LG Uplus names ex-AT&T data expert as new data chief

South Korean telecommunication company LG Uplus has named Gabe Hwang, former executive at AT&T and WarnerMedia, as its inaugural chief data officer in its push for an innovation to enhance consumer experience and boost productivity, the company said Monday. Hwang will lead data-related businesses of LG Uplus from delivering data capabilities for client to the company’s artificial intelligence integration and digital transformation. Hwang’s addition will allow LG Uplus to

TechnologyJan. 17, 2022

Mask fraud alert: Dating apps crack down on heavily masked profiles amid complaints

Wearing a mask has become commonplace during this pandemic. Though the act is often encouraged to stop the spread of COVID-19, there is one place where it is definitely frowned upon – dating apps. Users say profiles with only masked up photos can be misleading. Amid growing complaints, some dating app operators are cracking down on those considered a “magikkun” -- a portmanteau from the English word “mask” and the Korean word “sagikkun” which means a fr

TechnologyJan. 17, 2022

3 firms fined W233m for price fixing over steel plate transportation

South Korea's antitrust regulator said Monday it has decided to impose a combined 233 million won ($195,800) in fines on three companies for colluding to fix bidding prices over the transport of steel plates. Dongbang and two other firms colluded to fix their quotations between 2016 and 2018 for bids on thick plates by the country's largest steelmaker POSCO, according to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC). Prior to the bidding, the companies colluded to divide the sections over which they will tr

IndustryJan. 17, 2022

Banks expected to pause in toughening household loan controls in Q1: survey

Banks in South Korea are expected to take a wait-and-see attitude in their lending policy during the first quarter after significantly toughening loan controls for months in line with the government's push to rein in household debt. According to the poll of 17 banks and other financial institutions by the Bank of Korea, the index measuring the banks' attitude toward home-backed and unsecured loans came to zero and minus six, respectively, for the January-March period. The figures were higher t

EconomyJan. 17, 2022

Seoul stocks open lower on auto, financial losses

South Korean stocks opened lower Monday, weighed by losses of auto and financial heavyweights. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 13.39 points, or 0.46 percent, to 2,908.53 points in the first 15 minutes of trading. The key stock index got off to a weak start, following a two-day losing streak amid concerns about the rising inflationary pressure at home and in the United States. In Seoul, leading carmaker Hyundai Motor lost 1.67 percent, with its smaller affili

MarketJan. 17, 2022

[Market Eye] Korean tech giants fall prey to patent trolling

Though the pandemic has driven record-breaking profits for tech firms as demand for at-home leisure and communication hardware rises, it has also stoked a growing threat coming from patent trolls. Companies specializing in exploiting patent rights have been buying up intellectual property from firms struggling amid the pandemic and using it as ammunition against Korean firms. The approach is often seen as a “file-and-settle” strategy, as their targets would often prefer to avoid f

TechnologyJan. 16, 2022

LG's large-capacity washers beat Whirlpool's in Consumer Reports ratings

LG Electronics’ large capacity washing machines topped in a rating by Consumer Reports released a week prior, beating US rival Whirlpool‘s products in performance of washing more clothes at once, according to the industry Sunday. LG’s front-load washer WM9000HWA, one of the models under its LG Tromm brand, was ranked the highest in Consumer Reports‘ best large-capacity front-loaders rating for 2022. The model features a 147.2-liter capacity and LG’s own TurboWash

TechnologyJan. 16, 2022

[Newsmaker] HDC chief likely to make public address over Gwangju accident

Amid pressure building over a series of safety accidents at Hyundai Development Co.’s large-scale construction sites in Gwangju, the builder’s chief is likely to make a public address this week, according to insiders Sunday. A week has passed since an accident at HDC’s 39-story apartment building site in Hwajung-dong in Gwangju, with five people still missing. But HDC Chairman Chung Mong-gyu has remained silent.  The Gwangju accident is the second case involving HDC. In

IndustryJan. 16, 2022

LG Energy Solution IPO may be behind stock market retreat

The benchmark Kospi and junior Kosdaq have retreated for the past month as investors offloaded a combined 9.4 trillion won ($7.8 billion) in shares in what many see as stepping up preparations for a battery maker listing, which is expected to set a record later this month. LG Energy Solution, the world’s second-largest battery maker after China’s CATL, is expected to raise 12.7 trillion won in its initial public offering set for Jan. 27, with shares priced 300,000 won each, at the t

MarketJan. 16, 2022

Government to deploy 10,000 couriers amid CJ strike

Amid the prolonged strike of unionized delivery workers of CJ Logistics, the logistics unit of Korea’s conglomerate CJ Group, government is planning to deploy additional workers to prepare for a delivery surge in the upcoming New Year’s holiday. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, starting Monday, it will deploy around 10,000 delivery workers to the field from Jan. 17 to Feb. 12. Following the scheme, the ministry aims to offset the delivery shortage sp

