2nd round of Australian FTA talks begins [English: CSY]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909490
Summary: Korea and Australia launched their second round of talks on a free trade agreement in Seoul yesterday, and started discussions on issues including tariff concessions and bilateral investment. This round, which follows talks that took place this May in Canberra, Australia, will run through Friday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
 
N. Korea Hints at Asking for Food Aid From South [English: CSY]
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=050000&biid=2009083104698
Summary: North Korean officials have hinted at asking for food aid from South Korea, Seoul officials said yesterday.   The North Korean delegation to inter-Korean Red Cross talks last week at Mount Kumgang reportedly mentioned the South’s sufficient supply of rice. The communist country is suffering from chronic food shortages and badly needs food assistance from the South. 
A South Korean official quoted North Korean delegates at the Red Cross meeting on reunions of separated families as saying, “We heard the South Korean government and farmers are struggling with a glut of rice.”  The delegates also said, “Farmers in the South suffer from declining rice prices while the government is struggling with storage costs.”
 
Farm exports down in 2009 [English: CSY]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909488
Summary: Korean exports of agricultural produce and foodstuffs shrank in the first seven months of this year as a global economic slowdown sapped demand, the government said yesterday.  Overseas shipments of farm products and processed foods came to $2.43 billion from January to July, compared with $2.46 billion a year earlier, according to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Outbound shipments to Japan - the country’s largest export market - gained 6 percent annually this year, followed by a 3.5-percent gain in shipments to the U.S. and a 6.4-percent increase for European markets.
 
9 percent of large restaurants in Kyounggi province violated COOL requirements [Korean: CSY]
http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=101&oid=001&aid=0002839923
Summary: Kyounggi provincial government announced that 50 out of 551 big restaurants in Kyunggi province violated Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements on beef, pork, rice, kimchi and chicken menu since last March.   
 
Korea needs to make a decision on tariffication of rice ASAP before the DDA [Korean: BYK]
http://www.nongmin.com/article/ar_detail.htm?ar_id=165755&subMenu=articletotal
Summary: Korea needs to decide whether it is going to tariffy the rice import or not as soon as possible so that it can determine whether it can receive a developing status in the upcoming DDA talks.
 
Trade with EFTA nearly doubles in 3 years after the implementation of FTA with Korea [Korean: BYK]
http://www.dt.co.kr/contents.html?article_no=2009090202011357691004
Summary: The trade with EFTA nations has nearly doubled since the FTA went into effect on September 1, 2006.  Total amount of trade between Korea and EFTA recorded $6.2 billion for the first 11 months of the third year of FTA (Sept. 2008 – July 2009).
 
Number of calves increase as Hanwoo prices soar [Korean: BYK]
http://www.imaeil.com/sub_news/sub_news_view.php?news_id=38497&yy=2009
Summary: According to the livestock outlook published by KREI, the number of calves being raised increased as Hanwoo cattle prices soar.  KREI cautioned such heated increase in the number of calf production in fear of a price drop in the future.
 
Free Training for People that want to live on farms [Korean: BYK]
http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=001&aid=0002842081
Summary: The Seoul Agricultural Technology Center located in Naegok-dong provided training to urban citizens that do not know how to grow crops.  The training was composed from basic theory to actual planting of crops such as Chinese cabbage, radish, green onions, etc.
 
Korea discuss potential for FTA talks with Columbia [Korean: BYK]
http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0002845575
Summary: The Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Columbia and Korea met and discussed the possibility of opening a bilateral negotiation on FTA talks. 
 
Korea expects U.S. Congress to begin working on KORUS FTA at the end of 2009 [Korean: BYK]
http://www.asiatoday.co.kr/news/view.asp?seq=281722
Summary: Trade Minister Jay Kim stated in an interview while attending the DDA meeting that he anticipated that the U.S. Congress could begin to review the KORUS FTA as early as the end of this year.  He anticipated that the Obama administration would have the health care insurance issue and climate issue under control by that time.
 
