Desuden var Sydkorea et af de få udviklede lande, der kunne undgå en recession under den [[globale finanskrise i 2009]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/wealth-of-nations/2010/05/10/south-korea-survived-recession-with-ceo-tactics.html |title=South Korea Survived Recession With CEO Tactics |work=Newsweek |location=New York |date=10. maj 2010 |access-date=8. september 2010 |archive-date=12. juni 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612001203/http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/wealth-of-nations/2010/05/10/south-korea-survived-recession-with-ceo-tactics.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Dens økonomiske vækst nåede 6,2 % i 2010 (den hurtigste vækst i otte år efter en betydelig vækst med 7,2 % i 2002),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.brecorder.com/world/global-business-a-economy/9339-south-korea-gdp-grew-revised-62pc-in-2010.html |title=South Korea GDP grew revised 6.2pc in 2010 |work=Business Recorder |date=30. marts 2011 |agency=Agence France-Presse |location=Karachi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427091206/http://www.brecorder.com/world/global-business-a-economy/9339-south-korea-gdp-grew-revised-62pc-in-2010.html |archive-date=27. april 2011 |df= }}</ref> et skarpt opsving fra de økonomiske vækstrater på 2,3 % i 2008 og 0,2 % i 2009, da den globale finanskrise ramt. Arbejdsløsheden i Sydkorea forblev også lav i 2009 på 3,6 %.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm |title=Background Note: South Korea |publisher=U.S. State Department |date=7. juli 2011 |access-date=12. januar 2022 |archive-date=14. juni 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614130646/https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
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