[2024 IFA] Samsung CEO weighs in with AI connectivity to take on rivals at IFA

BERLIN -- Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and co-CEO Han Jong-hee said the Korean tech giant is looking to artificial intelligence connectivity to take on its rivals, as this year’s IFA in Berlin, one of the world’s largest consumer appliance trade shows, kicked off Thursday. “Who can provide consumers with a richer experience of connecting products” is the key message to convey, Han told The Korea Herald on Thursday at Samsung Electronics pavilion, upon his visit to th

Sept. 6, 2024

SPC chair cleared of tax evasion charges

An appeals court on Friday cleared Hur Young-in, founder and chair of South Korean bakery giant SPC Group, of tax evasion charges, bringing an end to the year-long legal dispute. The Seoul High Court upheld a lower court ruling that found the SPC chief not guilty of breach of trust. Hur faced allegations of instructing group affiliates Paris Croissant and Shany to sell stocks of Mildawon, another SPC company producing flour, to SPC Samlip at lower prices in December 2012 that, according to prose

Sept. 6, 2024

US’ new export controls to have little impact on Korean businesses: ministry

The US' new export controls on critical technologies including quantum computing and cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing will have little impact on South Korean businesses, Korea's Industry Ministry said on Friday. The US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security published an interim final rule on Thursday, implementing controls on 24 goods involving critical and emerging technologies including the gate all-around (GAA) chipmaking process, in order to hinder techn

Sept. 6, 2024

Seoul shares dip for 4th day amid US recession woes

South Korean shares closed sharply lower Friday, extending their losing streak to a fourth consecutive session amid concerns over a potential US recession. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 31.22 points, or 1.21 percent, to close at 2,544.28. Trading volume was moderate at 368.9 million shares worth 8.5 trillion won ($6.4 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 760 to 139. Foreign investors extended their selling streak to a fo

Sept. 6, 2024

HS Hyosung to showcase advanced carbon fiber in US

HS Hyosung Advanced Materials said Friday that it will present new products from its advanced carbon fiber brand, Tansome, at the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo 2024, the largest composites exhibition in the US, which runs from Monday to Thursday. The exhibition is hosted by the leading composites industry associations, the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering and the American Composites Manufacturers Association. At the event, HS Hyosung Advanced Materials pla

Sept. 6, 2024

Korea to certify safety of EV battery from October

The South Korean government said Friday it will certify the safety of electric vehicle batteries beginning October, four months ahead of the initial plan, as it rolled out various measures to prevent EV fires. According to the government’s EV fire safety management measures, both domestic and imported auto brands will be subject to the authorities’ EV battery certification requirement. The government will disclose the information of the battery cell manufacturer, battery type and key

Sept. 6, 2024

Seoul shares open lower ahead of US jobs data

South Korean shares opened slightly lower Friday ahead of the US jobs report that may serve as another indicator of a possibly looming recession. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 7.63 points, or 0.30 percent, to 2,567.87 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The index has been on a steady decline since Tuesday, when the United States reported a worse-than-expected manufacturing purchasing managers index. The US is set to release its latest jobs data Friday. In Seoul, large caps

Sept. 6, 2024

S. Korea logs current account surplus for 3rd month in July

South Korea racked up a current account surplus for the third consecutive month in July, driven by robust exports, central bank data showed Friday. The country's current account surplus reached $9.13 billion in July, marking a surplus for the third consecutive month, according to data compiled by the Bank of Korea. The July surplus was smaller than the previous month's $12.56 billion, the largest since September 2017. The country's goods account racked up an $8.49 billion surplus in July followi

Sept. 6, 2024

Industry, science ministers discuss economic cooperation with Czech envoy

South Korea's industry and science ministers met with a senior Czech official Thursday to discuss bilateral cooperation, building on a recent nuclear power plant deal between the two countries. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun met with Czech National Security Adviser Tomas Pojar who was visiting Seoul as a special envoy of the prime minister, expressing hope for closer ties in areas including the nuclear energy industry, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In July, the Cz

Sept. 5, 2024

Seoul shares down for 3rd day on US woes

South Korean shares dropped for a third consecutive session Thursday amid concerns of an economic recession in the United States. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 5.30 points, or 0.21 percent, to close at 2,575.50. Trading volume was moderate at 371 million shares worth 10 trillion won ($7.48 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 519 to 358. Retail investors purchased a net 457.6 billion won worth of local shares, extending

