SEOUL (Dec 3): South Korea's economy grew at the fastest pace in more than five years in the third quarter, driven by a strong rebound in consumer spending, central bank data showed Thursday.

Asia's fourth-largest economy expanded by 1.3% in the July-September period, the fastest on-quarter growth since the second quarter of 2010, the Bank of Korea said.

The quarter saw consumers venture back into shopping malls as the threat posed by a serious outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) receded.

Thirty-six people died in the outbreak, during which local businesses including shopping malls, restaurants and cinemas reported a sharp drop in sales as people shunned public venues with large crowds.

The tourism industry was hit particularly hard, with the number of foreign visitors plunging by up to 60%.

The third-quarter figure was higher than an earlier estimate of 1.2% and marked the first time in five quarters that it has exceeded the 1% mark.

Output in the manufacturing industry inched up only 0.1% on-quarter, reflecting a persistent slump in exports, which account for about half of South Korea's GDP.

The central bank has predicted South Korea's GDP would grow 2.7% this year.