Korea records the largest annual current account surplus in 2025

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SEOUL, 6 February 2018 (WAM) – The Republic of Korea recorded the largest annual current account surplus ever last year, thanks to strong exports amid strong demand for semiconductors, according to data issued by the Central Bank of Korea on Friday.

The Korean Yonhap News Agency, quoting the bank, reported that the country’s current account surplus reached $123.05 billion during the year 2025, an increase from $99.97 billion in the previous year.

The agency added that this figure represents the largest annual surplus on record, breaking the previous record of $105.1 billion during 2015.

The data showed that during last December alone, the country achieved a current account surplus of $18.7 billion, an increase from $12.9 billion during the previous month, indicating that the goods account surplus amounted to $18.85 billion during December, recording a surplus for the twenty-second month in a row.

She added that the services account recorded a deficit of $3.69 billion in December, compared to a $2.38 billion deficit a year ago, and $2.85 billion in November, due to the high demand for travel abroad during the winter holiday, which is the peak season for foreign travel.

She indicated that the primary income account, which includes the wages of foreign workers in addition to dividends and interest from abroad, recorded a surplus of $4.73 billion during December, an increase from $1.53 billion during November.

The data added that the Republic of Korea has recorded a current account surplus every month since May 2023, recording the second longest series of surpluses ever.

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