Lee touts record-high exports after surpassing 2025 annual record

President Lee Jae Myung announced on Saturday that South Korea's cumulative exports for the year have exceeded the previous annual record, according to a report from the customs chief. The report, shared on social media via the X platform, states that exports reached $709.4 billion by 1 p.m. on Saturday, surpassing the previous record of $709.3 billion set in 2025.

Despite ongoing challenges in the trade environment, such as rising protectionism, changes in global supply chains, and the situation in the Middle East, exports have shown significant growth, according to the agency chief. The customs chief also projected that if the current trend continues, annual exports could reach $1 trillion around early December.

To date, the United States, China, and Germany have each recorded annual exports of $1 trillion or more. In the first eight months of the current year, semiconductor exports alone increased by 169.6% compared to the same period last year, while exports of other major products, including computers, also saw growth.