While South Korea's manufacturing sector powers over a quarter of the national economy, a closer look reveals a global industrial titan built on a relentless drive for innovation, as evidenced by its semiconductor giants holding a dominant 73.5% of the memory chip market and its shipyards securing nearly two-thirds of the world's LNG carrier orders.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, South Korea's manufacturing sector accounted for 27.1% of the total GDP, generating a value added of approximately 512 trillion South Korean won (KRW)
- The manufacturing production index in South Korea rose by 2.8% year-on-year in December 2023, driven by semiconductors and automobiles
- South Korea's manufacturing employment reached 4.12 million workers in 2022, representing 16.5% of total employment
- South Korea holds a 19.4% global market share in semiconductor production capacity as of 2023
- Samsung Electronics produced 1.2 billion DRAM chips in South Korea in 2023, accounting for 43% of global supply
- SK Hynix's HBM3E sales revenue reached 5.2 trillion KRW in Q4 2023 from South Korean fabs
- In 2023, Hyundai Motor Company produced 4.22 million vehicles globally, with 3.1 million from South Korean plants
- Kia Corporation's production in South Korea reached 1.78 million units in 2023, up 6.5% YoY
- South Korea's automobile export value was 65.3 billion USD in 2023, accounting for 10.1% of total exports
- South Korea's shipbuilding order backlog stood at 1,045 ships valued at 78.2 billion USD as of end-2023
- Hyundai Heavy Industries delivered 82 vessels totaling 12.4 million CGT in 2023 from Ulsan shipyard
- South Korea secured 64% of global LNG carrier orders in 2023, with 112 units ordered
- POSCO Holdings produced 38.5 million metric tons of crude steel in South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's crude steel production was 67.0 million tons in 2023, ranking 6th globally
- LG Chem's petrochemical revenue from Yeosu plant was 22.4 trillion KRW in 2023
South Korea's manufacturing sector drives a substantial export-led economy dominated by semiconductors and automobiles.
Automotive Industry
- In 2023, Hyundai Motor Company produced 4.22 million vehicles globally, with 3.1 million from South Korean plants
- Kia Corporation's production in South Korea reached 1.78 million units in 2023, up 6.5% YoY
- South Korea's automobile export value was 65.3 billion USD in 2023, accounting for 10.1% of total exports
- Hyundai's Ulsan plant produced 1.45 million vehicles in 2023, including 850,000 SUVs
- South Korea's auto parts export reached 38.7 billion USD in 2023
- Kia's Hwaseong plant output was 720,000 electric vehicles in 2023
- South Korea's automobile production index rose 7.2% YoY to 128.4 in December 2023 (base 2020=100)
- Hyundai Mobis supplied 12.5 million ADAS modules from South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's EV battery production for autos was 250 GWh in 2023 from LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI
- The number of vehicles produced in South Korea was 4.1 million in 2023
- GM Korea's Bupyeong plant produced 450,000 Chevrolet vehicles in South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's auto R&D expenditure was 18.2 trillion KRW in 2022
- Hyundai's Asan plant assembled 580,000 Genesis luxury vehicles in 2023
- South Korea exported 3.9 million automobiles in 2023, led by Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage
- Kia's EV6 production reached 150,000 units in South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's automotive employment was 980,000 in 2022
- Renault Samsung Motors produced 380,000 QM6 SUVs in Busan in 2023
- South Korea's auto sales domestically were 1.78 million units in 2023
- Hyundai Mobis's module production for autos was 45 million units in South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle production reached 12,000 units in 2023 by Hyundai Nexo
- SsangYong Motor (KG Mobility) output was 110,000 vehicles from Pyeongtaek in 2023
- South Korea's automotive trade surplus was 36.4 billion USD in 2023
- Kia's Sorento hybrid production hit 220,000 units in Hwaseong, South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's auto patent applications were 15,200 in 2022
- Hyundai's electric vehicle IONIQ 5 production was 180,000 units in South Korea in 2023
Automotive Industry Interpretation
While the numbers show South Korea is an automotive juggernaut churning out millions of vehicles and modules, the real horsepower is in its strategic shift, as the surging production of electric SUVs, luxury Genesis sedans, and ADAS systems proves the industry is not just assembling cars but actively engineering its lucrative, tech-driven future.
