South Korea's current account surplus contracted to its lowest point in six years in April, in part due to a sharp rise in dividend payouts.

According to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, the country's current account surplus continued its 74-month-streak in April, but narrowed to one-point-77 billion U.S. dollars, the slimmest since it hit 90 million dollars in April 2012.

Dividend payouts amounted to a record high of seven-point-57 billion dollars due to an increase in stock purchases by foreign investors.

Meanwhile, exports and imports all increased for the 18th consecutive month. The travel deficit decreased to one-point-09 billion dollars, the lowest since December 2016, as Chinese tourists returned after Beijing lifted its ban on South Korea-bound package tours.