SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) - South Korea's overseas direct investment hit a fresh record high last year, reflecting expectations for economic recovery in the United States, a government report showed on Wednesday.

Reported direct investment into foreign countries amounted to 49.24 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, up 18.7 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

It topped the previous high of 46.53 billion dollars tallied in 2011. The amount actually transferred to the foreign countries reached a new high of 35.35 billion dollars last year, marking the fresh yearly high.

Investment into foreign real estate rose 44.2 percent, with those in the wholesale and retail sector almost tripling compared with a year earlier. Those for the mining industry declined 27.7 percent on the low commodity prices.

South Korean investment into the U.S. jumped 66.9 percent on expectations for economic recovery in the world's biggest economy.

The U.S. central bank indicated three rate increases this year as it gained more confidence in economic growth.