South Korea's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to surpass $39,000 this year, marking a 7.6% increase from the previous year, according to researchers. This growth is driven by increased export revenues, particularly in memory chips, resulting in the fastest GDP growth in five years. The per capita GDP is estimated to reach $39,164, an increase of $2,750 from the prior year. Economists predict that a strengthening of the Korean won could push the per capita GDP above $40,000 for the first time. The nation’s GDP is expected to rise from 2,676.7 trillion won in 2025 to 3,005.9 trillion won in 2026, based on a population of 51.6 million. After a dip to $33,652 in 2020 due to the pandemic, the economy is steadily rebounding, fueled by rising demand for memory chips linked to the growth of artificial intelligence.