Electronics and Semiconductors
- South Korea holds a 19.4% global market share in semiconductor production capacity as of 2023
- Samsung Electronics produced 1.2 billion DRAM chips in South Korea in 2023, accounting for 43% of global supply
- SK Hynix's HBM3E sales revenue reached 5.2 trillion KRW in Q4 2023 from South Korean fabs
- South Korea's semiconductor export value was 128.9 billion USD in 2023, up 25.4% YoY
- The number of semiconductor fabs in South Korea was 22 in 2023, with total capacity of 5.8 million wafers/month
- South Korea's logic IC production reached 15.6 billion units in 2022 from facilities in Giheung and Hwaseong
- Samsung Display's OLED panel production in South Korea hit 250 million units in 2023
- South Korea's semiconductor R&D spending was 32.1 trillion KRW in 2022, 18% of global total
- LG Display produced 120 million LCD panels in Paju, South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's memory chip market share was 73.5% globally in Q3 2023
- The Pyeongtaek Samsung fab line yields exceeded 90% for 3nm process in 2023
- South Korea exported 94.2 billion USD in semiconductors to China in 2023
- SK Hynix invested 15.5 trillion KRW in Cheongju fab expansion for HBM in 2023
- South Korea's semiconductor equipment import was 24.7 billion USD in 2023
- Samsung's System LSI division in South Korea shipped 1.8 billion Exynos chips in 2023
- South Korea's flat panel display production value was 45.3 trillion KRW in 2023
- DB HiTek's foundry capacity in South Korea was 1.2 million 200mm wafers/month in 2023
- South Korea's semiconductor patent filings reached 12,450 in 2022
- Magnachip's power IC production in Cheongju, South Korea, was 450 million units in 2023
- South Korea's OLED market share was 58.2% globally in 2023
- Samsung Electro-Mechanics produced 2.1 billion MLCCs in South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's semiconductor trade surplus was 89.4 billion USD in 2023
- The Hwaseong Samsung fab added 3nm GAA capacity of 220,000 wafers/month in 2023
- South Korea's IT device manufacturing export was 76.5 billion USD in 2023
- SK Siltron's silicon wafer production in South Korea was 2.8 million 300mm wafers in 2023
- South Korea's electronics industry employment was 1.78 million in 2022
- Samsung Display's foldable OLED shipments from South Korea reached 15 million units in 2023
- Hyundai Mobis produced 45 million sensors for semiconductors in South Korea in 2023
Electronics and Semiconductors Interpretation
While the world frets about digital futures, South Korea is quietly building it—one chip, screen, and staggering export dollar at a time, proving their industrial might isn't just a flash in the wafer.
General Manufacturing
- In 2023, South Korea's manufacturing sector accounted for 27.1% of the total GDP, generating a value added of approximately 512 trillion South Korean won (KRW)
- The manufacturing production index in South Korea rose by 2.8% year-on-year in December 2023, driven by semiconductors and automobiles
- South Korea's manufacturing employment reached 4.12 million workers in 2022, representing 16.5% of total employment
- In 2022, South Korea's manufacturing export value hit 642.4 billion USD, comprising 85.3% of total merchandise exports
- The average annual wage in South Korea's manufacturing sector was 52.3 million KRW in 2022, up 4.1% from the previous year
- South Korea's manufacturing PMI stood at 51.2 in January 2024, indicating expansion in the sector
- In 2023, the machinery manufacturing subsector grew by 3.5% in production volume to 145.2 trillion KRW
- South Korea's manufacturing R&D expenditure reached 28.7 trillion KRW in 2022, or 5.8% of sales revenue
- The number of manufacturing establishments in South Korea was 142,500 in 2022
- South Korea's manufacturing value added per worker was 124.3 million KRW in 2022
- In Q4 2023, South Korea's manufacturing capacity utilization rate was 75.4%
- South Korea's primary metal manufacturing output increased by 1.2% to 78.9 trillion KRW in 2023
- The manufacturing sector's labor productivity index in South Korea was 118.5 in 2022 (base 2015=100)
- South Korea imported 192.3 billion USD worth of intermediate goods for manufacturing in 2022
- In 2023, South Korea's manufacturing firms numbered over 5,200 with annual sales exceeding 1 trillion KRW
- The electrical equipment manufacturing subsector in South Korea produced 32.1 trillion KRW in 2023
- South Korea's manufacturing sector energy consumption was 1,245 petajoules in 2022
- In 2022, South Korea's manufacturing CO2 emissions totaled 412 million metric tons
- The food manufacturing industry in South Korea generated 178.4 trillion KRW in sales in 2022
- South Korea's manufacturing investment in facilities reached 45.6 trillion KRW in 2023
- In 2023, the textile manufacturing output in South Korea was 12.7 trillion KRW, down 2.1% YoY
- South Korea's manufacturing sector had a trade surplus of 248.7 billion USD in 2023
- The number of manufacturing bankruptcies in South Korea was 1,234 in 2023
- South Korea's manufacturing productivity growth rate was 2.3% in 2022
- In 2022, non-ferrous metal manufacturing sales reached 56.8 trillion KRW in South Korea
- South Korea's manufacturing sector contributed 24.8% to industrial production in Q1 2024
- The average capacity utilization in South Korea's manufacturing was 76.2% in 2023
- South Korea's manufacturing export growth was 4.5% in 2023 for machinery
- In 2023, South Korea's manufacturing R&D intensity was 4.9% of GDP
- South Korea's fabricated metal product manufacturing output was 89.4 trillion KRW in 2022
General Manufacturing Interpretation
South Korea's manufacturing backbone is a formidable export engine, yet the data reveals an economy precariously balanced on high-value chips and cars, sweating out productivity gains while trying to digest its massive carbon footprint.
