Production in mining and manufacturing rose 2.8 percent year-on-year compared to a revised 5.8 percent rise in November, Statistics Korea said.

Month-on-month, industrial production fell 0.9 percent in December, the third month in a row that the numbers had fallen. The month-on-month figure fell a revised 0.3 percent in November.

For the whole of 2011, industrial output rose 6.9 percent year-on-year.

"Last month's weak output reflected minus growth in audio-video and communications as well as the machinery sector," the statistical office said.