Korea Zinc goes all in to fend off takeover

The current management of Korea Zinc on Friday decided to up the ante to maintain control over the world’s largest zinc smelter, lifting the tender offer price to 890,000 won ($660) per share, higher than 830,000 won presented by the coalition of MBK Partners and Young Poong. While the current management of Korea Zinc, represented by Chairman Choi Yun-beom, initially targeted securing an additional 15.5 percent of the total issued shares, the target has been raised to 17.5 percent. Adding

IndustryOct. 11, 2024

Hanwha zeroes in on arms exports to North America

Hanwha Aerospace is gearing up to showcase its latest land weapons systems at the US Army’s Annual Meeting & Exposition, known as AUSA, in Washington, as the Korean defense firm looks to score exports to the North American defense sector, the company said Friday. Hanwha Aerospace plans to display its wheeled self-propelled howitzer, uncrewed transport robotic vehicle and modular charge system at the upcoming arms trade show slated to take place from Monday to Wednesday. In particular,

CompaniesOct. 11, 2024

[Photo News] Dive into K-style

Korean Air said Friday it has launched the "Dive into K-style" program to help its new foreign national crew members enhance their understanding of Korean culture and the company. New employees from Japan and Southeast Asia joined the program in August and October, respectively, with another session set to be held for Chinese employees in December. After a four-year hiatus, the nation's flag carrier resumed recruitment of foreign national crew members this year. A total of 85 ne

IndustryOct. 11, 2024

Merck opens new chip materials R&D center in Korea

German technology firm Merck said Thursday it has opened its latest spin-on-dielectric (SOD) application center in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province in a bid to respond quickly to its customer needs here. The company held the opening ceremony of the latest facility at the production site that same day. Attendees include senior executives of Merck and its key clients, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The new facility, the second of its kind in Asia, is equipped with advanced technology for measuring an

IndustryOct. 11, 2024

BOK cuts key rate by quarter point to 3.25%

South Korea's central bank lowered the policy rate by 0.25 percentage point on Friday, signaling the end of an era of monetary tightening that had extended over three years. The Bank of Korea’s monetary policy board slashed the base rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 3.25 percent. Five of the other six monetary policy board members, not including BOK Gov. Rhee Chang-yong, agreed to the rate cut, while the remaining member suggested maintaining the rate at the 3.5 percent lev

EconomyOct. 11, 2024

Seoul shares open higher ahead of BOK rate decision

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday as the country's central bank was set to hold a rate-setting meeting later in the day. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.68 percent, or 17.55 points, to 2,616.71 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Investors' eyes are on the results of the Bank of Korea's monetary policy meeting to be held later in the day, where it is widely expected to start its rate-cutting cycle. Overnight, Wall Street lost ground amid mixed bets on

MarketOct. 11, 2024

S. Korea, Laos vow to combat deforestation together

South Korea's forest agency announced Thursday that it has established a cooperative organization with Laos to enhance joint efforts in combating deforestation and promoting sustainable forest management. The organization, the REDD+ Cooperation Center, focuses on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. It is based on the REDD+ Act, a framework adopted in February under the UN for implementing, monitoring and managing programs aimed at conserving forests and reducing ca

IndustryOct. 10, 2024

Lotte chief vows sustainable cacao sourcing in Ghana

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, alongside executives from the group's Korean and Japanese subsidiaries, visited Ghana to support the sustainable sourcing of cacao, a key ingredient in their signature chocolate product. As part of the Sustainable Cocoa Bean Project, a joint initiative by Lotte's Korean and Japanese branches, the visit included Lee Young-gu, head of Lotte's food division; Lee Chang-yeop, CEO of Lotte Wellfood; and Genichi Tamatsuka, CEO of Lotte Holdings. Lotte

CompaniesOct. 10, 2024

[Herald Interview] NineWatt reveals the simple path to smarter urban energy use

How can cities contribute to achieving carbon neutrality? According to Kim Young-rok, CEO of NineWatt, it is simpler than you might think. “When people think about energy efficiency, they often think of expensive, high-tech solutions,” Kim said. “But before you jump into cutting-edge technologies, the key is to optimize what’s already there -- the buildings you visit every day. The real question is: how do we do that efficiently?” Founded in 2019, NineWatt is a Kore

CompaniesOct. 10, 2024

Hyundai India to launch record $3.3 billion IPO on Oct. 22

Hyundai Motor India is about to make history with a massive $3.3 billion initial public offering set for Oct. 22. This will be the largest IPO in Indian stock market history, and Hyundai plans to use the funds to ramp up production in the country and accelerate its push into the electric vehicle market. India’s stock market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, gave the green light for Hyundai’s offering Wednesday. The company will sell 17.5 percent of its Indian sub

