[Photo News] Hyundai Oilbank gets fresh look in 23 years

HD Hyundai Oilbank's new design featuring its updated corporate identity is displayed at the GRC gas station in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. The design, renewed for the first time in 23 years, has blue and green lines against a white background as its prominent feature, underscoring simplicity. The two lines on top converge with a gap, creating an eye-catching and yet harmonious aesthetic. The two lines are illuminated brightly on the gas station roof, enhancing visibility at night.

Sept. 12, 2023

Hanwha to stage largest-ever int'l fireworks festival on Oct. 7

South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group said Tuesday that it will stage its biggest event yet at the 2023 Seoul International Fireworks Festival at Hangang Park in Yeouido on Oct. 7. The annual event, organized by Hanwha Group as part of its social contribution program, typically draws an audience of one million people every year, with participation from various countries. Under the theme "Lights of Tomorrow," this year's event will feature a total of three teams from Korea, Chin

Sept. 12, 2023

Canadian coffee brand Tim Hortons to open 1st shop in S. Korea

Tim Hortons will open its first store in South Korea this year, officials said Tuesday. On Tuesday, Canada's top coffee chain officially began preparing for the opening of its shop in the Urban Hive building in Seoul's southern Gangnam district later this year, the officials said. The exact date of the opening has yet to be determined. The 335-square-meter store will serve Tim Hortons' popular coffee and donuts, including its signature bite-sized Timbits. "We are very happy t

Sept. 12, 2023

S. Korea to double ceiling on loan program for Latin America

South Korea's finance ministry said Tuesday it has signed an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank to double the ceiling on its loan program in a bid to support infrastructure development in Latin America. Asia's No. 4 economy plans to raise the ceiling of the cooperative loan program from $500 million to $1 billion starting next year under the letter of intent signed between South Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund and the IDB. The signing ceremony took pl

Sept. 12, 2023

Seoul shares open higher ahead of inflation data

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Tuesday, as investors await US inflation data for August due out later this week that will offer clues as to what direction the Federal Reserve will take in its interest rate hike cycle. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 2.03 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,558.91 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The United States is set to release the consumer price index for August on Wednesday, with the reading on producer prices to be released th

Sept. 12, 2023

Hyundai E&C forays into energy brokerage market

Hyundai Engineering and Construction on Monday announced a strategic equity investment in the energy tech startup 60Hertz, marking its foray into the emerging electricity brokerage market, part of the company’s larger strategy to solidify its position in new energy initiatives. Hyundai E&C's partnership with 60Hertz aims to launch Korea's first integrated IT platform for energy trading, fostering an IT-driven ecosystem to automate transactions between electricity producers an

Sept. 11, 2023

Kolmar Korea wins trade secret case against Intercos

Kolmar Korea announced Monday that the company has won a lawsuit against Italian cosmetics manufacturer Intercos’ local office here, which allegedly transferred trade secrets about sun care product technology. According to Kolmar Korea, the Seoul Central District Court has ruled in favor of Kolmar Korea in a civil case, in which Kolmar Korea accused Intercos Korea and its two former employees of stealing confidential technologies related to Kolmar’s sun care products. The court has o

Sept. 11, 2023

Seoul shares snap 4-day losing streak ahead of key economic data

South Korean stocks finished slightly higher Monday ahead of key economic data to be released later this week, ending a four-day losing streak. The local currency gained ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index advanced 9.2 points, or 0.36 percent, to finish at 2,556.88. Trading volume was moderate at 406.6 million shares worth 8.21 trillion won ($6.17 billion), with gainers outpacing decliners 507 to 355. Foreigners and institutions bought a combined net 56.

Sept. 11, 2023

[Herald Interview] OECD competition chief touts Korea's antitrust fight against Google

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's competition chief, Frederic Jenny, lauded South Korea for challenging Google’s monopoly in the fast-evolving digital market, saying that Korean authorities have sent a lot of signals to the US tech giant and beyond. “Google (now) understands that Korea is very serious about maintaining competition and not allowing practices that are anti-competitive,” Jenny, the chair of the OECD Competition Committee, told The Ko

Sept. 11, 2023

[KH Explains] Hyundai Motor feels cost pinch of ‘French IRA’

Hyundai Motor Group, having already spent billions of dollars to respond to the US Inflation Reduction Act, is tackling another protectionist policy looming large in Europe, a crucial market for the carmaker’s extensive EV strategy. The French government recently announced its new EV subsidy policy, which is based on measuring the carbon footprint throughout the whole process of car manufacturing from production to shipping. Carmakers importing EVs to France from their faraway home countri

