Senior officials from S. Korea, US discuss cooperation in chip industry

Senior trade officials from South Korea and the United States have discussed ways to broaden cooperation in the semiconductor sector, officials said Thursday. Deputy Minister for Trade Yang Byeong-nae met with his US counterpart, Ramin Toloui, in Seoul earlier in the day during which Yang asked Toloui to offer sufficient support for South Korean firms seeking to invest in the US Last week, the US government revealed a plan to grant Samsung Electronics Co. up to $6.4 billion to support its chipma

April 25, 2024

Seoul shares open weaker on tech, battery slump

South Korean stocks opened weaker Thursday as investors sought profits following the previous session's sharp rise amid mixed overnight results on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 26.04 points, or 0.97 percent, to 2,649.71 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Wednesday, the main index spiked nearly 2 percent, backed by chipmakers and batterymakers. Overnight, Wall Street closed mixed as a disappointing earnings report from Meta Platforms put investors on e

April 25, 2024

SK hynix pledges W20tr to ramp up DRAM production at home

SK hynix, the world's second-largest memory chip maker, said Wednesday it will expand the production capacity of next-generation DRAM, including High Bandwidth Memory, which is critical to generative artificial intelligence tools, in response to rapidly increasing demand for AI chips. The decision came as the board of directors approved the plan during a meeting held later in the day to build the M15X fab in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, for a new DRAM production site, according to

April 24, 2024

Samsung Biologics Q1 earnings hit all-time high

Samsung Biologics, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization, announced Wednesday that the company’s earnings in the first quarter this year hit an all-time high. In the January-March period, Samsung Biologics’ sales increased by 31.3 percent on-year to 946.9 billion won ($690 million) from the previous year’s 720.9 billion won. Its operating profit also reached 221.3 billion won, up 15 percent on-year. “The operation of the fourth plant has largely co

April 24, 2024

SK Leaveo to produce biodegradable wet wipes

SK Leaveo, a subsidiary of South Korean chemical giant SKC specializing in biodegradable materials, has formed a partnership with paper product manufacturer KleanNara to create a new line of biodegradable hygiene products, starting with eco-friendly wet wipes. Under a newly signed agreement on Wednesday, SK Leaveo and KleanNara will focus on producing hygiene products that are not only sustainable but also practical for everyday use. The collaboration aims to harness new materials such as poly

April 24, 2024

Orion's Turtle Chips sales soar in US

The popularity of the Orion brand's Turtle Chips continued to grow in the US last year, boosting its annual sales to around 12 billion won ($8.8 million). Orion, a South Korean confectionery and snack manufacturer, is supplying the chips at the snack bars of major firms such as Google and Netflix, the company said Wednesday. According to Orion, the annual sales of Turtle Chips in the US reached 12 billion, around 200 times higher than the figure in 2017 when the company first launched the s

April 24, 2024

Seoul shares jump 2% on rally in techs, batteries

South Korean stocks soared 2 percent Wednesday as tech, secondary battery and other market heavyweights rallied following overnight gains on Wall Street. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 52.73 points, or 2.01 percent, to 2,675.75. Trade volume was moderate at 319 million shares worth 10.06 trillion won ($7.34 billion). Winners outpaced losers 610 to 270. Institutions and foreign investors combined bought a net 855.3 billion won, w

April 24, 2024

Korean investment in US almost doubles from pre-pandemic: report

South Korea's investment in the US increased about 1.8 times last year compared to the pre-COVID-19 period as major conglomerates set up large-scale facilities in the eastern part of the country, a report from a business lobby group showed Wednesday. According to the report published by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the total Korean investment in the US stood at $27.7 billion last year, up 75 percent from $15.8 billion in 2019. Large conglomerates like Samsung Electronics, SK

April 24, 2024

Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space

South Korea launched its first homegrown earth observation nanosatellite into orbit as part of the country’s project to create a satellite constellation by 2027, the Science Ministry said Wednesday. The Earth observation satellite, named NEONSAT-1, lifted off aboard Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from a spaceport in Mahia, New Zealand. The Ministry of Science and ICT said the satellite was deployed into space at an altitude of 520 kilometers and successfully separated from the launch ve

April 24, 2024

Korean robot startup aims to transform human walking

South Korean robotics startup WIRobotics aims to transform the walking experience via its award-winning wearable robot WIM, made lighter and more convenient for everyday use, the company's chief said Wednesday. "We believe humans will be able to enhance walking and physical abilities with the assistance of the interactive robotics technology, and have thought wearable robots will be optimal," WIRobotics CEO and Chief Technology Officer Kim Yong-jae said at the press conference in

