South Korea records record FDI arrivals of $14.87 billion through Q3

South Korea has recorded its highest-ever cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) arrivals for the first three quarters of a year, reaching $14.87 billion. This represents a 30.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

FDI notifications also saw growth, rising 10.8 percent year-on-year to $22.9 billion. The surge is attributed to strong global demand for Korean semiconductors and equipment for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Investment from the United States rose by 35.1 percent to $6.69 billion, driven largely by interest in data centers and semiconductor components.

In contrast, investment notifications from the European Union, Japan, and China experienced declines. The South Korean government has identified semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers as key strategic sectors to continue attracting foreign capital.