South Korea’s ICT exports hit an all-time monthly record in May 2026, reaching $47.79 billion – a 128.9 percent year-on-year surge from $20.88 billion – according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. The milestone marks the first time monthly ICT exports have exceeded $40 billion for three consecutive months. Semiconductors drove the bulk of the gain, with shipments soaring 169.2 percent on-year to $37.16 billion, fueled by AI server investments and higher memory chip prices. Computers and related equipment more than tripled to $4.33 billion, reflecting rising solid-state drive demand from AI data centers. The ICT trade surplus reached $32.09 billion for the month.
