SEOUL, (Pakistan Point News - 30th Jun, 2026) The Republic of Korea's overseas direct investment shot up 36 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, data showed Tuesday, led by the financial and insurance sector.
The combined amount of overseas direct investment made by South Korean businesses came to US$21.74 billion in the January-March period, rising sharply from $15.96 billion posted a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, maintaining on-year growth since the third quarter of 2025.
By sector, overseas investment in the financial and insurance industry shot up 63 percent to $13.38 billion.
The information and communication sector also saw the figure expand more than threefold over the period to $1.19 billion, the data showed.
That in the manufacturing industry, on the other hand, shed 5.7 percent to $3.4 billion.
By destination, investment in the United States doubled to $10.15 billion, while that in Luxembourg rose 97.9 percent to $2.08 billion.
Investment in Singapore also more than doubled to $1.05 billion, the data showed.