Shipbuilding Industry
- South Korea's shipbuilding order backlog stood at 1,045 ships valued at 78.2 billion USD as of end-2023
- Hyundai Heavy Industries delivered 82 vessels totaling 12.4 million CGT in 2023 from Ulsan shipyard
- South Korea secured 64% of global LNG carrier orders in 2023, with 112 units ordered
- Samsung Heavy Industries' Geoje shipyard produced 45 ships in 2023, including 20 VLCCs
- South Korea's shipbuilding export revenue was 52.1 billion USD in 2023
- Hanwha Ocean (Daewoo Shipbuilding) completed 38 vessels worth 8.9 billion USD in 2023
- South Korea's new shipbuilding orders reached 2,200 vessels (205 million DWT) in 2023
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' engine division supplied 120 MAN engines for ships in 2023
- South Korea held 41% global shipbuilding market share by CGT in 2023
- Doosan Heavy Industries built 15 offshore platforms from South Korean yards in 2023
- South Korea's shipbuilding employment was 182,000 workers in 2023
- HD Hyundai Samho shipyard delivered 25 container ships of 2.4 million TEU capacity in 2023
- South Korea exported 1,856 ships (CGT 25.6 million) in 2023
- Hanwha Ocean secured orders for 50 ammonia-ready vessels in 2023
- South Korea's shipbuilding R&D investment was 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023
- Samsung Heavy Industries' LNG carrier orders totaled 45 units (5.8 million cbm) in 2023
- South Korea's offshore wind vessel construction began with 12 units ordered in 2023
- HD Hyundai Mipo delivered 32 product tankers in 2023 from Ulsan
- South Korea's shipbuilding production index was 142.3 in 2023 (base 2015=100)
- Hanwha Ocean's submarine production for South Korean navy was 3 units in 2023
- South Korea's VLCC market share in orders was 55% globally in 2023
- Doosan S2 (ex-Hyundai Mipo) built 18 bulk carriers in 2023
- South Korea's green ship orders (LNG, LPG) were 70% of total in 2023
- HD Hyundai Heavy's Pusan shipyard completed 18 FPSOs in 2023
Shipbuilding Industry Interpretation
While this mountain of numbers may seem dry at a glance, it ultimately paints a portrait of South Korea not merely as a shipbuilder, but as the world's indispensable maritime architect, constructing everything from titanic container ships and future-fueled gas carriers to offshore cities, all while quietly arming its own navy.
Steel and Chemicals
- POSCO Holdings produced 38.5 million metric tons of crude steel in South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's crude steel production was 67.0 million tons in 2023, ranking 6th globally
- LG Chem's petrochemical revenue from Yeosu plant was 22.4 trillion KRW in 2023
- POSCO's Pohang works output 21.2 million tons of hot-rolled coil in 2023
- South Korea's chemical industry export value was 112.5 billion USD in 2023
- SK Innovation's Ulsan refinery processed 840,000 barrels per day in 2023
- South Korea's ethylene production capacity was 11.2 million tons per year in 2023
- Hyundai Steel produced 22.1 million tons of steel products at Dangjin plant in 2023
- Lotte Chemical's Ulsan complex produced 3.8 million tons of polyethylene in 2023
- South Korea's steel export volume was 17.8 million tons in 2023
- GS Caltex Daesan refinery output was 430,000 bpd of petroleum products in 2023
- South Korea's chemical industry employment was 320,000 in 2022
- POSCO International traded 15.2 million tons of steel globally from South Korea in 2023
- Hanwha Solutions' Yeongnam plant produced 2.1 million tons of PVC in 2023
- South Korea's stainless steel production was 2.45 million tons in 2023
- S-Oil Onsan refinery capacity utilization was 98.5% processing 669,000 bpd in 2023
- South Korea's polypropylene production was 4.2 million tons in 2023
- SeAH Steel produced 1.8 million tons of steel pipes in South Korea in 2023
- LG Chem's battery materials division output 120,000 tons of cathode in Ochang, 2023
- South Korea's steel industry R&D spend was 2.1 trillion KRW in 2023
- Hyosung Chemical produced 1.2 million tons of spandex in Jeongeup, South Korea in 2023
- South Korea's benzene production capacity was 5.6 million tons/year in 2023
- Korea Iron & Steel (KISC) exported 3.4 million tons of H-beam steel in 2023
- Lotte Chemical's PET resin production was 1.5 million tons from Ulsan in 2023
- South Korea's petrochemical trade surplus was 28.7 billion USD in 2023
- SK Geo Centric's purified terephthalic acid output was 2.8 million tons in 2023
- South Korea's steel plate production reached 12.3 million tons in 2023
- Pan Ocean (chemical shipping) transported 45 million tons of chemicals from South Korea in 2023
Steel and Chemicals Interpretation
South Korea’s industrial might in steel and chemicals is basically the world’s most serious workshop, where fiery furnaces and intricate reactors quietly forge the bones and sinews of global commerce.
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