Merck to pour capital into Korea's AI chip industry

Merck, the science and technology juggernaut based in Germany, will continue to put capital into Korea in line with the growth of the country's semiconductors industry while expanding cooperation with key clients and the world's two largest memory chip producers, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The German firm is seeking to leverage its capabilities to supply materials and equipment needed for chip manufacturing as its Korean clients increase their investments into artificial intelli

TechnologyFeb. 2, 2024

Hahn & Co. completes aquisition of SKC’s fine ceramics biz for W360b

Hahn & Co., the nation's largest private equity firm based on assets under management, announced Friday that it has acquired 100 percent stake in SKC's fine ceramics business for 360 billion won ($270 million). SKC operates as the semiconductor material arm under SK Group, the country's second-largest conglomerate. The acquisition comes three months after the contract was signed in late October. Under Hahn & Co.’s ownership, the company will operate with a new name

IndustryFeb. 2, 2024

Naver to rev up generative AI services

After logging all-time high earnings last year, Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon expressed her determination to strengthen the tech giant's core search platform and commerce services using generative artificial intelligence technology this year. "Based on AI and data, Naver will focus on enhancing competitiveness in key businesses, including search engines and commerce platforms," Choi said during the company’s earnings conference held on Friday. Choi expected that Cue, a generative

TechnologyFeb. 2, 2024

Toss kicks off IPO process, eyes 2025 listing

Viva Republica, the operator of financial technology app Toss, has kicked off procedures for an initial public offering, having selected lead underwriters. Securities firms estimate that the company's valuation could reach up to 20 trillion won ($15.1 billion). Viva Republica selected crosstown rivals in the local IPO market -- Korea Investment & Securities and Mirae Asset Securities -- as the lead underwriters, according to industry sources Friday. The securities firms have reportedly

IndustryFeb. 2, 2024

Seoul shares spike nearly 3% on tech earnings

South Korean stocks rose by almost 3 percent Friday, backed by techs, autos and financials following solid earnings reports from US big techs. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 72.85 points, or 2.87 percent, to 2,615.31. Trade volume was high at 580 million shares worth 14.1 trillion won ($10.7 billion), with winners far outpacing losers 710 to 180. Foreign investors and institutions drove up the Kospi, buying shares worth 1.89 tri

MarketFeb. 2, 2024

Govt. to grow K-food industry to W300tr by 2027

The South Korean government aims to propel the K-food industry to reach 300 trillion won ($227 billion) worldwide by 2027, responding to the burgeoning global appetite for Korean cuisine. The vision was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, during an emergency economic ministers meeting Friday. The target signifies a doubling from the 2021 figure of 152 trillion won, with the number of overseas Korean restaurants set to increase to 15,000 globally, up from 9,923 in 20

IndustryFeb. 2, 2024

Mastern to support local medical device maker expand US presence

Mastern America, the US subsidiary of local asset manager Mastern Investment Management, has joined hands with Hironic, a Korean medical device company, to expand its presence in the US market. Mastern America announced Friday that it has forged a four-party memorandum of understanding with Hironic, the city of Taylor, Texas, and the Taylor Economic Development Corp. A signing ceremony was held in Seoul on Wednesday, with Mastern America CEO Joseph Oh, Hironic CEO Lee Sang-won, Taylor Mayor Bran

IndustryFeb. 2, 2024

Inflation loses steam in Korea, falls to 2% range

Korea's inflation grew at slower pace in January, coming down to the 2 percent range for the first time in six months, data showed Friday. The government warned on the possibility of prices resurging in the months ahead. Consumer prices rose 2.8 percent on-year last month, according to data from Statistics Korea. The figure shows inflationary pressure easing significantly, following rises of 3.2 percent in December and 3.3 percent in November. It is also the smallest increase seen since 2.3 perc

EconomyFeb. 2, 2024

Starbucks Korea's NFT initiative saves 600,000 disposable cups

Starbucks Korea announced on Thursday that its recent NFT eco-project, designed to promote reusable cup adoption, has led to saving approximately 600,000 disposable cups from use over a two-week period from Jan. 16. The NFT eco-project at Starbucks Korea is the first of its kind in Asia and encourages Starbucks Rewards members to use personal cups when placing orders through the Starbucks app. Once individuals earn eco-stamps, with a limit of three per day, they can be exchanged for Starbucks NF

IndustryFeb. 2, 2024

SPC Group's W64.7b antitrust fines cancelled

South Korean food and bakery giant SPC Group has been spared from a fine of 64.7 billion won ($48.6 million) as Seoul’s high court ruled in favor of the company in its lawsuit filed against the nation’s antitrust watchdog. In 2020, the Korea Fair Trade Commission imposed fines, together with a corrective order, alleging that SPC affiliates, including Paris Croissant, SPL, BR Korea, and Shany, unfairly supported SPC Samlip, the group’s only listed firm, to raise its stock price

CompaniesFeb. 1, 2024

Will cheaper foldable phones become a reality?

