The nation’s gross national income(GNI) posted a slight increase in the first quarter even though the economy contracted.  

According to the Bank of Korea on Thursday, the country’s real gross domestic product(GDP) shrank zero-point-two percent in the January-March period from three months earlier, but the real GNI posted an increase of zero-point-one percent during the same period. 

From a year ago, the real GNI increased by zero-point-seven percent. 

GNI measures a nation’s wealth by adding up its GDP and net income from abroad.

An increase in overseas investment income led GNI growth to surpass GDP growth in the first quarter.