[Herald Interview] Indonesia, Korea can bridge global AI divide, says vice-minister

Nezar Patria, the Indonesian vice minister of communications and informatics, called for a bilateral partnership with South Korea to bridge the global artificial intelligence gap. The influence of Western values perpetuates an AI divide and leads to the concentration of economic and social benefits in specific regions of the Global North, he said, citing the 2023 World Economic Forum report. The report underscores the potential of AI to boost economic growth while noting the geographical concent

Foreign AffairsMarch 26, 2024

Seoul shares close higher on robust chip stocks

South Korean stocks rose Tuesday to end a two-session losing streak buoyed by strong semiconductor shares. The local currency gained against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 19.52 points, or 0.71 percent, to close at 2,757.09. Trade volume was moderate at 439.5 million shares worth 11.9 trillion won ($8.88 billion), with gainers closely beating decliners 452 to 404. Foreign and institutional net purchases worth a combined 1.15 trillion won led the daily increa

MarketMarch 26, 2024

Banks compete for foreign customers

Recognizing the expansion of the foreign population in Korea, banks are striving to improve access for foreign residents here by providing customized services from the point of arrival to departure. As Foreign nationals are expected to take up a more significant portion of Korea’s demographics amid the nation's continued population decline, local lenders are looking to woo foreign customers through designated communication channels. Korea's top four financial groups -- KB, Shinha

PoliticsMarch 26, 2024

Genesis to expand beyond luxury

Genesis, a premium brand under South Korean auto conglomerate Hyundai Motor Group, unveiled two new concept vehicles -- the brand’s first full-size electric sports utility vehicle Neolun and the high-performance GV60 Magma -- at Genesis House New York on Monday, highlighting the future vision of the luxury automaker. “The Neolun Concept was inspired by Korea’s iconic moon-shaped porcelain jars,” said Luc Donckerwolke, chief creative officer at Genesis. “It’s

MobilityMarch 26, 2024

Kia hires ex-Mercedes, BMW designers

Kia Corp. on Tuesday announced it has appointed two former designers from Mercedes-Benz and BMW to head its design centers in Europe and China, respectively. Oliver Samson, previously with Mercedes-Benz, and Lim Seung-mo, formerly of BMW, will take on their new roles as head of the Kia Design Center Europe and head of the Kia Design Center China, respectively, on April 1. Samson and Lim will report to Karim Habib, executive vice president and head of Kia Global Design. The appointments are expec

MobilityMarch 26, 2024

BMW looks to continue winning streak with new hybrid 5 Series

After topping the sales charts in South Korea’s import car market last year, BMW Korea is looking to sustain its momentum with its new 530e, a plug-in hybrid model that is part of its 2024 eighth-generation 5 Series lineup. Introduced earlier this month, the 530e complements the 2024 lineup of gasoline, diesel, and electric models with its advanced plug-in hybrid technology. The 530e features a combination of a gasoline engine enhanced with BMW's TwinPower Turbo technology that uses a spec

MobilityMarch 26, 2024

LG Electronics CEO vows to elevate shareholder benefits

LG Electronics Chief Executive Officer Cho Joo-wan vowed "winning" changes and growth to overcome continuing uncertainties in the business environment at the regular shareholders meeting on Tuesday. Organizing this year's shareholders event under the concept of "openness," the chief came to present the company's mid- and long-term strategies to shareholders for the first time. The event was livestreamed for the first time as well. "(LG Electronics) is a ‘

IndustryMarch 26, 2024

LG CNS, Vietnam’s FPT team up for DX innovation

South Korean IT solutions provider LG CNS said Tuesday it has teamed up with Vietnam’s largest IT firm to carry out the group’s digital transformation project there. LG CNS recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Hanoi-based FPT Corp. at the Korean IT solutions provider’s headquarters in Seoul. The recent deal is the outcome of the two firms’ years of cooperation as IT partners since 2019, LG CNS officials said. FPT Corp. is a global IT company leading Vietnam&

TechnologyMarch 26, 2024

[Photo News] Lotte's EV push

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin (center) visits a new EV charger production plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Monday. The plant, operated by EVSIS, a subsidiary of Lotte Innovate, an IT solutions unit, has an annual production capacity of 20,000 units. Lotte aims to nurture the EV charger business together with other future mobility businesses as its new growth drivers. (Lotte Group)

IndustryMarch 26, 2024

Chilsung Cider wins global acclaim

Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co., the beverage arm of the South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group, said Tuesday its flagship product, Chilsung Cider, has received global recognition for its high-quality taste. Chilsung Cider was honored with the superior taste award, receiving three stars, the highest distinction in the soft drink category, from the Brussels-based International Taste Institute, the company said. Judged on five criteria including first impression, appearance, aroma, taste, and aftertast

