(2nd LD) S. Korea's GDP expands 1 pct in Q3 on strong exports, investment: BOK

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(ATTN: ADDS comments, more info in paras 7-9, 11, 15-16, new photo, byline; RECASTS lead) By Kim Boram

SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- Strong semiconductor-led exports and investment drove South Korea's economy to grow faster than expected by 1 percent in the third quarter from a quarter earlier, putting annual growth of 3.6 percent within reach, central bank data showed Tuesday.

The country's real gross domestic product (GDP) -- a key measure of economic growth -- rose 1 percent in the July-September period from three months earlier, according to advance data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The third-quarter reading marked an increase from the previous quarter's 0.6 percent expansion and exceeded the BOK's earlier forecast of 0.3 percent made in August.

From a year earlier, the South Korean economy expanded 3.4 percent in the third quarter, slowing slightly from 3.7 percent in the second quarter.

Asia's fourth-largest economy grew 1 percent in 2025 amid weak facility investment and a downturn in the construction sector.

Fueled by the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure boom and resulting global demand for semiconductors, the South Korean economy grew 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026, marking its strongest quarterly growth since the third quarter of 2020, when the economy expanded 2.2 percent.

This file photo, taken May 12, 2026, shows vehicles parked at a port in Ulsan on the southeastern coast, awaiting overseas shipment. (Yonhap)

The BOK said the economy had grown a cumulative 3.6 percent over the first three quarters of 2026.

"If the economy maintains the on-quarter growth pace in the fourth quarter, GDP will likely grow 3.6 percent for the full year," Lee Dong-won of the BOK's statistics department said during a press conference. "If fourth-quarter growth reaches 1.4 percent on-quarter, the annual growth rate could reach 4 percent."

South Korea's outbound shipments topped a record US$120.9 billion in September, up 83.5 percent from a year earlier, with exports of semiconductors exceeding $60 billion.

This file photo taken July 31, 2026, shows boxes of semiconductors produced by Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. being loaded onto an aircraft at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

In detail, exports rose 2.3 percent from the previous quarter and imports increased 2.4 percent, while government spending advanced 1.9 percent.

Net exports contributed 0.1 percentage point to the quarterly GDP growth, while domestic demand added 0.9 percentage point.

Facility investment increased 4.1 percent, and construction investment climbed 0.7 percent on a quarterly basis.

However, private consumption fell 0.2 percent.

Real gross domestic income (GDI), which reflects changes in terms of trade, rose 18.8 percent on-year in the third quarter, marking the highest spike since the fourth quarter of 1977, when it reached 19 percent.

The BOK attributed the decline in private consumption to reduced spending on financial services amid a stock market correction and sluggish automobile sales caused by general strikes at major automakers.

"Without these two negative factors, private consumption could have risen 0.4 percent in the third quarter," the BOK official said. "Private consumption is expected to rebound in the fourth quarter or the first quarter of next year as major semiconductor companies pay dividends to shareholders and performance-based bonuses to employees."

With the faster-than-expected third-quarter growth, the BOK may likely raise its growth forecast of 3.3 percent made in August.

The central bank will release its new growth predictions next month.

Containers are stacked at a port in the southeastern coastal city of Busan, in this Oct. 1, 2026, file photo. (Yonhap)

S. Korea's growth could exceed IMF projection: finance minister

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(2nd LD) S. Korea extends current account surplus in Aug. amid solid exports

(2nd LD) S. Korea's Sept. exports hit record US$120.9 bln on robust chip sales

(2nd LD) S. Korea's GDP expands 1 pct in Q3 on strong exports, investment: BOK

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（注意：新增评论，更多信息请参见第7-9、11、15-16段，新增照片和署名；重写导语）作者：金宝蓝

首尔，10月27日（韩联社）——韩国央行周二公布的数据显示，强劲的半导体出口和投资推动韩国经济第三季度增速超出预期1%，使全年3.6%的增长目标有望实现。

根据韩国银行（BOK）的初步数据，该国实际国内生产总值（GDP）——衡量经济增长的关键指标——在7月至9月期间比三个月前增长了1%。

第三季度数据显示，经济增长率较上一季度的 0.6% 有所上升，并超过了韩国央行 8 月份预测的 0.3%。

与上年同期相比，韩国经济第三季度增长3.4%，较第二季度的3.7%略有放缓。

亚洲第四大经济体在设施投资疲软和建筑业低迷的情况下，预计2025年经济增长率为1%。

受人工智能（AI）基础设施繁荣和由此带来的全球半导体需求的推动，韩国经济在2026年第一季度增长了1.8%，这是自2020年第三季度经济增长2.2%以来最强劲的季度增长。

这张摄于2026年5月12日的资料照片显示，车辆停放在韩国东南沿海蔚山港，等待出海运输。（韩联社）

韩国央行表示，2026 年前三个季度，韩国经济累计增长 3.6%。

韩国央行统计部门的李东元在新闻发布会上表示：“如果第四季度经济保持环比增长速度，全年GDP增​​速可能达到3.6%。如果第四季度环比增长1.4%，全年增速可能达到4%。”

韩国9月份的出口额超过1209亿美元，创历史新高，比上年同期增长83.5%，其中半导体出口额超过600亿美元。

这张摄于2026年7月31日的资料照片显示，在首尔以西的仁川国际机场，三星电子和SK海力士生产的半导体产品正在被装上飞机。（联营照片）（韩联社）

具体而言，出口额比上一季度增长了2.3%，进口额增长了2.4%，而政府支出增长了1.9%。

净出口对季度GDP增长贡献了0.1个百分点，而国内需求贡献了0.9个百分点。

设施投资环比增长 4.1%，建筑投资环比增长 0.7%。

然而，私人消费下降了0.2%。

反映贸易条件变化的实际国内总收入（GDI）在第三季度同比增长 18.8%，创下自 1977 年第四季度以来的最高增幅，当时增幅达到 19%。

韩国央行将私人消费下降归因于股市调整导致金融服务支出减少，以及主要汽车制造商罢工导致汽车销售疲软。

韩国央行官员表示：“如果没有这两个不利因素，第三季度私人消费本可增长0.4%。随着大型半导体公司向股东派发股息并向员工发放绩效奖金，预计私人消费将在第四季度或明年第一季度反弹。”

由于第三季度增长速度快于预期，韩国央行可能会上调其8月份做出的3.3%的增长预测。

央行将于下月发布新的经济增长预测。

这张摄于2026年10月1日的资料照片显示，集装箱堆放在韩国东南部沿海城市釜山的一个港口。（韩联社）

韩国财政部长：韩国经济增长可能超过国际货币基金组织的预测

国际货币基金组织将韩国经济增长预期上调至3.3%，正值芯片超级周期之际。

（第二部分）韩国8月份经常账户继续保持盈余，出口稳健

（第二条）韩国9月出口额创下1209亿美元的历史新高，主要得益于强劲的芯片销售

（第二部分）韩国第三季度GDP增长1%，主要得益于强劲的出口和投资：韩国央行