Samsung Electronics, a pioneer in foldable smartphones, is ramping up efforts to expand the still-nascent and high-priced segment, fueling speculation that the tech giant could come out with cheaper versions with mass-market appeal as soon as this year. A recent news report said Samsung is expected to launch two models for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold6 later this year, including a cheaper one without the pricey S-Pen stylus. Foldable displays are priced higher to support the scribble function on t

IndustryFeb. 1, 2024

BAT names new Korean chief

BAT Rothmans, the Korean unit of British American Tobacco, announced Thursday that the company has appointed Song Young-jae, a BAT veteran, as its new country manager. The company said Song is a marketing and finance expert who will be tasked with promoting BAT’s combustible products. “Song is an expert in the global tobacco industry and the right person to spearhead the company’s future innovation,” an official from BAT Rothmans said. Graduated from the London School of

IndustryFeb. 1, 2024

Kakao Healthcare plans to debut diabetes app in Japan

Kakao Healthcare, the digital health care unit under platform giant Kakao, on Thursday launched an artificial intelligence-based mobile blood sugar management service, PASTA, in Korea, hinting at plans for its overseas debuts in Japan and other countries. “Health care costs attributable to diabetes are increasing every year, and we aim to help reduce the costs through our new service," Kakao Healthcare CEO Hwang Hee said during a press conference at the company’s headquarters in

IndustryFeb. 1, 2024

Hyundai sticks to premium pricing in US with new Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor continues to implement a premium pricing strategy emphasizing brand power and quality in global markets, as the automaker unveiled the pricing for the all-new 2024 Santa Fe sport utility vehicle which is substantially more costly than both its predecessors and South Korean counterparts. The US market will see an increase in the sticker price of all 2024 Santa Fe trims, ranging from an additional $2,250 to as much as $5,200, in comparison to the 2023 model, according to Hyundai Moto

MobilityFeb. 1, 2024

Seoul shares spike nearly 2% on export recovery despite dashed hope for Fed's early rate cuts

South Korean stocks rose by almost 2 percent Thursday despite overnight Wall Street losses, with techs and autos climbing as the nation's exports rose for the fourth month. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 45.37 points, or 1.82 percent, to 2,542.46. Trade volume was heavy at 741.3 million shares worth 13.3 trillion won ($9.98 billion), with winners outpacing losers 668 to 239. South Korea's exports moved up for the fourt

MarketFeb. 1, 2024

Hana Securities to bolster foreign investor services on regulatory easing

Hana Securities, the brokerage unit of South Korean finance giant Hana Financial Group, on Thursday announced it has established a new foreign investment team. According to the Hana subsidiary, the move comes in response to the recent abolition of the foreign investors' registration system by the local government. Starting in December, South Korea scrapped a 30-year-old policy that required foreign nationals to register with the local financial regulators to open an account and trade on the

MarketFeb. 1, 2024

EcoPro bolsters North American battery recycling business

EcoPro, a South Korean battery materials manufacturer, has joined hands with US battery recycling firm Cirba Solutions to ramp up its lithium-ion battery recycling business in North America. According to EcoPro on Thursday, the two sides recently signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate to deal with Washington’s Inflation Reduction Act and expand the global supply chain of electric vehicle batteries. In the EV battery sector, the IRA incentivizes domestic manufacturing and require

IndustryFeb. 1, 2024

Mirae Asset to shift paradigm with new rate-tracking ETF

Mirae Asset Global Investments is to launch a new exchange-traded fund product investing in interest rates, seeing lucrative opportunities amid the relatively high-interest rates, the asset manager said Thursday. The asset manager, with total assets under management surpassing 300 trillion won ($225 billion) as of the end of 2023, is to add a new product to its Tiger ETF lineup to secure the lead in the local ETF market. Named the Mirae Asset Tiger Synth CD 1Y Rate Active ETF, the financial prod

MarketFeb. 1, 2024

Posco’s six chairman candidates unveiled

Posco Holdings has confirmed a total of six finalists to compete for the Korean steel giant's top post, as the current Chairman Choi Jeong-woo’s official term is due to expire in March. On Wednesday, the company's CEO Recommendation Committee unveiled the six chairman candidates, including three Posco veterans and three outsiders, after their eight meetings over the past few weeks. The committee has been reviewing the finalists since Dec. 21 after Chairman Choi chose not to seek

IndustryFeb. 1, 2024

[Photo News] Digital transformation in finance

Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong (center) attends a discussion session with employees to talk about the group’s efforts for digital transformation at the headquarters in central Seoul on Wednesday. Top executives and working-level engineers specialized in artificial intelligence and data analysis joined the event to share the latest digital trends in the financial market and Shinhan’s future strategy. “Each of you should become a ‘business designer’ to

EconomyFeb. 1, 2024