The logo of the Ministry of Finance and Economy in the central city of Sejong / Yonhap
Korea’s overseas direct investment rose 32.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, data showed Tuesday, led by the financial and communication sectors.
Overseas direct investment by Korea totaled $20.52 billion in the April-June period, up from $15.5 billion from the same three month period in 2025, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
The figure has posted on-year growth since the third quarter of 2025.
By sector, overseas investment in the financial and insurance industry jumped 33.4 percent to $10.48 billion.
The finance ministry attributed the increase to Korean businesses’ efforts to diversify their global portfolios.
Overseas direct investment in manufacturing rose 3.2 percent on-year to $3.57 billion.
Investment in the information and communication sector more than tripled to $2.73 billion, the data showed.
By destination, investment in the United States rose 53.6 percent to $8.86 billion, followed by Japan at $2.46 billion, sharply up from $300 million a year earlier.
Investment in Luxembourg rose 14.2 percent to $1.59 billion, the latest findings showed.