South Korea registered a trade deficit of $101 million in October, reflecting the country's economic sluggishness, according to government figures released Wednesday. Preliminary tallies by the Trade and Industry Ministry showed another trade deficit in October, the fifth monthly setback this year, casting a cloud on South Korea's export-oriented economy. Exports in October stood at $5.29 billion, a mere 0.7 % increase from a year earlier, while imports increased sharply to $5.39 billion, up 20 % from last October. South Korea's economic boom, which began in 1986, stopped this year because of prolonged labor disputes, trade conflicts and sluggish exports. Government officials said exports at the end of the year would remain under a government target of $68 billion. Despite the gloomy forecast, South Korea has recorded a trade surplus of $71 million so far this year. From January to October, the nation's accumulated exports increased 4 % from the same period last year to $50.45 billion. Imports were at $50.38 billion, up 19 %. TEXT South Korea registered a trade deficit of $ 101 million in October , reflecting the country 's economic sluggishness , according to government figures released Wednesday . Preliminary tallies by the Trade and Industry Ministry showed another trade deficit in October , the fifth monthly setback this year , casting a cloud on South Korea 's export-oriented economy . Exports in October stood at $ 5.29 billion , a mere 0.7 % increase from a year earlier , while imports increased sharply to $ 5.39 billion , up 20 % from last October . South Korea 's economic boom , which began in 1986 , stopped this year because of prolonged labor disputes , trade conflicts and sluggish exports . Government officials said exports at the end of the year would remain under a government target of $ 68 billion . Despite the gloomy forecast , South Korea has recorded a trade surplus of $ 71 million so far this year . From January to October , the nation 's accumulated exports increased 4 % from the same period last year to $ 50.45 billion . Imports were at $ 50.38 billion , up 19 % . 2~4 8~10~12~14~16~18~20 24 30~32~34~36~38 32 46~48 52 57~59 63~65~67~69~71 75~77~79,87~89~91~93~95~97 83 95~97 103~105 109~111 109~111~113~115~117 122 126 132~134~136 140~142~144~146~148 152~154~156 162 170~172~174 180~182 186~188 193~195 193~195~197~199~201 211 217~219 225~227~229 233~235 239~241 246~248 252~254~256~258~260~262~264 256~258~260~262~264 262~264 272~274~276~278~280~282~284 291~293~295 299~301 307~309~311~313~315~317~319 325~327 334 338 342~344~346~348~350 344 354~356 360~362~364~366~368 366~368 372~374~376 381 387~389~391 397~399 South Korea|920,924,933,944,957,963 a trade deficit of $101 million|921 October|922,930,936,961 the country's economic sluggishness|923 government figures|925 Wednesday|926 Preliminary tallies|927 the Trade and Industry Ministry|928 another trade deficit|929 this year|931,947,954,959 a cloud|932 South Korea's export-oriented economy|934 Exports|935 $5.29 billion|937 a mere 0.7 % increase|938 a year earlier|939,966 imports|940,968 $5.39 billion|941 20 %|942 last October|943 South Korea's economic boom|945 1986|946 prolonged labor disputes|948 trade conflicts|949 sluggish exports|950 Government officials|951 exports at the end of the year|952 the end of the year|953 a government target of $68 billion|955 the gloomy forecast|956 a trade surplus of $71 million|958 January|960 the nation's accumulated exports|962 4 %|964 the same period last year|965 $50.45 billion|967 $50.38 billion|969 19 %|970 920|NUC:DIST:2~4 921|MOD:DIST:8|MOD:DIST:10|NUC:DIST:12|MOD:DIST:14~16~18~20 922|NUC:DIST:24 923|MOD:DIST:30|MOD:DESC:32~34|MOD:DIST:36|NUC:DESC:38 924|NUC:DIST:32 925|MOD:DESC:46|NUC:DIST:48 926|NUC:DIST:52 927|MOD:DIST:57|NUC:DIST:59 928|MOD:DIST:63|NUC:DIST:65~67~69~71 929|MOD:DIST:75|MOD:DIST:77|NUC:DIST:79|MOD:DESC:87~89~91~93~95~97 930|NUC:DIST:83 931|MOD:DIST:95|NUC:DIST:97 932|MOD:DIST:103|NUC:DIST:105 933|NUC:DIST:109~111 934|MOD:DIST:109~111~113|MOD:DESC:115|NUC:DIST:117 935|NUC:DIST:122 936|NUC:DIST:126 937|NUC:DIST:132~134~136 938|MOD:DIST:140|MOD:DESC:142|MOD:DIST:144~146|NUC:DIST:148 939|MOD:DIST:152|NUC:DIST:154|MOD:DIST:156 940|NUC:DIST:162 941|NUC:DIST:170~172~174 942|NUC:DIST:180~182 943|MOD:DIST:186|NUC:DIST:188 944|NUC:DIST:193~195 945|MOD:DESC:193~195~197|MOD:DIST:199|NUC:DESC:201 946|NUC:DIST:211 947|MOD:DIST:217|NUC:DIST:219 948|MOD:DESC:225|MOD:DIST:227|NUC:DIST:229 949|MOD:DIST:233|NUC:DIST:235 950|MOD:DESC:239|NUC:DIST:241 951|MOD:DESC:246|NUC:DIST:248 952|NUC:DIST:252|MOD:DIST:254~256~258~260~262~264 953|MOD:DIST:256|NUC:DIST:258|MOD:DIST:260~262~264 954|MOD:DIST:262|NUC:DIST:264 955|MOD:DIST:272|MOD:DESC:274|NUC:DIST:276|MOD:DIST:278~280~282~284 956|MOD:DIST:291|MOD:DESC:293|NUC:DIST:295 957|NUC:DIST:299~301 958|MOD:DIST:307|MOD:DIST:309|NUC:DIST:311|MOD:DIST:313~315~317~319 959|MOD:DIST:325|NUC:DIST:327 960|NUC:DIST:334 961|NUC:DIST:338 962|MOD:DIST:342|MOD:DESC:344~346|MOD:DESC:348|NUC:DIST:350 963|NUC:DIST:344 964|NUC:DIST:354~356 965|MOD:DIST:360|MOD:DIST:362|NUC:DIST:364|MOD:DIST:366~368 966|MOD:DIST:366|NUC:DIST:368 967|NUC:DIST:372~374~376 968|NUC:DIST:381 969|NUC:DIST:387~389~391 970|NUC:DIST:397~399