Fitch upgrades outlook for Korean economy to ‘stable’ [English: CSY]
Finance Minister says Q2 growth will be around 2.6%
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909598
Summary: Fitch Ratings has raised its outlook on Korea to the level it held nine months ago, adding weight to the belief that Korea’s economy is showing strong signs of improvement.  In a statement released by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the global credit rating agency said that it has raised Korea’s sovereign credit outlook from negative to stable and will maintain the nation’s A+ rating.
 
Food Prices Rising 11 Times Faster Here Than OECD [English: CSY]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/09/123_51149.html
Summary: South Koreans are burdened by high food prices that are rising at a significantly sharper rate than most other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries.  The prices of energy-related commodities have also increased at a faster clip in Korea than the average OECD country, indicating that the current economic downturn may be pinching Korean consumers harder.
According to a recent OECD report, food prices in the 30 member countries rose by an average of 0.6 percent in July, which is lower than the collective 1.8 percent rise reported in June.  However, food prices in Korea rose by 6.9 percent in July, about 11 times higher than the OECD average. Iceland, Mexico, Turkey and New Zealand were the only other OECD countries that saw their food prices rise at a higher rate than Korea during the month.
 
North Korea : Grain Yields Amount to 65% of the Norm [English: CSY]
http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk01500&num=5362
Summary: The reports from inside sources in North Korea state that the volume of North Korea's food production this year is at a critically low level. Concerns among local citizens have also been rising regarding the emergence of a new food shortage in the upcoming winter season.
A source from Yangkang Province relayed in a phone conversation with the Daily NK on the 31st, "With rumors that this year’s farming was ruined increasing, the prices of rice and corn have risen over 200 won each. In the market, not only the market managers but also officials of the People’s Safety Agency have been mobilized to regulate price levels."
 
Mexico promotes its beef in Korea [Korean: BYK]
http://www.newsprime.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=97771
Summary: The Mexican Beef Export Federation is promoting its beef at Millennium Hilton Hotel from September 3.  They flew in their own cook to promote its beef, under the title “Mexican Beef Gala Tasting.”
 
Real GNI Spikes to 21-year high [English: BYK]
http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=104&oid=044&aid=0000084955
Summary: Korea`s real gross national income in the second quarter spiked to a 21-year high, while the economy grew at the fastest pace in over five years on improving exports and reviving private consumption and investments, the central bank said yesterday.  The country`s real gross national income in the second quarter jumped 5.6 percent from the previous quarter, while expanding 0.5 percent from a year ago, marking the first stretch in a year, the Bank of Korea said. The jump is also the largest figure since the record of 6.2 percent achieved in the first quarter of 1988. The latest data, however, is provisional, the central bank said.
 
More delays to opening rice market [English: CSY]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909778
Summary: Opening the local rice market won’t be possible until at least 2011 at the earliest because discussions between the government and farmers’ groups have failed to yield any breakthroughs.  Participation at town hall-style meetings held by officials from the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries across the country has been low, and there is still strong resistance to the planned opening, according to officials from the Korea Rice Pro-Farmer Federation, one of the country’s major farmers’ groups. The government, which initiated the debates last month, said it has had to push back the remaining debates until the end of the year.
 
On-line Grocery Market Shows A Rapid Growth as More Wholesalers Join in (Korean, OSY)
http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?linkid=4&articleid=
2009090802560477710&newssetid=1352
Summary: According to Auction ( www.auction.co.kr), a leading internet market place business in Korea, sales of food products through the site increased 51 percent during the first half compared with the same period last year.  Auction also reported that the number of food product sellers in the site showed a sharp growth.  Auction believes that a significant part of the sales growth is directly related to increased participation by grocery wholesalers in the on-line business.  Business of grocery wholesalers, who supply products mainly to independent small retailers, has been restricted significantly over the recent years due to the rapid expansion of large-scale grocery stores into the neighborhood and regional markets.  Analysts think that more grocery wholesalers will join the on-line market seeking for new consumers.
 
