Banks to resume compensation talks for ELS losses

Major local banks are expediting compensation procedures for losses tied to Hong Kong-linked derivative products, with some poised to distribute payments this week. KB Kookmin Bank, the largest seller of equity-linked securities tracking the troubled Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, will officially begin negotiations for voluntary compensation with clients starting Monday, an official from the bank said Sunday. The bank plans to address accounts based on their order of maturation, starting wit

May 26, 2024

LG Energy Solution hosts recruitment event in New York

LG Energy Solution said Sunday that its top executives traveled to the US last week to host a global talent recruitment event as part of the battery maker’s ongoing efforts to lure tech talents around the world. The Battery Tech Conference (BTC) is the company’s unique global recruitment event aimed at recruiting quality workers in research and development and promoting its vision for growth. Following last year’s event held in San Francisco, the event headed to New York this y

May 26, 2024

KRX CEO pledges to turn Korea discount into premium

The chief of Korea Exchange, the country's sole bourse operator, vowed Friday to boost the market valuation of companies listed on the local stock market with a seamless backup of the country’s “corporate value-up” directive. During a press conference commemorating his first 100 days in office, Korea Exchange CEO Jeong Eun-bo said the country's stock market is in dire need of tackling its perennial discount to turn it into a premium. “The Korea discount exists.

May 26, 2024

[KH Explains] US crackdown on Chinese connected vehicles unsettles Korea

The South Korean government and automotive industry are on high alert as the US prepares to enforce regulations on Chinese-made connected vehicles this fall, citing national security concerns about potential data leaks involving American consumers. While the focus seems to be on complete vehicles, the regulations could indirectly affect Chinese-made components if they are deemed integral to the data collection and transmission processes that raise security concerns. The broad scope of the term &

May 26, 2024

[From the Scene] Porsche’s Leipzig plant shines with people-first orientation

LEIPZIG, Germany -- Bright rays of sunlight shone through the roof Thursday morning at the assembly building of Porsche’s manufacturing plant in Leipzig, Germany, enlivening the atmosphere of the busy production site. The German sports carmaker’s Leipzig plant shattered the traditional image of auto factories being rather grey and stifling as The Korea Herald visited the site as a part of this year’s International Transport Forum held at the Congress Center Leipzig from Wednesd

May 26, 2024

Hyundai Steel sharpens edge to ride out tough market

As the construction industry grapples with years of high interest rates, rising raw material costs and increased risks associated with real estate project financing, Korea's second-largest steelmaker, Hyundai Steel, has been diversifying their businesses to enhance profitability and discover new demand. As part of this initiative, the steelmaker has signed a joint research and development agreement for steel structure refractory methods in partnership with Hyundai Engineering, KCC and the K

May 26, 2024

Genesis BBQ opens new US stores in Omaha

Genesis BBQ Group, Korea's largest chicken franchise, announced Thursday the opening of a new store in Omaha, in eastern Nebraska. With the launch of the Omaha branch, BBQ has successfully expanded its presence to 28 out of the 50 states in the US. Omaha is the largest city in the state and is also home to Berkshire Hathaway, the investment holding company of renowned investor Warren Buffett. BBQ's Omaha branch, located just ten minutes from Berkshire Hathaway's headquarters, is e

May 26, 2024

S. Korea's innovative Traffic Culture Index spotlighted at OECD transport ministers' gathering

In terms of traffic safety, South Korea has seen a remarkable improvement over the past decade across various metrics. According to the International Transport Forum, the country has seen a 49.2 percent decrease in road deaths between 2012 and 2022. The number of passenger car occupants killed in road crashes dropped by 63.8 percent, while that of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents fell by 54 percent. Industry experts attribute such improvements to an overall enhancement of public awarene

May 24, 2024

Ottogi heir joins family business in US

South Korean food company Ottogi family's third-generation member Ham Yon-ji, 32, has recently joined Ottogi, after appearing in public for years as a musical actor and a YouTuber, according to industry sources Friday. As the daughter of Ottogi Chairman Ham Young-joon, Ham officially joined Ottogi America, a US subsidiary of Ottogi, this month and is reportedly working in the marketing division following an internship at the company. Ham graduated from New York University's Tisch Scho

May 24, 2024

HD Hyundai and Shell to collaborate on next-gen liquefied hydrogen carriers

  HD Hyundai announced Friday a partnership with Shell to advance liquefied hydrogen (LH2) transportation technologies. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, both integral parts of HD Hyundai's shipbuilding division, have signed a joint development agreement with Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Ltd. The agreement was signed at the HD Hyundai Global Research and Development Center in Gyeonggi Province. Executives in attendance incl

