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(中文大意)

　　韩国三星公司4月1日表示，2003年其利润和销售额大幅下降。三星称，其所有部门的营收去年较之前年下降了25%，仅为71万亿韩元(合620亿美元)，净利润下降了18%，为6.8万亿韩元。三星将业绩下降的原因归因于全球IT市场疲软。

South Korea's leading conglomerate, Samsung Group, suffered a sharp drop in profit and sales last year as rival groups improved profitability.

The revenue of all Samsung units dropped 25 percent year-on-year to 71 trillion won (62 billion dollars) in 2003 with net profit down 18 percent to 6.8 trillion won, according to the Korea Stock Exchange (KSE) on Thursday.

It attributed the fall to a global downturn in information and technology markets. Samsung was one of the world's largest microchip and handset exporters last year.

The Hyundai Motor Group, which controls more than 70 percent of the domestic auto market, replaced LG as South Korea's second largest business giant in terms of sales which rose 6.3 percent to 46 trillion won in 2003.

LG was third with sales standing at 38.6 trillion won. Comparable figures were not disclosed.

SK slipped to fourth place after posting 28.8 trillion in 2003 sales, up 6.36 percent from a year ago.

The family-run SK conglomerate has been hit by an accounting scandal which has seen top executives go on trial. The scandal triggered widespread inquiries into the practice of business groups raising slush funds and their illegal funding of politicians.

South Korea's anti-trust watchdog, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), said the number of firms affiliated with top conglomerates increased last year, despite efforts to restrict their influence.

The conglomerates, whose reckless expansion helped cause the 1997-1998 economic crisis in South Korea, have been under pressure to enhance corporate governance through transparency and responsible decision making by owners.

FTC officials say the conglomerates are still engaged in cross-unit transactions to subsidize weaker operations, although the extent of such illegal activities has fallen sharply compared with the past.

KSE officials said most of South Korea's top conglomerates reduced their debts last year because of political and economic uncertainties.

The stock market watchdog said in a survey of 521 listed companies that South Korean firms posted a 30 percent drop in combined net profits in 2003.

Financial companies showed the worst performance since South Korea was battered by the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, while the manufacturing sector enjoyed higher sales thanks to strong exports.