CompaniesMarch 26, 2024

Hana Bank, GMO-PG to simplify Korea-Japan business payments

Hana Bank said Tuesday it signed a partnership deal with Japan’s largest payment processing company, GMO Payment Gateway, to launch a cross-border payment and settlement system for domestic companies expanding into Japan. Under the partnership, Hana and GMO will collaborate in providing a wide range of services Korean companies from expert consulting for starting businesses and launching franchises in Japan to assistance on transferring e-commerce sales generated in Japan. Thier collaborat

IndustryMarch 26, 2024

Daewoo E&C eyes bigger footing in overseas markets

Amid escalating construction costs and volatility in the financial markets triggered by interest rate hikes, the domestic real estate sector is grappling with unprecedented risks. In response, Daewoo Engineering & Construction is pivoting to international markets, notably in urban development projects, to mitigate these challenges, the company said Tuesday. Despite the recent market downturn, Daewoo E&C has demonstrated resilience. The builder reported sales of 11.6 trillion won ($8.67 b

IndustryMarch 26, 2024

Seoul shares start higher despite US losses

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday despite overnight losses on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 32.49 points, or 1.19 percent, to 2,770.06 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US stocks lost ground Monday as investors took a breather ahead of key inflation data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4 percent, and the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 0.3 percent. In Seoul, market heavyweights led the bullish beginning. Top-cap Sam

MarketMarch 26, 2024

Consumer sentiment snaps 3-month rise in March amid rising prices, slumping spending

South Korea's consumer sentiment snapped an improvement for the third consecutive month in March amid soaring prices of farm goods and a slump in private spending, a central bank poll showed Tuesday. The composite consumer sentiment index stood at 100.7 this month, down from 101.9 the previous month, according to the survey conducted by the Bank of Korea. A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists. The central bank said consumer sentiment declined amid a rise in prices of agri

ConsumerMarch 26, 2024

How streaming TV buttons helped boost profits for Samsung, LG

From the red and blue shortcut buttons with Netflix and Disney+ logos to fancier features and operating systems, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the world’s top two TV makers, are pouring resources into content, not just hardware itself, to elevate profits. Remote control devices have become "billboards" for the streaming giants, in the words LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan, after Netflix started paying major TV manufacturers advertisement fees to include their shortcut bu

IndustryMarch 25, 2024

New parents to get greater chance at buying home

Housing supply measures, encompassing both the public and private sectors, revised to favor households with newborns came into effect Monday, with the intention to lower the burden of high housing costs as one of the factors pulling down the country’s fertility rate to the world's lowest level. Starting from Monday, households with a child younger than 2 years old, including those with an adopted child or expectant mother, will be eligible to apply for a specialized and prioritized ho

EconomyMarch 25, 2024

Seoul shares fall for 2nd day on profit-taking

South Korean stocks declined for the second straight session Monday as investors sought to cash in recent gains. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 10.99 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 2,737.57. Trade volume was moderate at 479.9 million shares worth 9.78 trillion won ($7.23 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 527 to 336. Foreigners and institutions led the drop, dumping a combined 331.6 billion won worth of local share

MarketMarch 25, 2024

New Kyobo Life CEO urges change, innovation

The new CEO of Kyobo Life Insurance, the nation's leading life insurer, has pledged to achieve "sustainable growth" that benefits all stakeholders. Upon assuming office on Monday, CEO Cho Dae-kyu cautioned about the life insurance industry's current challenges, citing "stagnant growth and declining profitability." During his inauguration ceremony at the company's headquarters in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, the CEO stressed the urgent need for "change and i

IndustryMarch 25, 2024

Posco International CEO vows to speed up digital transformation

Lee Kye-in, formerly president of Posco International, took office as CEO of the company, having been appointed to his new position during a board meeting at the company’s headquarters in Incheon on Monday. In his inaugural speech, Lee said, "As CEO of Posco Group's second-largest company, as well as a leading trading company, I will fulfill my responsibilities" to align with the company's new vision, "materials opening the future, innovation for the top class,&quo

CompaniesMarch 25, 2024

Hyundai Motor ranks 2nd in US EV sales

Hyundai Motor Group ranked second behind Tesla in terms of electric vehicle sales in the United States in January, a report showed Monday. Citing statistics from S&P Global Mobility, Automotive News said the Korean auto conglomerate’s three brands -- Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis -- combined for 8,262 newly registered EVs in the US in January 2024 to account for 9.3 percent of the total market. According to the report, Tesla registered 48,757 EVs to retain the top spot, while traditio

MobilityMarch 25, 2024