[From the Scene] Posco Future M automates as it eyes cathode crown

GWANGYANG, South Jeolla Province -- Safety goggles, helmets and dust masks were waiting on the desks in the auditorium at Posco Future M’s secondary battery materials complex in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. After a brief introduction of the world’s largest cathode plant, a group of reporters equipped with safety gear headed to the Gwangyang Cathode Plant2. Asked to wear disposable overshoes, the visitors were greeted with an air shower before they could enter the catho

IndustryFeb. 25, 2024

French ambassador visits Renault Korea's Busan plant

French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux visited the Renault Korea Motors plant in Busan on Friday, highlighting the facility's role in the automotive industries of both South Korea and France, and its position within the global Renault Group network. The visit was accompanied by Renault Korea Motors CEO Stephane Deblaise and other French Embassy officials including Economic Counselor Adeline-Lise Khov and Commercial Counselor Matthieu Lefort. The Busan plant, where Renault Korea's most popu

MobilityFeb. 25, 2024

KB kicks off new Cambodian unit following merger

KB Kookmin Bank, one of Korea’s top five commercial lenders here, launched its new Cambodian unit, KB Prasac Bank, to tap deeper into the market by offering loan programs for small merchants and digital banking services. KB Prasac Bank, Cambodia's fourth-largest commercial lender in terms of assets, held an opening ceremony in Phnom Penh on Friday (local time), according to the Korean firm. More than 700 individuals attended the event, including KB Financial Group Chairman Yang Jong-h

IndustryFeb. 25, 2024

Kia’s eco-friendly Niro hits 1 million units sold

Kia's Niro, an eco-friendly sports utility vehicle lineup featuring exclusively green powertrains, has reached a milestone by surpassing 1 million global sales in eight years after its launch, primarily fueled by the popularity of its hybrid model. According to Kia on Sunday, the Niro tallied 1,082,822 units in global sales by January this year, with a breakdown showing 1,241 units sold in its home market and exports exceeding 10,000 units in January alone. Initially unveiled as a hybrid ve

MobilityFeb. 25, 2024

Tech firms to unveil AI innovations at MWC

With the opening of the world’s largest mobile tech show just a day away, South Korea’s major telecommunications firms SK Telecom and KT Corp., and Samsung Electronics, are poised to showcase their latest artificial intelligence technologies and services. Samsung said Sunday it would unveil the Galaxy Ring, the tech giant’s first wearable health tracker in the form of a ring, for the first time at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, following its teaser at the

TechnologyFeb. 25, 2024

Resignations at Google Cloud Korea spark concern

Resignations continue at Google Cloud Korea as three chiefs so far have left their posts in the four years after serving as short as 10 months amid its grappling market share, according to industry sources on Sunday. As Kang Hyoung-jun, managing director of Google Cloud Korea, who took office in April and left the company last week, Google Cloud reportedly named Chi Ki-sung, head of SAP practice at its Asia-Pacific office as the next chief, the sources said. A Google Cloud official confirmed Kan

TechnologyFeb. 25, 2024

SK bioscience's typhoid conjugate vaccine wins WHO prequalification certification

SK bioscience, a pharmaceutical affiliate under South Korea's SK Group, said Friday its typhoid conjugate vaccine has obtained prequalification certification from the World Health Organization. The vaccine, named SKYTyphoid, was jointly developed by the South Korean company and the International Vaccine Institute, with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, according to SK bioscience. SKYTyphoid is SK bioscience's fourth vaccine product to receive PQ certificat

IndustryFeb. 23, 2024

Firms seek to tackle low birth rate with hefty incentives

South Korean conglomerates are expanding birth incentive programs to help boost the country’s record-low fertility rate amid mixed expectations about their effectiveness. Underwear maker Ssangbangwool announced Thursday that the company will provide up to 100 million won ($75,000) to employees who are expecting babies. Under the company's birth incentive scheme, an employee can receive 30 million won for the first child, another 30 million won for the second and 40 million won for the

IndustryFeb. 23, 2024

Posco aims to expedite carbon-neutral transition

South Korean steel giant Posco has recently reaffirmed its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 by adopting its own hydrogen reduction ironmaking technology, called HyREX. This strategic shift to low-carbon production is a testament to the company's ambitious pursuit of solidifying its leadership in the realm of sustainable steel manufacturing. To spearhead this transformation, the company set up a new team solely dedicated to carbon neutrality under the oversight of its CEO in

IndustryFeb. 23, 2024

Tech rivals eye big VR bets despite mixed reviews of Apple’s Vision Pro

Less than a month has passed since the high-profile debut of Apple Vision Pro, the most advanced augmented reality headset in the market. Despite mixed reviews, Apple's rivals seem keen to make a similar entry into the brand-new segment. Dazzling demonstrations of the Apple Vision Pro made it look like a game changer, allowing the user to pop up their computer screens in the air, and control it with their fingertips and by moving their eyes around. But some users have been seen returning th

