Energy storage tech of LG, Samsung shines at Interbattery Europe

LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI, two of Korea's leading battery manufacturers, are showcasing their latest energy storage solutions at Interbattery Europe 2024 in Munich, Germany, from Wednesday to Friday this week. The two firms are presenting a range of advanced products designed to meet the growing demand for energy storage systems in Europe and beyond due to the increasing reliance on renewable energy sources. An energy storage system is a large-scale setup designed to store and mana

IndustryJune 19, 2024

Hyundai Mobis adopts sonic AI to assess quality

Hyundai Mobis, a South Korean auto parts developer under Hyundai Motor Group, said Wednesday that it has developed a sound-based artificial intelligence system that can determine the accuracy of product quality from sounds generated during inspection. It has applied the AI technology at its manufacturing site. According to Hyundai Mobis, a new technology called Acoustic AI has been installed at its Changwon plant in South Gyeongsang Province, which rolls out motor-driven power steering products.

MobilityJune 19, 2024

Hana Financial head pitches to global investors in Hong Kong

Hana Financial Group Chairman and CEO Ham Young-joo met with overseas investors in Hong Kong via a two-day event to promote the banking group's strategies to elevate its corporate and shareholder values, the firm said Wednesday. At the event that took place Monday and Tuesday, Ham stressed how the market value of the financial group has increased since the announcement of the capital management and shareholder return plan in early 2023. It was the first global investor relations event for H

IndustryJune 19, 2024

SKT-led quantum alliance named 'X Quantum'

SK Telecom, South Korea's largest wireless carrier by membership, on Wednesday unveiled the official name of its quantum alliance: X Quantum. In March, SK Telecom allied with six other companies -- Nokia, SOS Lab, Xgate, Wooriro, KCS and IDQ Korea -- to promote developments in the quantum ecosystem through exploring joint marketing and business opportunities. Regarding X Quantum, SK Telecom explained that it encompasses the identity of the “quantum frontier,” which plays a role

TechnologyJune 19, 2024

LG, ChargePoint join forces for EV charging biz

LG Electronics said Wednesday it has teamed up with ChargePoint, a leading provider of networked charging solutions for electric vehicles, to leverage their respective strengths for future innovations in EV charging. The two sides recently signed a memorandum of understanding for commercial EV charging in the US. Through the agreement, LG augments its existing client base by securing ChargePoint, which possesses an extensive portfolio of charging solutions, as a customer. ChargePoint has more th

IndustryJune 19, 2024

SPC Group cleared of W64.7b antitrust fine

South Korean bakery giant SPC Group has been fully absolved of a 64.7 billion won ($46.8 million) fine, as the Supreme Court upheld a ruling in the company's favor in its lawsuit against the nation's antitrust watchdog for allegedly unfairly supporting its affiliates. The Supreme Court confirmed on Monday a lawsuit filed by five SPC Group affiliates, including SPC Samlip, against the FTC, to cancel the fine. In July 2020, the FTC claimed that SPC funneled a total of 41.4 billion won in

IndustryJune 19, 2024

FSS chief calls for change in culture of banks to prevent financial incidents

The chief of the financial regulator on Wednesday stressed the need to change the very mindset of bank officials to prevent financial incidents such as incomplete sales. Lee Bok-hyun, head of the Financial Supervisory Service, made the remark in a meeting with the heads of 20 banks in South Korea. "To prevent financial accidents, including incomplete sales, a change in the mind and conduct of bank officials is most important," Lee told the meeting. "I ask the bank management to ac

EconomyJune 19, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on tech gains

Seoul shares opened higher Wednesday as investors scooped up tech stocks following a surge in US chipmakers. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 28.31 points, or 1.02 percent, to 2,792.23 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2 percent to 38,834.86, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.03 percent to 17,862.23. Nvidia Corp. surpassed Microsoft Corp. to become the world's most-valuable company for the first time. In Seo

MarketJune 19, 2024

HD Hyundai launches first of two corvettes for Philippine Navy

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has launched the Miguel Malvar, the first of two corvettes ordered by the Philippine Navy in 2021. A corvette is the smallest type of warship used for coastal patrols, surveillance and escort duties. The Miguel Malvar is scheduled for delivery to the Philippine Navy by 2025 after commissioning and final outfitting. The christening ceremony for the 3,200-ton vessel was held at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan headquarters on Tuesday. The event saw attendance fr

IndustryJune 18, 2024

Seoul shares hit over 2-yr high on strong foreign buying

South Korean stocks closed higher to end at an over two-year high Tuesday as foreign investors scooped up blue chips after a tech-led rally on Wall Street. The local currency advanced slightly against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index increased 19.82 points, or 0.72 percent, to close at 2,763.92, rebounding from a 0.52 percent drop the previous day. The closing index marks the highest since Feb. 20, 2022, when the comparable reading was 2,771.93. Trade volume was mod

