Anchor: Thanks to greater than expected growth in gross domestic product, the country’s per capita income is poised to reach 30-thousand dollars for the first time next year. Also contributing to this expectation is the stronger national currency.
Our Park Jong-hong has this report.
 
Report: At the current rate of economic growth, the country’s real per capita national income is expected to reach 30-thousand dollars next year.
 
The Bank of Korea released this estimate Friday along with the third quarter economic growth figures.
 
It said the country’s GDP, or gross domestic product expanded one-point-five percent in the July to September period from the previous quarter backed by brisk manufacturing and construction.
 
This was zero-point-one percentage point higher than earlier estimates and the highest in seven years.
 
Meanwhile, the real gross national income(GNI) also posted a notable rise of two-point-four percent to 378 billion dollars.
 
Last year, South Korea’s per capita GNI stood at 27-thousand-561 dollars. This means that in 2018, barring any unexpected events, the number will reach and even top the 30-thousand dollar mark.
 
This prospect is noteworthy as only 27 out of 190 countries enjoy a per capita national income of 30-thousand dollars.
 
Korea could be reaching that threshold 12 years after it crosses the 20-thousand dollar level in 2006.
Park Jong-hong, KBS World Radio News.