"I think it's hard to say that the economy is turning around as export growth completely halted, " said Jun Min-Kyoo, an economist at Korea Investment and Securities.

BBC: South Korea economic growth hits two-year high

"The quarterly figures at face value may appear healthy, but the picture becomes a little bleaker once it's broken down by monthly performance, with growth seen steadily slowing into February and March after a strong January, " said Jeon Min-Kyoo of Korea Investment and Securities.

BBC: S Korean growth picks up pace despite fragile outlook