Sept. 5, 2024

[HIT Forum] Honing diplomatic skill of businesses

To safeguard their interest and tackle the threat of geopolitical risk to their operations in foreign markets, Korean firms are asked to develop the skills and mindset of the diplomat, and their first job is understanding the fast-changing regulatory environment with a long-term commitment, experts said Thursday “Diplomacy is no longer just a matter of national defense and security. It is an economic issue directly related to the country's future livelihood. At the center are compan

Sept. 5, 2024

[HIT Forum] Korean CEOs urged to adopt long-term perspective on lobbying

Experts in global business diplomacy on Thursday discussed emerging lobbying trends and assessed the readiness of Korean companies to navigate complex geopolitical developments, offering strategies for more effective lobbying. This discussion was a key part of the annual The Korea Herald HIT Forum, held this year at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul. The event's theme, "Business Diplomacy — Navigating business through mega election year," underscored the ch

Sept. 5, 2024

[HIT Forum] AmCham chief highlights Korea-US ties in shifting dynamics

American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman and CEO James Kim on Thursday stressed the importance of maintaining strong bilateral ties between South Korea and the US amid changing dynamics in global interactions. “As we navigate this mega-election year globally, the importance of ‘business diplomacy’ has never been more critical,” Kim said, delivering a congratulatory speech at The Korea Herald HIT Forum held Thursday in central Seoul. Kim, who has taken on top posts a

Sept. 5, 2024

[HIT Forum] Strategic lobbying critical for Corporate Korea: top Washington lobbyist

Corporate Korea should engage in strategic lobbying at both federal and state levels to navigate the US’ regulatory landscape and protect its interests amid shifting political dynamics. This was the key takeaway from a special session at The Korea Herald HIT Forum, held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul on Thursday, as seasoned US lobbyist Brian Ballard shared his insights on the art of business diplomacy in the run-up to the US presidential election this year. During

Sept. 5, 2024

[HIT Forum] Seoul Mayor champions city’s growth as global business hub

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday delivered congratulatory remarks at The Korea Herald HIT Forum, expressing his commitment to ensuring that Seoul continues to evolve as an attractive "global business hub" for current and future investors. "Korean companies have expanded their global presence across diverse fields, including high-tech sectors like semiconductors and electric vehicles as well as K-culture, energy and finance," Oh said during the forum held under the title &qu

Sept. 5, 2024

[HIT Forum] 'Government, companies should team up to brace for US policy changes'

With the upcoming US presidential election posing as a critical juncture in global trade, Team Korea should join forces to come up with strategies tailored to major industries and boost outreach, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice Chairman Park Il-joon said Thursday. "Policies of the two major parties in the US (the Republican Party and Democratic Party) differ greatly, especially in the industries where Korea holds an edge, such as energy, semiconductors, batteries and vehicles,&q

Sept. 5, 2024

[KH Explains] Is Hyundai’s bet on extended-range EVs a future-proof strategy?

In the race toward electrification, the auto industry has seen a dizzying array of electric vehicle types, from battery electric vehicles to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell electric vehicles. Now, Hyundai Motor is adding another contender to the crowded mix -- extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs. Announced on Aug. 28 during the company's CEO Investor Day, Hyundai plans to introduce these new vehicles to the North American and Chinese markets by 2027. What exactly are EREVs?

Sept. 5, 2024

[2024 IFA] Samsung, LG to boast new AI-powered home appliances at IFA

BERLIN -- At this year’s IFA, Europe’s biggest home appliances trade show, two of South Korea’s tech giants, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, are set to showcase their latest artificial intelligence-powered home appliances. As the IFA celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, about 2,200 companies in IT, consumer appliances and telecommunications will take part from 139 countries. The five-day event, which kicks off in Berlin on Friday, will see 127 Korean companies pa

Sept. 5, 2024

Seoul shares open sharply up on bargain hunting

Seoul shares opened higher Thursday as investors sought to pick up blue chip bargains, one day after the local market plunged by more than 3 percent on US woes. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 21.63 points, or 0.84 percent, to 2,602.43 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The index had dipped 3.15 percent the previous day on growing concerns of a US economic slowdown following a worse-than-expected manufacturing purchasing managers index for August. US stocks closed mixed ov

Sept. 5, 2024

[2024 IFA] What to expect from IFA trade show

The IFA, Europe’s biggest tech show, is just around the corner. Celebrating an incredible 100 years of the show, it promises to bring the biggest names in tech together to unveil their latest breakthroughs, with South Korean tech rivals Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics among the largest exhibitors. The annual gathering will kick off in Berlin on Friday for a five-day run. This year’s IFA is ready to host more than 2,200 exhibitors and over 182,000 attendees from 139 countries

Sept. 5, 2024