 0.1%, also driven by increased goods spending. Construction investment climbed 2.8%, as both building construction and civil engineering activity rose. Facilities investment grew 4.8%, due to higher spending on machinery and transportation equipment. On an annual basis, the economy grew 3.6% in Q1, accelerating from 1.6% in Q4, marking the fastest growth since the fourth quarter of 2021 and exceeding forecasts of 2.7%.
2026-04-22