Seoul shares close higher as US inflation softens

South Korean shares closed higher Wednesday after US reports showed softer inflation data that raised hopes of an end to US rate hikes. The local currency sharply gained ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 53.42 points, or 2.2 percent, to close at 2,486.67. Trading volume was moderate at 413.1 million shares worth 9.22 trillion won ($7.08 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 752 to 140. Foreigners scooped up a net 542.3 billion won worth of

Nov. 15, 2023

[Photo News] Fundraising event for students

Partners for the Future Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, held the 16th AmCham CEO Servers' Night event, aimed at raising scholarship funds for university students from financially challenged backgrounds, on Tuesday night at the Conrad Seoul in Seoul. From left to the right: Dave Oh (fourth from left, front), country manager of Pfizer Korea, Jeffrey Jones, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Partners for the Future Foundation, L

Nov. 15, 2023

BNK Busan Bank to pilot English-speaking services

BNK Busan Bank, a commercial lender based in the southern port city of Busan, will pilot English-speaking services at three branches in collaboration with the Busan city government, starting in January 2024. Special counters staffed by English-speaking personnel will be set up to cater to the needs of foreign customers. The selected branches are the lender's headquarters in Munhyeon-dong, the Haeundae Financial Center branch in Jung-dong and the Gwangandong Financial Center branch in Gwan

Nov. 15, 2023

Samsung, SK chiefs may accompany president during visit to Netherlands

The heads of South Korea’s top two conglomerates Samsung Group and SK Group are expected to travel to the Netherlands, a semiconductor powerhouse, next month to accompany President Yoon Suk Yeol on his state visit there, according to industry sources on Wednesday. Yoon is scheduled for a state visit to the Netherlands upon the invitation of Dutch King Willem-Alexander on Dec. 12 and 13. It is the first time a South Korean president will make a state visit to the small European country sinc

Nov. 15, 2023

Korea to inject W1tr into youth employment programs

The Korean government will put up nearly 1 trillion won ($769 million) in a bid to encourage young people who are not in education, employment or training, known as NEET youth, to encourage them to return to the labor market. On the back of a strong job market, the employment rate of young Koreans aged 15 to 29 stood at 46.6 percent in October. Yet more than 414,000 people, or 4.9 percent of the age group, were found not to have actively sought jobs during the first nine months of this year, acc

Nov. 15, 2023

Hyundai Motor chair wins top UK royal honor

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun has received the Order of the British Empire from Britain's King Charles III, the carmaker said Wednesday. Among the five classes of the order, Chung was awarded the Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Colin Crooks, British ambassador to the Republic of Korea, delivered the medal on behalf of the king at the British Embassy in Seoul. Chung was recognized for his accomplishments in low-carbon mobility expans

Nov. 15, 2023

[Herald Interview] Korean team wins James Dyson Award with ‘hands-free’ IV drip

A group of Korean university students has won the top honors at The James Dyson Award, an international engineering competition for young innovators, with their unique invention -- a “hands-free” intravenous drip device. The award was launched by The James Dyson Foundation, an international charity of Sir James Dyson, the founder and chief engineer of the UK appliance giant, in 2005. The billionaire inventor handpicks the award winners every year. This is the first time that a Korean

Nov. 15, 2023

S-Oil supports Korea Coast Guard

South Korean oil refiner S-Oil on Wednesday donated a fund of 270 million won ($207,408) at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Korea Coast Guard in Incheon, together with the Korea National Council on Social Welfare, as part of its ongoing program to support the nation’s coast guard officers. The fund will be used to honor coast guard officers it deems "heroes," support medical treatment for coast guard officers and provide tuition scholarships for children of officers ki

Nov. 15, 2023

Posco vows to foster startups, regional economies

Representatives from South Korean steel giant Posco on Wednesday met with government officials to explore ways to boost Korean startups and revitalize the regional economy, discussing the performance of its in-house venture development platform and its future outlook. The meeting took place at Change Up Ground in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, one of its venture incubator facilities, with more than 40 people in attendance. It included Chairperson Woo Tong-ki of the Presidential Committee for

Nov. 15, 2023

Naver's QR payment service available in 42 countries

Internet giant Naver’s payment platform, Naver Pay, said Wednesday that its QR-based offline payment service is now available at Alipay Plus merchants in 42 countries, mainly catering to Korean tourists. "We are committed to actively expanding our payment service to establish it as the preferred payment method for Koreans traveling abroad," said a Naver Pay official. The 42 countries span across Asia, including China, as well as European nations, the US, and Australia. Followin