Korean households' spending on food jumps in H1 [English: CSY]
Summary: South Korean households' spending on food products jumped in the first half of the year amid rising grocery prices, data compiled by the central bank showed Tuesday.  The so-called Engel's coefficient reached 12.5 percent in the first six months of the year, the highest level since 12.7 percent seen in the first half in 2001, according to the Bank of Korea.
 
Number of COOL violation increases by 40 percent [Korean: BYK]
http://www.fnnews.com/view?ra=Sent0801m_View&corp=fnnews&arcid=
00000921760644&cDateYear=2009&cDateMonth=09&cDateDay=09
Summary: Despite the continued crack down on false labeling of COOL by Korea Customs Service, the total number of COOL violations increased.  Among the 6,613 violations, Chinese products took up 31.5 percent of the violations, marking 2,084 violations. 
 
EU, Korea to initial FTA next month
Deal to take effect as early as July [CSY: English]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909926
Summary: Korea and the European Union will initial their bilateral free trade agreement next month, and the deal is scheduled to take effect around the middle of next year.
 
S. Korea, New Zealand agree on concerted efforts on free trade negotiations [CSY: English]
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2009/09/12/0502000000AEN20090912001300320.HTML
Summary: South Korea and New Zealand have agreed to make more efforts on the ongoing bilateral free trade negotiations to produce tangible results, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday. The two countries held a policy consultation meeting in Wellington on Friday, just ahead of launching their second round of free trade negotiations next week, according to the ministry.
 
Food Price Growth Hits 11-Year High [CSY: English]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/09/123_51577.html
Summary: Shoppers, brace for higher prices at the grocery store. That is if you haven't yet seen the prices of daily essentials spiral out of control to record highs.  Everything from milk, chicken and bananas to fish has soared by almost 10 percent on average this year alone, the highest in 11 years, according to the Bank of Korea and the National Statistical Office, Wednesday.
 
Agriculture exports may total over $5 billion [CSY: English]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2910017
Summary: Korea’s farm exports are expected to reach $5 billion this year despite the worldwide economic slump, a senior government official said yesterday.  Agriculture Minister Chang Tae-pyong told reporters that Seoul had originally aimed to export $5.3 billion worth of farm goods, fisheries products and processed foods, up from the record of $4.4 billion shipped out last year.
 
S. Korea to export paprika, grapes to China [CSY: English]
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2009/09/13/69/0501000000AEN20090913001300320F.HTML
Summary: South Korea is expected to gain access to China's paprika and grape market in the next few years, the government said Monday.  The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that talks between the National Plant Quarantine Service and its Chinese counterpart last week made meaningful headway that could permit export of paprika after next year and grapes in 2011.
 
Mislabeling of Farm Products on the Rise [CSY: English]
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/09/10/2009091000898.html
Summary: Mislabeling of the origin of agricultural products increased 40 percent last year, with beef topping the list, according to a report by the National Agricultural Product Quality Management Service submitted to Grand National Party lawmaker Lim Doo-sung on Wednesday.   The report said 1,758 cases of mislabeling were uncovered last year, up 39.6 percent from 1,269 in 2007. And already in the first seven months this year, the figure stood at as many as 1,596 cases. 
 
South Korea farmland decreases
Ministry figures shows an increase in land reclamation and urban development projects while land used for rice cultivation shrinks [CSY: English]
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/376210.html
Summary: As farmland decreases in South Korea, the average area under cultivation per person has dwindled to half 1978’s figures. Farmland last year dropped to a record low of 1.759 million hectares.  According to a press release by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Thursday, farmland nationwide, including rice fields, is estimated at 1.759 million hectares. This represents a decrease from 1.782 million hectares in 2007. Moreover, this represents a steady decline from 2.298 million hectares in 1970, 2.196 million hectares in 1980, 2.109 million hectares in 1990, and 1.889 million hectares in 2000. Farmland size assessment occurs every November.
 