ConsumerJan. 16, 2022

[Test Drive] Genesis G90, how different from S-Class

When it comes to luxury sedans, Mercedes Benz’s S-Class easily comes to mind. It’s obviously difficult to go beyond the German carmaker's brand reputation and technology built over decades, but the 6-year-old Korean luxury car brand Genesis is seeking to lure customers in the high-end luxury segment with its flagship full-size sedan G90 that offers a brand new experience different from S-Class.  Rather than presenting state-of-the-art auto technology to easily edge out its Germ

MobilityJan. 16, 2022

Record high of nearly 3m cars recalled in S. Korea last year: ministry

A record high of nearly 3 million vehicles were recalled in South Korea last year for the replacement of faulty parts and other repairs, government data showed Sunday. According to the data provided by the land ministry, around 2.93 million cars of a total of 2,443 models -- both foreign and domestic -- were recalled in 2021, the largest annual number ever since the recall system was first introduced in 2003. Of the total, some 1.76 million units of 71 domestic models were recalled, with the

IndustryJan. 16, 2022

[Battery+] 'Peanut butter-jelly' tech lets EVs charge in 20 minutes

Porsche Taycan 2019 models surprised the world when they were first released by supporting rapid charging from 0 to 100 percent in 20-30 minutes, which was almost twice as fast as other electric vehicles at the time. Behind this jaw-dropping performance stood LG Energy Solution’s two breakthrough EV battery manufacturing technologies, which are similar to making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Now the South Korean battery giant aims to apply the two technologies not only to premium

IndustryJan. 16, 2022

40% of self-employed consider biz closure amid pandemic: survey

Four out of 10 self-employed people in South Korea are considering closing their businesses due to sluggish sales amid the long-enforced strict social distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic, a survey showed Sunday. According to the survey of 500 people operating restaurants, retail and other service businesses by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), a major business lobby group, 40.8 percent said that they are considering discontinuing their operations. Of them, 28.2 percent ci

EconomyJan. 16, 2022

LG Energy Solution to raise W12.75tr in nation’s largest-ever IPO

LG Energy Solution said Friday that heated institutional demand has set its initial public offering price at the top end of its target range at 300,000 won ($252.80). In a regulatory filing, the firm said as many as 1,988 institutions have subscribed to its offering of 41.5 million initial issues. The shares were oversubscribed by more than 2,023 times, with all of the investors proposing to buy at the highest price range. “LG Energy Solution attracted 15.2 quadrillion won in demand

MarketJan. 14, 2022

Samsung’s removable-battery smartphone returns

Samsung Electronics on Friday debuted its new Galaxy XCover Pro, a rugged smartphone that features a removable battery, a feature long gone in today’s smartphone market. The compact phone, priced at 275,000 won ($231.80), comes in black and white and features a 5.3-inch LCD display as well as a waterproof and dustproof body. The most distinctive feature is a 3,000 mAh replaceable battery that lasts long enough for all-day use and supports a quick charge rate of up to 15 watts. Upon its

TechnologyJan. 14, 2022

Seoul stocks dip for 2nd day on rate hike concerns

South Korean stocks extended their losing streak to a second session Friday amid concerns about fast rate hikes at home and in the United States. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) declined 40.17 points, or 1.36 percent, to close at 2,921.92 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 523 million shares worth some 10.6 trillion won ($8.9 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 663 to 209. Institutions sold a net 600 billion w

MarketJan. 14, 2022

DSME in search for new owner as tie-up with Hyundai Heavy fails

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering is in search of a new owner again after a merger plan with its larger rival Hyundai Heavy Industries failed due to an EU veto on monopoly concerns. The European Commission announced Thursday its prohibition for the merger, claiming that the deal could reduce competition in the global LNG carrier market amid soaring energy prices. Back in 2019, Hyundai Heavy announced it would acquire a 55.7 percent stake in Daewoo Shipbuilding from its largest shar

IndustryJan. 14, 2022

Extra budget of W14 trillion planned for microbusiness owners

SEJONG -- The Ministry of Economy and Finance has unveiled its policy to draw up a supplementary budget worth 14 trillion won ($11.7 billion), most of which will be used to support small business owners including the self-employed. Under constitutional government in Korea since 1948, this will mark the second time a supplementary budget bill has been submitted to the National Assembly in January. This first case was conducted in January 1951 during the inter-Korean War. In a news briefing at G

EconomyJan. 14, 2022

BOK raises rate to pre-pandemic level, hints more rate hikes to come

South Korea’s central bank on Friday raised its base rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 percent, returning it to the level before the pandemic started, with its chief hinting at additional hikes. As a result of its first rate-setting meeting of the year, the Bank of Korea’s monetary policy board delivered its third pandemic-era rate hike, following its previous 25 basis point rate hikes in August and November, respectively. The move in August ended more than a year of record-low inter

EconomyJan. 14, 2022