Seoul: Official government data released in the Republic of Korea today revealed that the country's exports reached their highest level ever during the past year, amounting to $709.7 billion. According to reports from the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, exports grew by 3.8 percent annually, primarily fueled by a 22.2 percent surge in semiconductor shipments, which reached a record $173.4 billion amid global artificial intelligence boom.

On the other hand, imports slightly decreased by 0.02 percent to $631.7 billion in 2025, resulting in a trade surplus of $78 billion, the largest recorded since 2017. The Ministry attributed this historic export performance to the strong demand for key commodities such as semiconductors, cars, and ships, as well as growth in smaller industries like agricultural and marine products and cosmetics.