Car sales in South Korea posted a double-digit increase last month on a consumption tax cut and more business days, industry data showed Thursday.

The number of vehicles sold by five automakers, including Hyundai, Kia, GM Korea, Renault Samsung and Ssangyong, was 139,557 in October in the domestic market, up 23.8 percent from the same month of last year.

The sales by Hyundai Motor, the country's biggest carmaker, surged 25 percent over the year to 66,288 units, while the sale by Kia affiliated with Hyundai advanced 22.9 percent to 46,100 in the month.

It was attributable to more business days, caused by the Chuseok holiday that moved to September this year from October last year.

The consumption tax cut and the launch of new models also contributed to the brisk car sales in the local market.

Car export by the five automakers, however, fell 0.9 percent from a year earlier to 591,428 units in October.

Combined car sales at home and abroad reached 730,985 vehicles in October, up 3 percent from a year ago.