A logo of SK Hynix is seen at the Korea Electronics Show in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct 8, 2019. (PHOTO / FILE / AP)

SEOUL - Foreign direct investment in South Korea hit a new record high in the first half owing to higher investment in the manufacturing industry, government data showed on Tuesday.

The reported FDI jumped 54 percent over the year to $17.09 billion in the January-June period, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The FDI in the manufacturing industry more than doubled to 7.63 billion dollars on strong investment in the electric and electronics sector, while foreign investment in the domestic services industry increased 11 percent to 8.48 billion dollars

It topped the previous high of 15.75 billion dollars tallied in the first half of 2018.

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The FDI in the manufacturing industry more than doubled to 7.63 billion dollars on strong investment in the electric and electronics sector, while foreign investment in the domestic services industry increased 11 percent to 8.48 billion dollars.

Direct investment from the United States grew 24 percent to 3.66 billion dollars, while investment from the European Union more than doubled to 4.26 billion dollars.

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Greenfield investment, which involves factory construction and employment, rose 53 percent to 12.64 billion dollars, while the merger and acquisition investment climbed 57 percent to 4.45 billion dollars.