Posted : 2021-04-06 10:44 Updated : 2021-04-06 16:49 Ministry of Economy and Finance's fiscal management official Kang Seung-joon speaks during a briefing on Korea's financial status in 2020 at Government Complex Sejong, April 5. Courtesy of Ministry of Economy and Finance South Korea's national debt grew by the largest-ever amount last year as the country implemented expansionary fiscal spending to tackle the fallout of the pandemic, the finance ministry said Tuesday. The national debt, which covers bond sales and financial borrowing by central and provincial governments, reached a record 846.9 trillion won (US$750.5 billion) as of end-December, up 123.7 trillion won from the previous year, according to a report on the 2020 national settlement.