The Korean economy is showing a gradual recovery in industrial production, led by stronger consumption, despite continued weakness in the construction sector, a state-run think tank said Thursday. "Although the construction sector remains sluggish and manufacturing has undergone some adjustments, improvements in consumption are supporting a moderate increase in production," the Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in its monthly economic assessment. In November, industrial output rose 0.9 percent from the previous month, driven largely by robust semiconductor production. Exports expanded 13.4 percent from a year earlier in December, reaching US$69.6 billion and marking the 11th consecutive month of growth. The KDI noted that while semiconductor-related exports remain high amid favorable market conditions, the increase largely reflects price surges, while the previous strong growth in the broader production sector has moderated. "Production outside the semiconductor sector continued to rise modestly, keeping the business sentiment index for manufacturing firms at a low level," the KDI a