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Purpose To analyze and compare the survival rates of recurrent breast cancer patients in Korea between two periods (period I: 2000–2007; period II: 2008–2013) and to identify the factors associated with outcomes and changes over time in the duration of survival after recurrence. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 2,407 patients who had recurrent breast cancer with treated between January 2000 and December 2013 and divided them into two periods according to the year of recurrence. We reviewed the age at diagnosis, clinical manifestations, pathology report, surgical methods, types of adjuvant treatment, type of recurrence, and follow-up period. Results The median follow-up was 30.6 months (range, 0–223.4) from the time of relapse, and the median survival time was 42.3 months. Survival after recurrence (SAR) significantly improved from 38.0 months in period I to 49.7 months in period II (p < 0.001). In the analysis performed according to the hormone receptor and HER2 status subtypes, all subtypes except the triple-negative subtype showed higher SAR in period II than period I. Age at diagnosis, tumor stage, and treatment after recurrence were significantly correlated with survival outcomes. Conclusion The survival outcomes of Korean patients with breast cancer after the first recurrence have improved in Korea. Such improvements may be attributed to advances in treatment.