South Korea’s 2025 international investment reports hit file $36.1B
Knowledge from the Ministry of Alternate, Industry and Energy reveals international say investment in South Korea hitting a file high in 2025. Graphic by Asia Nowadays and translated by UPI.
Jan. 7 (Asia Nowadays) — International say investment reported in South Korea in 2025 rose 4.3% from a 12 months earlier to a file $36.05 billion, whereas funds purchased elevated 16.3% to $17.95 billion, the Industry Ministry stated Wednesday.
The Ministry of Alternate, Industry and Energy stated the figures came regardless of a more difficult global investment climate marked by protectionism and U.S.-led tariff policies.
The ministry stated it compiled the 2025 totals via the fourth quarter using executive international investment statistics and prognosis by connected learn bodies and the Korea Alternate-Investment Promotion Agency.
Officers stated the annual complete marked the fifth straight 12 months of file-atmosphere performance since 2021, at the same time as investment fell 14.6% within the first half of 2025. The ministry attributed the rebound after the contemporary executive took direct of business to improved sentiment, restored self perception within the economy and reduced uncertainty. It additionally pointed to an AI coverage push and investment outreach tied to the Gyeongju APEC summit.
Greenfield investment, which officials stated helps regional economies and job introduction, rose 7.1% to $28.59 billion, atmosphere a file high. Mergers and acquisitions fell 5.1% to $7.46 billion, even though the ministry stated the decline narrowed sharply in contrast with the prior quarter.
By sector, manufacturing investment climbed 8.8% to $15.77 billion, led by inputs traditional in evolved industries, the ministry stated. Chemical investment rose to $5.81 billion, up Ninety 9.5%, and metals elevated to $2.74 billion, up 272.2%. Investment fell in electrical and electronics to $3.59 billion, down 31.6%, and in equipment and clinical precision gear to $850 million, down 63.7%.
Provider-sector investment rose 6.8% to $19.05 billion, with beneficial properties in distribution at $2.93 billion, up 71.0%, files and communications at $2.34 billion, up 9.2%, and learn and expert scientific products and companies at $1.97 billion, up 43.6%. Finance and insurance slipped to $7.forty five billion, down 10.6%.
By supply country, investment from america rose 86.6% to $9.77 billion, which the ministry stated reflected insist in metals, distribution and files and communications. Investment from the European Union elevated 35.7% to $6.92 billion, whereas Japan fell 28.1% to $4.40 billion. China dropped 38.0% to $3.59 billion.
A ministry legit stated the manager plans to spice up incentives in 2026 for international investment tied to regional model and transfer to title and revise laws considered as unreasonable for international-invested corporations.
— Reported by Asia Nowadays; translated by UPI
© Asia Nowadays. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
