Foreign direct investment, net in South Korea
South Korea: Foreign direct investment, net was 25.43 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net in South Korea, 1976–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net in South Korea is 25.43 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 31.0% on the previous year and up 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net in South Korea peaked at 43.94 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -6.76 billion BoP, current US$, in 1999.
South Korea ranks 6th of 195 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -69.67 million BoP, current US$ | -75.00 million BoP, current US$ | -61.00 million BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | -86.58 million BoP, current US$ | -660.10 million BoP, current US$ | 586.60 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -120.33 million BoP, current US$ | -6.76 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.17 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 724.57 million BoP, current US$ | -6.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.91 billion BoP, current US$ | 15.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 26.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 43.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 3 China 77.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 5 Switzerland 37.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 7 Italy 22.02 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 8 United States 21.71 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 9 Spain 18.29 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 5.2% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 2.1% (2025)
- GDP per capita 37,470 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 27.4% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 1.94 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 37,470 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 1,422 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -6.93 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -4.87 billion current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 185.85 trillion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net in South Korea?
- Foreign direct investment, net in South Korea was 25.43 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 43.94 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.76 billion BoP, current US$ in 1999.
- How does South Korea rank for foreign direct investment, net?
- South Korea ranks 6th out of 195 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the voting power is evidence of a direct investment relationship. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.