South Korea’s exports returned to growth in June, rising 4.3% from a year earlier to $59.8 billion, according to preliminary customs data. The rebound follows a 1.3% drop in May and delivers the country’s largest monthly trade surplus since 2018, at $9.08 billion. Imports increased 3.3% to $50.72 billion. Record semiconductor shipments of roughly $15 billion—up 11.6% year on year—drove the turnaround, while computers, automobiles and bio-health products also posted gains. By destination, sales to the European Union climbed 14.7% and shipments to Southeast Asia grew 2.1%. Exports to the United States and China, however, fell 0.5% and 2.7%, respectively, extending recent weakness in the two largest markets for Korean goods. Industry and Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun cautioned that “volatility in U.S. tariff policy” could keep external risks elevated through the second half of 2025. Seoul is seeking to prolong a 90-day pause on Washington’s proposed 25% ‘reciprocal’ duty while negotiations continue. Sector-specific levies have already weighed on Korean steel and home-appliance shipments, even as robust global demand for chips underpins overall export momentum.