South Korea's Record ICT Exports

South Korea's information and communication technology (ICT) exports reached a record monthly high of $47.79 billion in May, marking a 128.9% increase year-on-year. This surge was primarily driven by robust global demand for semiconductors, computers, and related equipment, especially those used in artificial intelligence (AI) servers and data centers. Semiconductor exports alone soared 169.2% to $37.16 billion. The country also saw significant increases in exports of computers and related equipment (tripled), and smartphones (up 15.9%). Key export destinations included China (including Hong Kong), the United States, and Vietnam, all experiencing substantial growth in shipments. This strong export performance resulted in a trade surplus of $32.09 billion for the ICT sector. Additionally, SK Hynix expanded its workforce by over 2,000 positions in 2025 to meet the rising demand for memory chips fueled by the AI boom, while Samsung Electronics' chip business workforce saw a slight decrease.