[Best Brand] Nara Bio facilitates green agriculture with organic farming material ‘Modoossak’

FARMING MATERIALS NARA BIO Nara Bio started business with a slogan “a world safe from pesticides.” To act on its word, the company has developed the organic farming material “Modoossak” which can act as a pesticide but with much less toxicity. Typical pesticides are toxic to humans because they contain sulfur, which is toxic in its nature. To manufacture Modoossak, Nara Bio uses mineral sulfur, a byproduct from petroleum refining. However, to reduce toxicity, the compa

BusinessJune 30, 2020

[Best Brand] Samdo Environment’s plasma-generating tech keeps livestock farm clean

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY SAMDO ENVIRONMENT Samdo Environment is a South Korean company that has developed plasma-generating machines designed to get rid of stenches at livestock farms and the risk of exposing animals to potential viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. The company’s machine utilizes a technology that creates plasma by applying a strong electrical field. This creates ozone that reacts with harmful gases and dissipates in the air. Samdo Envrionment‘s technolog

IndustryJune 30, 2020

FSS finds no proof on alleged hacking attempts of Toss: sources

South Korea’s financial authorities have tentatively concluded that unauthorized payments made on fintech platform Toss were not caused by any security breach, according to sources Tuesday. The Financial Supervisory Services found no proof on alleged hacking attempts, they were quoted by Yonhap News Agency. Adding that illegally obtained personal information may have been used to access Toss and make payments without permission of the account holders. According to the fintech firm, a to

MarketJune 30, 2020

Samsung heir extends attention to equipment business

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Tuesday visited Samsung’s semiconductor equipment subsidiary SEMES, surveying the very foundation of the chip industry amid the country’s ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on Japan. The Samsung heir discussed mid- and long-term strategies of SMES, founded in 1993 as a subsidiary building manufacturing equipment for semiconductor sand displays, and took a tour of the equipment production line located in Cheonan, South Chungcheon

TechnologyJune 30, 2020

[Best Brand] Skin rejuvenating mask tows SNP's overseas business

SKIN CARE SNP (SD BIO TECHNOLOGIES)　 Skin rejuvenating facial masks are the secret behind SNP’s global success, according to the firm. SNP, a skin care beauty brand under the company SD Technologies, touts the Bird’s Nest Aqua Ampoule Mask as its bestselling product. Using nourishing natural ingredients form swiftlet nests, the famed SNP bird’s nest masks are rich in protein and vitamins. The swiftlet’s nest has 200 times the sialic acid than royal jelly, providing ef

ConsumerJune 30, 2020

Hugel expects to launch Letybo in $1b European market by 2021

Hugel expects to begin distributing its wrinkle-smoothening botulinum toxin in the $1 billion European market in mid-2021, the company announced Tuesday. Hugel and its European distribution partner, Croma Pharma, have successfully completed phase 3 clinical trials in January 2019 and completed the submission of New Drug Application with the European Medicines Agency on Monday. As the standard review process takes roughly a year, Hugel expects to receive the approval in mid-2021. “Eur

IndustryJune 30, 2020

Samsung to skip Europe's largest consumer electronics show on virus woes

Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest smartphone and TV vendor, has decided not to participate in Europe's largest consumer electronics fair due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the company said Tuesday. Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) 2020 is scheduled to take place from September 3 to 5 in Berlin, Germany, this year. Samsung has been a regular exhibitor at the tech show since 1991. Meanwhile, Samsung's smaller rival, LG Electronics Inc., has yet to confirm its IFA participa

IndustryJune 30, 2020

Chunlab launches health care services centering on feces analyzation

We know this by many names. Poo, feces, stool, turd, excrement. ... The list can grow endless if imaginative children join in. But scatology is not a matter to be lightly regarded, as “gut feelings” take on a literal meaning in health care. Chunlab, a microbiome research firm, on Tuesday launched three-step services analyzing feces for personalized health care. Chunlab’s Gut Inside survey collects excrement in a bag and analyzes the beneficial and harmful bacteria found in i

IndustryJune 30, 2020

[Best Brand] KNJ BIO combines oriental and western medicine

HEALTH FUNCTIONAL FOOD KNJ BIO KimNamJoo BIO is a functional health food maker whose roots are in both Asian herbs and modernized Western medicine. With “scientification of Oriental herbs” as the company’s motto, KNJ BIO blends natural substances with traditional medicinal ingredients for its health functional products. So far, the company’s main products are A-Zyme, Panax Tong, Chunglacto and Wonsamchil, whose intended effects range from strengthening of the liver,

IndustryJune 30, 2020

SK hynix to support 3 new partners for chip industry’s localization

Amid growing efforts to reinforce the domestic chip materials, parts and equipment industry by relying less on Japanese imports, South Korean chipmaker SK hynix said Tuesday it will support three new partner firms and co-develop products for the next two years. The memory chip manufacturer said it has selected Semics, LKN and Evertech Enterprise as innovative tech firms and has signed agreements at its headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. “Despite the difficulty that we are end