May 24, 2024

Seoul shares dip over 1% on rate woes

South Korean stocks closed lower for the fourth consecutive day Friday on deepening concerns over a possible delay in US rate cuts. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 34.21 points, or 1.26 percent, to close at 2,687.60. Trade volume was moderate at 491.3 million shares worth 12.01 trillion won (US$8.8 billion), with losers sharply outnumbering winners 618 to 263. Foreigners and institutions dumped local shares worth 377.4 billion w

May 24, 2024

Posco’s steel technology brings aesthetics to cultural heritage restoration

Posco has harnessed its cutting-edge steel technology in the delicate task of South Korean cultural heritage restoration, transforming conventional sites in Seoul into vibrant spaces of public art and relaxation. At the heart of this project is PosART, or Posco Advanced Resolution printing Technology. It is an innovative steel sheet developed from PosMAC, or Posco Magnesium Alloy Coating Product, Posco’s proprietary corrosion-resistant steel. PosART also boasts the ability to render vivi

May 24, 2024

Celltrion's Omlyclo gets EU nod as first Xolair biosimilar

  Korean biosimilar giant Celltrion announced Thursday that its anti-IgE antibody biosimilar Omlyclo has been approved in Europe, after a series of clinical trials with the reference product Novartis' Xolair. Omlyclo, also called by project name CT-P39, received formal product approval from the European Commission on Tuesday, approximately two months after receiving the initial approval recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use under the European Medicines Agenc

May 24, 2024

Samsung denies report on HBM chips failing Nvidia tests

Samsung Electronics, the world's No. 1 memory chipmaker, on Friday denied a report that its high bandwidth memory chips had yet to pass Nvidia's tests for use in the US chip giant's AI processors. Samsung said testing for HBM supply is progressing "smoothly" with various global partners. "We are currently working closely with multiple companies and continuously testing technology and performance,” the Korean tech giant said in a statement. “We are cond

May 24, 2024

Seoul shares open lower tracking Wall Street slump

South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Friday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street amid lowering hopes for the US Federal Reserve's early rate cuts. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 34.27 points, or 1.26 percent, to 2,687.54 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The S&P 500 fell 0.7 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.5 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite went down 0.4 percent as hotter-than-expected economic reports raised speculations the

May 24, 2024

Kia EV3 aims for mass appeal with best-in-class range, pricing

Kia unveiled its latest electric vehicle, the EV3, a subcompact electric sport utility vehicle designed to attract mainstream consumers and drive mass adoption of EVs, during an online media conference Thursday. Made for nimble city driving, the EV3 serves as the entry-level model in Kia’s EV lineup that boasts a range of up to 600 km according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure, or WLTP, marking it as best-in-class for its size. It is equipped with a front-wheel-driv

May 23, 2024

[From the Scene] Korean Air's new operations center highlights full commitment to safety

GIMPO, Gyeonggi Province -- Korean Air has unveiled its newly revamped Operations and Customer Center after 23 years, emphasizing the airline's increased focus on risk management in light of variables such as the merger with Asiana Airlines and the introduction of newer aircraft. "Air operations are possible only when real-time communications, from transportation to operation to cabin maintenance, are smoothly organized and seamlessly prepared," said Korean Air President Woo Kee-h

May 23, 2024

Seoul shares close almost flat on Fed minutes despite chip gains

South Korean stocks closed almost flat Thursday as an increase in big-cap semiconductor shares was offset by hawkish tones in the latest minutes of the US Federal Reserve. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged down 1.65 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 2,721.81. Trade volume was moderate at 421.6 million shares worth 11.3 trillion won ($8.3 billion), with losers beating winners 530 to 349. Individual investors and institutions un

May 23, 2024

South Korea unveils W26tr support program for chip industry

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday unveiled a national support program worth 26 trillion won ($19 billion) to boost the country's semiconductor industry, in a move to up its game amid the global competition. The comprehensive chip support package includes financial programs, research and development strategies and infrastructure support. But it came short of direct subsidies which industry players here have been requesting to compete with international rivals. "With tax c

May 23, 2024

[From the Scene] Global transport leaders call for greener moves

LEIPZIG, Germany -- Global transport leaders have called for the importance of bolstering environmentally friendly transportation during these times of climate, health and geopolitical crisis at this year’s International Transport Forum’s annual summit in Leipzig, Germany. “The world is facing what can be described as a polycrisis, in other words, a situation with multiple simultaneous disruptions that interact and can quickly spill over from one area to another,” said IT

May 23, 2024