Hanwha chairman bets on solar energy for future growth

[THE INVESTOR] It can’t be denied that the South Korean economy is dominated by conglomerates. And while they may appear to be pretty much the same on the outside, each is busy seeking their own individual strategy for the future.Hanwha Group is no exception to this. On July 5, Hanwha Group chairman Kim Seung-youn visited the company’s solar energy cell plant in Chungcheong Province. During the hourlong tour, Kim proclaimed the group’s vision of fostering solar energy as its next growth engine.H

July 6, 2016

Celltrion chairman pushes to build theme park in Incheon

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean pharmaceutical firm Celltrion ’s chairman Suh Jeong-jin has kicked off plans to build a large-scale theme park in Incheon’s Yeongjong-do, according to an exclusive news report here. The park would be a personal project, with a handful of investors taking part, according to Incheon Free Economic Zone authorities and the Incheon Development & Tourism Corp. “A group of investors including Suh has already invested around 1 billion won (US$86,930) to initiate the plan. The

July 6, 2016

Lotte Group women rise to the surface due to scandal

[THE INVESTOR] Now that an arrest warrant has been issued for Lotte Foundation chief Shin Young-ja -- the first Lotte founding family member to face imprisonment in the firm’s latest embezzlement scandal -- all eyes are on the women of Lotte Group who have so far stayed behind the scenes. In addition to Young-ja, there are her daughters including Jang Sun-yoon, senior vice president of Hotel Lotte, and also Lotte founder Shin Kyuk-ho’s third wife Seo Mi-kyung and her daughter Shin Yu-mi who are

July 5, 2016

Lotte’s Shin Young-ja faces criticism for funneling company funds to her children

[THE INVESTOR] Embattled Lotte Foundation chief Shin Young-ja and her children are expected to face public scrutiny over some 4 billion won (US$3.47 million) worth of corporate funds they are suspected to have embezzled.  Shin is elder sister of Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin.And the bigger issue is that Shin funneled most of the money to her kids to be used as their personal allowances. Lotte Foundation chief Shin Young-ja /The Investor(Park Hyon-koo)Through a small company formed by Young-

July 5, 2016

Hyundai Heavy heir to meet with Saudi Arabian energy minister

[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Heavy Industries’ heir and executives are to discuss widening their business opportunities in Saudi Arabia on July 1 when they meet Aramco executives and Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih.Al-Falih, who was previously head of the Middle East country’s largest state-refiner, Aramco, will stop by South Korea later July 1 following a G20 energy ministers’ meeting in China. The minister will be joined by Aramco executives who will meet with Hyundai Heavy chairman Ch

July 1, 2016

South Korean tycoons’ stock value falls

[THE INVESTOR] The majority of South Korean business tycoons saw a fall in the value of their stock assets this year, an analysis by a think tank showed on July 1. According to the think tank specializing in Korea’s largest companies, the value of stocks held by 13 of 19 leaders of major businesses fell during the first half of this year. The data showed that the value of 46 of 61 listed companies held by the 19 individuals fell between Jan. 4 and June 30. Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee J

July 1, 2016

Sejung heiress promoted to COO

[THE INVESTOR] Sejung Group chairman Park Soon-ho’s daughter Park I-ra, 38, has been promoted to chief operating officer and executive vice president at her father’s fashion empire.According to the group on July 1, the junior Park will also serve as head of the group’s apparel distributor Sejung & Future.Established in 1974, Sejung has a stronghold in women’s apparel and is one of the leading second-tier clothing firms in the country.Sejung Group COO Park I-raPark, the chairman’s third daughter,

July 1, 2016