Seoul South Korea

South Korea's exports posted their first year-on-year gain in 13 months in November, a further sign the country has overcome the worst of the global economic meltdown. Exports increased 18.8 percent to $34.3 billion in November from a year earlier, the government said in a statement Tuesday. Imports rose 4.7 percent to $30.2 billion. South Korea recorded a trade surplus of $4.05 billion, the 10th straight month the country's trade balance has been in the black, according to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, which deals with commerce. November's export gain was the first year-on-year increase since October last year, according to Kim Jong-woo, an ... Read Full Story

SEOUL (Reuters) - A South Korean court handed down the country's first conviction under a hate crimes law on Friday when it fined a man who racially abused an Indian professor on a commuter bus. The case was scrutinized closely by local media, which said it raised questions about how South Korea's largely homogenous society treats its growing foreign population. The Incheon District Court, west of Seoul, fined a Korean man identified by his family name Park 1 million won ($865) for telling the professor to move away from him on the bus because he was "dirty" and "smelly." The incident took place in ... Read Full Story

The top US trade negotiator said that finalizing a trade deal with South Korea was "within reach" but gave no timeline as he sought greater access for US automakers. President Barack Obama is expected to discuss the deal when he visits Seoul on an Asia trip starting next week. Obama as a senator opposed the draft accord sealed in 2007 and ordered a review after entering the White House. Speaking before the US-Korea Business Council, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said he remained concerned that US automakers have a minuscule presence in Asia's fourth largest economy. "America's market is completely open to Korean autos ... Read Full Story

The top US trade negotiator said that finalizing a trade deal with South Korea was "within reach" but gave no timeline as he sought greater access for US automakers. President Barack Obama is expected to discuss the deal when he visits Seoul on an Asia trip starting next week. Obama as a senator opposed the draft accord sealed in 2007 and ordered a review after entering the White House. Speaking before the US-Korea Business Council, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said he remained concerned that US automakers have a minuscule presence in Asia's fourth largest economy. "America's market is completely open to Korean autos ... Read Full Story

South Korea announced plans Friday to send troops to Afghanistan to protect its civilian aid workers, two years after withdrawing its forces following a fatal hostage crisis. The South Korean government intends to expand a reconstruction team now helping to rebuild Afghanistan and will dispatch police and troops to protect them, Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said. The decision to dispatch troops is subject to approval in parliament, where the ruling Grand National Party has enough seats to guarantee passage. The announcement comes about two years after South Korea withdrew some 200 army medics and engineers from Afghanistan. The pullout, though previously planned, followed ... Read Full Story