Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan urged the need for parliament to swiftly ratify the Korea-China FTA.

At a meeting of economy-related ministers on Friday, the deputy prime minister pressed the opposition party, saying that the ratification is urgently needed to breathe new life into the sluggish exports.

He said that while Korea has continued along the path of recovery thanks to brisk domestic consumption amid the tough global economy, October's exports slipped by 15-point-9 percent, the biggest drop in six years and two months.

He noted that the slow exports are now spilling over into reduced output and investment.

He stressed that this FTA, unlike other bills, has a deadline for a timely effectuation by the year's end.