VW threatens to end GM’s 8-year China lead

After trailing General Motors Co. in China for eight years, Volkswagen AG edged ahead in the third quarter, putting it one step closer to its goal of becoming the world’s biggest automaker. VW’s deliveries in the country jumped 21 percent last quarter, almost triple GM’s growth, to 704,991 vehicles, according to figures the company reported.That beat the 664,765 that GM reported earlier this month. At stake is supremacy in the world’s biggest auto market, which analysts say will likely exceed th

MobilityNov. 4, 2012

FTAs boost import vehicle sales: KAMA

Korea’s import car industry’s sales growth is rapidly rising mainly thanks to the nation’s free trade agreements with the United States and the European Union, according to a local car industry lobby group.In its report last week, the Korea Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said that import brands saw their vehicle sales increase by 15.5 percent for the first three quarters of 2012 on a year-on-year basis.Their brisk performance was “on the back of the Korea-EU FTA and the Korea-U.S. FTA,” t

MobilityNov. 4, 2012

Age of happiness for men

A British study revealed that men feel happiest at around the age of 37.Menswear brand “Jacamo” said it is stability, routine and long term commitment that satisfies the male species. The happiest time of a man’s life is around age 37 -- when they have climbed the career ladder and started a family, a new study has found. Phillip Hodson, fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy said “It would be logical to think that men would be happier when they are younger, when the

TechnologyNov. 4, 2012

Future health can be predicted by reaction to daily stressors

U.S. researchers have found that people’s reactions to daily stressors determine their heath consequences 10 years in the future. “Our research shows that how you react to what happens in your life today predicts your chronic health conditions and 10 years in the future and your future stress,” said David Almeida, a professor of human development and family studies. Almeida and his colleagues surveyed by phone 2,000 individuals every night for eight consecutive nights regarding what had happened

TechnologyNov. 4, 2012

NASA rover doesn’t detect methane on Mars

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Scientists say initial sampling of Mars‘ atmosphere by the NASA rover Curiosity did not definitively detect methane, a gas that can be a clue to determining if the red planet ever was hospitable to microbial life.Test results released Friday in a teleconference from Jet Propulsion Laboratory are not conclusive but are in line with past studies that found no regular methane on Mars.The results do stand in contrast to other research such as observations by Earth-based telescope

TechnologyNov. 4, 2012

Marketers cash in on services for super-rich

 One of latest marketing trends in Korea is in catering to the “top 1 percent” customers. It comes upon a deepening polarization in consumer spending. It is not unusual for the richest 1 percent of customers to dominate a company’s overall sales. Firms in various sectors are rushing to launch marketing drives to woo what they call very, very important persons, or VVIPs, who usually make up 0.5 percent to 1 percent of their customer base. Consumer spending has become polarized as the nation’s eco

Nov. 2, 2012

VVIP-targeting hotel makes U-turn

 A luxury hotel reputed for its “members only” facilities is sheepishly reaching out to the general public to attract new clients. Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, located on the foot of Namsan, central Seoul, drew the media’s attention at the time of its opening in June 2010, claiming to be “home to a high-end social community for the top 1 percent of Korea.” Only a small number of VVIPs recommended by the selected existing members are allowed to join the club, with the membership fee coming to a

IndustryNov. 2, 2012

Concierge service touches super-rich’s pride

Hotel Plaza in Seoul is the only luxury hotel that offers a concierge service for weddings. Other hotels provide a venue and catering service. But Plaza offers a concierge to oversee the whole process of the wedding. “A wedding concierge is required to be more experienced as they have to serve not just the couple but also their parents on their very special day,” said a manager at the hotel. There are three professional wedding concierges at the hotel who have more than seven years of experience

IndustryNov. 2, 2012

Lotte chief, Vietnam president discuss investment

Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin discussed future investment plans with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and Vice Premier Hoang Trung Hai on Thursday during his visit to the Southeast Asian country, officials said Friday. It is the second time since February that Shin met the Vietnamese president to discuss Lotte Group’s business in Vietnam and seek ways to expand investment. Shin also visited Lotte’s business sites in the Southeast Asian country.  Vietnam is one of the fastest growing mar

IndustryNov. 2, 2012

British judges order Apple to rewrite Samsung statement

LONDON (AFP) ― U.S. tech giant Apple has until Saturday to re-write an “inaccurate” statement relating to its patent dispute with South Korean rival Samsung, British judges have ruled.A British court forced Apple on Oct. 18 to post a message on the company’s website stating that Samsung’s Galaxy tablet computers had not infringed the design of Apple’s iPad.But Samsung complained that the message did not comply with the court order because it included comments on other rulings in Germany and the

TechnologyNov. 2, 2012