Sept. 11, 2023

KB's chair candidate: Keeping Indonesian unit afloat is key mission

Yang Jong-hee, the final candidate for the chairman position and current vice chairman of KB Financial Group, on Monday vowed to prioritize revitalizing the group's money-losing Indonesian subsidiary. He picked Bank KB Bukopin as one of the three critical tasks he would resolve if he takes the top seat of the Korean banking conglomerate in November. "Even within our domestic market, the process of acquiring troubled companies and restoring them requires time. When undertaking similar p

Sept. 11, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'AI success hinges on local nuances and governance, not just silicon'

The evolution of generative AI must equally weigh up technological, ethical and regulatory complexities, said Richard Yonck, an American futurist with over 25 years of experience in computer systems and program analysis. Yonck expressed concerns over the mounting global enthusiasm for AI while sharing insights on the challenges of cultivating a localized AI ecosystem in South Korea in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. "The pressure to yield immediate results is tangible, especially

Sept. 11, 2023

[Photo News] Education for children

BMW Korea Future Fund said Monday that it recently carried out special education activities for elementary school students in areas of North Gyeongsang Province and the Chungcheong Provinces damaged by the heavy rainfall in July. The free education programs, which allowed students to assemble a miniature version of BMW's all-electric vehicle, and gave them the chance to think about global warming, were offered to 238 students at five schools from Aug. 30 to Sept. 8. (BMW Korea)

Sept. 11, 2023

Dong-A Otsuka’s mineral water wins Monde Selection gold award

Dong-A Otsuka, the nation’s leading beverage maker, said it launched a special edition of its mineral water brand Masinda, which won a gold award in the Monde Selection 2023 with a renewed packaging. Employees of Dong-A Otsuka gathered to celebrate the launch of Monde Selection special edition, featuring a golden sticker on the package, for its mineral water at the company’s office in Seoul on Friday. Monde Selection is an annual noncompetitive award that certifies the quality of foo

Sept. 11, 2023

KT's AI tech to accelerate digital logistics innovation of SingPost

South Korean telecommunications giant KT Corp. on Monday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Singapore-based postal service provider to drive digital transformation in logistics. Under the partnership, KT and Singapore Post, or SingPost, agreed to pilot digital logistics transportation optimization in seven regions across Singapore, leveraging the Korean telecommunications company’s artificial intelligence transportation platform, Logistics Intelligence Suite for Fleet

Sept. 11, 2023

LG Innotek chief vows to reduce single-use plastic waste

LG Innotek CEO Jeong Cheol-dong joined the “Zero Disposables Challenge,” an environmental initiative launched by the Ministry of Environment in February to encourage the use of reusable items in public, the firm said Monday. The campaign typically involves CEOs posing for a photo, signaling their commitment to slashing single-use plastic waste. The photo is then posted on social media platforms, with the CEO naming the next participant. Since its launch, a number of key business le

Sept. 11, 2023

SKC to buy stake in US chip packaging startup Chipletz

SKC Co., a South Korean manufacturer of secondary battery parts and advanced materials, said Monday it is acquiring a stake in a US semiconductor packaging startup as it accelerates the drive for chip post-processing. The investment in Chipletz, an Austin-based fabless company, will give SKC an approximately 12 percent stake in the US firm through a Series B funding, the Seoul-based company said in a release. SKC did not disclose the amount of the investment, citing the terms of the agreement. C

Sept. 11, 2023

Seoul Fintech Week to bring together global fintech experts in Seoul next month

The Seoul city government will hold a global financial technology conference next month, bringing together fintech experts from around the world to discuss the digitalization trend in the financial industry, officials said Monday. The 2023 Seoul Fintech Week will kick off on Oct. 4 for a three-day run at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul under the theme "How Fintech Will Transform Our Lives," city officials said. Fintech experts from around the world, including the United States

Sept. 11, 2023

Exports down 7.9 pct during first 10 days of Sept.

South Korea's exports fell 7.9 percent on-year in the first 10 days of September due to weak shipments of chips and petroleum products, data showed Monday. The country's outbound shipments reached $14.9 billion in the Sept. 1-10 period, compared with $16.1 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports fell 11.3 percent on-year to $16.5 billion during the period, resulting in a trade deficit of $1.64 billion. By segment, exports of chips,

Sept. 11, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on tech, auto losses

South Korean stocks started a tad lower Monday as big-cap tech and auto stocks traded in negative territory. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 7.06 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,540.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics dropped 0.28 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix decreased 0.44 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor fell 0.65 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution skidded 0.79 percent. Major online portal operator

Sept. 11, 2023