Despite the sluggish economic conditions of 2013, Samsung and SK Group successfully responded to the governmen’s request to increase their investments in hopes of revitalizing the economy.

But overall investment by Korea’s 30 largest business groups has tapered by 1.9 percent amid a year of weak performances, according to CEO Score Wednesday. Research and development investments were excluded from the analysis.

Samsung Group’s investments dwindled 15 percent up to the third quarter, but the group largely expanded its activities in the final quarter to end the year at roughly 28.7 trillion won ($26.69 billion), up 6 percent from the previous year.

SK Group invested about 12.27 trillion won, up 11.3 percent. Within the group, SK Innovation and SK Telecom led with increased investments of 71 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively.