The Internet of Things and artificial intelligence-related technologies will help boost IT firms this year. In particular, the global memory chip market is forecast to grow 10.3 percent this year, the report showed.

Stable and relatively higher oil prices are expected to help local petrochemicals and refiners carve out decent margins, while electronics firms may face increased competition from China and other foreign rivals.

Local steelmakers and automakers are also likely to face tougher business conditions this year. Recently, the US has slapped a 50-percent anti-dumping duty on South Korean products, and emerging countries are moving to curb imports of South Korean steel products as well, it said.

Automakers are also forecast to face a drop in domestic sales and growing pressure to build plants in the US under the Trump administration.

The local shipbuilding sector is among the segments to be hit hard by a slump in the global economy and low oil prices. The sector, currently under tough restructuring moves, is likely to face a drop in new orders amid order cancellation and an industry-wide slump.

South Korean shipbuilders have been under severe financial strain since the 2008 global economic crisis, which sent new orders tumbling amid a glut of vessels and tougher competition from Chinese rivals.

The shipbuilders have drawn up sweeping self-rescue programs worth 11 trillion won in desperate bids to overcome the protracted slump and mounting losses. (Yonhap)