The current account surplus widened to $49.73 billion in June from the previous record of $38.61 billion in May and more than tripled from $13.97 billion a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea.
The black streak has extended to 38 consecutive month, the country's second-longest run since 2000.
For the January-June period, the current account surplus reached a record $191.01 billion, compared with $47.87 billion in the same period last year, underscoring this year's exceptional chip power.
The external surplus, however, contrasted sharply with foreign exit from Korean stocks.
Foreign investors sold a record $31.61 billion worth of Korean stocks in June, surpassing May's previous record $31.05 billion outflow. Combined with earlier months, foreigners were net sellers of $106.28 billion worth of Korean equities in the first half, underscoring continued profit-taking despite the country's export-led earnings boom.
Offsetting part of the outflow, foreign investors purchased $17.53 billion of Korean bonds during the first six months, supported by inflows tied to South Korea's inclusion in the FTSE World Government Bond Index, leaving a net first-half portfolio outflow of $88.76 billion.
Korean residents joined the capital flight. They bought $48.56 billion worth of foreign equities during the first half, little changed from a year-ago, while reducing holdings of overseas bonds by $4.43 billion as expectations of further U.S. Federal Reserve tightening weighed on global fixed-income markets.
Reflecting those cross-border investment flows, the financial account posted a record net asset increase of $46.71 billion in June, up from $31.08 billion in May. The first-half financial account recorded a cumulative $168.66 billion net asset increase.
The goods account remained the principal driver of the current account, posting a record $47.89 billion surplus after exports jumped 84.5 percent from a year earlier to an unprecedented $112.37 billion.
Imports rose 38.6 percent to $64.48 billion as purchases of raw materials, capital goods and consumer products all increased.
Information technology exports surged 160.4 percent, led by a 196.9 percent jump in semiconductors and a 282.7 percent increase in computer peripherals, including solid-state drives.
Non-IT exports also rose 18.6 percent, supported by petroleum products, chemicals, steel and passenger cars.
The services account recorded a $1.29 billion deficit, slightly wider than the $1.09 billion shortfall in May.
The travel account posted a $440 million surplus, up from $50 million a month earlier, as inbound tourism strengthened while higher fuel surcharges curbed overseas travel by Koreans.
The balance on the use of intellectual property swung to a $440 million deficit from a $70 million surplus in May after unusually large royalty settlements in the previous month boosted receipts.
The primary income account surplus widened to $3.27 billion from $2.17 billion, supported by higher dividend income from overseas investments and seasonally lower dividend payments to foreign investors.
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