Anchor: South Korea's economy grew zero-point-nine percent in the first quarter. The economy grew at a faster pace than the previous three-month period as a recovery in the global economy fueled exports. Expectations are growing that the economy will pick up as investment in facilities and construction has also increased.
Our Kim In-kyung has more.
 
Report: The South Korean economy grew zero-point-nine percent on quarter in the January-March period, accelerating from the zero-point-five percent expansion in the previous quarter.
 
According to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea released on Thursday, the first-quarter gross domestic product was 383-point-six trillion won.
 
The growth is the largest since the second quarter of last year and also beats market expectations, which had put the figure at around zero-point-eight percent.
 
If the economy maintains the current recovery pace, analysts say this year's economic growth could exceed the central bank's projection of two-point-six percent.
 
The economy grew two-point-seven percent on year in the first quarter, which is also the fastest since the second quarter of last year.
 
A continued increase in facility investment and a turnaround in exports led economic growth in the three months to March.
 
Capital expenditures rose four-point-three percent on quarter, boosted by a surge in investment in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Construction investment, which fell one-point-two percent in the fourth quarter gained five-point-three percent in the first quarter.
 
Exports increased one-point-nine percent, marking the largest expansion in five quarters on higher overseas shipments of chips and machineries. Imports rose four-point-three percent, which was the largest increase in 23 quarters on the back of machinery and precision instrument purchases.
 
The gross domestic income rose two-point-three percent.
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.