5 items make up 43% of exports.

(From The Korea Herald)

By Kim Mi-hui Korea's dependence on key products to drive exports is worsening, trade sources said yesterday, noting that the top-five products made up nearly 43 percent of all shipments through the end of October.

Exports of semiconductors, wireless telecommunication equipment, automobiles, computers and marine products and parts added up to $66.8 billion, which accounted for 42.9 percent of exports in the first 10 months of the year, the Korea International Trade Association said yesterday.

When combined with the next five biggest export products - petrochemicals, paper products, steel plates, video displays and automobile parts - the top-10 export goods accounted for 57.7 percent of the 10-months overseas sales receipts.

The portions of the top-five items out of total exports during the past five years were 36 percent in 1998, 37.3 percent in 1999, 41.4 percent in 2000, 38.9 percent in 2001 and 42.2 percent in 2002.

The shares for the top-10 goods were 52.4 percent in 1998, 52.3 percent in ...