Trade Surplus Margin Drops for 2nd Month(English: MF)
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Ec_detail.htm?No=66578
Summary: The nation is continuing its trade-surplus streak, but is now doing so at a much narrower margin.  The Korea Customs Service said Monday that the nation’s trade balance posted a surplus of 1.7 billion dollars last month, the seventh consecutive month it has finished with a surplus.  The customs office said weak outbound shipments of autos and ships last month likely led to the decline in the surplus.
 
Six Industries 'to Lead Korea Out of Recession'(English: MF)
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/03/20/2009032061020.html
Summary: Korea International Trade Association on Thursday released a report predicting six promising industries -- new and recyclable energy, information technology, ubiquitous health care, games, budget items, and water industry -- that will lead Korea out of the global economic recession.
 
No Indictment Sought for Illicit Rice Subsidy Recipients (English: MF)
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Dm_detail.htm?No=66566
Summary: Prosecutors have decided not to indict most of the public officials who were found to have received rice subsidies illegally. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office concluded that the statue of limitations has expired for related charges facing lawmaker Kim Sung-hoi and former Vice Health Minister Lee Bong-hwa. The two have also been cleared of fraud charges.
 
Opinions are Divided on Proposed Removal of Import Tariffs on Sugar (Korean, OSY)
http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?linkid=11&articleid=2009091502521483810&newssetid=81
Summary: A new bill, proposed by congressman Jae-Hyung Hong of Democratic Party that calls for a drastic cut of import tariffs (current 40 percent down to 10 percent) on sugar, has met divided opinions around the government, industry and market analysts.  Local sugar industry has opposed to the bill with a claim that local sugar processors will be out of business and Korea will become a target of international speculators.  Food processors who have been paying high price for local sugar welcome the bill which will lower the cost of sugar.  Market analysts suggest that the bill should be modified to incorporate smaller cut on the tariffs to leave a room in the system to protect local sugar industry.
 
S.Korea's Environmental Doomsday Clock Advanced (English: MF)
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Sc_detail.htm?No=66473
Summary: The so-called Environmental Doomsday Clock has been advanced to 9:51 for South Korea. The time demonstrates serious concern over the environment, with midnight signifying catastrophic destruction. South Korea’s new time was advanced 25 minutes from last year, posting the worst figure since related surveys began in 2005. Environmental experts cited global changes, including global warming, as the key factors that led to the aggravated figure.
 
Pres. Lee to Visit US Sept. 20 (English: MF)
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Po_detail.htm?No=66596
Summary: President Lee Myung-bak will leave on Sunday for a seven-day visit to the U.S. During his stay, the president will attend the U.N. General Assembly and a summit on climate change at the U.N. headquarters in New York.  After wrapping up his schedule in New York, the president will fly to Pittsburgh to attend a two-day Group of 20 summit devoted to discussions on measures to overcome the global economic crisis.  Lee will also hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of major countries on the sidelines of the U.N. conferences and G20 summit.
 
USTR Reviewing Opinions on KORUS FTA (English: MF)
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Ec_detail.htm?No=66627
Summary: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is reviewing a number of opinions submitted to the office regarding the potential ratification of the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA).   The trade agency said Wednesday that it has gathered 228 opinions online from organizations and firms with potential stakes in the pact over the last two months.

Two out of four Danish chicken shipments examined also showed up the bacteria. No microbial test is carried out on Korean meat, so there is no data. Even if germs are detected in imported meat, no specific measures are taken. An official at Korea Food and Drug Administration explained, "Because germs get destroyed when cooked properly, there is no regulation as such."
 
Canada Takes Beef Dispute with Korea to WTO (English: MF)
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/09/23/2009092300303.html
Summary: Ottawa has taken its complaint against a Korean ban on Canadian beef to the World Trade Organization, a government official said Tuesday. Eight other countries have agreed to arbitrate on the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body. They are the U.S., the EU, Brazil, Argentina, China, India, Japan and Taiwan. The panel's decision is binding on WTO members.
There is speculation that the panel will favor Canada because the U.S., the EU, Brazil and Argentina are major beef exporters. If so, Korea will face pressure to resume imports of Canadian beef, which were stopped after an outbreak of mad cow disease in Canada in 2003. Japan and Taiwan applied to sit on the panel to gauge whether to open their own beef market, experts speculate.
 
