BANGKOK — Korea's economic growth could exceed projections by international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), barring unexpected external shocks, the finance minister has said, citing robust exports and facility investment data. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il made the assessment during a meeting with reporters in Bangkok on Friday. He visited Thailand to attend the Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group last week, marking his first participation in a major international event since taking office last month. His remarks came after the IMF projected Korea's economy would grow 3.3 percent this year, raising its forecast by 0.7 percentage point from its July projection amid the global semiconductor supercycle. "I believe exports and facility investment remained robust in the third quarter," the minister said. "If that is the case, we think growth could exceed the 3.3 percent projected by the IMF," Lee said. "Barring new external events that significantly impact the economy, I think even the mid-3 percent range could be possible." Lee later hinted t