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Trade & investment · East Asia & Pacific · High income
South Korea: trade and investment
Exports is 45.8% (2025), 63rd of 184 in the world and 13th of 32 in East Asia & Pacific. Imports is 40.6% (2025), 102nd of 184 in the world and 25th of 32 in East Asia & Pacific. Trade openness is 86.4% (2025), 86th of 184 in the world and 20th of 32 in East Asia & Pacific.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: South Korea in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within East Asia & Pacific; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 45.8%2025 | 63/184 | 13/32 | 32.9% | 45.3% | 34.6% | +4.8 ppsince 2015 | 32.5% | 31.7% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 40.6%2025 | 102/184 | 25/32 | 31.2% | 42.8% | 30.9% | +6.2 ppsince 2015 | 28.5% | 30.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 86.4%2025 | 86/184 | 20/32 | 64.1% | 88.0% | 65.5% | +11.0 ppsince 2015 | 63.8% | 60.5% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | 6.6%2025 | 28/185 | 10/29 | 1.7% | 2.3% | 4.4% | −0.3 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $709bn2025 | 8/206 | 4/37 | $172bn | $466bn | $512bn | +35%since 2015 | $9.2tn | $17.5tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 36.3%2024 | 13/170 | 7/25 | · | 32.1% | 35.6% | +6.2 ppsince 2014 | 34.6% | 25.8% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 6.7%2025 | 65/172 | 11/25 | 5.4% | 7.0% | 5.0% | +0.4 ppsince 2015 | 4.2% | 10.4% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 1.7%2025 | 158/172 | 22/25 | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | +0.4 ppsince 2015 | 4.4% | 8.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 5.7%2022 | 74/184 | 10/29 | 9.6% | 7.2% | 5.5% | −1.9 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 0.8%2025 | 148/197 | 25/32 | 1.9% | 0.8% | 0.5% | +0.6 ppsince 2015 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 0.4%2025 | 143/178 | 19/26 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.4% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 2.5m2020 | 58/196 | 10/35 | 5.3m | 8.8m | 2.5m | −71%since 2010 | 491m | 1.5bn | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $11.8bn2020 | 14/177 | 5/31 | $8.5bn | $14.3bn | $11.8bn | −18%since 2010 | — | $1.2tn | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
South Korea and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with South Korea. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | South Korea | China | Japan | North Korea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 45.8%2025 | 21.1%2025 | 22.0%2024 | — |
| Imports | 40.6%2025 | 16.9%2025 | 22.9%2024 | — |
| Trade openness | 86.4%2025 | 38.0%2025 | 44.9%2024 | — |
| Current account | 6.6%2025 | 3.8%2025 | 4.9%2025 | — |
| Merchandise exports | $709bn2025 | $3.8tn2025 | $738bn2025 | $611m2025 |
| High-tech exports | 36.3%2024 | 26.3%2024 | 17.6%2024 | — |
| Fuel exports | 6.7%2025 | 1.4%2025 | 1.2%2025 | — |
| Food exports | 1.7%2025 | 2.3%2025 | 1.3%2025 | — |
| Average tariff | 5.7%2022 | 2.2%2022 | 1.6%2022 | — |