CJ to expand UK presence with Korean seaweed

Bibigo's Seaweed Snack will hit supermarket shelves in the United Kingdom, Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang said Thursday. The product will be sold at popular UK grocery market chains Asda and Ocado, as well as online. “Previously, the product was available in local ethnic sales channels (in the UK), but (by distributing it on major retail channels), more consumers will be able to buy and enjoy Bibigo’s Seaweed Snack,” said an official from CJ CheilJedang, which owns the B

IndustrySept. 14, 2023

LG CNS joins forces with Korea University to foster AI talent

Information technology service provider LG CNS said Thursday it has inked a deal with Korea University to nurture future talent in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence and data science. Under the new industrial-academic partnership, a department temporarily named “AI and Data Science” will be set up at Korea University’s graduate school, and students will receive a job offer at the company upon graduation. Starting next year, the department plans to admit over 20 gra

IndustrySept. 14, 2023

Posco to supply EV parts to Hyundai Motor

Posco International announced Wednesday it has signed with Hyundai Motor Group to supply an additional 3.53 million units of motor core, ramping up its presence in the global mobility industry. Under the contract starting from 2026, Posco International will provide 2.72 million units of motor core to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the carmaker’s first EV plant in the US, for eight years. The other 810,000 units will be supplied to Hyundai’s EV production at home for 10 years.

IndustrySept. 14, 2023

Fledgling upcycling startup dreams big to save sea

The coast of Ulsan, a major industrial city in the southeast, was once a site where pods of gray whales were easily spotted, a scene that has become rare as marine pollution and whale hunts took a toll. Among the factors that made the whales disappear, the marine waste issue was what inspired Byun Eui-hyun, CEO of Usisan, to start a business to help clean up the ocean and save the endangered largest animal on Earth from dying from ingesting plastics. "We are the first plastic upcycling comp

IndustrySept. 14, 2023

Samsung's giant billboards become operational at Vatican

Samsung Electronics Co. has finished installing four LED billboards at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, where the Pope gives his weekly address. Samsung's billboards became operational in time for the Papal Audience, the general audience session held every Wednesday morning for Catholic followers and tourists visiting the revered sanctuary. A Samsung delegation visited the Vatican to meet Pope Francis on Wednesday morning to mark the installation, before meeting Cardinal Lazarus You

IndustrySept. 14, 2023

SMEs agency aids local firms' entry into overseas markets

The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency is supporting local firms to enter overseas markets, with 30 medium-sized companies receiving overseas media promotion and marketing services in the most recent campaign carried out in August. The campaign was conducted in partnership with a global communication company with an extensive PR network worldwide. English-language releases on the selected 30 companies were distributed to North American online media outlets, including newspapers, broadcasters, teleco

IndustrySept. 14, 2023

Seoul shares start higher on eased rate hike woes

South Korean stocks started higher Thursday as concerns over a further rate hike by the Federal Reserve were eased despite higher-than-expected US inflation data. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 12.99 points, or 0.51 percent, to 2,549.69 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US consumer price index rose 3.7 percent in August from a year earlier due to high-flying oil prices. But analyst said the US central bank is expected to keep its key rate steady at the upcoming rate-s

MarketSept. 14, 2023

Industry minister nominee vows swift restoration of nuclear energy ecosystem

South Korean Industry Minister nominee Bang Moon-kyu vowed Wednesday to expedite efforts to restore and further develop the ecosystem of the country's nuclear power generation industry to better achieve net-zero goals and energy security. During a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Bang also pledged efforts to boost exports amid unfavorable global business circumstances and to strengthen cooperation with the United States, Japan and other partners on stable supply chains in advanced indu

PoliticsSept. 13, 2023

[Contribution] The beginning of 50 more years with Indonesia

By Woo Tae-hee Indonesia, a large economy with a population of 270 million people and an average age of 29, has impressively sustained an annual growth rate exceeding 5 percent in recent years. In 2018, Standard Chartered projected that Indonesia would become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030. Moreover, Indonesia is a nation endowed with abundant natural resources. Notably, the recent surge in the electric vehicle market has generated a huge demand for nickel, of which Indon

EconomySept. 13, 2023

SPC’s Paris Baguette secures bigger footing in North America

South Korean bakery giant SPC Group said Wednesday that it is opening nine new Paris Baguette stores in North America this month, seeking a bigger footing in one of the key strategic markets. With the planned nine new openings, SPC will be operating a total of 150 stores in the region. In Canada, SPC will open a Paris Baguette store at the Southpark on Whyte, a residential complex located in Alberta on Friday, while another outlet is set to open in Newmarket, Ontario, next week. In the US, seven

