The services account deficit widened to a record high last year, while the goods account surplus posted the second largest record on brisk exports. 

According to preliminary data by the Bank of Korea on Monday, the country's services account deficit came to a record high of 34-point-five billion dollars last year.

The drop is attributed to a deficit in the travel account due to China’s retaliation against the deployment of the THAAD antimissile system and the growing number of South Koreans going abroad for trips. 

Last year, the country's travel account deficit also posted a record 17-point-two billion dollars.

In contrast, the goods account marked a surplus of 119-point-nine billion dollars, the second largest figure after 2015 when it came to 122-point-three billion dollars. 

The country's current account came to a surplus of 78-point-46 billion dollars last year, marking the 20th consecutive year to post a surplus since 1998.