Korea’s OFDI, Q1 2026
(US $100 million, %, y-o-y)
|
Korean OFDI |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
|
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Q1 |
|
Amount invested |
166.0 |
163.6 |
146.9 |
184.7 |
159.6 |
154.3 |
196.4 |
223.4 |
217.4 |
|
Change (%) |
-9.1 |
1.6 |
-2.5 |
11.4 |
-3.9 |
-5.7 |
33.7 |
20.9 |
36.2 |
Korea’s OFDI by industry
(US $100 million, %, y-o-y)
|
Korean OFDI |
Finance and insurance |
Manufacturing |
Information and communications |
Scientific and technical services |
Real estate and renting |
|
1Q, 2025 |
82.1 |
36.1 |
3.7 |
2.2 |
11.0 |
|
1Q, 2026 |
133.8 |
34.0 |
11.9 |
9.1 |
8.4 |
|
Change (%) |
63.0 |
-5.7 |
220.4 |
322.2 |
-23.6 |
Korea’s OFDI by region
(US $100 million, %, y-o-y)
|
Korean OFDI |
North America |
Europe |
Asia |
Latin America |
Oceania |
Africa |
Middle East |
|
1Q, 2025 |
60.7 |
36.6 |
30.9 |
24.7 |
6.0 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
|
1Q, 2026 |
102.6 |
51.3 |
35.0 |
23.6 |
2.9 |
1.2 |
0.7 |
|
Change (%) |
69.2 |
40.1 |
13.2 |
-4.4 |
-50.6 |
135.7 |
183.3 |
Korea’s OFDI by country
(US $100 million, %, y-o-y)
|
Korean OFDI |
U.S. |
Luxemburg |
Cayman Islands |
Singapore |
Vietnam |
|
1Q, 2025 |
48.9 |
14.3 |
20.9 |
4.9 |
4.7 |
|
1Q, 2026 |
101.5 |
28.3 |
20.8 |
10.5 |
7.3 |
|
Change (%) |
107.6 |
97.9 |
-0.5 |
115.7 |
55.1 |
In the first quarter of 2026 (January-March), Korea’s outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI) totaled USD 21.74 billion, up 36.2% from the same period of the previous year (USD 15.96 billion), extending the expansion trend that has continued since the third quarter of 2025.
The increase in Korea’s OFDI in the first quarter of 2026 is attributable to expanded overseas financial investment for global portfolio diversification and alternative investment for diversifying returns, supported by the sustained strength of global equity markets since the second half of 2025.
The government will continue to closely monitor trends in OFDI amid evolving external economic and investment conditions, including interest rate hikes in Japan and the EU. At the same time, it will strengthen communication and cooperation with major investment destination countries and relevant institutions to support the stable business operations of Korean firms entering overseas markets.
Please refer to the attached files.
