(Seoul=NSP NEWS) = South Korea's current account balance broke its all-time record for the second consecutive month, driven by strong semiconductor exports.

According to the preliminary balance of payments figures for June 2026 released by the Bank of Korea on the 6th, the current account surplus in June was $49.73 billion, continuing a surplus for the 38th consecutive month. This is $11.12 billion more than the previous record high of $38.61 billion in May and an increase of $35.76 billion compared to the same month last year.

The trade balance was the driving force behind the surplus. The trade balance in June recorded a surplus of $47.89 billion, setting a new record high following the previous month. This was driven by exports, based on the balance of payments, reaching $112.37 billion, surpassing $100 billion for the first time in history.

However, there are cautious views regarding the quality of the surplus. This is because the size of the surplus could quickly reverse if the IT market declines while the economy remains highly dependent on semiconductors, and the service balance deficit and the burden of intellectual property payments structurally remain.

A Bank of Korea official stated, “IT items, including semiconductors, performed well in the first half, and non-IT items also showed by no means poor performance. We expect this trend to continue in the second half.”