Korea to Export Pork to Japan After Nine-Year Ban (English: MF)
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/09/22/2009092200598.html
Summary: Korea will resume pork exports to Japan this month after a nine-year ban, and according to the agriculture ministry the first outbound shipment of pork on Sept. 28 will come from Korea's Jeju Island.  Korean pork exports were halted back in 2000 due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever.
 
Pres. to Set CO2 Gas Cuts by Year’s End (English: MF)
http://english.kbs.co.kr/News/News/News_view.html?page=1&No=66736&id=Po
Summary: President Lee Myung-bak will announce the nation’s target for greenhouse gas cuts by the end of the year, making Korea the first non-advanced economy to do so. He made the announcement in a prerecorded speech to be uploaded on the U.N. Web site and YouTube for the upcoming U.N. summit on climate change. President Lee said Seoul will set up a five-year plan for green growth and inject two percent of GDP in that sector.
 
Pusan Customs arrested a Korean smuggler of Chinese sweet rice, who has illegally imported 36 MT of sweet rice mixed with rice bran 64 MT from China.  (Korean: CSC)
http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=101&oid=001&aid=0002880977
 
A total of eight countries participate as third parties in the WTO ROK-Canada beef row. [Korean: BYK]
http://www.mdtoday.co.kr/mdtoday/index.html?no=99264
Summary: A total of eight nations, including the United States participated in the WTO DSP to settle the Canadian complaint over Korea’s ban on its beef imports.]
 
Department Stores Report Good Sales of Expensive Gift Sets Over W300,000 (Korean, OSY)
http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?linkid=4&articleid=2009092402562749210&newssetid=1352
Summary: According to Lotte Department Store, the leading player in the segment, sales of gift set products targeting the Korean Thanks Giving Day so far has increased by 65.7 percent over the same period last year.  In particular, sales of expensive gift sets over W300,000 has surged 81 percent.  Other leading department store chains have reported similar outcomes.  Market analysts agree that sales growth in department stores reflects rapid recovery of local economy.
 
Domestic chickens found to be positive with low pathogenic avian influenza [Korean: BYK]
http://www.hyunchuk.co.kr/news/4224
Summary: Some 500 heads of domestic chickens that died on September 15th were found to have been infected with LPAI as well as other poultry diseases.
 
Locally Developed GM Crops to Be on Dining Table Soon [Korean: CSA]
http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0103_200909260928099142
Summary) YTN reported the current development of GM crops in Korea. Insect resistant rice has been under development for 12 years and will be supplied for human consumption in two to three years from now.  A virus resistant cactus and a vitamin E enriched soybean are under development as well.  Researchers are developing GM crops to be prepared for food crisis in the future and to meet healthy and wellbeing life.  In order to promote GM crop development in Korea, which is high value added agricultural product, consumer’s perception needs to be improved.    
 
Glut Spurs Gov`t to Donate Rice to E. Asia [English: MF]
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2009092597578
Summary: The government yesterday said it will send around 100,000 tons of rice aid to East Asian nations from next year at the earliest. The food aid proposal will be announced at a meeting of agriculture ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus South Korea, China, and Japan slated for next month or November.
 
Ginseng Products Favored Most as Thanks-Giving Day Gift (Korean, OSY)
http://www.donga.com/view_t.news?f=b_s&n=200909260066&l=0
Summary: Among various gift sets offered for the Korean Thanks-Giving Day shopping season this year, Ginseng products has recorded the largest sales so far according to the leading department stores, which indicates consumers’ elevated health concerns due to the on-going Influenza scare.   

