S. Korea posts record-high current account surplus again in June on strong chip exports

Seoul, Aug. 6 (Yonhap) - South Korea's current account surplus hit a record high once again in June, soaring to US$49.73 billion, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK) data released on Thursday. This surpassed the previous record of $38.61 billion set in May, marking the largest monthly current account surplus ever recorded. The exceptional performance marked the 38th consecutive month of a surplus, following a record-breaking $123.05 billion annual surplus in 2025.

The surge in the goods account, driven by a 84.5 percent increase in exports to $112.37 billion, played a significant role in this achievement. Notably, exports of information technology products, including a staggering 196.9 percent jump in chip shipments and a 282.7 percent rise in computer peripherals, contributed substantially to the increase.

The services account, however, recorded a deficit of $1.29 billion, widening from the previous month's $1.09 billion deficit due to higher intellectual property-related payments. The primary income account, encompassing foreign worker wages and dividend/interest income from abroad, posted a surplus of $3.27 billion on the back of increased dividend income.