South Korea's information and communication technology (ICT) exports reached an all-time monthly high in May 2025, with outbound shipments surging to $47.79 billion — a year-on-year jump of 128.9 percent from $20.88 billion recorded in the same month a year earlier. The milestone, confirmed by data from the Ministry of Science and ICT, was driven primarily by explosive demand for semiconductors and AI-linked hardware.

Three Consecutive Months Above $40 Billion

May marks the first time in South Korea's trade history that monthly ICT exports have crossed the $40 billion threshold for three straight months, according to the ministry. Imports rose 36 percent on-year to $15.7 billion, yielding a sector trade surplus of $32.09 billion — underscoring the country's dominant position in global technology supply chains.

Semiconductors and AI Hardware Lead the Charge

Semiconductor exports were the standout performer, soaring 169.2 percent year-on-year to $37.16 billion, propelled by sustained investment in AI server infrastructure and a rise in memory chip prices. Shipments of computers and related equipment more than tripled from a year earlier to $4.33 billion, reflecting surging demand for solid-state drives (SSDs) deployed in AI data centres. Smartphone exports climbed a solid 15.9 percent on-year, while display panel shipments edged up 2.8 percent.

Key Export Destinations

Exports to the United States shot up more than 250 percent to $8.1 billion, making it one of the fastest-growing markets for South Korean ICT goods. Shipments to China, including Hong Kong, more than doubled to $19.5 billion, while exports to Vietnam climbed 90.8 percent on-year to $6.8 billion. The broad-based geographic growth signals that AI-driven hardware demand is a global, not regional, phenomenon.

SK Hynix Hiring Surge Amid AI Boom

The record export figures are mirrored in chipmaker hiring data. SK Hynix added more than 2,000 positions in 2025, with its total headcount rising to 34,549 by year-end — up 2,159 from the previous year, according to industry sources. This is particularly notable given a broader slowdown in South Korea's overall job market. By contrast, Samsung Electronics' device solutions division, which covers its chip operations, saw its workforce edge slightly lower to 78,064 from 78,699. Combined, the two chipmaking giants employed 112,613 chip-related workers as of end-2025, a net increase of 1,554 year-on-year.

What This Signals for the AI Supply Chain

South Korea's ICT export trajectory reflects how deeply the global AI investment cycle has penetrated hardware demand. Memory chips — the country's primary export — sit at the core of every AI training cluster and inference server. This comes amid a broader race among hyperscalers in the US, China, and Southeast Asia to expand AI infrastructure capacity. Analysts will be watching whether the momentum holds as AI capital expenditure cycles mature and memory chip prices stabilise. The next monthly ICT trade release will be a closely watched indicator of whether the $40-billion-plus run rate is sustainable.