[Photo News] Masterpiece on the frame

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday it has forged an exclusive partnership with the Museum of Modern Art in New York to showcase a curated collection of 27 masterpieces, including Piet Mondrian's Trafalgar Square, on The Frame, the company's premium TV. Samsung said users will be able to enjoy iconic artworks of the most distinguished artists in 4K quality directly in their homes via Samsung Art Store, the company’s digital curator service. (Samsung Electronics)

IndustryOct. 15, 2024

[Photo news] Deacon whisky debuts in Korea

Pernod Ricard Korea on Tuesday debuted its premium blended Scotch whisky, The Deacon, in collaboration with Sovereign Brands. The whisky blends peaty Islay and fruity Speyside varieties, offering a smoky yet sweet flavor. "The Deacon captures our innovative style, delivering luxury, uniqueness, complexity and balance, while being easy to enjoy," said Brett Berish, CEO and founder of Sovereign Brands, at a showcase event held in Seoul on Tuesday. (Pernod Ricard Korea)

CompaniesOct. 15, 2024

Hanwha eyes another shipyard takeover in US

Hanwha Group, South Korea’s defense-to-energy conglomerate, is looking to expand its shipbuilding and maritime businesses in the United States as it appears to be contemplating a second American shipyard acquisition. Mike Smith, who was appointed as the CEO of Hanwha Defense USA in August, a US subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, said in Washington last week that Hanwha is “not done” when asked whether Hanwha’s purchase of Philly Shipyard was a one-time deal. Hanwha Group ann

CompaniesOct. 15, 2024

LS Electric forays into Vietnam’s smart factory solutions market

LS Electric forged a partnership with Becamex, an industrial development firm in Vietnam, in a bid to enter the booming smart factory solutions market. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, outlining ways to advance smart factory businesses in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector to contribute to creating a sustainable industrial ecosystem. LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun and Becamex Chairman Nguyen Van Hung and other executives attended the signing ceremony held at the

IndustryOct. 15, 2024

[Photo News] Kia turns ocean trash into trunk liner

Kia has launched a special edition trunk liner for its EV3, crafted from recycled plastics gathered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This eco-friendly product, created in partnership with the Dutch nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup, is the first of its kind in the automotive industry. Made from 40 percent marine plastic, the liner features a unique pattern inspired by the nets used to capture plastic debris in turbulent waters. The limited edition accessory will be available in select markets, in

MobilityOct. 15, 2024

Paris Baguette opens 600th overseas store in Canada

The Korean bakery brand Paris Baguette has opened its 600th overseas store, the newest one in Toronto, Canada, just a year after celebrating its 500th store, the brand's company SPC Group announced Tuesday. This new location marks Paris Baguette’s seventh store in Canada. Paris Baguette has been expanding rapidly over the past year, recently securing agreements to enter new markets in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Brunei and Laos. By the end of this year, the brand plans to open

CompaniesOct. 15, 2024

Hyosung chair meets Vietnamese PM in Hanoi

Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Monday, seeking government support for the chemical, textile and construction conglomerate’s new business ventures in Vietnam. The meeting focused on Hyosung’s ongoing investments and potential expansion into environmentally friendly and high-tech sectors, the group said Tuesday. Hyosung executives, including Vice Chairman Lee Sang-woon, and senior Vietnamese officials were also in a

CompaniesOct. 15, 2024

Land ministry delegation to visit Philippines, Thailand for infrastructure cooperation

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Tuesday it plans to send a delegation to the Philippines and Thailand to explore infrastructure and development-related cooperation with the countries. During the four-day trip beginning Tuesday, the delegation headed by First Vice Land Minister Jin Hyun-hwan plans to meet with Manila's land and transport ministries, as well as the Asian Development Bank officials, to discuss cooperation in related areas. In Thailand, the delegation pl

EconomyOct. 15, 2024

S. Korea-China route container shipping costs on constant rise: data

Container shipping costs from South Korea to China rose for the eighth consecutive month in September, the customs agency said Tuesday. The average shipping cost for a 40-foot container from South Korea to China climbed 17.6 percent on-month to 862,000 won ($634.48) last month, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. The figure has been on a constant increase since February. But the average shipping costs from South Korea to the European Union shed 14.7 percent, the first fall in f

EconomyOct. 15, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on Wall Street gains

South Korean shares opened higher Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) added 5.45 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,628.74 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks closed sharply higher ahead of earnings reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.47 percent to close at 43,065.22, breaching the 43,000 mark for the first time, while the S&P 500 also climbed to a record high of 5,859.85. In Seoul, large cap

MarketOct. 15, 2024

KT&G calls W2tr buyout offer ‘unilateral’

