S. Korea's chicken exports hit new high in 2020

South Korea's chicken exports touched a new high in 2020 amid growing worldwide demand for ready-to-eat products and the popularity of Korean pop culture, a report showed Thursday. Overseas shipments of processed chicken came to $21 million last year, up 59.5 percent from a year earlier, according to the report from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). KITA said the jump came as exports of packaged traditional chicken soup, or "samgyetang," and chicken breast spiked due

EconomyFeb. 18, 2021

Regulator calls for creditors' support to keep SsangYong Motor afloat

South Korea's top financial regulator said Wednesday it would be better to keep SsangYong Motor Co. afloat as its bankruptcy would result in massive job losses. Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Eun Sung-soo made the remark during a meeting of the National Assembly National Policy Committee, answering a lawmaker's question about the fate of the financially troubled carmaker. "It will be a demanding task to financially support SsangYong Motor's subcontractors. It appears to be

BusinessFeb. 17, 2021

Korean investors shudder as EHang plunges on short seller report

South Korean investors holding $550.3 million worth of shares in Chinese drone maker EHang Holdings appear to be left in disarray as the Nasdaq-listed firm’s stock price plummeted on a short seller report on Tuesday. EHang Holdings was the ninth-largest stock listed on the United States bourse to be in custody of the Korea Securities Depository until last week, according to the latest data by the KSD. It was also the seventh-most active US-listed stock this year, as Korean individuals a

MarketFeb. 17, 2021

[Photo News] Royal Salute Contemporary Art Digital Festival

Scotch whisky brand Royal Salute is holding a pop-up art exhibition at Seoul Auction‘s Gangnam Branch that continues until Tuesday. The show features contemporary artwork inspired by the whisky brand from five artists including Kim Sun-woo, qwaya, 275c and Adrian Seo and Sung Nak-jin. Alongside the artwork, a range of Royal Salute whiskys, including this year’s latest lineup and limited editions, are also on display -- including the 29-year-old Pedro Ximénez edition. Entry

ConsumerFeb. 17, 2021

Selective relief handouts more effective than universal program: OECD chief

The head of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development said Wednesday that targeted support programs for low-income earners and small businesses will be more effective tool for South Korea to counter the economic fallouts from the coronavirus pandemic than a universal provision of relief funds. “Targeted support measures on those who need it most will have greater multiplier effects, imparting a greater boost to private consumption compared to across-the-board support to

EconomyFeb. 17, 2021

Housing prices cooling after supply measures: minister

The nation’s fiscal chief said Wednesday that housing prices had cooled down since the government announced new supply measures earlier this month. At a meeting with related ministers, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the government would speed up its housing supply plan, unveiled earlier this month, by selecting potential locations for new apartments by June and by strengthening monitoring to prevent illegal housing transactions and tax evasion. “To prevent confusion in the ma

EconomyFeb. 17, 2021

Export sector to get W167t trade finance boost

The South Korean government will roll out massive support programs for exporters this year, aiming to return the country’s export volume to pre-pandemic levels, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Wednesday. Exports, the main locomotive of Asia’s fourth largest economy, are projected to have fallen below $1 trillion for the first time in four years due to economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the annual plan from the Ministry of Trade, Industry an

IndustryFeb. 17, 2021

S. Korean sovereign wealth fund still has coal exposure, despite cut

South Korea’s sovereign wealth fund, managing $183.1 billion in assets, has cut its coal stock exposure in the United States, but its investment in coal-related US listed shares still stands larger compared with other sovereign wealth funds in the world. 　 The findings indicated that Korea Investment Corp. has room for more aggressive action to fight greenhouse gas threats posed by coal, and to perform its fiduciary duty to take environmental risks into account. According to its regulat

MarketFeb. 17, 2021

Naver plans its largest yet bond issue

Naver plans to raise as much as 700 billion won through bond sales to secure funds required to set up a new data center in South Korea and invest in foreign platform startups. The South Korean internet giant disclosed the plan, which would be the largest in its history, in a regulatory filing with the Financial Services Commission on Tuesday. The target amount is set initially at 400 billion won, with a possibility of rising to 700 billion won, it said. The bond issue will be Naver’s

TechnologyFeb. 17, 2021

Celltrion begins distribution of COVID-19 therapy in Korea

Celltrion began nationwide distribution of its monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 on Wednesday. Celltrion’s regdanvimab is Korea’s first emergency-approved COVID-19 treatment. All 156 state-designated COVID-19 medical institutes are eligible for free distribution of regdanvimab, Celltrion said, upon individual submission of supply request. Patients who can receive the shot are confirmed COVID-19 patients who have yet to pass seven days from the first onset of symptoms, who

