South Korea's exports surged 15-point-eight percent to reach an all-time high of nearly 574 billion U.S. dollars last year. 

According to data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday, the country's outbound shipments came to 573-point-nine billion dollars last year, up from 495-point-four billion a year earlier.

The 2017 figure is the largest annual export tally since the nation started compiling related data in 1956.

Imports also jumped 17-point-seven percent on-year to 478 billion dollars last year, with the country's trade volume topping the one trillion dollar mark for the first time in three years. 

The country's exports accounted for a record three-point-six percent of the global market last year and its export ranking rose to sixth, up two notches from a year earlier.