Korea logged a current account surplus of $3.05 billion in January, the ninth month in the black, on the back of demand for chips and cars.
Korea’s exports lifted 4.8 percent in February, rising for the fifth straight month on the recovery of chips.
Exports hit a record $6.21 billion on the back of demand for electric and eco-friendly vehicles.
Outbound shipments drop over $2.5 billion from last year with fewer working days.
Korean gim, or dried seaweed, was shipped and sold to more than 120 countries worldwide, including Japan, China and Thailand.
Korea's exports fell 1 percent on-year in the first 20 days of January, with exports of chips, ships and automobiles increasing but wireless communication devices and petroleum product exports decreasing
Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, left, shakes hands with Chey Tae-won, chairman of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, after a meeting to discuss ways to improve economic vitality on Wednesday in central Seoul.
Korea's exports rose 11.2 percent on-year in the first 10 days of January, while there was a rebound in China-bound shipments, according to Korea Customs Service data on Thursday.
Korea's ramyeon witnessed a record high in global exports in 2023 due to rising demand amid the pandemic and the growing popularity of Korean culture.
Korea's exports to the US surpassed those to China in 2023. Total exports fell 7.4 percent due to chip performance and global economic uncertainties, while solid automobile exports and semiconductor recovery countered some losses.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap