LX Pantos, Indonesia’s KSA to set up resource logistics JV

Korean logistics company LX Pantos announced Thursday the signing of a contract with Indonesian company KSA to establish a joint venture for resource logistics. LX Pantos CEO Lee Yong-ho, KSA CEO Kartika Hadi and other executives from both companies attended the signing ceremony, held at KSA's headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. Through this agreement, LX Pantos is to make its debut in the Indonesian resource logistics market. KSA is Indonesia's largest bulk carrier company specializin

May 30, 2024

Hanwha Qcells completes major solar project for Meta

Hanwha Qcells said Thursday that it had completed a major solar power and energy storage project in California to supply renewable energy to Meta, Facebook's parent company. Located in Borrego Springs, California, the facility has 50 megawatts of solar modules and a 200-megawatt-hour energy storage system. Meta has been carbon neutral since 2020 and is committed to achieving full supply chain carbon neutrality by 2030. A 50 MW solar capacity situates this project in the mid-range among util

May 30, 2024

Sales start for Hyundai Hillstate Dujeong Station in Cheonan

Hyundai Engineering & Construction has started sales of Hillstate Dujeong Station, a new residential apartment complex located in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. The complex comprises 11 buildings each 29 stories high, offering a total of 997 units. Scheduled for move-in in March next year, the apartments will be the first in the Dujeong-dong area to feature top-floor duplex penthouses. A total of 30 units with large duplex structures ranging from 148 to 170 square meters will be availa

May 30, 2024

[Herald Interview] Saudi Arabia seeks more ‘boots on the ground’ from Korean game makers

Saudi Arabia is looking for more collaboration with Korean game companies as the Middle Eastern country has been aggressively spending billions of dollars to develop its gaming industry with the ultimate goal of becoming a global esports hub, Riyadh’s top gaming officials said Wednesday. “We're looking to start a conversation to make sure that we can be a good partner and see where we can collaborate and where we can be good partners,” said Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sul

May 30, 2024

[Contribution] Petrochemical business to explore Gen AI potentials

By Marco Moder Partner at McKinsey & Company Korea Once the key growth engine for the nation’s economy. Now a major roadblock in value chain realignment and market road map. This is where South Korea’s petrochemical industry stands as of now. It is undeniable that the industry faces numerous challenges. Over the past few years, the rapid oversupply from China has intensified demand competition, causing profitability to plummet to an unprecedented level. Also, as the business cy

May 30, 2024

Seoul shares open lower amid waning hopes for Fed rate cut

Seoul shares opened lower Thursday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, as the Federal Reserve appears to be in no rush to cut interest rates in the face of the strong economy and high inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 15.47 points, or 0.58 percent, to 2,661.83 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.06 percent to 38,441.54 points, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite retreated 0.58 percent to 16,920.58. The Fed

May 30, 2024

S. Korea partners with US aircraft startup for UAM commercialization

South Korea has partnered with a US electric aircraft startup to push forward the commercialization of urban air mobility, the transport ministry said Wednesday. Archer Aviation Inc. will join the Korean government's UAM test project dubbed "Grand Challenge" along with local companies -- Kakao Mobilty Corp., LG Uplus Corp. and GS Engineering & Construction Co., the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. Archer Chief Commercial Officer Nikhil Goel m

May 29, 2024

2 workers exposed to radiation at Samsung's chip plant in S. Korea

Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday two workers at one of its chip manufacturing facilities in South Korea were recently exposed to radiation and a government-led investigation is underway. The two workers in the chip production line of Samsung's Giheung Campus in Yongin, 42 kilometers south of Seoul, experienced X-ray exposure on their hands Monday, the company said in a text message response to reporter inquires. The company said it became aware of the incident Tuesday when the workers

May 29, 2024

Merck breaks ground for Korean bioprocessing plant

German pharmaceutical company Merck Life Science on Wednesday started the construction of a new bioprocessing production center in Daejeon, in which it will invest around 300 million euros ($325 million) -- the company’s largest investment in the Asia-Pacific region. The new bioprocessing production center will be built on a 43,000-square-meter plot of land within Daejeon’s International Science-Business Belt, some 140 kilometers south of Seoul. Merck Life Science will aim to complet

May 29, 2024

Korean Air, Asiana outpaced by foreign rivals in April passenger numbers

The number of international flight passengers using foreign airlines exceeded that of those using Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, the nation’s top two air carriers, in April – the first time they have done so without pandemic restrictions in place. According to data released by the Land and Transport Ministry on Wednesday, the number of outbound and inbound travelers using foreign airlines was 2.25 million last month, while there were 1.36 million passengers for Korean Air and 877,47

May 29, 2024

Corning eyes leadership in glass substrate market for chips

Corning is looking to expand its presence in the burgeoning glass substrate market for semiconductors, using its special proprietary technologies, the company's president in charge of Korea operation said Wednesday. Speaking at his first press conference here after assuming his role as the president of Corning's Korea Region last November, Vaughn Hall also presented the company's new initiative window glasses, introducing the lighter, energy-efficient ATG Glass. "I have high

May 29, 2024

Seoul shares dip over 1.5% ahead of US inflation data

Seoul shares closed sharply lower Wednesday as investors waited for major events, including this week's US inflation data. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunged 45.55 points, or 1.67 percent, to close at 2,722.85. Trade volume was moderate at 431 million shares worth 12.7 trillion won ($9.36 billion), with losers far outpacing gainers 673 to 220. Foreigners dumped a net 1 trillion won, while individuals scooped up a net 1.26 t

May 29, 2024

UAE president, Hyundai Motor chief discuss green mobility partnerships in Seoul

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun met with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss enhancing private-sector collaboration in sustainable mobility during Al Nahyan's visit to Korea this week. The UAE President's visit, his first to South Korea, also included meetings with leaders of other major South Korean conglomerates, such as Samsung Electronics' Lee Jae-yong and SK Group's Chey Tae-won. These discuss

May 29, 2024

Samsung Electronics union declares first-ever strike

Unionized workers of Samsung Electronics said Wednesday that they would go on strike next week after failed wage talks with the management -- the first-ever strike in the tech giant’s five decades of history. "We can’t stand persecution against labor unions anymore. We declare a strike due to the management's attitude of disregarding the workers," the Nationwide Samsung Electronics Union, the largest among Samsung's multiple unions, said in a press briefing held i

May 29, 2024

[Photo News] Futuristic aircraft cabin

A mockup of an aircraft interior featuring smart cabin technology, developed by LG Display, Boeing, and LIG Nex1, is on display at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024 in Hamburg, Germany, on Tuesday. For the trade show, the three companies collaborated to develop four types of OLED panels to display various information such as captain's messages, in-flight duty-free sales content, weather conditions, and airline branding. Their lighter weight compared to LCD panels also can help improve the op

May 29, 2024

CJ Logistics extends distribution network for Korean sellers

South Korea's top logistics firm CJ Logistics said Wednesday that it has established cross-border e-commerce partnerships with leading logistics companies in the United States and Japan to strengthen the distribution network for Korean sellers abroad. In the US, CJ Logistics will handle air freight forwarding to Los Angeles International Airport and New York's JFK International Airport, while multiple local partners, including FedEx, will manage final delivery services. Japan's to

May 29, 2024

BAT Rothmans vows to prevent nicotine use by minors

BAT Rothmans, the Korean unit of British American Tobacco, said Wednesday it will intensify efforts to ensure that no one underage uses nicotine products, as part of their campaign to mark the annual World No Tobacco Day on May 31. The company also expressed support for more government efforts to prevent minors' nicotine use. "Underage individuals should never use nicotine, and we believe the government plays a crucial role (through regulations) in ensuring this,” BAT Rothmans&rs

May 29, 2024

The Woorishop, a win-win e-commerce solution for sellers, buyers

Korea's e-commerce platform sector is highly competitive, but The Woorishop thinks it has the standout solution: a cashback offer to keep customers coming back. The platform provider offers a package that returns high-percentage cash paybacks to consumers, allowing buyers to enjoy substantial discounts while sellers boost their sales. "The Woorishop operates on a business model that benefits both buyers and sellers when they interact online," said Jeon Ho-geun, CEO of The Woorisho

May 29, 2024

E-commerce platforms rise among self-employed

South Korea has for the last nearly three decades seen a rise in the number of self-employed individuals who have been forced to start their own businesses due to layoffs and reduced employment opportunities. With the number of job losses outpacing the number of new hires in recent data, a general increase in involuntary early retirements and the rapid rise of the digital gig economy since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, many people here have added side jobs or are working multiple freelance job

May 29, 2024

Daewoo E&S eyes Czech nuclear project

Daewoo Engineering & Construction announced Wednesday that it hosted the Czechia-Korea Nuclear Engineering & Construction Forum in Prague on Monday, with the aim to secure a new nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic. The forum saw around 150 attendees, including Czech government officials, local nuclear industry representatives and media personnel. Daewoo E&C President Baek Jung-wan led the sales efforts by signing MOUs with local companies during the event. Daewoo E&

May 29, 2024