A South Korean man has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in China, Seoul officials said Tuesday.

The 51-year-old, identified only by his surname Shin, was convicted of smuggling 10.3 kilograms of methamphetamine into the northeastern city of Yanji and selling it, an official at the Foreign Ministry told reporters on customary condition of anonymity. He was arrested in 2009.

Under Chinese law, trafficking of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine is punishable by death.

In late May, a 53-year-old Korean man also received a death sentence for illegally importing 11.9 kilograms of the substance into Qingdao in eastern China. He has appealed.

China has executed several other foreigners convicted on drug charges in recent years. They include a South Korean in 2001, a Briton in 2009, four Japanese in 2010 and three Filipinos last year, ministry officials said earlier.

(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)