KOSPI 1,109.40 DN 8.46 points (open)
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KOSDAQ 332.71 UP 0.45 points (open)
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Dollar opens at 1,270.0 won DN from 1,299.0 won
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SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's consumer sentiment sank in December as
private spending continued to weaken, hit by the slumping economy, the central
bank said Monday.

By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak will deliver his New Year's
address on Friday, appealing for nationwide efforts to reinvigorate the slumping

SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's National Assembly
remained deadlocked for the third straight day on Sunday, as opposition lawmakers

SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday strongly protested Japan's
stepped-up move to claim Dokdo, the easternmost South Korean islets in the body

(ATTN: UPDATES with more quotes from KBD's executive director and reactions from
Hanwha Group in paras 9-11)

SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans' consumer spending in the second quarter
sank to the worse level unseen since the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; ADDS more details throughout)
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB)