SEOUL, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Korea grew in single digits in the first half of 2026, industry ministry data showed Friday.
The reported FDI rose 9.1 percent to 14.28 billion U.S. dollars in the first six months compared with the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Greenfield investment, which involves factory construction and employment, fell 1.5 percent to 10.82 billion dollars, but merger and acquisition (M&A) investment surged 64.3 percent to 3.46 billion dollars.
The FDI in the domestic manufacturing industry dived 28.4 percent from a year earlier to 3.81 billion dollars in the January-June period on the back of lower investment in the electrical and electronic and the chemical sectors.
The FDI in the local service industry jumped 27.9 percent to 9.07 billion dollars thanks to higher foreign investment in the finance and insurance and the real estate sectors.
Direct investment from the United States and the European Union shrank in single figures to 3.05 billion dollars and 2.05 billion dollars each, while investment from Japan retreated in double digits to 1.49 billion dollars.
Investment from other countries, including Singapore and Britain, soared 65.4 percent to 6.20 billion dollars. ■
