Gilles Vidal guides Renault's balanced design shift

Renault Group has been reshaping its brand with a strong emphasis on the balanced design of analog and digital elements, led by the group’s Design Vice President Gilles Vidal, a renowned figure in automotive design. Renault's design transformation began in 2021 with the introduction of its "Nouvelle Vague" brand strategy, meaning “new wave” in French, aiming to craft the next generation of stylish, modern vehicles for Renault. This effort bore fruit when the Rena

MobilityMay 27, 2024

[Herald Interview] Autocrypt eyes global leadership in automotive security

LEIPZIG, Germany -- The automotive security sector has never been more important with the growth of connected cars and the advancement of software for vehicles. Autocrypt, a South Korean startup, has been making strides and is looking to become a leading provider of automotive cybersecurity and mobility solutions. “Cars are now equipped with loads of software so now they are exposed to hacking like computers (facing risks) in the backend server and various (types of) IT infrastructure,&rdq

TechnologyMay 27, 2024

KB Financial to announce ‘value-up’ plans in Q4

KB Financial Group is to release a plan to uplift its corporate value in the fourth quarter as part of the government's "corporate value-up” directive, the financial giant said Monday in a regulatory filing. Its board members and executives held a meeting Friday, discussing how to boost its corporate value through mid- to long-term asset management, asset growth strategies and shareholder return policies, according to the announcement. The boost plan will include monitoring of th

MarketMay 27, 2024

Innocean invites global execs to Seoul for cultural exchange, synergy

Innocean, the global marketing and communications arm of Hyundai Motor Group, said Monday that it invited a group of foreign executives working at its global operations to attend the Discovery 2024 leadership program held in Seoul last week. A total of 26 executives from 18 countries, including the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, Australia, India and Thailand, participated in the five-day program that allows them to experience Korean corporate culture and share keen insights. After five years of pa

IndustryMay 27, 2024

[Photo News] MoodUp in Paris

LG Electronics' MoodUp refrigerators are displayed on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday. For the promotional event, the company transformed 216 meters of the city's famous avenue into an experience zone, allowing over 4,000 visitors to try the new refrigerators with LED doors that change colors. LG plans to launch the MoodUp refrigerators in 15 countries this year. (LG Electronics)

CompaniesMay 27, 2024

S. Korea's exports set to maintain growth in May: trade minister

South Korea is expected to maintain growth in exports for May amid robust performances in chips and automobiles, the trade minister said Monday. The remark came after exports expanded 13.8 percent year-on-year to $56.2 billion in April, the seventh consecutive monthly gain, driven by strong demand for semiconductors and vehicles. "Exports have been expanding across most regions, including the United States, China and the ASEAN bloc," Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo said during a governmen

EconomyMay 27, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on bargain hunting

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday as investors hunted for bargains after four consecutive sessions of losses through Friday amid dashed hopes for an early rate cut by the Federal Reserve. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 11.09 points, or 0.41 percent, to 2,698.69 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Chemical shares opened higher, with cosmetics giant AmorePacific rising 0.49 percent and SK Innovation adding 0.88 percent. Financial firms gained ground as well, with KB F

MarketMay 27, 2024

[Photo News] Samsung chief meets Chinese premier

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Shilla Seoul on Sunday. During their meeting, Lee expressed gratitude for the Chinese government's support for Samsung affiliates during the COVID-19 crisis, including exempting them from the lockdown measures. Saying the cooperation between Samsung and China represented the Korea-China relationship in microcosm, Li encouraged the tech giant to further investment in his country. Li, traveling to Seoul to attend the Ko

IndustryMay 26, 2024

[Africa Forum] Korea ready to support Africa’s FDI push

African ambassadors and Korean trade experts explored the economic potential of bilateral ties between Korea and Africa during the Africa Day Business Forum, co-hosted by The Korea Herald and the African Group of Ambassadors in Seoul on Thursday. In a panel discussion mediated by Tunisian Ambassador to Korea Kais Darragi, they discussed ways to attract more investment into African countries. Hong Soon-young, vice president of the Export-Import Bank of Korea, urged African nations to go all-out t

IndustryMay 26, 2024

[Africa Forum] Korea, Africa could be next key players in supply chain: K-SURE chief

The head of Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, the state-run export credit agency, vowed to support Korea and African nations in becoming key pillars of the future supply chain. “Africa is home to essential mineral resources critical to future high-tech industries such as semiconductors and secondary batteries,” Jang Young-jin, chairperson and president of K-SURE in his keynote speech during the Africa Day Business Forum co-hosted by The Korea Herald and the African Group of Ambassad

