Ask what Korea is talking about.

South Korea's second-quarter current account surplus reached $116.63 billion, surpassing the combined $102.89 billion surplus of Germany and Japan for the first time since comparable data began in 1996, according to Bank of Korea and IMF statistics reported by Yonhap and other outlets. The surplus, driven by rising semiconductor exports, was more than four times the year-earlier figure, ranking second among 36 major economies after China's $193.72 billion. Korean media highlight this as a historic milestone for a manufacturing powerhouse, with KBS World noting it was the first time Korea's surplus exceeded the combined totals of the two major manufacturing economies.