Core Insights - The South Korean government forecasts that the country's export value will exceed $700 billion for the first time in 2025, setting a new historical record, although exports excluding semiconductors are expected to decline year-on-year [1][3][4]. Export Performance - From January to November, South Korea's total export value reached $640.2 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.9%, the highest level for the same period, surpassing the previous record of $628.7 billion in 2022 [1][3]. - Exports excluding semiconductors amounted to $487.6 billion during the same period, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 1.5% [5]. Sector-Specific Trends - The automotive, shipbuilding, biopharmaceutical, and computer sectors saw export growth of 2%, 28.6%, 7%, and 0.4%, respectively, while all other sectors experienced declines [5]. - Notable declines were observed in machinery exports (down 8.9%), petroleum products (down 11.1%), petrochemicals (down 11.7%), and steel exports (down 8.8%). Additionally, exports of automotive parts, displays, home appliances, and secondary batteries fell by 6.3%, 10.3%, 9.4%, and 11.8%, respectively [5]. Semiconductor Dependency - In November, semiconductors accounted for 28.3% of South Korea's total export value, the highest proportion recorded this year, raising concerns about the country's over-reliance on the semiconductor industry [5]. - Historically, from 2002 to 2010, semiconductors represented about 10% of South Korea's total exports [5].