Top 0.1 pct of wealthy S. Koreans made 70 times more than median income earners in 2021

The top 0.1 percent of wealthy individuals in South Korea earned nearly 70 times more than the median income earners in 2021, data showed Saturday. Statistics from the National Tax Service cited by Rep. Yang Kyung-sook of the opposition Democratic Party also showed the share of the total income held by the top bracket had increased to 4.8 percent that year from 4.2 percent in 2018. The per capita annual income of the richest 0.1 percent was 1.85 billion won (US$1.4 million) in 2021, 69.5 times m

EconomyFeb. 25, 2023

Security token guideline aims to 'allow issuance,' not just to regulate: FSC

Making blockchain-based tokens operational here is a part of South Korea's "serious" efforts in adopting regulatory changes to make its capital market more attractive to foreign investors, the top financial regulator said Friday. Financial Services Commission Vice Chairman Kim So-young stressed that recently released guidelines on security tokens were created to “allow issuance of blockchain-powered digital tokens," during a press conference with foreign media outlets h

IndustryFeb. 24, 2023

Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. eyes US military bases for K-food expansion

The Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, a quasi-government agency, is seeking ways to expand the presence and consumption of Korean food at US military bases. For the globalization of Korean food products, the agency's CEO Kim Chun-jin met with CEO Jacqueline Kim of the US wholesale trade group Kee World at the aT Center in Seoul. They discussed measures for stocking more Korean food products at commissary stores that provide groceries to military personnel, retirees and their

ConsumerFeb. 24, 2023

Kia to begin EV9 production in 1st half of this year

Kia, South Korea’s second-largest automaker under Hyundai Motor Group, will begin production of EV9 -- a large electric sport utility vehicle -- in the first half of this year, according to officials Friday. The Korean Metal Workers’ Union said Kia’s labor union and management finally came to an agreement on the production plan earlier this week after the two sides began negotiations to discuss the automaker’s EV manufacturing strategy and future employment security in Ap

MobilityFeb. 24, 2023

Seoul shares fall on tech losses amid rate hike uncertainty

South Korean stocks ended lower Friday on losses in big-cap tech shares amid caution over the United States' monetary policy path amid high inflation. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 15.48 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 2,423.61. Trading volume was slim at 363.7 million shares worth 6.86 trillion won ($5.26 billion), with decliners outpacing gainers 662 to 222. The index opened higher, tracking US gains, but fell to n

MarketFeb. 24, 2023

Posco International, Daesang team up to accelerate overseas food biz

South Korean commodities trader Posco International said Friday it will strengthen its food business overseas by cooperating with Korean food giant Daesang. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to review joint investments in new overseas starch sugar businesses on Thursday. "We hope that this cooperation with Daesang, who conducts the largest starch business in the country, provides us with the opportunity to expand the value chain of the food business," said Lee Sang

IndustryFeb. 24, 2023

LG Innotek promotes shared growth with partners

LG Innotek said on Friday it had signed agreements with more than 100 partner companies to cooperate for fair trade and shared growth in a bid to create a sustainable business environment. In accordance with the contract, the company plans to promote joint cooperation in various fields such as finance, technology, management and education. The agreement was inked as a part of LG Innotek’s 2023 Shared Growth Win-Win Day event held at the LG Sciencepark headquarters in Seoul on Thursday. &ld

IndustryFeb. 24, 2023

Hybe warns SM Entertainment of legal actions over deal with Kakao

Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS and the largest shareholder of SM Entertainment, said Friday it will take all necessary legal measures against a recent contract that SM struck with its alliance partner Kakao Entertainment in defiance of Hybe's takeover bid. The contract, which gives Kakao the exclusive right to circulate SM's albums and music as well as the preemptive right to purchase new shares in SM, was made known Thursday amid Hybe's ongoing bid to take over SM after be

IndustryFeb. 24, 2023

KEPCO suffers record operating loss in 2022 on high fuel costs

The state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp. said Friday its operating loss more than quintupled on-year to hit a record high last year due to higher fuel costs and limited electricity rate hikes. Its operating loss came to 32.63 trillion won ($25.02 billion) in 2022, compared with 5.85 trillion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. It is the largest ever yearly figure the company has logged so far, and the previous record was set in 2021. Sales grew 17.5 percent on-ye

EconomyFeb. 24, 2023

Samsung kicks off global tech seminar to introduce QLED, OLED TVs

Samsung Electronics said Friday it had kicked off its annual tech seminar series in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, showcasing cutting-edge technologies behind its 2023 TV lineup, which includes Neo quantum dot light-emitting diode and organic light-emitting diode TVs. The tech seminar sessions have served as a platform for picture and sound experts around the globe, delivering detailed information and exclusive hands-on experiences with new Samsung products for the last 12 years. This year&rsqu

