The OECD warned on July 2 that South Korea's growing reliance on semiconductor exports could heighten vulnerability to external shocks. The assessment came in a report released about a month after the organization raised its 2026 growth outlook to 2.6 percent, citing the AI boom.
The OECD made the assessment in its "OECD Economic Surveys: Korea 2026" report. Semiconductor exports nearly tripled to $44.82 billion in June, helping push total monthly exports above $100 billion for the first time.
Douglas Sutherland, head of division at the OECD Economics Department, told a press conference in Sejong that authorities should monitor the chip cycle closely. He suggested using excess revenues to support education or future growth engines.
The report also highlighted demographic pressures, noting South Korea's total fertility rate stood at 0.93 in April. It recommended raising the pension eligibility age beyond 63 by 2035 and building broader consensus on fiscal sustainability.