ConsumerSept. 13, 2023

S. Korea, Africa bolster ties for growth

Economy-related public officials from South Korea and Africa gathered in Busan to attend the 7th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Ministerial Conference, discussing ways to bolster the economic cooperation between two entities and explore new business opportunities. The event, organized by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Export-Import Bank of Korea, kicked off on Tuesday in the southern port city of Busan. The four-

EconomySept. 13, 2023

$6b financial package unveiled to empower African nations

South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho on Wednesday announced a financial package of approximately $6 billion in support for Africa to be provided by 2025, at the 2023 Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) conference held in Busan. This biennial conference, spanning four days from Tuesday to Friday, is jointly hosted by the African Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) and Ministry of Economy and Finance. The new fin

IndustrySept. 13, 2023

[Contribution] Vintage audio is not a prop

By Winter Choi Visit the trendiest places and you’ll be bound to see them: turntables flanked by 33’s, album art on the wall, maybe even a ghettoblaster if you’re lucky. Retro audio formats have enjoyed a comeback in recent years. And with people spending more time at home during the pandemic – and spending more money on goods than experiences – sales are higher than ever. But are people buying physical formats for the music, or only to display them on a shelf? Classic audio

TechnologySept. 13, 2023

Hyundai Motor, labor union reach tentative agreement on wage increase

Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday it has signed a tentative wage agreement with the company’s labor union, extending their strike-free negotiation streak to five consecutive years. The management and labor union members including Lee Dong-suk, president of the domestic production department at Hyundai Motor Group, and the company’s union representative Ahn Hyun-ho carried out the 21st round of negotiations at the Ulsan plant on Tuesday. The key agendas on the table were the wage hik

MobilitySept. 13, 2023

[Photo News] McLaren 750S unveiled

Head of Asia Pacific at McLaren Charlotte Dickson (second from left), McLaren Seoul CEO Lee Tae-heung and other executives pose for a photo next to the McLaren 750S to celebrate its launch in Korea, in Seocho-gu, Seoul on Wednesday. The spider model features a more advanced weight-saving option, powertrain performance and dynamic driving experience than the renowned 720S coupe, according to the company. “With the new 750S, the British luxury sports car brand plans to expand its footing in

MobilitySept. 13, 2023

[Photo News] Sold out

Samsung Electronics said Wednesday that more than 110,000 people applied to order the Galaxy Z Fold5 Thom Browne Edition during the seven-hour lottery event held via its website on Tuesday. The limited-edition bundle, priced at 4.29 million won ($3,230), includes a phone, a smartwatch and accessories featuring the American fashion house’s color scheme. (Samsung Electronics)

IndustrySept. 13, 2023

Incheon Airport plans W1.2tr massive renovation

Incheon Airport's Terminal 1 will undergo a 1.2 trillion won ($903 million) refurbishment starting from next year, the airport's operator said Wednesday. Separately, it added that it would seek to attract Chinese travelers, whose travel demand is expected to surge amid China’s recent lifting of a group travel ban to South Korea. “After conducting an open survey of Terminal 1’s facilities’ operational status, Incheon Airport will conduct a comprehensive repair of

MobilitySept. 13, 2023

BBQ Chicken catches US food magazine’s eye

Korean fried chicken franchise Genesis BBQ on Wednesday said BBQ Chicken was introduced as the leader of the K-chicken craze in the United States in a recent report by Quick Service Restaurant magazine. Last month, QSR, a US publication that covers the fast food restaurant industry, released an article that highlights BBQ Chicken’s distinctive strategies behind its sharp growth in the country. The “mouth-watering” crispy Korean fried chicken BBQ is rapidly expanding its presenc

IndustrySept. 13, 2023

Innocean named 2nd best advertising agency in Indonesia

Innocean Worldwide said Wednesday that its Indonesian unit was named the second-best agency of the year by Campaign Brief Asia, a global online portal specialized in marketing and advertising. Campaign Brief Asia assessed firms in Indonesia based on their history of receiving creative awards and an internal evaluation, conferring second place to Innocean Indonesia in the Agency of the Year 2023 ranking on Sept. 7. Despite being a relative newcomer to the Indonesian market, the firm outpaced reno

IndustrySept. 13, 2023

Import prices up by most in 17 months in August on higher oil prices

South Korea's import prices spiked by the most in 17 months last month due to the higher price of crude oil, central bank data showed Wednesday. The import price index rose 4.4 percent in August from a month earlier, following a 0.2 percent fall the previous month, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea. The rise marks the sharpest since March last year, when the comparable figure was 7.6 percent. From a year earlier, the prices fell 9 percent. Import prices are a major fa

EconomySept. 13, 2023