Samsung to launch Galaxy A32 smartphone in S. Korea this week

Samsung Electronics said Thursday it will launch another budget smartphone model in South Korea this week as the global tech giant eyes beefing up its handset sales against rivals. The Galaxy A32 will be released in South Korea on Friday with a price tag of 374,000 won ($330). The budget smartphone is already available in select markets in Europe and India. The LTE-supporting model comes with a quad rear-camera setup with a 60-megapixel (MP) main shooter, 8MP ultra wide lens, 52MP depth sen

TechnologyMarch 11, 2021

Legal risks mount for Samsung’s jailed chief

The trial of Samsung Group’s de facto chief, Lee Jae-yong, resumed Thursday, increasing legal risks for the country’s biggest conglomerate as the court examines his role in the 2015 merger of two business units within the group. The Seoul Central Court held a second session to set a preliminary date for the trial of 12 Samsung executives, including the imprisoned Samsung Electronics vice chairman, who is the only son of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee. The session was

TechnologyMarch 11, 2021

KAI to develop AR/VR jet training system

Korea Aerospace Industries said Thursday it will utilize virtual and augmented realty technologies in its jet trainer system. 　 South Korea’s sole aircraft developer will develop the live-virtual-constructive system, which offers live maneuvering simulation, war game and virtual and constructive trainings. KAI has supplied 50 sets of training systems to 16 countries. Since 2016, the company has conducted and commissioned independent research and developed ways to integrate jet, simula

IndustryMarch 11, 2021

Lotte Card launches new financial services

Credit card firm Lotte Card said on Thursday that it has launched LOCA MONEY, a group of financial services covering short-term and long-term loans and “over-the-limit,” credit card services. The company said the brand focused on financial services is the first of its kind in the credit card industry. All of the newly launched services are branded under the LOCA MONEY name, including the LOCA MONEY-short term loan, and LOCA MONEY-long-term loan. With LOCA-prime, the card issuer w

MarketMarch 11, 2021

Posco chief seeks reappointment despite brawls

For Posco Group, South Korea’s sixth-largest conglomerate in assets, the core agenda of its shareholders’ meeting this week is whether incumbent chief Choi Jung-woo will succeed in extending his term in office, in spite of growing political pressure and labor backlash. Signaling the start of the proxy season this month, the group’s flagship steelmaker Posco will hold its 53rd annual shareholders’ meeting at its headquarters in Seoul’s Gangnam-gu at 9 a.m. Friday

IndustryMarch 11, 2021

SK Innovation pushes nickel limits of EV batteries

This is the first installment of a three-part series looking into SK Innovation’s struggles to rise to the global leadership of lithium ion batteries, which have become a key enabler for a global shift toward sustainable mobility. The articles are sponsored by SK Innovation. - Ed.  SK Innovation is pushing the boundaries of nickel ratio inside electric vehicle batteries to the extreme, taking initiative in the global nickel cobalt manganese, or NCM, battery market. According to

IndustryMarch 11, 2021

SK Innovation to establish complete compliance system after battery defeat in US

SK Innovation said Thursday that its board of directors had ordered the establishment of a “complete global compliance system” in response to the ongoing battery dispute with LG Energy Solution in the US. At an audit committee meeting, held Wednesday and attended by all the company’s outside directors, board members lashed out at the management, saying the company’s “lack of experience in global disputes” had resulted in its defeat in the US’ top tra

IndustryMarch 11, 2021

SK Bioscience to develop vaccine for COVID-19 variants

SK Bioscience will develop an all-in-one vaccine targeting COVID-19 variants, together with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the South Korean firm said Thursday. SK Bioscience would receive funding from CEPI, worth up to $14.2 million, for the research and development. The South Korean vaccine developer could receive additional funds of as much as $12.5 million for building manufacturing facilities. For the new vaccine, the company hopes to build on its experience with n

TechnologyMarch 11, 2021

Bitcoin trades near all-time highs

Bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, surpassed the 65 million won ($57,200) level once again Thursday, continuing a rally that started earlier this week. The digital coin, which has been on an upward trend since March 7, hit 65.15 million won Thursday morning, according to crypto exchange operator Upbit. It is the cryptocurrency’s second-highest level, after the historic high of 65.98 million won recorded Feb. 20. On Bithumb, a local crypto trading platform, one bi

MarketMarch 11, 2021

Seoul stocks make steep rebound on massive foreign buying

South Korean stocks bounced back nearly 2 percent to recover above the 3,000-point threshold Thursday as foreign buying increased amid eased inflation concerns. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 55.58 points, or 1.88 percent, to close at 3,013.7 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 1.3 billion shares worth some 15.8 trillion won ($13.9 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 664 to 193. Foreigners bought a ne

