South Korean exports returned to contraction in the first 20 days of October after growing in September, government data showed on Wednesday. Exports dropped 5.8% from a year earlier during Oct. 1-20, versus an expansion of 3.4% in the comparable period in September. Imports fell 2.8% in the first 20 days of this month. Shipments of chips surged 12.1% but the breakdown of data showed exports to both China and the United States declined by 4.6% and 2.3%, respectively.