South Korea's business sentiment index for December has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years.
Data released by the Bank of Korea on Friday shows the index dropped two points from the previous month to 72.
A reading below 100 means there are more pessimists than optimists on the local economy.
An official cited a sharp drop in sentiment among businesses in the chemical sector.
They said demand for their goods had slowed amid the U.S.-China trade war.
The prolonged slump in the construction and auto sectors also drove down sentiment in the metal industries.