S. Korea-ASEAN trade soars 61 pct on free trade pact [English, CSY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2011/05/31/0502000000AEN20110531008800320.HTML

Summary: Trade between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) jumped 61 percent in four years after their free trade pact went into effect, Seoul's trade ministry said Tuesday.  A free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the 10-member economic bloc on merchandise took effect in June 2007. Similar deals on services and investments also came into effect.

Democratic Party calls for renegotiation of free trade pact with US [English, CSY]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/113_88055.html

Summary: Leaders of the main opposition party Tuesday urged the government to renegotiate the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States before seeking parliamentary approval.  They said Seoul must win more concessions from Washington over the long-delayed trade pact in order to minimize adverse impacts and protect vulnerable local sectors.   “We can never accept a free trade agreement in which Korea has more to lose than gain,” Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), said during a liberal party meeting in downtown Seoul.  “The DP promises to revise the KORUS FTA so that it better serves the interests of the people.”

City of Seoul to Promote Construction of New Hotels [Korean, OSY]

http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2011053149361&sid=01066020&nid=000&ltype=1

City of Seoul disclosed on May 31 its policy plan to promote construction of new hotels.  According to the city administration, the current number of hotel rooms available in the city (23,718) is far short of the daily demand (51,087).  Each year about 9.6 million of travelers visit Seoul.  The policy plan includes easing of building/zoning regulations that have restricted opening of business/tourist hotels in commercial buildings.

Survey Indicates Over Production of Field Tangerine in Jeju Island This Year [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/05/31/0318000000AKR20110531088100056.HTML
Summary: According to a recent survey by Jeju Agricultural Research Institute, harvest of field tangerine in Jeju this year is likely to be as much as 12 percent larger than the optimum level, 580,000 tons.

KFDA suspended imports of Taiwanese beverages due to potential contamination with DEHP [Korean, CSA]

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=101&oid=001&aid=0005092730