Lotte Group says total assets stand at W139t, shrugging off liquidity concerns

Lotte Group, one of South Korea's largest conglomerates, on Thursday refuted concerns of a liquidity crisis, stating its total assets, including deposits, reached 139 trillion won ($99.4 billion) as of last month. The group's assets include 37.5 trillion won worth of shares, real estate valued at 56 trillion won, and disposable deposits of 15.4 trillion won, according to a statement. The clarification came in response to rumors suggesting Lotte may face a liquidity crisis due to challe

IndustryNov. 21, 2024

SK hynix begins production of world's first 321-layer NAND flash memory chips

SK hynix said Thursday it has started mass production of the industry's first triple-level cell-based 321-layer NAND flash memory chips. NAND flash memory is a non-volatile memory storage medium widely used in memory cards, USB drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and smartphones for general storage and data transfer. It stacks memory cells vertically and is categorized into single-, multi-, triple-, and quadruple-level cells. SK hynix announced that it has become the world's first suppl

TechnologyNov. 21, 2024

EU says T'way Air's commitments in Korean Air-Asiana merger fulfilled; final approval yet pending

South Korea's exports increased 5.8 percent on-year in the first 20 days of this month, driven primarily by strong global demand for semiconductors and ships, data showed Thursday. Outbound shipments reached $35.6 billion in the Nov. 1-20 period, compared with $33.8 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports shed 1 percent on-year to $34.8 billion during the period, resulting in a trade surplus of $800 million, the data showed. In October,

IndustryNov. 21, 2024

Exports increase 5.8% in Nov. 1-20 period

South Korea's exports increased 5.8 percent on-year in the first 20 days of November, data showed Thursday. Outbound shipments reached $35.6 billion in the Nov. 1-20 period, compared with $33.8 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports shed 1 percent on-year to $34.8 billion during the period, resulting in a trade surplus of $800 million, the data showed. In October, exports rose 4.6 percent on-year to $57.5 billion, the 13th straight mont

EconomyNov. 21, 2024

Seoul shares start lower after Nvidia results

South Korean stocks opened a tad lower Thursday as investors remained cautious following US chip giant Nvidia's earnings report. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 3.75 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,478.54 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks ended mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.32 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.11 percent before Nvidia released its quarterly report after the bell. Nvidia reported third-quarter earnings that

MarketNov. 21, 2024

Seoul stocks rise for 3rd day ahead of Nvidia results

South Korean stocks extended their winning streak to the third straight day Wednesday as investors awaited the third-quarter earnings of US AI chip giant Nvidia. The local currency remained unchanged against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) added 10.34 points, or 0.42 percent, to close at 2,482.29. Trade volume was moderate at 400.3 million shares worth 7.7 trillion won ($5.53 billion), with gainers closely outpacing losers 435 to 420. Foreigners and individ

MarketNov. 20, 2024

IMF lowers Korea's 2025 growth outlook to 2%

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday lowered its economic growth forecast for South Korea to 2 percent next year, down from 2.2 percent projected in October, citing high uncertainties and weak domestic demand. The announcement came after a team of IMF officials led by Korea mission chief Rahul Anand made a two-week visit to Seoul for an annual country meeting with the finance ministry, the Bank of Korea and other institutions to discuss the country's economic policy measures. "

EconomyNov. 20, 2024

[Herald Interview] How Gopizza got big in India

South Korean pizza chain Gopizza is strengthening its foothold in the Indian market by blending food technology with the distinct flavors of Korean cuisine, offering a fresh take on the classic pizza experience. Founded in 2016 as a single-serving pizza concept aimed at making pizza more accessible, Gopizza entered the Indian market in 2019, tailoring its approach to meet the distinct preferences of Indian consumers. "We currently operate 60 stores across southern India and plan to expand

IndustryNov. 20, 2024

Hanwha, HD Hyundai chiefs welcome second Trump era

As Korean industries brace for a second nonconsecutive term of US President-elect Donald Trump, leaders of Korean defense and shipbuilding companies – namely Hanwha Group and HD Hyundai – are enhancing readiness to seize new growth opportunities. Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, in the process of passing the leadership baton to his sons, took on the role of chairman of Hanwha Aerospace, a key defense subsidiary of the group, last week. The move solidifies Kim's leadership i

IndustryNov. 20, 2024

Coway unveils winter-ready home appliances

South Korean home appliance maker Coway has introduced new products designed to improve indoor air quality and provide personal comfort during the winter season. The Dual Clean Humidifier Air Purifier, one of Coway’s flagship products, is designed to tackle dry indoor air and poor air quality in winter. According to Coway, the device integrates a four-stage filtration system -- featuring a pre-filter, air matching filter, deodorization filter and fine dust collection filter -- to remove up

