Semiconductor Drives Korea’s GDP to 1.7% Growth in Q1, Highest in Five and a Half Years

South Korea’s Q1 GDP expanded 1.7% quarter-on-quarter, the strongest growth in over five years, driven primarily by robust semiconductor exports and increased capital investment in advanced technology sectors. The upswing reflects a global recovery in demand for high-end chips, boosting manufacturing output and improving trade balances, which transmitted positively through domestic industrial production and corporate earnings. This growth momentum particularly benefits Korean equities, especially technology and export-oriented conglomerates, while also supporting the won amid stronger capital inflows and improved current account surplus. The Bank of Korea may face renewed scrutiny over its accommodative monetary stance as growth reaccelerates and inflation pressures re-emerge. Traders will watch the April industrial production and semiconductor inventory data as a near-term indicator of whether the sector’s momentum is sustainable.

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