TechnologyFeb. 24, 2023

Seoul shares open higher on tech gains

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Friday, tracking Wall Street gains, as big-cap tech shares gathered ground. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 6.34 points, or 0.26 percent, to 2,445.43 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US shares ended higher following a recent rout amid lingering uncertainties over the United States' monetary policy path to curb inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.33 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advan

MarketFeb. 24, 2023

KT CEO not to seek second term

KT Corp. said Thursday that its incumbent CEO Ku Hyeon-mo has decided not to seek a second term, publicizing his official withdrawal from the ongoing review process to pick a leader of the nation’s second-largest telecom company in terms of subscribers. The company said its board of directors accepted Ku’s decision and the recruiting for a new CEO will continue as planned. Ku’s withdrawal comes as he faced an intensifying conflict with the company’s largest shareholder Na

IndustryFeb. 23, 2023

[K-Food] Paris Baguette charms world's taste buds with 'glocalization'

This is the first installment of a series of interviews with global business chiefs of South Korean food companies that are expanding aggressively in overseas markets. -- Ed. Paris Baguette is a bakery as common in South Korea as Dunkin Donuts is in the United States. The nation’s No. 1 bakery chain, operated by food giant SPC Group, boasts a whopping 3,400 outlets nationwide, which means almost one in five bakeries in Korea is a Paris Baguette store. In recent years, Paris Baguette ha

ConsumerFeb. 23, 2023

Seoul shares close up after BOK's rate freeze

South Korean stocks finished higher on Thursday as investors got a much-awaited reprieve from consecutive rate hikes by the Bank of Korea. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 21.41 points, or 0.89 percent, to close at 2,439.09. Trading volume was a bit slim at 393.06 million shares worth 7.33 trillion won ($5.65 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 510 to 362. Institutions and foreign investors combined bought a net 300.87 billi

MarketFeb. 23, 2023

LG Chem pins flexible corporate culture as key to growth

To foster a pleasant and fair work environment that promotes productivity, South Korea’s leading chemical firm LG Chem said Thursday it is taking measures to expand the avenues for communication and debate so employees can have more say. The company introduced the "CEO Discussion Table" this year, a program in which Shin Hak-cheol, LG Chem's CEO and vice chairman, and other workers can participate together in the decision-making process for the company’s main strategie

IndustryFeb. 23, 2023

BOK freezes rate, forecasts fading inflation

The Bank of Korea left the key interest rate unchanged at 3.5 percent Thursday on expectations that inflation has peaked. It, however, stressed the freeze does not signal an end of its rate hike stance. The central bank began a series of rate hikes in August 2021 to tamp down soaring prices amid the pandemic recovery. Over the past 1 1/2 years, it has raised the base rate by 300 basis points to 3.5 percent. However, projecting that inflation has passed its peak and will slowly tail off throughou

EconomyFeb. 23, 2023

European businesses in Korea offer mixed outlook this year: survey

A majority of European companies doing business in Korea posted robust sales last year, but offered a mixed outlook for 2023, a business confidence survey conducted by the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea showed Thursday. The business lobby conducted the survey together with the Korea-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and nine other European national chambers and business councils supported by consultancy Roland Berger Seoul. A total of 184 companies, representing over 60,000 employ

IndustryFeb. 23, 2023

AmCham Korea calls for extension to foreign workers’ tax benefit

The chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea called on the Korean government to offer flat income tax benefits for foreign workers on a permanent basis. During a press conference held at the IFC Forum in Seoul to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the US-Korea alliance and the founding of AmCham Korea on Thursday, AmCham Korea CEO James Kim said the 20-year flat income tax benefit for foreign workers should be extended further, citing other countries who offer them on a permanent

IndustryFeb. 23, 2023

Posco International wins exploring rights for Indonesian gas mines

South Korean commodities trader Posco International said Thursday that it has won gas mine exploration rights in Indonesia as part of efforts to beef up energy and resource businesses. A consortium involving the Korean firm and Indonesia’s state-owned Pertamina Hulu Energy gained the rights to explore and operate the Bunga gas block off the eastern Java island. The two will each own a 50 percent stake in the project, while Posco International will hold the operational rights. The Bunga gas

IndustryFeb. 23, 2023

[Photo News] In commemoration of independence fighter

Starbucks Korea said Thursday it will donate a restored handwritten note of Korean independence movement leader Kim Gu, whose pen name is Baekbeom, to the National Trust for Cultural Heritage as part of its social contribution activities. The note, written in classical Chinese, reads “Yoo Ji Pil Seong,” which can be roughly translated to “If there is a will, it will be achieved.” Kim wrote it to honor the death of independence fighter Yun Bong-gil in 1949. In commemoratio

ConsumerFeb. 23, 2023