SEAOL—Soaring global demand for semiconductors fueled by a boom in artificial intelligence sent South Korea’s exports to their highest-ever level in 2025, official data showed Thursday.
Total exports last year were valued at over $700 billion, according to data from Seoul’s industry ministry, up 3.8 percent from the previous year.
The worldwide surge in interest in artificial intelligence saw semiconductor industry exports reach $173.4 billion in 2025 — a record high and an increase of more than 20 percent from the previous year, the ministry said.
High-priced memory chips used in AI data centers were in strong demand, they added.
Semiconductor exports in December alone rose more than 40 percent year-on-year, posting gains for a tenth consecutive month and marking the highest monthly figure on record.
South Korean tech juggernaut Samsung Electronics is one of the world’s top memory-chip makers, providing crucial components for the AI industry and the infrastructure it relies on. The country is also home to SK hynix, another key player in the global semiconductor market.
