Pharmaceutical output totals 9.7 trillion won in 2005

Korea's drug production reached 9.7 trillion won in 2005, according to the Korea Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.

The figure is equivalent to about 1.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), up from 1.12 percent in 2004.

Meanwhile, the welfare budget will grow twice as fast as the economic growth rate next year with the government spending 62 trillion won ($65 billion) on...