IndustryFeb. 17, 2021

Samsung’s imprisoned chief barred from working at Samsung

Employment restrictions have been imposed on the jailed Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong following his conviction for bribery. Observers said, however, that since Lee is not employed by Samsung and holds only a symbolic title, the ban wouldn’t change the conglomerate’s top leadership. According to local reports Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice notified the Samsung Group’s de facto chief of the employment ban against him and the procedures required to gain appr

TechnologyFeb. 17, 2021

[News Focus] SK Innovation’s battery split-off plan called into question

In its self-proclaimed rivalry with LG Energy Solution, SK Innovation has been eyeing a split-off of its battery business with a potential initial public offering, but a major setback in the US could pose a challenge to the plan. Speaking at a battery expo in Seoul last October, Jee Dong-seob, the Seoul-based company’s battery division chief, said that he was considering the separation from a “financial perspective.” 　 As a latecomer in the white-hot electric vehicle batte

IndustryFeb. 17, 2021

[Advertorial] LG Energy Solution No.1 battery patent holder through extensive R&D

LG Energy Solution said it had invested 2 trillion won ($1.8 billion) in battery research and development over the past six years, allocating 5-6 percent of its revenue every year. According to the South Korean battery giant, it held the highest number of battery patents as of late last year -- 23,610, which is at least 10 times as many as of a leading Chinese battery firm that joined the global race recently. LG Energy Solution’s battery research has continued for about three decade

IndustryFeb. 17, 2021

Neowiz acquires Sticky Hands, doubles down on casual game biz

South Korean online game publisher Neowiz said Wednesday it has acquired a 60 percent stake in a local mobile game company Sticky Hands. “The acquisition will give Neowiz the business management rights over Sticky Hands and allow the company to boost its competitiveness in the global casual game market,” a Neowiz official said. Launched in 2016, Sticky Hands specializes in solitaire, a tabletop game which one can play by oneself, usually with cards. Its solitaire game series rec

IndustryFeb. 17, 2021

100,000 German households subscribe to Hanwha Q Cells’ green electricity service

Hanwha Q Cells said Wednesday that more than 100,000 households in Germany have joined its Q.Energy service so far, which allows customers to buy and consume electricity generated 100 percent by renewables. According to the solar power unit of Hanwha Solutions, the Q.Energy service sources the electricity from renewable-energy power plants in Germany and Austria and delivers the energy to the German households. “The Q.Energy service, which garnered more than 100,000 household subscri

IndustryFeb. 17, 2021

Seoul stocks snap 3-day winning streak on foreign and institutional selling

The South Korean stock market ended its three-day winning streak Wednesday amid strong foreign and institutional selling that stemmed from concerns over a US yield hike. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 29.52 points, or 0.93 percent, to close at 3,133.73 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 1.8 billion shares worth some 16.6 trillion won ($15 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 422 to 417. Foreigners sold a

MarketFeb. 17, 2021

Operation of new budget airlines delayed amid prolonged pandemic

Newly-launched South Korean low-cost carriers Air Premia and Aero K have been given an extended time frame by the Transport Ministry to begin the operation of their service amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the two airlines can fly their first flights by the end of this year in order to retain their operating license, pushing back the date from early March to December. The move, approved by an advisory co

MobilityFeb. 17, 2021

W2.4tr spent on Coupang and Coupang Eats in January: report

Shoppers in South Korea spent some 2.4 trillion won on fast-growing e-commerce giant Coupang and its food delivery app Coupang Eats last month, according to data released from industry tracker WiseApp on Wednesday. The latest data showed some 20 million people spent a total of 2.4 trillion won during the month of January, with each spending a total of 144,000 won per month on average on both apps. The data is based on credit card and debit card transactions and bank transfers of South Koreans

ConsumerFeb. 17, 2021

S. Korea’s money supply sees record gain

South Korea’s money supply gained a record amount of currency and other liquid instruments on-year in December, central bank data showed Wednesday, triggering alarm bells about inflation. The country’s M2 amounted to 3,191.3 trillion won ($2.9 trillion) as of end-December, gaining 260.9 trillion won on-year, showed preliminary data compiled by the Bank of Korea. In terms of percentiles, the M2 increased 9.8 percent on-year and 0.4 percent on-month. The M2 is a calculation of the mo

EconomyFeb. 17, 2021

Insurance firms’ performance in alternative investment under par

Although the insurance industry fared well overall last year in terms of profit amid the coronavirus pandemic, its performance in the foreign alternative investment segment was disappointing, according to data announced Wednesday. Mirae Asset Life Insurance saw its operating profit drop 17.7 percent on-year to 115.8 billion won ($104.56 million) in 2020, although it secured a market share of more than 50 percent in the variable insurance segment. Its profit fell as the value of its alternati

MarketFeb. 17, 2021