April 24, 2024

LG Energy Solution vows stern action to protect patent rights

LG Energy Solution announced new stringent policies Wednesday to address rampant patent infringements by what it describes as "patent free-riders." The nation's top battery maker plans to enforce its intellectual property through legal actions and promote equitable competition by contributing to a legitimate battery patent licensing market. This decision comes in response to an increasing number of companies -- both new entrants and established manufacturers -- exploiting LG Energ

April 24, 2024

Hanwha Life taps into global banking through fresh investment in Indonesia

Hanwha Life, a leading Korean insurance company and the life insurance subsidiary of Hanwha Group, has made a strategic move into the Indonesian banking sector through a stake investment. The company announced on Wednesday that its board had approved securing a 40 percent stake in Nobu Bank from Indonesia's Lippo Group, marking the first entry of a Korean insurer into the Indonesian banking industry. The decision was made during an extraordinary board meeting held on Tuesday. Hanwha Life�

April 24, 2024

[From the Scene] KG Mobility poised to take next leap

PYEONGTAEK, Gyeonggi Province -- A group of workers gathered to check a computerized system at KG Mobility’s Pyeongtaek plant in Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday afternoon. While most workers were taking their 10-minute break, they came together to try to improve the workflow. That passion played a crucial role in the company logging its first profitable year in 2023 for the first time in 16 years, according to the Korean automaker’s head of production. “I think (our turnaround) la

April 24, 2024

Hyundai Mobis breaks ground for W170b Spain plant

Hyundai Mobis, the auto parts manufacturer under Hyundai Motor Group, said Wednesday it held a ground-breaking ceremony for its first factory in Western Europe, which will manufacture battery systems, particularly focusing on supplying the Volkswagen Group. The new factory in Navarre, Spain, will cover an area of 150,000 square meters, with a floor space of 50,000 square meters, and it will have the capacity to produce up to 360,000 battery system assemblies annually. In line with its goal to

April 24, 2024

Coway launches Berex massage bed with enhanced usability

South Korean home appliance maker Coway has launched a new massage bed, the Berex Reclining Massage Bed, as part of product diversification aimed at the nation's soaring massage chair market. The new product is the first of its kind to incorporate an automatic upper-body reclining function, specifically designed to ease the process of lying down and standing up -- a feature that addresses usability for the elderly and those with mobility challenges. The model does not require users to man

April 24, 2024

HD Hyundai teams up with Norway's Philly Shipyard for US footing

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Norway's Philly Shipyard signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on manufacturing, maintaining, repairing, and overhauling vessels and ships ordered by the US government, the South Korean shipbuilder said Wednesday. The signing ceremony was held at Philly's shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 12 -- with key officials from both companies in attendance, including Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ special ship b

April 24, 2024

Over half of new hires in S. Korea are college graduates: data

Among newly hired employees in Korea in 2023, 50.5 percent were college graduates. Of the 28.41 million people newly hired across the country, 14.36 million had a higher education degree, according to the Korean Statistical Information Service run by Statistics Korea. The figure includes graduates from two-year college courses and those with postgraduate degrees. The number of new employees with tertiary education degrees rose by 1.2 percent compared to the year before. The figure rose from 30.2

April 24, 2024

Hyundai unveils versatile commercial EV platform

Hyundai Motor Company launched its new ST1 series of electrified, purpose-built vehicles for commercial use on Tuesday, aiming to diversify and enhance the efficiency of commercial vehicles for both logistics applications and beyond. An open API-based software platform -- a first for Hyundai vehicles -- is a standout component of the series, which expands the possibilities of today's commercial vehicles by providing the exact telematics data that each business user needs. The unveiling too

April 24, 2024

KGC eyes broader customer base with Lim Young-woong

Korea Ginseng Corp., the leading manufacturer of ginseng products in the country, has launched a new promotional video featuring trot singer Lim Young-woong. Released on Wednesday, the video showcases a day in the life of Lim, from morning routines to exercise and singing practice. The video highlights the use of JungKwanJang, the company's premium red ginseng brand, portraying its products as essential for daily vitality. Lim, known for his victory in a popular singing competition, appeals

April 24, 2024

4 conglomerates see combined operating profit plunge 65% last year: report

Four major conglomerates saw their combined operating profit plunge 65 percent last year, hit by sluggish sales amid an economic slowdown, a report showed Wednesday. Some 306 affiliates of four conglomerates -- Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor and LG -- posted a combined operating profit of 24.51 trillion won ($17.9 billion) in 2023, down from 71.91 trillion won a year earlier, according to the report by the Korea CXO Institute, a corporate data firm. Samsung Group, the country's biggest conglome

April 24, 2024