Full text: U.S. industries want Congress to ratify a free trade agreement with Korea (KORUS FTA) early to prevent possible business loss in Korea as the country also signed a similar deal with the European Union, a South Korean envoy said.   Han Duk-soo, Korean ambassador to the United States, told reporters Thursday that U.S. businesses voiced concern over the delay of the ratification as it is obvious that they will lose out in the Korean market if the congressional approval comes far behind the ratification of the Korea-EU FTA.   The envoy made the remarks amid the National Assembly’s move to pass the trade deal with the EU in March at the earliest.   South Korea and the United States signed the additional deal last year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade submitted the motion to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee.   Lawmakers here, however, have not begun discussing it.   They will wait to see how the U.S. Congress will handle the trade bill. If they pass it, Korean legislators plan to read the motion at the legislature.   Han visited Seoul for the annual conference of Korean mission chiefs held in Seoul for five days from Monday. 

Higher food costs hurt sentiment [English, CSY]

Outlook is the weakest since May 2009

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932694

Summary: The rise in food prices, partly caused by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, caused consumer confidence this month to slump to its lowest level since May 2009, the central bank said yesterday.  The consumer sentiment index - which measures attitudes on the economic outlook, living conditions and future spending - stood at 105 for February, down from 108 in January.   A reading above the benchmark 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists. The index, widely used to gauge the future direction of private spending, has stayed above the 100-point level since May 2009.  The survey, based on a poll of 2,071 households in 56 major cities, was conducted from Feb. 11-18.