China and South Korea
Industry, trade and human contacts connect South Korea and China, while the peninsula's security introduces differing interests. The January 2026 presidential visit brought together political and economic dialogue. Industrial cooperation and positions towards North Korea are not interchangeable matters.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Preparing the presidential visit
The ministers spoke on 31 December 2025 about Lee Jae Myung's visit planned for 4–7 January.
The January 2026 summit
The Korean ministry records the presidential meeting as part of its diplomatic activity in 2026.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 331,701.27 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN |
| Goods: China to South Korea | 144,518.99 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN |
| Goods: South Korea to China | 187,182.28 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: China to South Korea | 3.83 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN |
| Export share: South Korea to China | ||
| Investment stock: China in South Korea | ||
| Investment stock: South Korea in China |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN · Goods; full year; CHN reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: China to South Korea
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN · Goods; full year; CHN reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: South Korea to China
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN · Goods; full year; CHN reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Export share: China to South Korea
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN · Goods share: CHN exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Year-on-year inflation: different periods or frequencies; the two figures are not directly comparable.
| Indicator | China | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 19.5 trillion USD2025 · WB | 1.87 trillion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 13,861.97 USD2025 · WB | 36,226.97 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 4.96 %2025 · WB | 1.01 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 1.4 %2026-09-24 · PBoC | 3 %2026-08-27 · Bank of Korea |
| Inflation · annual average | 0.06 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 2.12 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 0.8 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · NBS China | 2.9 %Headline CPI · 2026-09 · year-on-year · Ministry of Data and Statistics |
| Unemployment | 4.62 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 2.68 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -7.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -1.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 99.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 52.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 3.77 %2025 · WB | 6.57 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 1,406,585,0002025 · WB | 51,684,5642025 · WB |
| Area | 9,562,910 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 100,450 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDChina: 2025 · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personChina: 2025 · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)China: 2025 · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)China: 2026-09-24 · PBoC: 7-day reverse repo · People’s Bank of China · Published: 2026-09-24 · Rate of the official operation consulted, not the mortgage LPR or the PSL lending rate. Subsequent operations with zero volume are not converted into a 0% interest rate.South Korea: 2026-08-27 · Base Rate · Bank of Korea · Official central-bank decision; not a commercial lending rate or a bill yield.
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)China: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedChina: 2026-08 · Headline CPI change relative to the same month of the previous year (%) · National Bureau of Statistics of China · Published: 2026-09-09 · National headline year-on-year CPI, not monthly inflation or an annual average.South Korea: 2026-09 · National headline CPI, change from the same month of the previous year · Ministry of Data and Statistics · Published: 2026-10-02 · Official monthly data. Not mixed with the annual average. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionChina: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.South Korea: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)China: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.South Korea: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)China: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.South Korea: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPChina: 2025 · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Population
- PeopleChina: 2025 · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceChina: 2023 · Total area including inland waters; territorial coverage of the source · World Bank · FAOSouth Korea: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
China to South Korea
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 46,542.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 18,872.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 5,964.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 1,661.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 316.8 M USD2025 · Source |
South Korea to China
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 115,501.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 17,998.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 3,898.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 1,061.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 172 M USD2025 · Source |
Connections between people
Education, work, visits and community connections have their own records and procedures. Residents are not equivalent to annual arrivals, and visits may be repeated. The tables retain dates, definitions and sources to distinguish these connections from business contracts and government decisions. [2]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from China living in South Korea | ||
| Residents from South Korea living in China | ||
| Study and training: China in South Korea | ||
| Study and training: South Korea in China | ||
| Academic stays: China in South Korea | ||
| Academic stays: South Korea in China | ||
| Travel: China to South Korea | ||
| Travel: South Korea to China |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
Preparing the presidential visit
The ministers spoke on 31 December 2025 about Lee Jae Myung's visit planned for 4–7 January. The Korean communication describes continuing contacts and matters of common interest. A state visit enables negotiation and coordination, but does not make the two countries military allies or remove their independent decisions concerning the peninsula. [1]
The January 2026 summit
The Korean ministry records the presidential meeting as part of its diplomatic activity in 2026. The episode brings together the bilateral agenda and regional issues. The official presentation must be distinguished from an independent assessment of fulfilment of commitments. Meetings and announcements have their own dates; the 2025 customs figures predate them and are not interpreted as a result of that summit. [2]
Production chains between neighbouring economies
Goods trade reflects large-scale business and production connections. A good may incorporate components and added value from several countries before crossing the border. The customs balance therefore does not by itself measure all benefits or industrial dependence. The profile retains shipments in both directions and the partner's share where a comparable denominator exists. [2]
The scale of the two economies
China recorded nominal GDP of 19,498 billion USD in 2025, compared with 1,872.4 in 2025 for South Korea. The reference populations were 1,406.59 million (2025) and 51.68 million (2025), respectively. In the same year, China's nominal GDP was 10.41 times South Korea's. These figures contextualise market size; they do not by themselves describe well-being, individual wealth or political influence. IMF estimates or population extrapolations retain their labels in the table. No ratio is calculated when periods do not match. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Political dialogue and civilian ties
The ministerial preparations and the summit show an active channel of dialogue in early 2026. Its continuity is distinguished from business, student and visitor data that require their own sources. Regional security and trade may evolve differently; not every increase in goods trade is interpreted as an equivalent change of position on conflicts or alliances. [2] [1]
Observed economic exchange
In 2025, recorded goods trade between China and South Korea totalled 331,701.3 million USD. Shipments from China to South Korea were 144,519 million USD; those in the reverse direction were 187,182.3 million USD. China's shipments to the partner represented 3.83% of its goods exports to the world, using the same year and reporter. A single customs reporting source is used for both directions. This annual flow does not include all services activity or affiliates' local sales and is not added to accumulated investment capital. [3]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, unit, definition and source. Announcements, contracts and results are not interchangeable. Empty cells do not mean zero. Customs data for 2025 are not presented as activity observed during later crises.
- Preparations and dialogue agenda
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Document: 2026-01-01 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- January 2026 Korean–Chinese summit
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Document: 2026-01-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 156; partners 0,826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-09-17
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- SP.POP.TOTL; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 27; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 30; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 84; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 85; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 87; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 27; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 85; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 84; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 87; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 30; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.