Singapore-based activist fund Flashlight Capital Partners has offered to acquire Korea Ginseng Corp., an affiliate under South Korea's dominant tobacco company KT&G, at the price of nearly 2 trillion won ($1.47 billion). KT&G called it a “unilateral” offer. Korea Ginseng Corp., under the wings of KT&G, is the company behind the well-recognized red ginseng brand, JungKwanJang. “The acquisition offer was unilaterally released without any discussion with the compa

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

Korea urged to enhance readiness for self-driving safety rules

South Korea should join the global movement to set safer international standards for autonomous driving systems, according to a report released by the state-run Korea Automotive Technology Institute on Monday. Cho Min-wook, senior researcher and author of the report, stated that the International Organization for Standardization and the auto industry are looking to adopt a more comprehensive approach that encompasses safety and security for Level 3 and more advanced self-driving systems. ISO is

MobilityOct. 14, 2024

Fescaro chief stresses importance of software-based operation in future mobility

With the age of autonomous vehicles just beyond the horizon, software is becoming just as important as the nuts and bolts of an vehicle. Hong Seok-min, the CEO of Fescaro, which provides software solutions for future mobility, said "software-defined operation" is a key term in the automotive industry today and in the future. "Without a doubt, the keyword (in the mobility industry) is the software-defined vehicle. Designs of existing internal combustion vehicles are centered on t

MobilityOct. 14, 2024

Seoul shares jump over 1% on tech gains, foreign buying

South Korean shares closed sharply higher Monday, helped by strong advances in tech and financial shares. The local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) added 26.38 points, or 1.02 percent, to close at 2,623.29. Trading volume was moderate at 391 million shares worth 8.3 trillion won ($6.12 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 488 to 395. Foreigners net bought 77.6 billion won worth of shares while retail investors dumped 440

MarketOct. 14, 2024

Tender offer closes for Korea Zinc, signaling prolonged proxy fight

The alliance of MBK Partners and Young Poong took the lead in the power struggle over Korea Zinc, the world's largest zinc smelter, securing an additional 5 percent stake in the company on Monday. Yet with Korea Zinc's separate tender offer lingering on the table, the conflict is likely to evolve into a prolonged proxy fight. The MBK-Young Poong coalition was able to secure over 5 percent stake in Korea Zinc through a tender offer that concluded Monday. Combined with the existing 33.1

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

Bibimbap price continues to go up: data

The average price of bibimbap rose above 11,000 won ($8.10) in September, despite slowing inflation in food products in recent months, government data showed Monday. According to data from the Korea Consumer Agency, a bowl of bibimbap in Seoul cost 11,038 won on average in September, up slightly from 10,962 won the previous month. The bibimbap price has been on the upward trend since first surpassing the 10,000-won mark in January last year. Bibimbap and samgyetang were the only two dishes tha

ConsumerOct. 14, 2024

[Photo News] Mercedes for German embassy

Mercedes-Benz Korea said Monday that its all-electric vehicle EQS 450 4 MATIC has been selected as the official diplomatic car for the Embassy of Germany in the country. Ambassador Georg Schmidt underlined the German embassy’s commitment to continuously upgrading its mobility for sustainability in Korea. In this photo, Schmidt (left) and Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vait pose with the newly appointed EV. (Mercedes-Benz Korea)

MobilityOct. 14, 2024

Korean chipmakers should not repeat mistakes of Toshiba, Intel: ex-ministers

Former industry and science ministers urged the government to take a more proactive approach to support the domestic chip industry, including providing direct subsidies, to maintain an edge in the intensifying global semiconductor race. Five former ministers and chip experts on Monday discussed the future of Korea's chip industry at a special panel discussion organized by the Federation of Korea Industries in Seoul, where they agreed on the need for "all-around" support from the g

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

Oktoberfest arrives at Songnidangil BBQ Village

Oktoberfest has arrived at Songnidangil BBQ Village, bringing a taste of Bavaria to the heart of Seoul for the entire month of October. In partnership with German beer Paulaner, the Oktoberfest beer of which is served in Munich's Oktoberfest tents, Korean chicken giant BBQ Chicken is offering a special Bavarian-themed menu and festive atmosphere at its Jamsil branch in southern Seoul. At the heart of the celebration is the Oktoberfest Platter, a feast featuring brathendl (roast chicken), br

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

KT to make AI push with staff shakeup

South Korean telecom carrier KT is reportedly set to carry out an organizational revamp focused on artificial intelligence while elevating profitability and efficiency, according to industry sources Monday. KT plans to hold a board meeting on Tuesday, with organizational restructuring and personnel relocation likely topping the agenda. The board is expected to approve the establishment of two subsidiaries dedicated to network operation and maintenance, KT OSP and KT P&M, to start operation f

IndustryOct. 14, 2024