1 South Korea registered a trade deficit of $101 million in October, reflecting the country's economic sluggishness, according to government figures released Wednesday.
2 Preliminary tallies by the Trade and Industry Ministry showed another trade deficit in October, the fifth monthly setback this year, casting a cloud on South Korea's export-oriented economy.
3 Exports in October stood at $5.29 billion, a mere 0.7% increase from a year earlier, while imports increased sharply to $5.39 billion, up 20% from last October.
4 South Korea's economic boom, which began in 1986, stopped this year because of prolonged labor disputes, trade conflicts and sluggish exports.
5 Government officials said exports at the end of the year would remain under a government target of $68 billion.
6 Despite the gloomy forecast, South Korea has recorded a trade surplus of $71 million so far this year.
7 From January to October, the nation's accumulated exports increased 4% from the same period last year to $50.45 billion.
8 Imports were at $50.38 billion, up 19%.

Preliminary tallies by the Trade and Industry Ministry showed another trade deficit in October , the fifth monthly setback this year , casting a cloud on South Korea ' s export - oriented economy .
South Korea ' s export - oriented economy
What are it's main exports?