We must stress that South Korea's heavy reliance on trade has its drawbacks.
For one, it means its economic growth depends on external factors.

Yes, uncertainties stemming from rising trade protectionism are becoming a major risk... especially as
nearly 70-percent of South Korea's yearly gross domestic product currently depends on its leading trading partners -- China and the U.S.
The intermediary goods South Korea ships to China... that were to be assembled again for export to the U.S. will be the hardest hit from a resumption of the Washington-Beijing trade war.