[Herald Interview] ‘US election main risk for Korean chip, EV makers’

This year’s US presidential election is expected to be the biggest geopolitical risk for Korean companies already reeling from supply chain disruptions and protectionist policies amid an escalating Washing-Beijing rivalry, according to a global specialist in risk management. “The US election could have more direct impacts on Korean businesses in several markets (compared to other risk factors),” said Andrew Gilholm, director of analysis practice for Greater China and North Asia

IndustryJan. 18, 2024

[Photo News] More cheddar for milk

A shopper browses the milk at a supermarket in Seoul on Thursday. According to Statistics Korea, milk prices saw a 9.9 percent jump in 2023, the steepest surge in 14 years since the global financial crisis in 2009. The upward trend in milk prices also led to price hikes in other dairy products, including yogurt (12.5 percent) and cheese (19.5 percent). (Yonhap)

IndustryJan. 18, 2024

[Contribution] Three strategies for your China equity exposure

By Steve Brice How to invest in China is the question I am asked the most. China is facing a lot of headwinds. The economy has slowed dramatically from the post-COVID reopening boost at the turn of last year and geopolitical tensions are everywhere for people to see. Against this backdrop, I see a three-pronged approach to China investments. First, focus your China equity investments in areas that are less likely to face headwinds. Second, diversify to other parts of Asia. And third, conside

MarketJan. 18, 2024

Celltrion’s anti-cancer biosimilars win multiple tenders in Europe

Celltrion said Thursday that the company’s three oncology biosimilar products -- Herzuma, Truxima and Vegzelma -- are making their foray into key European markets after winning multiple bids there. Celltrion secured bids in France to supply its cancer-fighting biosimilars to five regional drug purchasing organizations for public hospitals. Both Herzuma and Vegzelma will be supplied to two French public health agencies -- Graps and GAULoYS -- while Vegzelma alone won tenders from Grecaps, G

IndustryJan. 18, 2024

[Photo News] Honoring legacy of Lotte founder

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin pays tribute to the group's late founder and honorary Chairman Shin Kyuk-ho, during a memorial service held at the retail giant's headquarters in southern Seoul on Thursday. The self-made entrepreneur passed away at the age of 97 on Jan. 19, 2020. (Lotte Group)

IndustryJan. 18, 2024

[Photo News] Top auto exporter

General Motors Korea’s Chevrolet Trailblazer, the carmaker’s popular compact sport utility vehicle, claimed the top spot on the list of the most exported cars of 2023, selling 214,048 units in overseas markets, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association on Thursday. Other top exporters included the Hyundai Kona SUV (212,489 units), the Hyundai Avante compact (206,371 units) and the Chevrolet Trax (181,950 units). (GM Korea)

MobilityJan. 18, 2024

[Photo News] 7th Apple store in Korea

Apple Korea on Thursday said that Apple Hongdae, the iPhone maker's seventh retail store in Korea and 100th store globally, will start operation at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Located near the bustling Hongdae subway station in western Seoul, the new store will have some 100 staff to assist customers as they explore the latest Apple products in multiple languages, including Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.

TechnologyJan. 18, 2024

3 carmakers to recall over 104,000 vehicles for faulty parts

Renault Korea Motors and two other carmakers will recall more than 104,000 vehicles due to faulty components, the government said Thursday. The three companies, including Kia Corp. and domestic electric van manufacturer Jeis Mobility, are voluntarily recalling a total of 104,120 units of three different models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. The problems that prompted the recall include a faulty component in the anti-lock braking system module in over 83,

EconomyJan. 18, 2024

Seoul shares open slightly higher on bargain hunting

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Thursday as investors hunted for bargains following the recent extended losses amid dimmed prospects for the US Federal Reserve's rate cuts. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 5.91 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,441.81 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.25 percent lower, with the S&P 500 slipping 0.56 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq had decreased 0.59 percent. The stronger-

MarketJan. 18, 2024

Financial holding firms aim to curb growth of household debt to 2%: sources

Five financial holding firms in South Korea have submitted their plan to financial authorities to curb the growth of household debt to less than 2 percent this year, informed sources said Thursday. The financial holding firms set the voluntary goal in a recent meeting with financial authorities, according to the sources. The government "asked the financial holding firms to help maintain household debts within the economic growth rate, and they each said they will limit their household debt

EconomyJan. 18, 2024

Samsung unveils AI-powered Galaxy, sets out to create new standards

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – Samsung Electronics on Wednesday unveiled the new flagship Galaxy S24 smartphone, its first smartphone powered by artificial intelligence, bringing generative AI to the everyday life of its users. The South Korean tech giant held its Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, with some 2,000 journalists and industry people in attendance. It is the first time that Samsung has held its most important unveiling event of the year in Silicon Valley,