EconomyMay 26, 2024

[Africa Forum] Trade minister calls for elevating economic ties with Africa

The South Korean trade minister stressed the need to diversify economic relations with African nations into high-tech and service sectors by taking the upcoming Korea-Africa Summit as a chance to pave the way for a new era. “Now is the time for Korea to actively engage in trade and investment with Africa,” Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo said Thursday while delivering his celebratory speech at the Africa Day Business Forum co-hosted by The Korea Herald and the African Group of Ambassado

EconomyMay 26, 2024

Banks to resume compensation talks for ELS losses

Major local banks are expediting compensation procedures for losses tied to Hong Kong-linked derivative products, with some poised to distribute payments this week. KB Kookmin Bank, the largest seller of equity-linked securities tracking the troubled Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, will officially begin negotiations for voluntary compensation with clients starting Monday, an official from the bank said Sunday. The bank plans to address accounts based on their order of maturation, starting wit

IndustryMay 26, 2024

LG Energy Solution hosts recruitment event in New York

LG Energy Solution said Sunday that its top executives traveled to the US last week to host a global talent recruitment event as part of the battery maker’s ongoing efforts to lure tech talents around the world. The Battery Tech Conference (BTC) is the company’s unique global recruitment event aimed at recruiting quality workers in research and development and promoting its vision for growth. Following last year’s event held in San Francisco, the event headed to New York this y

CompaniesMay 26, 2024

KRX CEO pledges to turn Korea discount into premium

The chief of Korea Exchange, the country's sole bourse operator, vowed Friday to boost the market valuation of companies listed on the local stock market with a seamless backup of the country’s “corporate value-up” directive. During a press conference commemorating his first 100 days in office, Korea Exchange CEO Jeong Eun-bo said the country's stock market is in dire need of tackling its perennial discount to turn it into a premium. “The Korea discount exists.

MarketMay 26, 2024

[KH Explains] US crackdown on Chinese connected vehicles unsettles Korea

The South Korean government and automotive industry are on high alert as the US prepares to enforce regulations on Chinese-made connected vehicles this fall, citing national security concerns about potential data leaks involving American consumers. While the focus seems to be on complete vehicles, the regulations could indirectly affect Chinese-made components if they are deemed integral to the data collection and transmission processes that raise security concerns. The broad scope of the term &

MobilityMay 26, 2024

[From the Scene] Porsche’s Leipzig plant shines with people-first orientation

LEIPZIG, Germany -- Bright rays of sunlight shone through the roof Thursday morning at the assembly building of Porsche’s manufacturing plant in Leipzig, Germany, enlivening the atmosphere of the busy production site. The German sports carmaker’s Leipzig plant shattered the traditional image of auto factories being rather grey and stifling as The Korea Herald visited the site as a part of this year’s International Transport Forum held at the Congress Center Leipzig from Wednesd

MobilityMay 26, 2024

Hyundai Steel sharpens edge to ride out tough market

As the construction industry grapples with years of high interest rates, rising raw material costs and increased risks associated with real estate project financing, Korea's second-largest steelmaker, Hyundai Steel, has been diversifying their businesses to enhance profitability and discover new demand. As part of this initiative, the steelmaker has signed a joint research and development agreement for steel structure refractory methods in partnership with Hyundai Engineering, KCC and the K

IndustryMay 26, 2024

Genesis BBQ opens new US stores in Omaha

Genesis BBQ Group, Korea's largest chicken franchise, announced Thursday the opening of a new store in Omaha, in eastern Nebraska. With the launch of the Omaha branch, BBQ has successfully expanded its presence to 28 out of the 50 states in the US. Omaha is the largest city in the state and is also home to Berkshire Hathaway, the investment holding company of renowned investor Warren Buffett. BBQ's Omaha branch, located just ten minutes from Berkshire Hathaway's headquarters, is e

CompaniesMay 26, 2024

S. Korea's innovative Traffic Culture Index spotlighted at OECD transport ministers' gathering

In terms of traffic safety, South Korea has seen a remarkable improvement over the past decade across various metrics. According to the International Transport Forum, the country has seen a 49.2 percent decrease in road deaths between 2012 and 2022. The number of passenger car occupants killed in road crashes dropped by 63.8 percent, while that of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents fell by 54 percent. Industry experts attribute such improvements to an overall enhancement of public awarene

MobilityMay 24, 2024

Ottogi heir joins family business in US

South Korean food company Ottogi family's third-generation member Ham Yon-ji, 32, has recently joined Ottogi, after appearing in public for years as a musical actor and a YouTuber, according to industry sources Friday. As the daughter of Ottogi Chairman Ham Young-joon, Ham officially joined Ottogi America, a US subsidiary of Ottogi, this month and is reportedly working in the marketing division following an internship at the company. Ham graduated from New York University's Tisch Scho

IndustryMay 24, 2024