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Korea Report - February, 2012.

Topics.

² Korea-US FTA will take effect on March 15, nearly 6 years after negotiations began in June 2006.

² SKorea's imports of Iranian crude nosedived 45.1% on-month in Dec to around 4.58 mil barrels.

² The Seoul Nuclear Security Summit with Top leaders from 53 countries is a month away.

² Korean Wave generated the highest overseas profit in 2011.

² Criticism of Beijing for “turning a deaf ear to humanitarian concerns” on defectors has been mounting.

² NK has offered a temporary way to halt its uranium enrichment program in exchange for more food.

² Korea’s economy grew 3.4% on-year in the fourth quarter last year.

² HSBC has predicted that Korea would overtake the UK in trade ranking within 15 years.

² Korea will develop on a 35% of its oil and natural gas demands by 2020.

² Retail prices of premium gasoline in Korea hit their highest levels at KW2,216.15 ($1.96) per liter.

² Korea has seen an unprecedented concentration of wealth in the nation’s top 10 conglomerates.

² Share price of SEC hit its highest point ever of KW1.2 mil ($1,100) per share.

² Hynix Semiconductor finally found a new owner in SK Telecom.

² KOSPI jumped to 2030 boosted by a rally in chipmakers and shipbuilders.

² HSBC predicted that the KWon is likely to firm up the most among Asian currencies.

² Amid the slump in shipping, new building market surprisingly moves active in Feb.

² The performances of HHI and SHI in 2011 declined in profit in the range of 20-30%.

² The KOEXIM Bank has $13 bil available to kick-start the shipbuilding industry in 2012.

² Sekwang, Samho and 21C are facing liquidation.

² Domestic Big 3 shipping companies recorded loss in 2011 but expect profit in 2012.

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