Construction permits for new buildings dropped from a year earlier in the third quarter due to a large cut in permits for new residential buildings, government data showed Tuesday.

The number of construction permits issued for new buildings came to 69,874 in the July-September period, down 0.4 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

From the previous quarter, the third quarter tally marked an 8.3 percent dip.

The drop was largely attributed to a sharp decline in the number of permits for residential buildings, in line with a government move to limit the supply of new homes as a way of curbing household debt.

In the three months ended Sept. 30, the number of construction permits for new apartment buildings plunged 40.6 percent on-year to 1,694, the ministry said in a press release.

The ministry earlier said the number of construction permits issued for new homes, including detached and row houses, tumbled 45.4 percent on-year in September alone.

Construction permits for new commercial buildings slipped 1.6 percent on-year to 19,426 in the July-September period, while permits for new industrial facilities dropped 3.2 percent to 5,316.

By region, construction permits issued in Seoul and its surrounding area dropped 3.9 percent, while those issued in rural areas gained 1.5 percent.

The number of groundbreakings, on the other hand, increased 0.6 percent on-year in the capital region, but dropped 1.4 percent in rural areas. (Yonhap)