SEOUL, Nov. 28 -- Confidence among South Korean businesses rebounded to the five month high, but it was a modest rebound not enough to justify a full-fledged recovery, central bank data showed Friday.

The manufacturing business survey index (BSI) for November rose 3 points from a month earlier to 75, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The index below 100 means pessimists outnumbered optimists.

The figure marked the highest in five months, but it was far below 82 in April when the impact of the deadly ferry sinking disaster was not reflected.

Business sentiment stayed low after the ferry Sewol capsized and sank off the southwest coast and left more than 300 people, mostly high-school students, dead or missing.

The index fluctuated between 72 and 74 from July to October, staying below the average monthly reading of 81 since 2003.

Business confidence among non-manufacturers was unchanged at 67 from the previous month. After rising to 70 in September, it stayed at a lower level.

The BSI was based on survey responses from 1,512 manufacturers and 1,031 non-manufacturers conducted by the BOK between Nov. 14 and 21.