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MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for 2011
MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for 2011 The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for 2011. Even amid global uncertainties, exports maintained steady growth, posting a 13.7 percent year-on-year increase to 3,151,930 vehicles. Exports to the European Union and Asian markets surged 44.4 percent and 34.5 percent, respectively. Domestic demand rose 1.5 percent to 1,579,589 vehicles, but a worsening economic outlook and rising fuel prices weakened consumer sentiment and th date2012-01-12
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IT Trade Figures for 2011
* Released by the Electronics and IT Policy Division date2012-01-09
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Trade Figures for 2011
For the month of December, exports rose 12.5 percent to $49.7 billion and imports increased 14.0 percent to $45.7 billion, a $4 billion surplus. Even amid external uncertainties, including political unrest in the Middle East and the devastating earthquake in Japan, exports of ships and petrochemicals drove growth beyond 2010 levels. Although fears of a global recession slowed the pace of growth in the second half, trade was resilient and reached the longawaited $1 trillion mark. Exports to key trading partners increased thanks to Korea’s stronger presence in emerging markets. While outbound shipments to emerging markets and Japan increased, exports to the European Union, the United States and China were relatively slow. Meanwhile, imports gained 23.3 percent year on year due to rising demand for raw materials. Higher oil prices pushed inbound shipments of crude oil, gas and coal up 46.6 percent, 38.9 percent and 42.2 percent, respectively. date2012-01-03
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1,000 Experts Gather in Seoul to Promote Innovation With Graphene
The 2011 Graphene Workshop took place in Seoul last week, drawing about 1,000 scientists and engineers from Korea and abroad. Graphene is a carbon allotrope, like graphite and diamond. Allotropes differ in the way their atoms are arranged: a sheet of graphene is a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms. Three million sheets of graphene are about 1 millimeter thick. Graphene has been in use for less than a decade and is 100 times as strong as steel. It offers twice the thermal conductivity of diamond. Graphene-based transistors are 150 times as fast as silicon-based transistors, and graphene can conduct nearly 1,000 times as much electricity as copper. With applications in the semiconductor, display panel, secondary battery and automobile industries, this up-and-coming material has the potential to lead the world’s industrial development over the next few decades. With significant graphene production capabilities as well as strength in related industries, Korea aims to take the lead in the global graphene market and is actively pursuing R&D to that end. The purpose of the Graphene Workshop was to encourage cooperation among government bodies, universities and industries to stimulate investment and technology development in this promising material. * Released by the Metals and Chemicals Division date2011-12-27
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Retail Sales Figures for November
date2011-12-16
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MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for November
MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for November The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for November. Despite sluggish domestic demand, strong exports pushed Korea’s car production up 10.1 percent to 428,516 vehicles. Domestic sales declined 12.7 percent to 115,768 vehicles due to weak consumer sentiment and rising fuel prices. Sales of imported cars continued to increase 11.1 percent, recording 9,230 vehicles. Although global economic uncertainty prevails, export date2011-12-09
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IT Trade Figures for November
date2011-12-08
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Trade Figures for November
date2011-12-05