Construction contracts rise 10.7% in value in Q1

The value of construction contracts in South Korea climbed more than 10 percent in the first quarter of the year on more public and private projects, government data showed Friday. The value of civilian and public work contracts in Asia's fourth-largest economy came to 73.1 trillion won ($56 billion) in the January-March period, up 10.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Private deals swelled 14.1 percent on-year to 52

IndustryJune 24, 2022

Won sinks to 13-year low, Kospi slips after rate hike

The South Korean won weakened to more than 1,300 per US dollar for the first time in 13 years in onshore spot trading Thursday, breaching the key psychological threshold as recession worries boosted the dollar’s safe-haven appeal. The won lost 0.35 percent from the previous session to 1,301.8 per dollar, the lowest close since July 14, 2009, when the won dropped to 1,303 during onshore trading hours. The 1,300 mark, last seen in the wake of the 2007-2008 financial crisis, is con

MarketJune 23, 2022

[Test Drive] Lexus’ first plug-in hybrid offers smooth, economical yet luxury driving

JEJU CITY -- The new and partially electrified SUV lineup Lexus NX could be an alternative for big car-loving Korean customers looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle that does not compromise on luxury. NX 450h+, the first plug-in hybrid vehicle from the luxury auto brand, can drive up to an average of 23.8 kilometers on a liter of gas. Its fuel efficiency is close to that of the all-new Kia Niro, also a hybrid sport utility vehicle that can drive up to an average of 23.7 kilometers on a liter of

MobilityJune 23, 2022

Hyundai Mobis system able to check multiple vital signs in cars

Hyundai Mobis said Thursday that it has developed the world’s first biotech mobility system that analyzes the driver’s health status by checking multiple vital signs. The firm plans to further develop this tech into a mobility system that can monitor for drunk driving. The latest tech, called Smart Cabin Controller, consists of four sensors, including a 3D camera and electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, according to Hyundai Mobis. By capturing vital signs such as heart rate, brainwaves

IndustryJune 23, 2022

Seoul stocks again gripped by panic selling on recession fears; Korean won at 13-year low

South Korean stocks fell again Thursday, as investors avoided risky assets amid monetary tightening and recession fears. The local currency fell to the lowest point against the US dollar in almost 13 years. After choppy trading, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 28.49 points, or 1.22 percent, to close at 2,314.32, after falling to as low as 2,306.48. Trading volume was moderate at 729.97 million shares worth 9.98 trillion won ($7.67 billion), with decliners far outpacing gain

MarketJune 23, 2022

Researchers uncover new cause behind Alzheimer’s memory loss

South Korean researchers have found a new cause behind the memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease, the Institute for Basic Science said Thursday. The researchers at IBS and Korea Institute for Science and Technology have pinpointed a process, the urea cycle, that takes place in astrocytes, which are star-shaped cells that take up over half of all brain cells. An activated urea cycle aggravated the memory loss in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, according to their study publishe

TechnologyJune 23, 2022

[Photo News] End of food delivery boom?

Customers look around at premade side dishes for Korean hansik at a side dish (banchan) store in Seoul on Thursday. After years of a food delivery boom here, an increasing number of Koreans are turning to cheaper options like eating at home amid inflation woes.

IndustryJune 23, 2022

Dermocosmetics market fast growing in Korea: report

With fast-growing interest in high quality skin and hair care products in South Korea, the dermocosmetics market -- cosmetics that are just as effective as dermatological care -- has expanded in recent years to surpass the 4 trillion won ($3.1 billion) mark, a report showed Thursday. According to Samjong KPMG, a Seoul-based consulting firm, the country’s dermocosmetics market size has increased by 17.6 percent to 4.5 trillion won in 2020, compared to five years ago. The report said new

ConsumerJune 23, 2022

Daewoo E&C gears up for business expansion in Vietnam

South Korean builder Daewoo E&C is gearing up for further expansion in Vietnam with a comprehensive plan to invest in infrastructure building, logistics and energy. To support the builder’s Vietnam project, Jungheung Group Vice Chairman Jung Won-ju, along with a business delegation, on Wednesday met with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh to discuss the progress of its Starlake City project in Hanoi and other investments, according to Daewoo officials. “We are planning to in

IndustryJune 23, 2022

S. Korea braces for ‘perfect storm’ in the financial market

South Korea’s financial authorities on Thursday warned of a “perfect storm” approaching the nation’s economy, while pledging to pump liquidity into financial institutions to cushion them from growing risks, if needed. The concerns come as the US Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes, a strong dollar trend, high inflation and ongoing global supply chain bottlenecks have been rattling the Korean market. “Some experts compare the current economic state to t

