Korean robot startup aims to transform human walking

South Korean robotics startup WIRobotics aims to transform the walking experience via its award-winning wearable robot WIM, made lighter and more convenient for everyday use, the company's chief said Wednesday. "We believe humans will be able to enhance walking and physical abilities with the assistance of the interactive robotics technology, and have thought wearable robots will be optimal," WIRobotics CEO and Chief Technology Officer Kim Yong-jae said at the press conference in

IndustryApril 24, 2024

LG Energy Solution vows stern action to protect patent rights

LG Energy Solution announced new stringent policies Wednesday to address rampant patent infringements by what it describes as "patent free-riders." The nation's top battery maker plans to enforce its intellectual property through legal actions and promote equitable competition by contributing to a legitimate battery patent licensing market. This decision comes in response to an increasing number of companies -- both new entrants and established manufacturers -- exploiting LG Energ

IndustryApril 24, 2024

Hanwha Life taps into global banking through fresh investment in Indonesia

Hanwha Life, a leading Korean insurance company and the life insurance subsidiary of Hanwha Group, has made a strategic move into the Indonesian banking sector through a stake investment. The company announced on Wednesday that its board had approved securing a 40 percent stake in Nobu Bank from Indonesia's Lippo Group, marking the first entry of a Korean insurer into the Indonesian banking industry. The decision was made during an extraordinary board meeting held on Tuesday. Hanwha Life�

IndustryApril 24, 2024

[From the Scene] KG Mobility poised to take next leap

PYEONGTAEK, Gyeonggi Province -- A group of workers gathered to check a computerized system at KG Mobility’s Pyeongtaek plant in Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday afternoon. While most workers were taking their 10-minute break, they came together to try to improve the workflow. That passion played a crucial role in the company logging its first profitable year in 2023 for the first time in 16 years, according to the Korean automaker’s head of production. “I think (our turnaround) la

MobilityApril 24, 2024

Hyundai Mobis breaks ground for W170b Spain plant

Hyundai Mobis, the auto parts manufacturer under Hyundai Motor Group, said Wednesday it held a ground-breaking ceremony for its first factory in Western Europe, which will manufacture battery systems, particularly focusing on supplying the Volkswagen Group. The new factory in Navarre, Spain, will cover an area of 150,000 square meters, with a floor space of 50,000 square meters, and it will have the capacity to produce up to 360,000 battery system assemblies annually. In line with its goal to

CompaniesApril 24, 2024

Coway launches Berex massage bed with enhanced usability

South Korean home appliance maker Coway has launched a new massage bed, the Berex Reclining Massage Bed, as part of product diversification aimed at the nation's soaring massage chair market. The new product is the first of its kind to incorporate an automatic upper-body reclining function, specifically designed to ease the process of lying down and standing up -- a feature that addresses usability for the elderly and those with mobility challenges. The model does not require users to man

IndustryApril 24, 2024

HD Hyundai teams up with Norway's Philly Shipyard for US footing

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Norway's Philly Shipyard signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on manufacturing, maintaining, repairing, and overhauling vessels and ships ordered by the US government, the South Korean shipbuilder said Wednesday. The signing ceremony was held at Philly's shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 12 -- with key officials from both companies in attendance, including Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ special ship b

CompaniesApril 24, 2024

Over half of new hires in S. Korea are college graduates: data

Among newly hired employees in Korea in 2023, 50.5 percent were college graduates. Of the 28.41 million people newly hired across the country, 14.36 million had a higher education degree, according to the Korean Statistical Information Service run by Statistics Korea. The figure includes graduates from two-year college courses and those with postgraduate degrees. The number of new employees with tertiary education degrees rose by 1.2 percent compared to the year before. The figure rose from 30.2

EconomyApril 24, 2024

Hyundai unveils versatile commercial EV platform

Hyundai Motor Company launched its new ST1 series of electrified, purpose-built vehicles for commercial use on Tuesday, aiming to diversify and enhance the efficiency of commercial vehicles for both logistics applications and beyond. An open API-based software platform -- a first for Hyundai vehicles -- is a standout component of the series, which expands the possibilities of today's commercial vehicles by providing the exact telematics data that each business user needs. The unveiling too

MobilityApril 24, 2024

KGC eyes broader customer base with Lim Young-woong

Korea Ginseng Corp., the leading manufacturer of ginseng products in the country, has launched a new promotional video featuring trot singer Lim Young-woong. Released on Wednesday, the video showcases a day in the life of Lim, from morning routines to exercise and singing practice. The video highlights the use of JungKwanJang, the company's premium red ginseng brand, portraying its products as essential for daily vitality. Lim, known for his victory in a popular singing competition, appeals

