South Korea's consumer confidence worsened for the fourth consecutive month in March amid growing pressure from U.S. protectionist moves and the restructuring of General Motors(GM) Korea. 

According to a survey by the Bank of Korea released Tuesday, the composite consumer sentiment index for this month stood at 108-point-one, down point-one point from the previous month.

The index has been on a steady decline since November, when it hit a seven-year high of 112.

It is the first time in seven years that the index slipped for four straight months. 

 A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists.

The central bank attributed the continued drop to growing concerns about a possible decrease in exports due to U.S. protectionist measures, the planned shutdown of GM's factory in Gunsan, and restructuring in the shipbuilding sector.