Exports totaled $55.21 billion from Aug. 1 to 20, the highest ever for the period, while imports rose 19.0 percent to $41.23 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $13.98 billion.
The increase came despite fewer working days, with 14 days during the period compared with 14.5 days a year earlier.
Average daily exports climbed 61.5 percent to $3.94 billion from $2.44 billion.
Semiconductor exports jumped 198.8 percent to $26.03 billion, accounting for 47.2 percent of the country's total outbound shipments, up 22.5 percentage points from a year earlier.
The chip tally was the highest ever for the first 20 days of this month and surpassed the previous record of about $25.5 billion set during the same period in June.
The latest figures show how heavily South Korea's record export performance continues to rely on semiconductor shipments.
AJP analyzed customs data and found that, excluding semiconductors, exports rose about 9.3 percent from a year earlier, far below the 56.0 percent increase in overall shipments.
Other technology-related products also posted strong gains, with exports of computer peripherals surging 242.1 percent and petroleum products rising 56.4 percent.
But not all major industries saw growth, as passenger-car exports fell 45.1 percent, ship exports dropped 60.5 percent and auto-parts shipments declined 19.9 percent.
By destination, exports to China more than doubled, rising 118.6 percent to $15.26 billion, while shipments to the U.S. increased 59.4 percent to $7.98 billion. Exports to Viet Nam climbed 67.4 percent to $5.83 billion and shipments to Hong Kong surged 245.5 percent to $3.63 billion. Exports to the European Union, by contrast, fell 3.2 percent.
China, the U.S. and Viet Nam together accounted for 52.6 percent of South Korea's exports during the period.
Imports of semiconductors rose 59.4 percent, while purchases of semiconductor manufacturing equipment jumped 89.3 percent.
Crude-oil imports rose 17 percent, while gas imports fell 17.1 percent, leaving combined imports of crude oil, gas and coal 11.1 percent higher than a year earlier.
Cumulative exports so far this year totaled $650.27 billion, up 51 percent from a year earlier, while imports rose 18.3 percent to $468.54 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $181.74 billion.
Meanwhile, the KCS cautioned that the figures are preliminary and cover only the first 20 days of the month, so comparisons may be affected by differences in the number of working days.
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