South Korea’s export sector is riding high on a wave of optimism, as a series of record-breaking deals and legislative reforms signal a new era for the nation’s global trade ambitions. In the wake of the 2025 Export Boom-Up Korea Week, Korean companies have clinched export deals and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) worth a combined $430 million with foreign buyers—a figure that not only marks a historic achievement but also reflects a dramatic 48 percent surge compared to the previous year. The event, orchestrated by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), unfolded from October 15 to November 7, 2025, strategically timed to align with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Korea late last month.
According to Yonhap, the Export Boom-Up Korea Week was more than just a routine trade event. It was a showcase of Korea’s formidable export and technological prowess, drawing attention from industry leaders and foreign buyers alike. The deals inked this year spanned a diverse array of sectors, including the export of automotive transmission components to the United States and a suite of Korean health and beauty products, underscoring the country’s expanding footprint in both traditional and emerging markets.
KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung captured the spirit of the event in a press release, stating, “This year’s Export Boom-Up Korea Week served as an important opportunity to showcase Korea’s export and technological capabilities to the world and to revitalize the regional economy through synergy with the APEC gathering.” The sentiment was echoed across the business community, as the event’s success was widely regarded as a testament to Korea’s resilience and adaptability in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.
The Export Boom-Up Korea Week wasn’t confined to Seoul. Events and showcases rippled out to other parts of the country, with highlights such as the K-Tech Showcase at the K-Tech Air Dome in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, drawing crowds and generating buzz. The synergy with the APEC CEO Summit amplified Korea’s visibility, positioning the nation as a critical player in Asia-Pacific trade and innovation.
But the export boom wasn’t limited to headline-grabbing deals. Korea’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector also posted impressive gains in October 2025. Outbound shipments of ICT products soared 12.2 percent year-on-year, reaching $23.3 billion—the highest export volume ever recorded for the month of October, according to data from the Ministry of Science and ICT. The surge was powered in large part by robust shipments of semiconductors for artificial intelligence (AI) servers, with exports of semiconductor products alone jumping 25.4 percent from the previous year. This growth was fueled by global demand for high-end chips and a rise in memory chip prices.
Communication equipment exports also edged up by 2.5 percent, buoyed by strong demand from markets like Vietnam and India. However, not all sectors enjoyed the same momentum. Shipments of display products slid 8.8 percent due to falling global prices, while exports of mobile phones dropped 11.8 percent, hurt by weak demand for parts from China. Still, the overall trade picture was bright: imports fell 2.9 percent to $12.9 billion, resulting in a healthy trade surplus of $10.3 billion. Exports to the United States climbed 5.8 percent, and those to China—including Hong Kong—gained 4.9 percent, reflecting the broad-based strength of Korea’s export engine.
Parallel to these commercial triumphs, significant legislative changes are underway that could further turbocharge Korea’s export sector. On November 12, 2025, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly passed amendments to the Export-Import Bank of Korea Act and the Supply Chain Stabilization Act. These amendments, expected to clear the National Assembly plenary session with little opposition, pave the way for the Export-Import Bank of Korea—commonly known as Mercury—to contribute directly to the Supply Chain Stabilization Fund.
The fund, established in 2024, was designed to reduce Korea’s reliance on imported raw materials and components and to bolster the nation’s resilience against supply chain disruptions. Until now, the fund’s operations have been hampered by a conservative approach: it was financed solely through government guarantee bonds, which limited its risk appetite and focused support mainly on stalwart industries like semiconductors and secondary batteries. Critics argued that this approach left many promising sectors and startups in the cold.
With the new amendments, Mercury will be able to inject capital directly into the fund, enabling a more proactive and diversified investment strategy. The reforms open the door for ultra-low-cost loans and investments in high-risk but strategically vital areas such as core minerals, logistics, and infrastructure. They also allow Mercury to expand its indirect investment portfolio to include venture investment associations and new technology investment associations, as outlined in the existing Capital Markets Act. This means early-stage companies and innovative industries will have greater access to funding, accelerating their growth and overseas expansion.
Direct investment by Mercury, without the need to tie loans or guarantees to investor recruitment, is also set to become a reality. This marks a shift toward more preemptive and strategic financial support for Korean companies seeking to make their mark on the global stage.
Hwang Ki-yeon, the newly appointed president of the Export-Import Bank of Korea, underscored the importance of these changes in his inaugural address on November 13, 2025. “We will actively utilize the supply network stabilization fund to support localization of key materials, parts, and equipment that are the basis of future growth industries and secure stable raw materials,” he declared. The message was clear: Korea is determined to fortify its economic security and ensure that its industries are equipped to thrive in an increasingly competitive world.
The legislative overhaul aligns with broader government efforts to promote “productive finance,” a policy priority emphasized by the Lee Jae-myung administration. By empowering Mercury to take a more active role in supporting both established industries and emerging ventures, policymakers hope to safeguard Korea’s economic future and maintain its leadership in global trade.
As the dust settles on this year’s Export Boom-Up Korea Week and the country awaits the final passage of the legislative amendments, the mood among Korean exporters and policymakers is one of cautious optimism. The combination of record-breaking deals, robust ICT export growth, and a more agile financial infrastructure suggests that Korea is not merely weathering the storms of global uncertainty—it is charting a bold new course. With eyes fixed firmly on innovation and resilience, South Korea seems poised to turn today’s export boom into tomorrow’s sustainable prosperity.