MarketMarch 11, 2021

Coupang’s market value jumps to $63b

Coupang Inc., the parent company of South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang Corp., said it will offer shares of its US initial public offering at $35 apiece, raising its market value to around $63 billion. Based on the fixed share price, the firm will raise $4.55 billion in funding, and it would start trading from Thursday there. Coupang said it has submitted a regulatory filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission and has received approval from the commission. The company‘s estima

MarketMarch 11, 2021

[News Focus] Seoul area, Sejong, Jeju lead surge in unemployment benefits

SEJONG -- South Korea saw the number of recipients of unemployment benefits reach an all-time high of 1.78 million in 2020 in the wake of the novel coronavirus, data from a state-run agency showed. According to the Korea Employment Information Service, this marked an increase by 16.8 percent, 257,510 people, from 1.52 million a year earlier. By region, Greater Seoul -- including Gyeonggi Province and Incheon -- ranked top five, alongside Sejong and Jeju Province, among the nation’s 17 ma

EconomyMarch 11, 2021

Revisiting the rise of Coupang ahead of NYSE debut

Coupang has been in the headlines ever since it filed for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange last month, generating speculation over its value. When it is Thursday in the US, Coupang will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange at $35 per share, the company announced Thursday (Seoul time). It is the biggest IPO debut for any foreign company since Alibaba. At home it is the second-largest e-commerce platform, trailing only Naver, the country’s internet conglomerat

ConsumerMarch 11, 2021

WEF names Market Kurly founder and CEO of Viva Republica as Young Global Leaders

Founder of online grocery service Market Kurly Sophie Kim Seul-Ah and CEO of Viva Republica Lee Seung-gun, the company behind online bank Toss, have been named part of this year’s Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum. Kim and Lee are among the 112 Young Global Leaders, who received the prize in the business and banking and investments categories, respectively. Describing Kim as the South Korean entrepreneur and a former Goldman Sachs analyst, the WEF said Market Kurly has the

IndustryMarch 11, 2021

S. Korean health care exports hit record high in 2020 amid pandemic

South Korea's health care and cosmetics exports soared more than 38 percent to an all-time high in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, industry data showed Thursday. The country's overseas shipments of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and medical devices stood at $21.70 billion last year, up 38.3 percent from the previous year and a fresh high, according to the data from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. The new record came as the pandemic led to a surge in exports of biopharmaceutic

EconomyMarch 11, 2021

Korean Air raises w3.3tr in share sale for Asiana takeover

Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, said Thursday it has raised 3.3 trillion won ($3 billion) in a share sale for its planned acquisition of smaller rival Asiana Airlines Inc. Korean Air issued 173.6 million shares at 19,100 won per share, which is lower than the closing price of 27,400 won Wednesday, the company said in a regulatory filing. The national flag carrier plans to list the shares on the Korea Exchange on March 24, it said.   Out of the rights issue pro

MobilityMarch 11, 2021

Foreigners remain net sellers of S. Korean stocks in February

Foreign investors remained net sellers of South Korean equities in February, extending their selling spree for a third consecutive month, the central bank said Thursday. Foreigners sold a net $2.86 billion worth of local stocks last month, compared with net selling of $2.39 billion in January, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).   Offshore investors, however, remained net buyers of Korean bonds worth $8.99 billion last month, the BOK said. Meanwhile, volatility in South Korea's

MarketMarch 11, 2021

S. Korea's economy to show modest recovery: BOK

South Korea's economy is expected to stage a modest recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the Bank of Korea (BOK) will continue monetary easing to prop up an economic recovery, the BOK said Thursday. In a regular monetary report, the BOK said it will pay close attention to household debts and financial imbalances as companies and households take advantage of cheap credit. "As the pace of the local economic recovery is expected to be modest, (the BOK) will keep monetary easing,"

EconomyMarch 11, 2021

KAIST finds new treatment for dystonia

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s research team has discovered a new way of treating the movement disorder dystonia, it announced Wednesday. Patients with dystonia suffer from involuntary muscle spasms or contractions, resulting in repetitive movements and abnormal body posture. Led by Professor Kim Dae-so, the research team has found that volinanserin, or MDL100907, has the potential to treat dystonia as an antagonist to 5-HT2AR, a serotonin receptor. According

TechnologyMarch 11, 2021

Home meal replacement market valued at w4.2tr in 2019

South Korea's home-meal replacement product market was estimated at 4.2 trillion won ($3.68 billion) in 2019, data showed Thursday, with the sector expected to continue to grow down the road on the growing number of single-member households. The annual average growth of the segment was 16 percent since 2010, according to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI). The proportion of single-member households in South Korea surpassed 30 percent of the total for the first time in 2019. (Yonhap)

EconomyMarch 11, 2021