A strike by South Korean truck drivers has cost the nation about $6.57 billion in lost trade, dealing a blow to the main driver of economic growth.

The ongoing strike disrupted $3.24 billion worth of exports and $3.33 billion worth of imports between June 12 and June 18, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said. That's about 1 percent of the value of South Korea's total trade last month. The ministry will update the estimate at 4 p.m. in Seoul today.

As many as 13,496 truck drivers, including members of the Korea Cargo Workers Union, stopped moving freight nationwide from June 11 to protest surging fuel costs and have demanded higher transport fees and larger government subsidies. ... Read full article