South Korean corporate revenue rebounded in the third quarter of 2025, growing 2.1% quarter-on-quarter and ending a contraction seen in the previous period, according to Bank of Korea (BOK) data released Wednesday. The recovery was driven primarily by the manufacturing sector, where revenue expanded 2.9% on the back of surging demand for electronic and communication equipment (+12.3%). However, the data reveals that while large conglomerates saw revenue grow 2.6% and operating profit margins jump to 6.6%, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) posted zero revenue growth and saw profitability deteriorate.

The divergence is most visible in operating profit margins, which reached