(LEAD) S. Korea's IT exports reach US$121 bln in 2009

(ATTN: ADDS with new details, information in paras 8, 10, 13-14)
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's information technology (IT) exports fell
7.8 percent annually in 2009 mainly due to weak demand for electronics goods
caused by the global economic slump, a government report showed Wednesday.

Overseas shipments of IT products reached US$121.0 billion last year while
imports decreased 15.7 percent on-year to $62.0 billion, resulting in a trade
surplus of $59.0 billion, according to the report by the Ministry of Knowledge
Economy.
The 2009 trade surplus is the second largest tallied since the $60.3 billion
reported in 2007, it said.
"Despite the drop in export volume, South Korea's IT sector expanded its global
market presence in such key areas as displays, semiconductors, and mobile
phones," said Seo Seok-jin, head of the ministry's IT policy coordination
division.
He said that while outbound shipments of semiconductors and mobile phones fell
5.3 percent and 14.2 percent on-year in 2009 to $31.0 billion and $28.6 billion,
respectively, both have solidified global market control.
South Korean DRAMs accounted for 56.9 percent of the world's total, while roughly
a third of all mobile phones sold were Korean made products.
Display panels grew 3.2 percent on-year to $26.5 billion buoyed by dominance of
local companies like Samsung and LG in this field.
Outbound shipments of printers, set-top boxes and washing machines posted modest
gains last year vis-a-vis 2008, with color TV exports falling 10.5 percent to
$5.2 billion.
By country, exports to China, including Hong Kong, edged up 2.7 percent on-year
to $50.1 billion with those to the United States, Japan and the European Union
(EU) all falling off compared to the previous year.
South Korea IT products shipped to the United States fell 5.8 percent to $15.9
billion, with exports to Japan and the EU reaching $6.6 billion and $17.0
billion, respectively, for the year.
The latest report, meanwhile, said IT exports in December shot up 73.4 percent
annually to $11.3 billion, with imports topping $5.7 billion or a gain of 34.6
percent for a monthly trade surplus of $5.6 billion.
The sharp rise in both inbound and outbound products reflects a worldwide global
economic recovery that has fueled demand.
For 2010, the ministry forecast gains in exports thanks to the hosting of the
World Cup soccer finals in South Africa, and the introduction of Microsoft's
Windows 7 operating system.
Without going into details, it said the World Cup usually leads to greater sales
of TV sets that can help computer chip and display sales, while Windows 7 can
fuel demand for new computers.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)