3분기 경제 성장률 2.1%…11월 수출 4.0%↑<br /><br />South Korea's economy continued its rebound from a pandemic slump with exports and manufacturing activity rising in November - exports rising 4-percent year on year - and revised growth for the third quarter indicating greater momentum in the economy heading into the last quarter as stronger-than-first-estimated investment fueled a faster expansion of 2-point-1 percent.<br />This is the first time it's grown since the start of the pandemic.<br />Eum Ji-young reports.<br />The South Korean economy has posted its first growth this year... in its real GDP.<br />According to the Bank of Korea, real GDP in the third quarter... grew on quarter by two-point-one percent,... which is two tenths of a percentage point higher than the BOK's previous estimate released in October.<br />The economy had previously shrunk... by 1-point-3 percent in the first quarter and 3-point-2 percent in the second quarter.<br />The central bank says exports played a big part, jumping 16 percent on quarter led by automobiles and semiconductors.<br />Production in manufacturing rose about 8 percent mainly in computers, electronics and optical products.<br />For the whole of 2020, the Bank of Korea is forecasting growth of minus 1-point-1 percent.<br />"If the economy can grow in fourth quarter by four to eight tenths of a percent on quarter, then the projection of minus one-point-one percent growth for the year could be achieved."<br />And also, experts say, whether that forecast proves accurate will depend on how well COVID-19 can be controlled.<br />"To achieve an economic recovery, we need to avoid a further blow to the kind of consumption that requires face-to-face contact. A recovery in exports will be an important factor as well."<br />In November, there was also a rebound in exports.<br />According to the trade ministry, exports in November came to nearly 46 billion U.S. dollars,... an on-year increase of four percent.<br />Among Korea's biggest exports, semiconductors were up 16-point-4 percent and displays were up 21-point-4 percent.<br />Eum Ji-young, Arirang News.<br />
