A new survey shows that South Korean companies operating in China are focusing on penetrating the Chinese market.

According to a survey of 539 South Korean companies operating in China, more than 72 percent of respondents said that they are determined to make inroads into the Chinese domestic consumption market.

The survey was conducted by the Beijing branch of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

Asked about why they are operating in China, more than 50 percent of the firms surveyed cited the potential gains that the Chinese market offers. Sixteen-point-six percent said they have done so as part of joint ventures with Chinese companies, while 16 percent said they have done so to reduce manufacturing costs.

Previous KOTRA surveys conducted between 2007 and 2009 showed that only 30 percent of respondents were operating in China in order to enter the Chinese market.