2009.01.30 – South Korea posted its first annual current account shortfall in 11 years in 2008 with a current account deficit reaching $6.41 billion.

2009.01.29 – A survey conducted by the Kotra showed that 76% of overseas buyers are generally satisfied with the quality of Korean goods.

2009.01.28 – Regarding Governmental Datas, main Korean economic indicators are plummeting faster than during the 1997 Asian Crisis, raising alarm that the current economic downturn could be worse.

2009.01.28 – The Bank of Korea (BOK) plans to launch new bills of 50,000 KRW in May or June.

2009.01.27 – The Labour Ministry announced that foreigners’ health checkups would be available in ten languages (not French) from February.

2009.01.26 – Veolia Transport and RATP Developpement announced the creation of a common company (in parity) which will target in a first time China, South Korea and India, with the objectives of becoming “one of the leaders in urban transportation in Asia” and reaching “500 millions Euros of activity in 2013”.

2009.01.24 – Samsung Electronics announced its first quarterly loss in its history due to the price decrease of its leading products (memories and flat panel displays).

2009.01.22 – "Ministries need to strengthen English translation services so that foreign firms and diplomats can get information on state policies quickly" Lee said during a meeting of the Emergency Economic Council at Cheong Wa Dae.

2009.01.22 – The Bank of Korea reported that the GDP shrank 5.6% quarter-on-quarter between October and December, a major setback from the prior quarter’s 0.5% growth.

2009.01.20 – EU and South Korea continues to negotiate a free trade agreement with a two-days meeting in Seoul between Trade Minister Kim Jong-Hoon and his counterpart Catherine Ashton to resolve contentious on auto trade and rules of origin.

2009.01.20 – To fight crisis, President Lee Myung-Bak reshuffled strategically his government naming financial “veterans” of the 97’ crisis: Strategy and finance (Yoon Jeung-Hyun), Unification (Hyun In-taek), Top financial supervisory body (Chin Dong-Soo), and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Kwon Tae-Shin).

2009.01.19 – Seoul is in military alert since North Korean military spokesperson told about “an all-out confrontational posture”. The South Korea army readied their units, in particular in Yellow Sea, near the Yeonpyeong Islands.

2009.01.19 – IPTV (television on Internet) starts new investments in South Korea with MegaTV (KT Corp.), Broad & TV (SK Broadband) and myLGtv (LG Dacom) and will transform television entertainment.

2009.01.19 – President Lee Myung-Bak named new Police Chief (Kim Seok-Ki), as well as Intelligence Chief (Won Sei-Hoon) and South Korean Ambassador to US (Han Duck-Soo).

2009.01.17 – French Bank BNP Paribas was one of the first foreign investor in the finance sector in South Korea last year. The FDI increased by 11.3% reaching $11.7 million.

2009.01.16 – The Inter-Continental Hotel, managing by French Didier Beltoise, is ranking 1st in the top 20 national customer satisfaction index companies for 2008 (NCSI).

2009.01.16 – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Head Mr. Thomas Donohue said during his visit in Seoul that there would be no renegotiation of the KORUS FTA as the deal between the two countries is already done and signed.

2009.01.16 – The North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Il designated his third son Kim Jong-Un (25) as his successor.

2009.01.16 – The Russian carmaker Sollers shows its interest for buying the rights of producing Ssangyong sport utility vehicles while Ssangyong CEO apologized to employees for his application for court receivership.

2009.01.15 – As the number of multicultural families is increasing (160.000 foreigners emigrated for marriage), the Anti-corruption and civil rights commission (ACRC) will mend the registration system to help foreign residents proving in an easy way their family relationships.

2009.01.15 – For the first time in 5 years, the number of employed people decreased of 12.000 at 23.25 million last month (vs. 2007), representing an unemployment rate of 3.3% according to NSO.

2009.01.15 – The 10 Global Trends in 2009 by Samsung Economic Research Institute are (1) calming financial crisis, (2) deepening economic recession, (3) accelerating economic pump-priming, (4) emerging state capitalism, (5) emerging new global financial order, (6) downward stabilizing global commodity prices, (7) earnest corporate restructuring and shifting industrial landscape, (8) sprouting green growth, (9) strengthening cooperative diplomacy and (10) spreading pluralism.

2009.01.14 – Korean exportations could decrease by 30% in January and 50% for the first semester announced the KITA (Korea International Trade Association).

