Nov 30, 2025 – South Korea’s exports climb 8.4% to $61.04 billion, the highest November total on record, driven by a 38.6% jump in semiconductor shipments to $17.26 billion; Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan says the rise reflects strong chip, auto and bio‑health performance and pledges to sustain growth[19][18].

Dec 1, 2025 – Electric‑equipment exports hit a record $7.13 billion in Jan–Nov, up 11.3% YoY, as AI‑driven data‑center demand surges after the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, with the United States absorbing 37.2% of shipments[17].

Dec 3, 2025 – Outbound shipments reach $640.2 billion for Jan–Nov, a new 11‑month record, prompting the ministry to forecast total 2025 exports will exceed $700 billion; semiconductors, autos, ships and bio‑health lead growth, while SMEs post a record $87.1 billion in exports[16].

Dec 4, 2025 – President Lee Jae Myung orders ministries to devise price‑stabilisation measures as consumer inflation hits 2.4% YoY, while noting that “exports are expected to reach a record $700 billion this year”[15].

Dec 10, 2025 – Exports rise 17.3% in the first ten days of December to $20.58 billion, the largest 10‑day figure on record, with semiconductor shipments soaring 45.9% to $5.27 billion and exports to China up 12.9%[14].

Dec 16, 2025 – The United States and South Korea agree to cut tariffs to 15% in exchange for a $350 billion U.S. investment pledge, spurring a 2.9% YoY rise in exports to $640.2 billion for Jan–Nov and prompting the Bank of Korea to lift its 2025 growth forecast to 1.0% and project 1.8% for 2026[13].

Dec 20, 2025 – Automobile exports jump 13.7% to $6.4 billion in November, led by a 23.4% rise in eco‑friendly models and a 40% surge in hybrids; U.S. shipments climb 5.1% after a tariff reduction to 15% from 25%[12].

Dec 21, 2025 – Export value for Dec 1‑20 reaches $43 billion, a 6.8% increase and an all‑time high for the period, as chip shipments rise 41.8% to $11.65 billion, while vehicle exports fall 12.7%[11].

Dec 24, 2025 – The ministry sets a $70 billion target for annual consumer‑goods exports by 2030, citing the global spread of Korean culture (Hallyu) and pledging R&D, design, logistics and trade‑insurance support to lift the 2025 level of $42.7 billion[10].

Dec 25, 2025 – The Bank of Korea raises its 2026 growth outlook to 1.8% on the “AI‑chip upturn,” with analysts Joo Won warning of FX volatility, Professor Park Jea‑gun projecting a long‑run AI‑driven semiconductor super‑cycle, and KITA’s Jin Ok‑hee urging high‑value, non‑price competition against China[9].

Dec 29, 2025 – South Korea’s annual exports briefly cross the $700 billion threshold at 1:03 p.m., making it the world’s sixth exporter to do so and highlighting semiconductor‑driven growth and market diversification away from the U.S. and China[8].

Jan 1, 2026 – South Korea’s 2025 export total hits a record $709.7 billion, up 3.8% YoY, with semiconductor sales soaring 22.2% to $173.4 billion on AI data‑center demand; the government pledges a record 275 trillion‑won trade‑insurance package and AI‑driven manufacturing reforms to keep exports above $700 billion in 2026[6].

Jan 1, 2026 – Annual exports top $700 billion for the first time, with semiconductors accounting for 24% of shipments, auto diversification supporting growth, and Samsung projecting a record Q4 profit above 20 trillion won; officials warn of competition from China, Japan and Taiwan while President Lee vows regulatory cuts to aid exporters[7].

Jan 12, 2026 – Exports fall 2.3% in the first ten days of January to $15.55 billion despite a 45.6% jump in chip shipments to $4.64 billion, which now represent 29.9% of total exports; declines in autos, vessels and steel offset the semiconductor gain, while shipments to China rise 15.4% and to the U.S. drop 14.7%[4][5].

Jan 21, 2026 – Export value climbs 14.9% in the Jan 1‑20 window to $36.36 billion, led by a 70.2% surge in semiconductor shipments to $10.73 billion; auto exports slip 10.8%, while shipments to China and the United States grow 30.2% and 19.3% respectively, building on December’s 13.4% YoY rise and a record $709.7 billion total for 2025[2][3].

Feb 1, 2026 – January exports jump 33.9% YoY to a record $65.85 billion, the highest January total ever and the first to exceed $600 billion; semiconductor shipments double to $20.54 billion (up 102.7%), auto exports rise 21.7%, wireless devices surge 66.9%, and the trade surplus widens to $8.74 billion as shipments to China, the U.S., ASEAN and the EU all expand sharply[1].