SEOUL: 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 on 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 per cent from the previous year at $527.2 billion — the sharpest annual decline since 2009. Outbound shipments plunged 13.8 per cent in December alone, the ministry said.