2009.01.14 – 17 environment-friendly and cutting-edge technologies will lead the economic growth of South Korea for the next decade said the government. Through hi-tech industries, the government plans to create over 3.5 million jobs.

2009.01.14 – AS Monaco football club continues to prospect in South Korea for new player after Park Chu-Young last summer. Cho Won-Hee (25), from Suwon Samsung Bluewings, is training for a test-period with the French team.

2009.01.13 – The first South-Korean carmakers Hyundai Motor announced that he will decrease its production in Korean plants by 25-30% for the first quarter.

2009.01.13 – Taekwondo will be used to promote South Korea in France after a survey conducted by Ipsos indicated that only 27% of respondents (among 1.000 French citizens between 16 and 60 years old and 400 taekwondo trainees) hold a “Favorable impression” of Korea and Korean people, and that 80% of French taekwondo trainees want to visit and know more about Korea.

2009.01.12 – President Lee Myung-Bak meets today Japan Prime Minister Taro Aso, accompanied amongst other businessmen by Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, and Tadashi Okamura, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for a summit focusing on boosting economic cooperation and discussing on North Korea denuclearization

2009.01.12 – As Ssangyong faces a critical situation after its Chinese owner abandoned the management, the state-run Korea Development Bank is considering an injection of $200 million into the carmaker to keep out troubles

2009.01.10 – Ssangyong, suffering from serious liquidity crisis, filed for court receivership as its Chinese owner SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.) decided to abandoned management of the carmaker

2009.01.10 – The Bank of Korea lowered its interest rate by 0.5 percentage point to 2.5 percent because of signs the economy will slip into a recession

2009.01.09 – For its first economic emergency meeting, the government decided, regarding the plan of the Financial Supervisory Commission, to inject $38.7 billion into SMEs through state-run banks KDB and IBK

2009.01.09 – The well-known anonymous web surfer called “Minerva” has been apprehended Thursday by prosecutors for alleged violation of information and telecommunication laws (see 2009.01.07 - Hot News). This person is around 30 years old only

2009.01.09 – The new visa law established by the government for the E-2 Visa (teaching) is not well accepted by Foreign Teachers who need now to submit police background checks and medical documents

2009.01.08 – The FDI in South Korea increased by 11.3% in 2008 reaching $11.7 billion. US direct investments in Korea fell 43.3% (vs. 2007), while Japan and EU direct investments respectively grew 43.7% and 46.2%

2009.01.08 – Three French Musicals come back to Korea with “Romeo and Juliette” (starting Jan. 29), the Korean team with the new main actor Joo Ji-Hoon for “Don Juan” (starting Feb. 6) and a Korean tour for “Notre Dame de Paris” (starting Jan. 9 in Busan)

2009.01.07 – The new government’s environment plan « Green New Deal » will represent an investment of $38 billion on 9 projects over 4 years (river, roads and transit system, land, construction, renewable energy, waste re-use, forestation, green buildings, urbanism) creating around 1 million new jobs

2009.01.07 – Internet: new government economic guide? « Minerva », an anonymous web surfer, received the consideration of both Korean population and government in the second half of 2008 while he predicted economic and financial variations with great accuracy such as the collapse of the won and the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy

2009.01.06 – The 12 days’ sit-in in the National Assembly of the South Korea’s main opposition party ended Tuesday ahead imminent talk to resolve contested bills (Korus FTA and deregulation in Media industry)

2009.01.06 – Seoul will be linked in 2012 to the West Sea through the Gyeongin Canal, expanding the commercial and tourist use of the Han River and boosting the western side of the capital (construction to start in March)

2009.01.05 – For the New Year address, President Lee Myung-Bak indicated that the government will be in emergency mode in 2009 and will soon establish an emergency economic committee

2009.01.05 – President Lee Myung-Bak expects to meet for the first time the new elected U.S. President Barack Obama in April during the G-20 economic summit in London

2009.01.04 – General strike of the Korean Medias against the seven new government laws which, according to them, are opposed to the press freedom

2009.01.03 – The Korea National Statistical Office announced that the annual inflation rate was the highest one in the 10 last years, reaching 4.7% in 2008 against 2.5% in 2007

2009.01.02 – 13% sales decrease (406.053) for South Korean carmakers in December (vs. December 2007)

2009.01.01 – The South Korean Foreign Ministry plans to finalize by March the EU-Korea FTA which will take effect in January 2010

2009.01.01 - Seoul will invest $5.4 billions on defense equipment during the first semester