MobilityOct. 10, 2024

Seoul shares end tad higher on Wall Street gains

Seoul stocks finished marginally higher Thursday on overnight US stock gains amid a decline in international oil prices. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged up 0.19 percent, or 4.8 points, to 2,599.16. Trading volume was heavy at 603 million shares worth 13.48 trillion won ($9.99 billion), with gainers outpacing losers at 442 to 423. Institutions sold a net 299.6 billion won, while foreign and retail investors together bought a net

MarketOct. 10, 2024

Bain's backing could be costly for Korea Zinc: sources

While Korea Zinc has secured the support of US private equity giant Bain Capital amid a battle for management control of the company, market watchers suggest its backing could eventually cost the troubled zinc smelter a hefty amount. To thwart the takeover attempt from the MBK Partners-Young Poong alliance, the current management of Korea Zinc has teamed up with Bain Capital, a big-name investment company with over $185 billion (250 trillion won) in assets under management. Under Chairman Choi Y

IndustryOct. 10, 2024

KT, Microsoft to debut Hangeul AI language model next year

South Korean mobile carrier KT Corp. said Thursday it will team up with US tech giant Microsoft to develop a new artificial intelligence model tailored to the Korean language and culture within the first half of next year. KT CEO Kim Young-shub presented its vision at the event and announced the goal of jointly developing a Korea-specific AI and cloud model aligned with Microsoft’s objectives. “Microsoft is well aware of Korea's significance in the global information and communi

TechnologyOct. 10, 2024

Toss Securities names new CEO

Toss Securities CEO Kim Seung-yeon resigned abruptly Thursday, six months before the end of his term. The firm's head of product, Kim Gyu-bin, was appointed as his successor during a general shareholders' meeting earlier in the day. Kim Seung-yeon, appointed to serve from April 2023 until April 2025, stepped down for "personal reasons," according to the company, which is the brokerage arm of fintech giant Toss. With his appointment, Kim Gyu-bin, 35, became the first securitie

IndustryOct. 10, 2024

Will K bank make W5tr jackpot debut?

Korea's first internet-only bank, K bank, is preparing for its upcoming initial public offering, with demand forecasting kicking off Thursday. According to its securities registration filing, K bank started a weeklong demand forecast from institutional investors on Thursday. This process allows investors to submit their desired purchase quantities and prices before the public offering, guiding the company in determining the final offering price. K bank's target price range is set betwe

MarketOct. 10, 2024

LS Cable & System wins global certification for legal, ethical compliance

LS Cable & System, a leading South Korean cable manufacturer, announced Thursday that it has become the first in the global cable industry to obtain ISO 37301 certification from the British Standards Institution for meeting international compliance and ethical standards. The company said it sought the certification to build trust with global clients and investors, with BSI recognizing its approach to management policies and regulations. LS Cable & System expects the certification to prov

IndustryOct. 10, 2024

Hanwha Group marks 72nd anniversary as 'great challenger'

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn has reiterated the company's approach to overcoming crises as a “Great Challenger,” expressing the need to take more proactive and leading measures rather than waiting for market conditions to turn favorable. “Driven by unwavering beliefs that do not compromise with the currents of the times and a relentless dedication to being the best, we will overcome the waves of crises and write a new history for Hanwha,” said Kim in a video

CompaniesOct. 10, 2024

LX Pantos expands logistics foothold in Central Asia

Korean logistics company LX Pantos announced Thursday that its CEO Lee Yong-ho met with Marat Karabaev, Kazakhstan’s minister of industry and infrastructure development, in Astana last month, to strengthen logistics networks across Central Asia. According to the company, the consultation centered on enhancing cooperation on cargo transport along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The TITR links Europe and Central Asia via the Caspian Sea, bypassing Russian territorial waters.

IndustryOct. 10, 2024

HD Hyundai unveils world’s 1st high-pressure ammonia engine

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world’s largest shipbuilder affiliated with HD Hyundai, said Thursday that it has developed the world’s first ammonia dual-fuel engine using a high-pressure direct injection system. The company recently passed the “type approval test” for its HiMSEN ammonia dual-fuel engine, which evaluates whether critical apparatuses installed on vessels meet mandatory requirements. The test was conducted at its Ulsan engine center and was attended by ke

IndustryOct. 10, 2024

OCI Holdings boosts cross-cultural ties in Sarawak, Malaysia

South Korean chemical company OCI Holdings has ramped up its localization efforts in Malaysia, hosting a series of community-focused events in Sarawak, where it operates its solar PV polysilicon production, to boost its presence and support sustainable growth, the company announced Thursday. As part of its ESG commitment, the company held a badminton class on Sept. 29, led by Korea’s Olympics badminton champion Lee Yong-dae at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Bintulu campus. With over 300

IndustryOct. 10, 2024