Overseas direct investment in the first quarter was $21.74 billion, up 36.2% from a year earlier, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said on the 30th. The growth rate was the highest since the first quarter of 2022 (147.9%). It was the second-largest jump in overseas investment after a period when demand for investments such as overseas mergers and acquisitions, which had been suppressed during the COVID-19 period, surged. This was because U.S. stock investment rose sharply, which is analyzed to be affecting the recent rise in the won-dollar exchange rate.
According to the Ministry's "first-quarter overseas direct investment trends" released that day, North America ($10.26 billion) drew the most overseas direct investment in the first quarter, up 69.2% from a year earlier. It was the first time since the fourth quarter of 2021 ($10.24 billion) that quarterly investment in North America topped $10 billion. Most of the investment went to the United States ($10.15 billion). Europe followed with $5.13 billion, up 40.1% year over year. Asia came next with $3.5 billion, up 13.2%.
By industry, investment in finance and insurance was $13.38 billion, up 63% from a year earlier. The Ministry said, "As global stock markets have remained strong since the second half of 2025, overseas financial investment for global diversification and alternative investment aimed at revenue diversification has expanded." In contrast, manufacturing investment was $3.4 billion, down 5.7% from a year earlier.