South Korea ’ s construction spending fell for the first time in 11 years last year , as the nation ’ s public contracts dried up and housing market stumped . The total count of construction companies increased 1 . 2 %, but the growth pace has been dwindling for three years since 2008 . The realized amount for construction investments ( expenditure for projects constructed within the year ) added up to 214 . 5 trillion won ( $ 199 . 4 billion ) last year , which is a 1 . 1 % fall from 2009 , reported the Statistics Korea . This is the first decline in this category since 1999 ( - 6 . 4 %). Realized construction spending marked 184 . 2 trillion won in the domestic market last year , which is 1 . 6 % or 2 . 9 trillion won short of 2009 . Construction spending rose 2 . 5 % ( 2 . 6 trillion won ) in the private sector , but the public sector saw a 6 . 8 % ( 5 . 7 trillion won ) fall caused by wary local governments ( - 15 . 1 %) and public organizations ( - 19 . 3 %). Meanwhile , overseas construction spending grew 409 . 0 billion ( 1 . 4 %) from the previous year to reach 30 . 5 trillion won . The total count of construction companies recorded 74 , 382 last year , which is 901 ( 1 . 2 %) higher than the previous year . The year - on - year growth , however , has been dropping for three years , from 5 . 0 % in 2007 to 4 . 5 % in 2009 , 4 . 0 % in 2009 , and 1 . 3 % last year . The number of general builders last year was 10 , 467 , which is a 427 , or 3 . 9 % fall . Realized construction spending rose 11 . 1 % for civil engineering projects , while falling 4 . 8 % for building constructions , 17 . 7 % for industrial facility works , and 3 . 5 % for landscape projects . [ Written by Byeong - deuk Jeon - Samji Chung / edited by Soyoung Chung ] ▶ [ 화보 ] 실격 당해 울 고 싶 은 ` 번개 ` 우사인 볼트 ▶ 불경기 의 먹구름 이 몰려온다 ▶ 미국 판 박대기 , 오물 뒤집 어 쓰 면서 도 ` 허리케인 생중 계 `▶ 손연재 ‘ 미스 토너먼트 ’ 선정 , 베를린 도 손연재 매력 에 ‘ 풍덩 ’▶ [ 아츠 포토 ] 티파니 아찔 한 초 미니 드레스 , 시선 어디 에 ~[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk . co . kr , All rights reserved ]