IndustryApril 24, 2024

4 conglomerates see combined operating profit plunge 65% last year: report

Four major conglomerates saw their combined operating profit plunge 65 percent last year, hit by sluggish sales amid an economic slowdown, a report showed Wednesday. Some 306 affiliates of four conglomerates -- Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor and LG -- posted a combined operating profit of 24.51 trillion won ($17.9 billion) in 2023, down from 71.91 trillion won a year earlier, according to the report by the Korea CXO Institute, a corporate data firm. Samsung Group, the country's biggest conglome

EconomyApril 24, 2024

Crypto mogul Kwon appeals against Montenegro court's extradition verdict

Montenegrin lawyers of disgraced South Korean crypto entrepreneur Do Kwon are struggling to have him extradited to his home country, not the United States, according to local news reports. Kwon's legal representatives in Montenegro appealed against the Podgorica High Court's recent ruling that found the conditions for his extradition to both South Korea and the US were met, local daily Vijesti reported on Tuesday. In their appeal, the lawyers said that the high court's April 8 dec

EconomyApril 24, 2024

Seoul shares open sharply higher on US stock gains

South Korean stocks opened stronger Wednesday as investors snapped up blue chips across the board following overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed up 46.43 points, or 1.77 percent, to 2,669.45 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 1.2 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq jumped 1.59 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.69 percent, as tech heavyweights lifted the broader US stock market.

MarketApril 24, 2024

SC Bank Korea offers special rate for new customers

Standard Chartered Bank Korea said Tuesday it will offer special interest rates of up to 3.5 percent for as long as 60 days to first-time SC customers who deposit 30 million won ($21,800) or more, up to 2 billion won, in money market deposit accounts. Money market deposit accounts pay interest based on the daily account balance. The bigger the deposit, the higher the interest. The promotional rate is offered to first-time customers of SC Bank Korea who open accounts by April 30. The promotion wi

CompaniesApril 24, 2024

AmCham seminar explores Korea’s potential as regional business hub

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea hosted the sixth Doing Business in Korea seminar on Tuesday to explore strategies for bolstering Korea’s competitiveness as a regional business hub in the Asia-Pacific region. This year’s event was held at a Seoul hotel, drawing participation from officials and policymakers from the Korean and US governments, as well as representatives from domestic and foreign companies. AmCham CEO James Kim stated in his opening remarks, "Given Korea&r

IndustryApril 24, 2024

KITA partners with German VC fund to bolster auto firms in Gwangju

The Korea International Trade Association is ramping up its efforts to support the overseas expansion of local mobility companies in the Gwangju area. On Tuesday, the state-run trade agency's regional headquarters for Gwangju and South Jeolla Province announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with MobilityFund, a German venture capital fund, and the Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency to help boost the global competitiveness of local future and eco-friendly automobile firms.

IndustryApril 23, 2024

Aging population to drive down Korea's housing prices from 2040: experts

South Korea's housing prices are expected to see a long-term decline starting in 2040, hit by the nation’s falling birth rate and quickly aging society, according to experts who joined a Seoul seminar hosted by construction project management firm Hanmi Global on Tuesday. "In 2025, South Korea will become a superaging society with an over-65 population surpassing 10 million, which will account for more than 20 percent of the country's total population. Due to the aging popul

IndustryApril 23, 2024

[Herald Interview] Bridging Korea, Philippines for better future

Building bilateral ties between Korea and the Philippines could be a means to boosting the livelihoods of the people of each country for Luis Chavit Singson, chairman of the Philippines’ LCS Group of Companies, and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. Singson and Pacquiao, longtime friends and investment partners, visited Seoul this week in a search for new business opportunities, along with Secretary of Agrarian Reform Conrado Estrella. Over the years, the two have been highly interested in coop

IndustryApril 23, 2024

Polish delegation visits Seoul to push ahead with arms deal

South Korea and Poland have come to the table to seek progress in their arms deal, with Korea grappling with funding challenges for a follow-up agreement with Poland. On Monday, Pawel Bejda, Poland’s deputy defense minister, met with Seok Jong-gun, the head of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, marking the first high-level visit from the Polish government since the administration change there in December 2022. The Polish government's visit to South Korea c

IndustryApril 23, 2024

SK CEOs vow to bolster corporate value-up drive

The chief executive officers of SK Group affiliates have agreed to ramp up efforts to bolster the conglomerate’s corporate value by swiftly carrying out rebalancing work to inspect and optimize businesses amid prolonged global management uncertainty. SK Group said Tuesday the latest decision came as top management agreed to bolster the corporate value-up drive at the April SK Supex Pursuit Council meeting held under the chairmanship of Chey Jae-won earlier in the day. Established in 2013,

IndustryApril 23, 2024