South Korea\'s information and communications technology (ICT) exports rose 128.9 percent from a year earlier in May to $47.79 billion, while imports increased 36.0 percent to $15.7 billion, resulting in a $32.09 billion trade surplus. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will announce the May ICT trade trends on June 15. Exports rose across major items including semiconductors, mobile phones, displays, computers and peripherals, and communications equipment.

South Korea\'s won-dollar exchange rate jumped to the 1,560 level, its highest since the financial crisis, stoking anxiety in currency markets. A surge cooled after authorities’ verbal intervention and the National Pension Service resumed currency hedging, but caution over U.S. monetary policy, Middle East uncertainty, foreign selling of local stocks and offshore NDF trading continue to weigh on the won. Analysts said the near-term ceiling may be limited, though volatility could persist.