The economy grew point-eight percent in the second quarter on the back of a strong recovery in private consumption.

According to tentative data by the Bank of Korea(BOK) on Thursday, the country's real gross domestic product(GDP) increased point-eight percent in the April to June period from the previous quarter. 

That's point-one percentage point higher than the BOK's preliminary data released on July 27.

The GDP posted growth for the fourth consecutive quarter after the economy contracted one-point-three percent and three-point-two percent in the first and second quarter of last year, respectively, due to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.    

The growth in GDP in the second quarter is attributed to a strong recovery in private consumption, which increased three-point-six percent on-quarter in the cited period. It marks the largest gain in 12 years since the second quarter in 2009. 

Exports decreased two percent and imports grew two-point-eight percent in the second quarter.