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South Korea breaks GMO embargo

South Korea has purchased the first shipment of genetically modified (gm) corn for use in food industries.

By the first week of March, the Korean Corn Processing Industry Association bought more than 768,000 tonnes of gm corn, most of them from the us. The association, accounting for 90 per cent of Korea's market, had previously imported natural corn varieties.

"This is a significant step in terms of broadening acceptance of gm crops for food use in Korea,' said Byong Min of the us Grains Council's Korea office. The move has apparently been sparked by the continuing increase in corn prices across the globe.