IndustryFeb. 23, 2024

Seoul shares end higher for 2nd day on Nvidia earnings

South Korean stocks finished slightly higher Friday as foreign investors bet on local tech shares following AI chip giant Nvidia's strong earnings results. The Korean won lost against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 3.43 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 2,667.7, extending its winning streak to two straight sessions. Trade volume was moderate at 409.4 million shares worth 10.1 trillion won ($7.59 billion), with decliners beating gainers 514 to 341. F

MarketFeb. 23, 2024

Lotte unveils health care media platform in Japan

Lotte Holdings has launched a health care media platform in Japan in line with its strategic initiative to strengthen its foothold in the health care sector. Initially introduced as part of Lotte Group’s digital marketing efforts in 2020, Lotte transformed the platform into an independent media corporation on Feb. 1, now officially known as Lotte Medi Palette Co., Ltd. The health care platform is fully funded by Lotte Holdings with 100 million Japanese yen ($664,000) and is represented by

CompaniesFeb. 23, 2024

Hyundai Motor pledges $1.1b investment in Brazil through 2032

Hyundai Motor Group has vowed to invest $1.1 billion in Brazil as Chung Euisun, the head of the South Korean auto conglomerate, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met at the latter’s presidential office in the capital city of Brasilia on Thursday, officials announced Friday. Chung said Hyundai Motor Company’s Brazilian office and its local partners will plow the investment into future technology as well as eco-friendly sectors such as hydrogen. “Hyundai Motor Gro

MobilityFeb. 23, 2024

Sprinkles Cupcakes coming to Seoul

Sprinkles Cupcakes, the famed cupcake specialist from California, is poised for a debut in the Korean market this year – its first venture beyond US borders, according to the company on Friday. Sprinkles said it will introduce its trendy cupcakes, cookies and chocolate treats globally this year, with imminent expansions planned for Singapore and Malaysia as well. For the upcoming Seoul store, the firm is expected to team up with Korean bakery giant SPC Samlip. For other international openi

IndustryFeb. 23, 2024

KT&G names company veteran as new CEO

KT&G Senior Executive Vice President Bang Kyung-man has been selected as the candidate for CEO of Korea's largest cigarette manufacturer, the company said Thursday. Bang's official appointment is scheduled to be made at the end of March during the regular shareholders' meeting. If Bang is appointed, it will mark the first change in KT&G's presidency in nine years. Earlier on Feb. 16, the company's CEO Recommendation Committee unveiled the shortlist of four candid

IndustryFeb. 23, 2024

Seoul shares start higher on Wall Street rally

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Friday following an overnight rally on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 20.45 points, or 0.77 percent, to 2,684.72 in the first 15 minutes of trading. In the United States, Nvidia's surprising earnings result pushed up the indexes to new highs, as the S&P 500 jumped 2.11 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.18 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite also vaulted 2.96 percent. In Seoul, semic

MarketFeb. 23, 2024

[Graphic News] Soju exports surpass $100m for 1st time in 10 years

Exports of soju, distilled Korean liquor, topped $100 million for the first time in 10 years in 2023, data showed. According to the Korea Customs Service, outbound shipments of soju reached $101.4 million in 2023, an increase of 8.7 percent from 2022. The last time soju exports surpassed $100 million was in 2013. Soju is a distilled liquor made of ethyl alcohol and water, with the addition of sweeteners. An industry source said soju sold overseas had been mostly consumed by South Korean resident

MarketFeb. 23, 2024

Regulators warn of possible risks from foreign real estate investment

South Korean regulators warned Thursday of increasing risks in the domestic financial sector due to overseas real estate investments, with around 2.46 trillion won ($1.85 billion) exposed to potential risk, while also aiming to reassure the public that the impact on the overall industry will be limited. The Financial Supervisory Service issued the statement following its assessment of local financial institutions' investments in real estate overseas, amid some concerns about the cooling of

EconomyFeb. 22, 2024

Kolmar Korea finds anti-aging microorganism

Kolmar Korea, a cosmetics original design manufacturer, said Thursday it has found a microbiome that can slow down skin aging induced by sun exposure for the first time, which could be a breakthrough innovation in the anti-aging skincare industry. Photoaging refers to the characteristic changes to the skin caused by cumulative sun damage over a lifetime of exposure. Recent research has found that the skin microbiome could serve as a potential tool to prevent and treat skin photoaging. Kolmar Kor

IndustryFeb. 22, 2024

Lee Si-woo becomes sole CEO at Posco

Lee Si-woo, formerly co-CEO of Posco alongside Kim Hak-dong, who served as CEO of Posco and vice chairman of Posco Holdings, will now lead the steelmaker on his own. Posco Holdings’ reshuffle released on Wednesday indicates that Kim will step down from his position and moves to the group’s executive adviser. Lee is expected to play a crucial role in guiding Posco through its transition toward carbon neutrality, while enhancing profitability and reinforcing the company's presence

CompaniesFeb. 22, 2024