MarketJune 18, 2024

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 to livestream Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony

As the Paris 2024 Olympics is set to hold its opening ceremony outside the confines of a stadium for the very first time, Samsung Electronics will install its flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones inside the city to broadcast the iconic event, the tech giant said Tuesday. Samsung, an official partner for the Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic events, announced that it will install more than 200 units of its most up-to-date smartphone at the bow and sides of each of the 85 vessels that will be carr

IndustryJune 18, 2024

Air Incheon ascends to No. 2 air cargo carrier with Asiana deal

Korea's sole all-cargo airline Air Incheon has been named the preferred bidder for Asiana Airlines' cargo freighter division, paving the way for it to expand its business routes to the Americas and Europe. The purchase price is estimated to range between 450 billion won and 500 billion won ($325-million-$362 million). Air Incheon is to sign a stock purchase agreement by the end of July after two weeks of due diligence and contract discussions. If the deal closes by the first quarter of

IndustryJune 18, 2024

HiteJinro eyes W500b in overseas soju sales by 2030

HiteJinro, the nation’s No. 1 soju maker, has set its goal of hitting 500 billion won ($362 million) in soju sales overseas by 2030, an ambitious three-fold growth from last year. The new growth vision, marking the company’s centennial this year, was unveiled June 12 at a press conference held in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnam is also the home to its first overseas soju plant set for completion by 2026. Located on an 82,000-square-meter site within an industrial complex in Thai Binh Provinc

IndustryJune 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] Georgia promises stability for companies at time of uncertainty

The US state of Georgia can provide stability for businesses when companies face uncertainties with the upcoming US presidential election, Gov. Brian Kemp said Monday in Seoul. “In a time of uncertainty, Georgia has the one certain thing that you will get a constant good business environment,” said Kemp in an interview with a group of reporters on the sidelines of the Georgia Night in Korea, a networking event held at Conrad Seoul on Monday evening. “No ups and downs. That'

IndustryJune 18, 2024

Hyundai Motor CEO named co-chair of Hydrogen Council

Chang Jae-hoon, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Group, has been named as co-chairman of the Hydrogen Council, a global coalition of CEOs committed to speeding up hydrogen-based energy transition. The Hydrogen Council announced Tuesday Chang's appointment to replace Yoshinori Kanehana, chairman of Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries, whose term ends in June. Chang will serve the chairman role alongside Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of Linde, the US industrial gas producer. This appointment follow

CompaniesJune 18, 2024

[Photo News] Future military rover

Hyundai Rotem, in partnership with Hyundai Motor Group, has unveiled its HR-Sherpa autonomous vehicle, the fourth generation designed for versatile military applications, including surveillance, reconnaissance, combat and logistical support. It is the only vehicle of its kind to have undergone real-world testing with the Korean military, participating in joint drills with the US Army and Korea's Armed Forces Day celebration last year. (Hyundai Rotem)

IndustryJune 18, 2024

Naver Webtoon aims for $2.67b valuation via Nasdaq listing

Naver Webtoon, known as Webtoon Entertainment in the US, is seeking to be listed on the Nasdaq market, where it expects to have a corporate value of up to $2.67 billion. Webtoon Entertainment submitted a registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission for its upcoming initial public offering on Monday. The company aims to raise as much as $315 million by issuing 15 million common shares at an expected price range of $18 to $21 per share, the statement showed. Once listed, the

IndustryJune 18, 2024

Lufthansa CEO upbeat about Korea's market potential

Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr visited Seoul earlier this month to renew his commitment to the Korean market, where demand for premium airline services continues to grow. "We see tremendous potential in the Korean market and will strive to offer a premium experience to Korean customers with our vast selection of routes," the CEO said during a press conference held at a Seoul hotel on June 5. He was visiting Korea to attend an executive meeting in the Asia-Pacific region. He especial

IndustryJune 18, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on US gains

South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Tuesday following overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 25.01 points, or 0.91 percent, to 2,769.11 in the first 15 minutes of trading. In the United States, Wall Street's main indices finished bullish, led by tech shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.49 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.95 percent. In Seoul, large caps led the strong opening. Samsung Electronics added

MarketJune 18, 2024

North Korea claims its own EV brand with improbable 720km range

North Korea is making bold claims about importing and selling its own brand of electric vehicles with an improbable maximum range of 720 kilometers, drawing skepticism and curiosity from South Korean and international observers alike. Last Friday, a video titled "Madusan Economic Federation" was posted on the YouTube channel "Paektu TV From Paektu to Halla," which shares content purportedly from North Korean media. Paektu Mountain, also known as Baekdu Mountain, is an active

MobilityJune 17, 2024