Seoul: The Republic of Korea's overseas direct investment increased by 36 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, driven primarily by the financial and insurance sector.
According to Emirates News Agency, the total overseas direct investment by South Korean businesses reached US$21.74 billion during the January-March period, a significant rise from the $15.96 billion recorded a year earlier. This marks continued year-on-year growth since the third quarter of 2025, as reported by the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
The financial and insurance industry led the surge with a 63 percent increase in overseas investment, amounting to $13.38 billion. The information and communication sector also experienced a noteworthy expansion, with its investments more than tripling to $1.19 billion over the same period.
Conversely, the manufacturing industry saw a decrease in overseas investments, dropping 5.7 percent to $3.4 billion.
In terms of investment destinations, there was a marked increase in investment in the United States, which doubled to $10.15 billion. Investments in Luxembourg rose by 97.9 percent to $2.08 billion, while those in Singapore more than doubled to $1.05 billion.