South Korea’s Current Account Surplus Tops Germany and Japan Combined for First Time; IMF Says This Year’s Increase Is World’s Largest

South Korea’s current account surplus has surpassed the combined total of Germany and Japan for the first time on record. Fueled by surging semiconductor prices, the second-quarter surplus alone reached $116.63 billion (~154.6 trillion won), overwhelming both manufacturing powerhouses at once. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that South Korea’s surplus increase this year will be the largest among 190 countries worldwide. According to IMF current account statistics for major economies compiled in the Bank of Korea’s Economic Statistics System, South Korea’s second-quarter current account surplus came to $116.63 billion. Among the 36 major countries with confirmed second-quarter figures, it…