South Korea’s annual imports of automobiles topped $10 billion in 2015 for the first time since the country opened its market to foreign brands nearly three decades ago, government and industry data showed Wednesday.

According to the data by the commerce ministry and the auto industry, South Korea imported a total of $9.49 billion worth of passenger vehicles from Jan.1 todec. 20 last year.

If imports of trucks and other non-passenger vehicles estimated at $749.4 million until November are included, the total amount already comes to $ 10.24 billion.

This is the first time that annual auto imports surpassed the $10 billion mark since the automobile market of South Korea was open to foreign brands in 1987. (yonhap)

source : The Korea Herald Newspaper , January 07, 2016