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Korean automakers' market share in the United States went up slightly last year with Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors now taking 3.3 percent and 2.1 percent of the U.S. market.

Both companies' lineups include plenty of inexpensive, fuel-efficient cars that attracted buyers during last year's high oil prices and the beginning of troubled economic times.

Sales of Hyundai's Accent small car rose 40 percent and Kia's Rio sold 10 percent more than in 2007.

Total sales of Korean-brand cars in the U.S., however, dropped more than 10 percent last year in line with the 35 percent decline of the overall market there.

Arirang News