EconomyJune 23, 2022

TGS hires Go master Lee Se-dol for TV campaign

South Korean retail and finance company, TGS Holdings, said Thursday that it has produced a TV commercial featuring former professional Go master Lee Se-dol last month. Lee Se-dol, who competed with Google’s artificial intelligence program AlphaGo in 2016 during the peak of his career, signed a contract to become the face of TGS in Novermber 2021. The newly produced commercial introduces TGS’s new smart currency called C-Cash. It is the world‘s first hybrid smart currency t

MarketJune 23, 2022

Posco hosts companywide community service event

Posco said Thursday that it kicked off its annual community service event, “Global Model Citizen Week,” on June 14. The 12-day event will have 63,000 Posco employees worldwide participating. It consists of over 1,000 volunteer projects that give back to society, such as helping disadvantaged groups, preserving the ecosystem and supporting welfare centers. As part of the event, Posco Vice Chairman Kim Hak-dong planted red roses and honey tree saplings with other Posco employees at

IndustryJune 23, 2022

BOK official stresses efforts to tame inflation expectations amid rising prices

A senior central bank official on Thursday underscored the importance of preventing inflation expectations from rising as the country is grappling with rising prices amid high energy and commodity costs. Bank of Korea (BOK) Deputy Gov. Lee Seung-heon voiced concerns that inflation pressure remains high for the time being, citing such factors as the ongoing war in Ukraine that has exacerbated supply-chain disruptions. "Mandated to maintain price stability, the BOK should preemptively manage

EconomyJune 23, 2022

HJ Shipbuilding wins $240 m order for 2 container ships

BUSAN -- South Korean shipyard HJ Shipbuilding & Construction Co. said Thursday it has clinched a $240 million order to build two eco-friendly container carriers for a European shipper. HJ Shipbuilding & Construction said it will build the 7,700 twenty-foot equivalent unit container vessels with liquefied natural gas duel-fuel engines at its shipyard in this southeastern port and deliver them to the undisclosed shipping company from late 2024. HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, formerly

IndustryJune 23, 2022

AFoCO, Woori Financial to cooperate for forest management

The Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) said it has signed an agreement with Woori Financial Group to cooperate for climate control through sustainable forest management and environmental, social and corporate governance. The AFoCO is an international organization established upon Seoul’s proposal at the 2009 special summit between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Through a public-private platform known as the AFoCO green partnership, AFoCO offers bus

MarketJune 23, 2022

S. Korea successfully deploys precision navigation satellite to boost GPS accuracy, flight safety

South Korea successfully launched a precision aviation satellite Thursday to improve the accuracy and reliability of global positioning system (GPS) signals and better ensure flight safety, the government said. The satellite for the Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS), the country's first precision GPS location augmentation system, lifted off from Guiana Space Center in Kourou in French Guiana, at 6:50 a.m. Thursday (Seoul time), according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and

IndustryJune 23, 2022

Won falls to 13-yr low against dollar in intraday trading

South Korea's currency on Thursday fell below the 1,300-won level against the US dollar for the first time in about 13 years amid growing concerns about global monetary tightening and an economic recession. The Korean currency was trading at 1,300.70 won against the dollar as of 9:52 a.m., down 3.40 won from the previous session. It marked the first time that the won has fallen through the 1,300-won level since July 14, 2009, in intraday trading. Market volatility has recently heightened ov

MarketJune 23, 2022

Seoul shares open higher; Korean won hits 13-yr low

Seoul shares opened slightly higher Thursday after another market rout the previous session amid growing woes over an economic slowdown. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 4.67 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,327.68 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, Wall Street closed lower after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged the central bank's aggressive rate hikes could cause an economic downturn. The US central bank raised its policy rate by 0.75 percentage po

MarketJune 23, 2022

Producer prices grow for 5th month in May on high energy, service costs

South Korea's producer prices grew for the fifth straight month in May, driven by rising prices of coal, oil and services, central bank data showed Thursday. The producer price index, a major barometer of consumer inflation, stood at 119.24 in May, up 0.5 percent from a revised 118.59 a month earlier, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). From a year earlier, the index jumped 9.7 percent, the 18th straight month of on-year rises. Energy and raw material prices rema

MarketJune 23, 2022

GM Korea adds pickup truck brand, vows to break even this year

GM Korea launched its premium SUV and pickup truck brand GMC in South Korea on Wednesday, renewing its marketing strategy to target diversified customer demands. Calling it a multi-brand strategy, the new plan is about having many of its global brands, including Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC, provide a wide range of choices for domestic customers who enjoy diverse lifestyles. The company, which has undergone a massive restructuring process since 2018, also hopes to reach a break-even point this

MobilityJune 22, 2022