S Korea exports show sharpest decline for 6yrs

South Korea's exports fell last year at their fastest rate since the global financial crisis, with 12 straight monthly declines fuelled by a strong won and plunging oil prices.

The government data published Friday is a grim annual report for a country whose exports account for roughly half of its economic output.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said exports were down 7.9 percent from the previous year at $527.2 billion -- the sharpest annual decline since 2009.