Sales Ranking	Lotte Department Store	Hyundai Department Store	Shinsegae Department Store
1	Fresh Ginseng	Fermented Ginseng	Fermented Ginseng & Functional Foods
2	Dried Seafood	Apple	Sword Fish
3	Nuts	Dried Persimmon	Dried Anchovy
4	Fermented Seafood	Hanwoo Beef	Beef
5	Beef Ribs	Abalone	Fruit
6	Fermented Ginseng & Functional Foods	Assorted Fruit	Yellow Corvina

 
KRC to Expand Overseas Agricultural Projects [English: MF]
http://english.kbs.co.kr/News/News/News_view.html?No=66863&id=Ec  
Summary: The Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC) says it will expand overseas agricultural projects by obtaining bases for farming and mining abroad as well as exporting technologies on agricultural social overhead capital (SOC).  The KRC is planning to use 100-thousand hectares of farm land to build an agricultural technology center in Tanzania. It is also negotiating the export of flood control and other SOC technologies to Indonesia, Laos and Myanmar. Since 1967, the state-run corporation exported over 80 kinds of agricultural technologies and SOC projects to 27 countries.
 
Trade Surplus through Sep. Hits Record High (English: MF)
http://english.kbs.co.kr/News/News/News_view.html?No=66926&id=Ec
Summary: The national trade surplus from January to September has reached an estimated record of 31 billion U.S. dollars. The Knowledge Economy Ministry expects 2009 exports through September will decrease 21 percent year-on-year, and imports by 33 percent, for an all-time high trade surplus of 31 billion dollars. The ministry also said Korea’s global ranking in exports rose three slots to ninth this year.
 
Korea joins GFRA [Korean: BYK]
http://mifaff.korea.kr/gonews/branch.do;GONEWSSID=
wn7YKBRQ3vXG11hWnyRnLvByJ51Xp1HTy7LQqRcNlMsLDlx611br!418527120?act=
detailView&dataId=155374897§ionId=b_sec_1&type=news&currPage=1&flComment=1&flReply=0
Summary: The National Veterinary Research & Quarantine Service announced that it was going to join the Global Foot-and-Mouth disease Research Alliance (GFRA).  GFRA is a research alliance that studies the FMD and was established in 2003.  It currently has 11 nations as its members, including the United States, U.K., Canada, Australia, Denmark, Netherland, France, South Africa, Argentina, Kenya and Belgium.
 
Korea succeeds in producing genetically engineered swine for treating diabetes. [Korean: BYK]
http://news.joins.com/article/aid/2009/09/29/3490466.html?cloc=olink|article|default
Summary: Korea succeeded in developing genetically engineered swine that would be used in the treatment of diabetes.
 
Seoul Not Considering Immediate NK Aid (English: MF)
http://english.kbs.co.kr/News/News/News_view.html?No=66947&id=Po
Summary: The presidential office says it is not considering any massive food of fertilizer aid to North Korea, at this point. Presidential spokesman Park Sun-kyoo told reporters Monday that the government's current position is that it could consider humanitarian aid when necessary.  Park added that Seoul is already providing food and medicine to infants and babies in the North.
 
'Animal-Based Liquid Fertilizers Translate into Higher Yields' (English: MF)
http://english.kbs.co.kr/News/News/News_view.html?page=1&No=66885&id=Ec
Summary: A study finds that farms using liquid fertilizer made from farm animal excrement are 50 percent more profitable than those using chemical fertilizer. The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Friday that a model plantation which grew chestnuts using excrement-based liquid fertilizer earned 4.5 million won per hectare, compared with 3 million won per hectare for farmers using chemical fertilizer.  The excrement-based fertilizer plantation produced yields of 3500 kilograms per hectare, 17 percent higher than the 3000 kilograms put up by fields using chemical fertilizer.
 
United States fails to comply with its promise to allow onsite audit of cod heads [Korean: BYK]
http://www.mdtoday.co.kr/mdtoday/index.html?no=99870
Summary: According to Assemblyman Kang Gi Gap, the United States had promised to allow onsite audit of codfish head plants as well as pre-registration of such plants in return for loosened import standards.  However, the Untied States has not fulfilled such promises up to now.