Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Seoul rose 56.6% in the first half of this year from the same period last year on the back of a huge inflow from Japan and an investment boom in the manufacturing sector, data showed Thursday. The FDI in Seoul totaled $2.98 billion in the January-June period, up from 1.93 billion won from a year earlier, according to (Yonhap) news agency. The sharp increase is attributed to an active investment by the Japanese, with the total amount soaring 309.5%, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.