IndustryJan. 18, 2024

Budget carrier Jin Air logs record earnings in 2023 on brisk demand

South Korean budget airline Jin Air Co. said Wednesday it posted record earnings in 2023 on strong demand, shaking off the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak. Net income came to an all-time high of 135.8 billion won ($101 million) on a separate basis last year, the first black ink in five years, the low-cost carrier unit of top full-service airline Korean Air Co. said in a regulatory filing. Sales also hit a record high of 1.28 trillion won, up 115 percent from a year earlier and even up 40.3 p

IndustryJan. 17, 2024

Woori, BC improve profits in overseas card business

As local card issuers struggle to seek new growth engines on foreign ground, a handful saw improvements in 2023. Making a surprise breakthrough overseas last year was Woori Card, which posted a cumulative net profit of around 6.25 billion won ($4.64 million) as of the third quarter through its foreign subsidiaries in Myanmar and Indonesia. The figure was up by almost 78 percent on-year. Driving the flourish was Woori Finance Indonesia, the Korean card company's newly launched Indonesian cor

IndustryJan. 17, 2024

KB Kookmin Bank vows W372b support for SMEs

KB Kookmin Bank said Wednesday it will provide 372.1 billion won ($276.4 million) in financial support measures for the self-employed, small business owners and vulnerable groups facing difficulties due to high borrowing costs and prices. The sum represents the largest among such other plans put forward by its local peers responding to the government’s call to share profits yielded from high rates with those still struggling to recover from the fallout of COVID-19. KB’s dual-track

MarketJan. 17, 2024

Hanwha heir maps out net-zero vision at Davos

Hanhwa Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan unveiled a new vision for the decarbonization of shipbuilding and outlined Hanwha’s plans to build a zero-emissions gas carrier, during the 2024 World Economic Forum held in Switzerland on Wednesday. The new vessel will be the industry’s first to be powered entirely by alternative fuels, using Hanwha’s proprietary green technology, according to Kim. Speaking at the Davos Forum under the title "The First Fossil-Free Ship on Water,&rd

IndustryJan. 17, 2024

Korea’s arms exports to Poland hit W1.5t in 2023

South Korea sent arms exports worth more than 1.5 trillion won to Poland last year, according to data compiled by a trade association, Wednesday. Backed by the increase in arms exports, Poland has also become the source of South Korea’s fifth-biggest trade surplus after the United States, Vietnam, Hong Kong and India. The Korea International Trade Association’s data said the combined exports to Poland reached $9 billion in 2023, up 14.8 percent from the previous year. The growth is l

IndustryJan. 17, 2024

Seoul shares sink 2.5% on dimmed hope for Fed's rate cuts, China risk; won sharply down

South Korean stocks plunged nearly 2.5 percent Wednesday on dampened hopes that the Federal Reserve will start cutting its rates soon and uncertainties over the Chinese economy. The local currency sharply fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 61.69 points, or 2.47 percent, to 2,435.90. Trading volume was heavy at 950.6 million shares worth 11.01 trillion won ($8.2 billion), with losers far outpacing winners 850 to 70. Foreigners and institutions dump

MarketJan. 17, 2024

[KH Explains] Why spot bitcoin ETFs remain off limits for Korean investors

Local authorities' decision to keep the doors shut for exchange-traded funds linked to the price of bitcoin has led to concerns that Korea may be left behind by changing global financial trends. While the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s authorization of spot bitcoin ETFs represented a milestone long in the works for the virtual assets market, the financial product remains off limits for Korean investors, as local authorities announced the trading of related products for lo

MarketJan. 17, 2024

Japan tops Korea's beer imports in five years

Japan reclaimed the top spot in South Korea’s beer imports in 2023, five years following the start of the Tokyo-Seoul trade dispute, data showed Wednesday. According to data from the Korea Customs Service, imports of Japanese beer products reached $55.51 million last year, a 283.3 percent increase from the previous year. The figure was the highest since $39.75 million was posted in 2019, the year Japan imposed new restrictions on the export of three key semiconductor materials to Korea. Th

ConsumerJan. 17, 2024

Hyundai Motor speeds up strategic shift to software-defined mobility

Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday it has set up a new research and development division in its push for software-defined vehicles by combining several teams across the auto giant's affiliates. The Advanced Vehicle Platform Division integrates three software development units -- its in-house SDV division and two separate teams at the carmaker’s research centers. Other teams working on the next-generation automotive platform and software that used to be under the leadership of the carm

MobilityJan. 17, 2024