Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Korea
South Korea: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Korea, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Korea is 15.80 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 22.9% on the previous year and up 285.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Korea peaked at 25.04 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million BoP, current US$, in 1974.
South Korea ranks 27th of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Korea, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 66.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 42.00 million BoP, current US$ | -36.4% |
| 1972 | 496.00 million BoP, current US$ | +1081.0% |
| 1973 | 4.00 million BoP, current US$ | -99.2% |
| 1974 | 2.00 million BoP, current US$ | -50.0% |
| 1975 | 6.00 million BoP, current US$ | +200.0% |
| 1976 | 81.00 million BoP, current US$ | +1250.0% |
| 1977 | 94.00 million BoP, current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1978 | 89.00 million BoP, current US$ | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 172.00 million BoP, current US$ | +93.3% |
| 1980 | 47.10 million BoP, current US$ | -72.6% |
| 1981 | 155.10 million BoP, current US$ | +229.3% |
| 1982 | 120.90 million BoP, current US$ | -22.1% |
| 1983 | 184.30 million BoP, current US$ | +52.4% |
| 1984 | 223.30 million BoP, current US$ | +21.2% |
| 1985 | 355.30 million BoP, current US$ | +59.1% |
| 1986 | 682.50 million BoP, current US$ | +92.1% |
| 1987 | 838.60 million BoP, current US$ | +22.9% |
| 1988 | 1.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +54.2% |
| 1989 | 1.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.5% |
| 1990 | 1.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.8% |
| 1991 | 1.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.2% |
| 1992 | 1.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.2% |
| 1993 | 832.30 million BoP, current US$ | -16.9% |
| 1994 | 1.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.6% |
| 1995 | 2.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +118.8% |
| 1996 | 2.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1997 | 3.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.6% |
| 1998 | 5.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +81.4% |
| 1999 | 10.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +79.1% |
| 2000 | 11.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 6.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.3% |
| 2002 | 5.48 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.1% |
| 2003 | 7.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2004 | 13.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +89.6% |
| 2005 | 13.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 9.16 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.8% |
| 2007 | 8.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 11.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.7% |
| 2009 | 9.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2010 | 9.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 9.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 9.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 12.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.4% |
| 2014 | 9.27 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.4% |
| 2015 | 4.10 billion BoP, current US$ | -55.7% |
| 2016 | 12.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +194.9% |
| 2017 | 17.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.0% |
| 2018 | 12.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.0% |
| 2019 | 9.63 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.9% |
| 2020 | 8.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 22.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +151.7% |
| 2022 | 25.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.5% |
| 2023 | 19.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.0% |
| 2024 | 12.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.5% |
| 2025 | 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.70 billion BoP, current US$, 5.8× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.04 billion BoP, current US$, 15.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +1250.0% | 6.00 million BoP, current US$ | 81.00 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1972 | +1081.0% | 42.00 million BoP, current US$ | 496.00 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 105.20 million BoP, current US$ | 2.00 million BoP, current US$ | 496.00 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 528.98 million BoP, current US$ | 47.10 million BoP, current US$ | 1.39 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 832.30 million BoP, current US$ | 10.73 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.48 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.64 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.10 billion BoP, current US$ | 17.91 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.76 billion BoP, current US$ | 25.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 797.74 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0084 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 305.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2332 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 8,447 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Korea?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Korea was 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 25.04 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million BoP, current US$ in 1974.
- How does South Korea rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- South Korea ranks 27th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 285.1%. 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 database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. 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 ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.