TechnologyJune 30, 2020

Hyundai Motor rolls out larger, smarter Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor on Tuesday rolled out a face-lifted version of its signature midsized sport utility vehicle Santa Fe, which has been built on a new platform. The new Santa Fe is a refreshed version of the fourth-generation model that was launched in 2018.  The model has gone through drastic exterior and interior design changes, including the T-shape Daytime Running Light and a wide radiator grille which has been designed under a concept “Eagle’s eye,” according to the aut

MobilityJune 30, 2020

5G availability in S. Korea at just 15%: report

South Korean smartphone users' connection to 5G network services is far lower than expected, with 5G users only able to use the fastest network 15 percent of the time, a report showed Tuesday. South Korea, the first country around the globe to commercially launch a 5G mobile network in April last year, currently offers 5G services in non-standalone mode, which requires support from the 4G LTE network. Currently, 5G mobile network services are limitedly available in major cities, such as Seoul.

IndustryJune 30, 2020

[Best Brand] Geumsan Black Ginseng Specialty goes global

HEALTH FOOD GEUMSAN BLACK GINSENG SPECIALTY When Geumsan Black Ginseng Specialty started out in 2012, it only had two employees. However, despite its humble beginnings, the headcount now stands at 27, with its revenue spiking to 4.3 billion won ($3.5 million) last year from 150 million won in 2015 thanks to its flagship product “Geumheuk.” Geumheuk Korean black ginseng tonic is manufactured by a unique process that steams and dries Korean ginseng nine times. Its juice is extracte

IndustryJune 30, 2020

Mercedes-Benz Korea launches newest EV

Mercedes-Benz Korea said Tuesday it has launched the company’s latest electric vehicle model the New EQC 400 4MATIC Premium in Korea, following the first model the New EQC 400 4Matic launched in October here.  The latest model has been upgraded with the addition of a head up display function and a ventilation seat, as well as a leather interior. High-end audio brand Burmester’s surround sound system has been also added.  Mercedes-Benz’ unique infotainment system ca

MobilityJune 30, 2020

FSC urges lenders to build capital buffer for prolonged pandemic

South Korea’s top financial regulator Tuesday called on local lenders to build up their capital conservation buffer to absorb losses in preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 crisis. “(The FSC) urges banks to strengthen their loss-absorbing capacity through measures such as increasing allowances for bad debts, while continuing to help lending in the real economy amid the pandemic,” Financial Services Commission Vice Chairman Sohn Byung-doo told a meeting of senior financial p

MarketJune 30, 2020

[Best Brand] Hyundai E&C‘s brand marketing of Hillstate apartment, keeps it stay afloat

CONSTRUCTION HILLSTATE (HYUNDAI E&C) Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the construction company of South Korea‘s top apartment brand Hillstate, steps ahead to take the residential experience and brand image to the next level. Hillstate is an award-winning apartment brand with high public awareness for its design, landscaping and convenience facilities that it offers its residents. The apartment brand is widely known for its smart features designed to ensure a secure, conven

IndustryJune 30, 2020

[Best Brand] Mirae Asset expands global market entry, backed by strong ETFs

ASSET MANAGEMENT MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL INVESTMENTS Under its goal of becoming a global financial company, Mirae Asset Global Investments has been expanding its presence overseas by operating over 1,700 financial products in 36 countries around the world. The asset management unit of Mirae Asset Financial Group is in its 17th year of global operation since it launched its first overseas unit in Hong Kong in 2003 and has ceaselessly made inroads across the globe including financial markets in the

MarketJune 30, 2020

Former Daimler Trucks director to lead Hyundai Motor’s commercial vehicles

Hyundai Motor Group said Tuesday it has tapped Martin Zeilinger, former head director at Daimler Trucks, to lead its research and development of commercial vehicles and hydrogen-powered electric trucks and buses.  Zeilinger will join the South Korean automaker as vice president from Wednesday. He has worked at Daimler Group for over 30 years, specializing in both engineering and advanced engineering of trucks and buses, as well as testing electric powertrains.  “I’m very

MobilityJune 30, 2020

Banks' lending rates up in May

Lending rates on fresh bank loans rose slightly from a month earlier in May amid a sharp increase in corporate lending, while interest rates paid by banks on fresh deposits fell sharply on increased market liquidity, central bank data showed Tuesday. The average interest rate on new bank loans came to 2.82 percent in the month, up 2 basis points from 2.8 percent in April, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The slight increase follows four consecutive months of drop, p

EconomyJune 30, 2020

[Best Brand] Pampers appeals to parents with quality, consumer campaigns

CONSUMER GOODS PAMPERS (P&G) Consumer goods manufacturer Proctor & Gamble’s baby and toddler brand Pampers has been the most preferred diaper brand among mothers in 130 countries for decades. Pampers first hit the market in 1961, after a P&G engineer Victor Mills looked into the practicality of making a better diaper for his newborn grandchild by changing the cloth diaper into a disposable one. Since then, some 3 million diapers are tested at Pampers annually to offer cust

IndustryJune 30, 2020