South Korea’s information and communications technology (ICT) exports reached a record high in the first half of 2026, rising 120.5 percent from a year earlier to $253.86 billion, driven by booming AI data center investment. June exports also climbed 160.4 percent to an all-time monthly high of $57.29 billion. ICT imports increased 31.3 percent to $93.21 billion in the first half, while June imports rose 46.4 percent to $18.2 billion, resulting in a June ICT trade surplus of $39.9 billion. Semiconductors and SSDs accounted for 83.7 percent of total ICT exports, and ICT products represented 51.1 percent of Korea’s total industrial exports. Semiconductor exports jumped 162.5 percent to $192.43 billion, with memory chip exports surging 245.1 percent to a record $163.73 billion. Computer and peripheral exports climbed 233.8 percent to $22.16 billion, and SSD exports soared 317.5 percent to $19.94 billion. Exports of mobile phones rose 38 percent to $8.4 billion, displays increased 3.8 percent to $9.03 billion, and telecommunications equipment gained 7.3 percent to $1.24 billion. By destination, exports to China, including Hong Kong, rose 141 percent to $101.16 billion, shipments to the United States more than tripled