Why did Korea’s overseas direct investment rise in the second quarter of 2026?

The finance ministry said the increase was driven by Korean businesses’ efforts to diversify their global portfolios. The biggest rise came in financial and insurance investment, while the information and communication sector also posted a sharp increase.

Which sectors led Korea’s overseas direct investment growth in Q2 2026?

The financial and insurance industry led with $10.48 billion, up 33.4 percent on-year. Investment in information and communication more than tripled to $2.73 billion, and manufacturing rose 3.2 percent to $3.57 billion.

Which countries received the most Korean overseas direct investment in Q2 2026?

The United States was the top destination at $8.86 billion, up 53.6 percent from a year earlier. Japan followed at $2.46 billion, a sharp increase from $300 million, and Luxembourg received $1.59 billion.

Korea's overseas direct investment up 32% in Q2

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Summary

Korea’s overseas direct investment rose 32.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, reaching $20.52 billion in April-June, led by the financial and communication sectors. The Ministry of Finance and Economy said the figure has grown on-year since the third quarter of 2025. The increase was driven by a jump in financial and insurance investment and stronger spending in the United States and Japan.

Key Facts

Overseas direct investment by Korea totaled $20.52 billion in the April-June period of 2026, up from $15.5 billion in the same period of 2025.
Investment in the financial and insurance industry jumped 33.4 percent on-year to $10.48 billion.
Investment in the information and communication sector more than tripled to $2.73 billion.
Investment in the United States rose 53.6 percent to $8.86 billion, while investment in Japan climbed to $2.46 billion from $300 million a year earlier.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 29, 2026 10:19 am KST

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.

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