Direct investment, Debt instruments in South Korea
South Korea: Direct investment, Debt instruments was 129.11 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Direct investment, Debt instruments in South Korea, 1994–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
In 2025, direct investment, debt instruments in South Korea stood at 129.11 billion US dollar. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 164.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct investment, debt instruments in South Korea peaked at 129.11 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 708.10 million US dollar, in 1994.
South Korea ranks 23rd of 149 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct investment, Debt instruments in South Korea, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 708.10 million US dollar | — |
| 1995 | 915.30 million US dollar | +29.3% |
| 1996 | 1.03 billion US dollar | +12.6% |
| 1997 | 1.23 billion US dollar | +19.3% |
| 1998 | 1.88 billion US dollar | +52.7% |
| 1999 | 2.11 billion US dollar | +12.7% |
| 2000 | 2.36 billion US dollar | +11.5% |
| 2001 | 1.73 billion US dollar | -26.6% |
| 2002 | 1.99 billion US dollar | +15.1% |
| 2003 | 1.94 billion US dollar | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 2.12 billion US dollar | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 2.94 billion US dollar | +38.5% |
| 2006 | 3.54 billion US dollar | +20.1% |
| 2007 | 6.70 billion US dollar | +89.6% |
| 2008 | 9.57 billion US dollar | +42.8% |
| 2009 | 12.10 billion US dollar | +26.5% |
| 2010 | 11.72 billion US dollar | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 14.69 billion US dollar | +25.3% |
| 2012 | 16.87 billion US dollar | +14.8% |
| 2013 | 33.68 billion US dollar | +99.6% |
| 2014 | 39.49 billion US dollar | +17.2% |
| 2015 | 48.77 billion US dollar | +23.5% |
| 2016 | 48.47 billion US dollar | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 56.65 billion US dollar | +16.9% |
| 2018 | 62.58 billion US dollar | +10.5% |
| 2019 | 72.03 billion US dollar | +15.1% |
| 2020 | 83.39 billion US dollar | +15.8% |
| 2021 | 86.53 billion US dollar | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 101.54 billion US dollar | +17.3% |
| 2023 | 101.16 billion US dollar | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 122.72 billion US dollar | +21.3% |
| 2025 | 129.11 billion US dollar | +5.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 129.11 billion US dollar is above the median for high income countries, which is 42.99 billion US dollar, 3.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 129.11 billion US dollar is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.99 billion US dollar, 25.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Direct investment, Debt instruments in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +99.6% | 16.87 billion US dollar | 33.68 billion US dollar |
| 2007 | +89.6% | 3.54 billion US dollar | 6.70 billion US dollar |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.31 billion US dollar | 708.10 million US dollar | 2.11 billion US dollar | 6 |
| 2000s | 4.50 billion US dollar | 1.73 billion US dollar | 12.10 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.50 billion US dollar | 11.72 billion US dollar | 72.03 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 104.08 billion US dollar | 83.39 billion US dollar | 129.11 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More external debt data for South Korea
- Net financial flows, IDA 0 NFL, current US$ (2015)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 0 NFL, current US$ per person (2015)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Net financial flows, IBRD 0 NFL, current US$ (2016)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per square kilometre 0 NFL, current US$ per square kilometre (2015)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), annual growth rate 100 % change on previous year (2010)
- Net financial flows, IBRD (NFL, current US$), annual growth rate 100 % change on previous year (2014)
- Other investment, Debt instruments 309.08 billion US dollar (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 7.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments, Deposit taking corporations 188.50 billion US dollar (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct investment, debt instruments in South Korea?
- Direct investment, debt instruments in South Korea was 129.11 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest direct investment, debt instruments recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 129.11 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest direct investment, debt instruments recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 708.10 million US dollar in 1994.
- How does South Korea rank for direct investment, debt instruments?
- South Korea ranks 23rd out of 149 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct investment, debt instruments rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 164.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Direct investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents or are gold bullion held as reserve assets; and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.