Among the nation's five regions in the third quarter, only the Honam region posted negative growth. It is seen as the result of ongoing weakness in construction combined with a slump in the petrochemical industry.
The Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) on the 26th released provisional estimates for real gross regional domestic product (GRDP) for the third quarter of 2025.
According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS), real GRDP across the nation's 17 cities and provinces grew 1.9% from a year earlier in the third quarter. It broke away from the 0% range seen in the first quarter (0%) and the second quarter (0.6%). An official at the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) said, "Although construction (-7.3%) remained weak nationwide, mining and manufacturing (3.5%) and services (2.2%) offset the decline."
By region, the capital area recorded the highest third-quarter gross regional domestic product growth rate at 3.2%. Mining and manufacturing (7%) and services (3.1%) led the growth. The Southeast region (1.1%), the Chungcheong region (1.0%), and the Daegyeong region (0.6%) also all posted year-over-year positive growth.
In contrast, the Honam region fell 1.2% from a year earlier. It marked three consecutive quarters of negative growth this year. In the third quarter, Honam's construction growth rate was -12%, showing a steep decline, and services edged down -0.1%. Mining and manufacturing posted positive growth but only at 0.4%.
An official at the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) said, "Construction was weak across all regions, but semiconductors, electronic components, automobiles, ships, and services drove growth," adding, "By contrast, the Honam region lacks a semiconductor and automobile industrial base and also underperformed in ships, so it failed to regain momentum."