S. Korea's overseas direct investment up 32 pct in Q2

Korea's overseas direct investment experienced a significant increase of 32.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to data released on Tuesday. The financial and communication sectors played a major role in this growth, with investment in these areas totaling $20.52 billion for the April-June period, up from $15.5 billion in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy reported that investment in the financial and insurance industry surged by 33.4 percent, reaching $10.48 billion. This sector saw a substantial boost, likely driven by Korean businesses striving to diversify their global portfolios. Meanwhile, investment in manufacturing grew by 3.2 percent on-year to $3.57 billion, while the information and communication sector saw an impressive tripling of investment to $2.73 billion.

When it comes to destinations, the United States emerged as the top recipient of Korea's overseas direct investment, with a remarkable 53.6 percent increase to $8.86 billion. Japan followed closely with investment amounting to $2.46 billion, a substantial rise from $300 million a year earlier. Luxembourg also saw a notable uptick, with investment growing by 14.2 percent to $1.59 billion.