Nov. 15, 2023

[Photo News] BBQ honored by NYPD

Genesis BBQ Group Chairman Yoon Hong-geun received an official commendation from the New York Police Department for his contributions to enhancing the public safety of 32nd Street in Manhattan's Koreatown, the firm said Wednesday. The Korean fried chicken franchise has been implementing increased security measures at its US branches while offering police officers special discounts to encourage them to visit, which has helped reduce crime in the area. Genesis BBQ currently operates over 250

Nov. 15, 2023

Han Sung Motor commits to give back to society

Han Sung Motor, the largest Mercedes-Benz car dealer in Korea, is ramping up efforts to carry out diverse corporate social responsibility activities, buoyed by the voluntary participation of employees. As ESG efforts continue to emerge as key corporate principles, Han Sung Motor is giving back to society via eco-friendly volunteering as well as activities for underprivileged people, the company said. On Nov. 7, 53 employees of Han Sung Motor's after-sales service department gathered at Yeou

Nov. 15, 2023

Container shipping costs for US west coast rise 7 pct in October

Container shipping costs from South Korea to the US west coast gained 7.1 percent on-month in October, data showed Wednesday. The average shipping cost for a 40-foot container for the route came to 4.38 million won ($3,358) last month, compared with 4.09 million logged a month earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. It marked the second on-month increase following 1.8 percent growth the previous month. On an on-year basis, however, the costs dropped 58.6 percent in October

Nov. 15, 2023

Finance minister calls for reenactment of corporate restructuring act

Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho called on the National Assembly on Wednesday to reenact the now-defunct corporate restructuring act that makes it easier for insolvent companies to begin an out-of-court debt restructuring program. The Corporate Restructuring Promotion Act was legislated in 2001 with a sunset provision after South Korea was hit by the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and had been extended five times before expiring last month. It allows an insolvent company to start a debt workout pr

Nov. 15, 2023

Seoul shares open higher on Wall Street gains

South Korean stocks opened higher Wednesday tracking overnight gains on Wall Street helped by lower-than-expected US inflation data. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 35.21 points, or 1.45 percent, to 2,468.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stocks closed higher overnight following reports that the US consumer price index, a key inflation measure, rose at the slowest pace in October since 2021. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Compo

Nov. 15, 2023

[KH explains] Chinese battery makers gobbling up Korean rivals’ European market share

Amid a supply glut at home, Chinese battery makers are extending its reach deeper into Europe, the world’s second-largest market for electric vehicles where their Korean rivals used to be clear dominant players. Up until two years ago, Korea’s LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On owned a combined 70.6 percent of Europe’s burgeoning EV battery market, while Chinese firms had a tiny 6.7 percent, according to market tracker SNE Research. Led by world No. 1 battery manufacture

Nov. 14, 2023

Korea, Japan airport operators hold first post-COVID talks

Korea Airports Corp. said Tuesday the head of the state-run airport operator met with the head of Japan Airport Terminal, in a bid to discuss the two airport operators' future strategies for airport operations. According to the KAC, Chief Executive Officer Yoon Hyeong-jung met with Isao Takashiro, the CEO of Japan Airport Terminal, during the two airport operators' annual meeting, which was last held in 2019, took place in Tokyo on Monday. The KAC currently operates Gimpo International

Nov. 14, 2023

S. Korean shares close higher ahead of US inflation data

South Korean stocks finished higher Tuesday on gains in technology and chemical shares, while investors awaited the US inflation data slated to be announced this week. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index advanced 29.49 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 2,433.25. Trading volume was slim at 300 million shares worth 6.27 trillion won ($4.71 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 709 to 108. Foreigners offloaded a net 93.5 billion won

Nov. 14, 2023

Business groups demand more flexible working hour system

Korean business groups were not fully happy with the government's proposal to mostly retain the existing 52-hour workweek system on Monday, calling for further reforms. The Ministry of Employment and Labor proposed to maintain the current workweek system while applying complementary measures for some industries that require greater flexibility in working hours. The Korea Enterprises Federation, in particular, strongly criticized the proposal. “The proposal is not as comprehensive as t

Nov. 14, 2023

Weak won pushes import prices up in October

South Korea's import prices climbed for a fourth consecutive month following the devaluation of the Korean won, central bank data showed Wednesday. Export prices rose as well in the period. The import price index for October stood at 140.38, rising 0.5 percent from the month before. The figure has been advancing for four straight months since July, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea. Yet, compared to the same month last year when international oil prices surged, the figure

Nov. 14, 2023