CompaniesNov. 20, 2024

Posco shuts down wire rod mill on oversupply concerns

South Korean steel giant Posco Group said Wednesday that it will shut down a wire rod mill at its steelworks in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, citing global oversupply. The company explained that the decision reflects recent market challenges, including the ongoing global steel surplus, aging facilities, and the impact of China’s low-cost exports. According to Posco, the global wire rod market in 2023 had a production capacity of approximately 200 million metric tons, while demand reac

CompaniesNov. 20, 2024

Samsung Biologics hits W5tr in annual orders

Samsung Biologics said Wednesday that its cumulative orders this year have exceeded 5 trillion won ($3.59 billion), driven by consecutive large-scale deals with global pharmaceutical companies. In a regulatory filing, the company announced two new contract manufacturing agreements with a European pharmaceutical firm worth a combined 930.4 billion won. While specific product details remain undisclosed, the contracts will run through December 2031. As of November, Samsung Biologics has secured 11

CompaniesNov. 20, 2024

[KH Explains] Dissecting Hyundai Motor's lobbying in US

Hyundai Motor Group is on track to report record-high spending for lobbying in the United States this year as the Korean auto conglomerate continues to ramp up its presence and influence in Washington, DC According to OpenSecrets, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that tracks and publishes data on campaign finance and lobbying, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia -- the two automakers under Hyundai Motor Group -- have spent $2.51 million on lobbying in the US as of the third q

MobilityNov. 20, 2024

Hanwha Life acquires 75% stake in US securities firm

Hanwha Life, a leading Korean insurance company, said Wednesday it has signed a stock purchase agreement to acquire a 75 percent stake in US securities firm Velocity Clearing. Established in 2003, New York-based Velocity Clearing is an IT-based securities firm primarily serving institutional investors. It offers various financial services, from clearing and settlement to securities lending and prime brokerage. Recently, it has expanded its unlisted US stock brokerage services to global clients,

MarketNov. 20, 2024

[Photo News] IBK-Mizuho partnership

Industrial Bank of Korea Chairman and CEO Kim Sung-tae (right) and Kato Masahiko, president and CEO of Japan's Mizuho Bank, pose for a photo during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony in Jung-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. Under the agreement, IBK and Mizuho will collaborate on foreign currency procurement, investment banking projects and support for overseas business of bilateral startups. “We hope this partnership will strengthen cooperation, marking the 60th anniversary of the trea

IndustryNov. 20, 2024

Samsung obtains European certification for camera software

Samsung Electro-Mechanics said Wednesday it has achieved the automotive spice (A-spice) level 3 certification for its camera modules used in automotive electronics and electrical equipment. A-spice is a European certification that evaluates the software reliability and development capabilities of automotive component manufacturers. It is categorized into six levels, ranging from the lowest, level 0, to the highest, level 5. Companies must meet level 2 or higher to supply products to European aut

TechnologyNov. 20, 2024

Producer prices down for 3rd month in Oct. on falling farm produce prices

South Korea's producer prices fell for the third consecutive month in October, led by a marked fall in the prices of agricultural products, central bank data showed Wednesday. The producer price index, a major barometer of consumer inflation, fell 0.1 percent in October from a month earlier, following a 0.2 percent on-month decline the previous month, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea. On a yearly basis, the index rose 1 percent last month, marking the 15th consecutiv

EconomyNov. 20, 2024

Seoul shares start tad higher ahead of Nvidia earnings

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Wednesday, led by tech and financial shares, as investors awaited earnings results from U.S. AI chip giant Nvidia. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 8.1 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,480.05 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Nasdaq composite rose more than 1 percent on a 4.9 percent jump in Nvidia as the chipmaker is set to release its quarterly results on Wednesday (U.S. time). In Seoul, tech and bank shares led the

MarketNov. 20, 2024

Posco shuts down wire rod mill in Pohang amid supply glut

South Korea's leading steelmaker, Posco, said Tuesday it shut down a wire rod mill in its factory in the southeastern city of Pohang in an effort to boost profitability and managerial efficiency. The Unit 1 wire rod mill at the Pohang factory, 273 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was brought to an end in the day after more than 45 years of operation, according to the steelmaker. The shutdown decision was made due to the heated competition and oversupply in the global wire rod market from chea

IndustryNov. 19, 2024

3 die of suffocation at Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant

Three researchers died of suffocation during a vehicle testing at Hyundai Motor Company’s car manufacturing plant in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. According to police officials Tuesday, a man in his 40s, another in his 30s and one unidentified person were found unconscious at 3 p.m., following a vehicle test conducted in the multi-environment chamber within the plant's electrical quality division. The test involves vehicles being exposed to vibration as well as high t

MobilityNov. 19, 2024