Commercial service imports in South Korea
South Korea: Commercial service imports was 183.44 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Commercial service imports in South Korea, 1976–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for commercial service imports in South Korea is 183.44 billion current US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.7% on the previous year and up 65.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, commercial service imports in South Korea peaked at 183.44 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.13 billion current US$, in 1976.
That places South Korea 12th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Commercial service imports in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 1.13 billion current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 1.95 billion current US$ | +72.9% |
| 1978 | 3.10 billion current US$ | +59.1% |
| 1979 | 3.38 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1980 | 3.59 billion current US$ | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 3.91 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1982 | 3.83 billion current US$ | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 3.85 billion current US$ | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 3.92 billion current US$ | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 3.49 billion current US$ | -11.0% |
| 1986 | 3.94 billion current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1987 | 4.63 billion current US$ | +17.5% |
| 1988 | 6.00 billion current US$ | +29.7% |
| 1989 | 8.33 billion current US$ | +38.6% |
| 1990 | 10.09 billion current US$ | +21.2% |
| 1991 | 11.95 billion current US$ | +18.4% |
| 1992 | 13.29 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 1993 | 14.75 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 1994 | 18.25 billion current US$ | +23.8% |
| 1995 | 25.41 billion current US$ | +39.2% |
| 1996 | 29.17 billion current US$ | +14.8% |
| 1997 | 29.03 billion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 24.12 billion current US$ | -16.9% |
| 1999 | 26.78 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2000 | 32.98 billion current US$ | +23.2% |
| 2001 | 32.59 billion current US$ | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 36.40 billion current US$ | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 40.15 billion current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2004 | 49.78 billion current US$ | +24.0% |
| 2005 | 58.79 billion current US$ | +18.1% |
| 2006 | 69.22 billion current US$ | +17.7% |
| 2007 | 83.44 billion current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2008 | 96.42 billion current US$ | +15.6% |
| 2009 | 81.18 billion current US$ | -15.8% |
| 2010 | 95.97 billion current US$ | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 101.48 billion current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 107.24 billion current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 108.58 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 114.15 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 110.78 billion current US$ | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 110.76 billion current US$ | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 124.75 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 131.52 billion current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 128.91 billion current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 104.01 billion current US$ | -19.3% |
| 2021 | 127.74 billion current US$ | +22.8% |
| 2022 | 142.22 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2023 | 156.62 billion current US$ | +10.1% |
| 2024 | 170.25 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2025 | 183.44 billion current US$ | +7.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 183.44 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.83 billion current US$, 9.7× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 183.44 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.40 billion current US$, 76.6× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.39 billion current US$ | 1.13 billion current US$ | 3.38 billion current US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 4.55 billion current US$ | 3.49 billion current US$ | 8.33 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.28 billion current US$ | 10.09 billion current US$ | 29.17 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.10 billion current US$ | 32.59 billion current US$ | 96.42 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 113.41 billion current US$ | 95.97 billion current US$ | 131.52 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 147.38 billion current US$ | 104.01 billion current US$ | 183.44 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More private sector data for South Korea
- Merchandise trade 71.6% (2025)
- Food imports 6.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 60.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 631.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.6% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 87.3% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 709.33 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 13,724 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 3.76 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is commercial service imports in South Korea?
- Commercial service imports in South Korea was 183.44 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest commercial service imports recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 183.44 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest commercial service imports recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.13 billion current US$ in 1976.
- How does South Korea rank for commercial service imports?
- South Korea ranks 12th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is commercial service imports rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Commercial service imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Commercial service imports are total service imports minus imports of government services not included elsewhere. Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.