[Photo News] Team building

Kia held the championship round of its in-house League of Legends tournament on Friday at the automaker's training institute, the Kia Vision Square, in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, the South Korean automaker said Monday. The company began its first in-house LoL tournament with 23 teams of 115 employees from Kia offices nationwide in November. On the sidelines of the championship round, professional esports players from the automaker-sponsored Dplus Kia team held an event match and competed ag

Dec. 18, 2023

Korea’s car exports surge over 80% after COVID-19: report

South Korea’s car exports climbed 84.2 percent from January to September this year compared to 2019, while imports of electric vehicles and EV batteries from China gradually increased, a report showed Monday. The export volume surged to $50.5 billion in the cited period after the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and global supply glitches, according to the Korea Automotive Technology Institute, or Katech. Compared to last year, exports of battery-powered cars and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles sky

Dec. 18, 2023

LG Innotek develops wireless battery management system for EVs

LG Innotek said Monday it has developed a wireless battery management system, or BMS, for electric vehicles that significantly improved battery performance. The BMS is an essential EV component that optimizes a battery’s performance and lifespan by monitoring battery voltage, electric current and temperature in real time. The wireless BMS has emerged as a key component for electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles since it does not require cables or connectors. The wireless feature makes E

Dec. 18, 2023

Industry minister nominee vows to address concerns about supply chain disruptions

Industry Minister nominee Ahn Duk-geun said Monday he will focus on securing key industrial materials to safeguard local industries from global supply chain disruptions. "I will promptly stabilize issues surrounding the supply chain and further solidify the latest signs of export recovery," Ahn told reporters, a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol announced his nomination. "I will also bolster energy security, the most critical pillar of fostering cutting-edge industries, and enhanc

Dec. 18, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on profit-taking

South Korean stocks opened lower Monday as investors opted to cash in recent gains amid hopes for the Federal Reserve's rate cuts next year. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.60 point, or 0.02 percent, to 2,562.96 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Last week, the Fed kept its rates unchanged and hinted at possible cuts for 2024. Leading tech giant Samsung Electronics fell 0.41 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix also lost 0.50 percent. Top carmaker Hyundai Motor also

Dec. 18, 2023

[KH Explains] Will Kakao's first female CEO survive 'glass cliff'?

While the South Korean IT industry has historically been dominated by male leadership, leading internet giants Naver and Kakao are seeing a new wave of young female leaders taking the helm and steering the ship through challenging waters and toward new horizons. Kakao named its first female CEO last week as it faces urgent challenges in revamping its corporate culture and management. Industry watchers are paying keen attention to how crucial a role the company's first-ever female leader wil

Dec. 17, 2023

[Contribution] It’s time for Korea to rethink its liquor laws

By Olivia Widen Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, almost every industry has seen exponential growth in e-commerce, and the liquor market is no exception. Despite the overall return of consumption patterns to pre-pandemic levels, online sales of alcohol are forecast to show steady growth. In its 2022 Global E-commerce Strategic Study, the International Wine & Spirit Research (IWSR) predicted that online alcohol sales in 16 key global markets would reach nearly $40 billion by 2026. Mark

Dec. 17, 2023

Hyundai Motor, UAE fund team up on hydrogen, future mobility

Hyundai Motor Co. and Mubadala Investment Co., the United Arab Emirates sovereign wealth fund, have entered into a partnership set to advance projects in hydrogen energy, green aluminum production, eco-friendly mobility solutions, and advanced air mobility. This agreement was sealed at a signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Tower on Friday, with Chang Jae-hoon, president and co-CEO of Hyundai Motor, and Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, the deputy group CEO of the Investment Committee at

Dec. 17, 2023

KG Mobility to produce Torres EV in Saudi Arabia

KG Mobility, formerly SsangYong Motor, and Saudi National Automobiles Manufacturing Company, a licensed producer of international and domestic automobiles, signed a partnership agreement on Friday to assemble the carmaker's Torres EVX electric vehicle in Saudi Arabia. The agreement expands an existing deal between the companies for SNAM to manufacture KGM's internal combustion engine vehicles. Under the new pact, SNAM will augment production capabilities to assemble the all-electric To

Dec. 17, 2023

Why Renault bets big on Polestar’s Busan production

Swedish electric-vehicle maker Polestar recently announced its plan to produce the new all-electric Polestar 4 at Renault Korea Motors’ Busan plant in 2025. The new partnership comes as Polestar, a spinoff from Volvo in 2017, is seeking to secure a bigger footing in the burgeoning EV market with a more diversified product lineup from the Polestar 2 sedan and the Polestar 3 sport utility vehicles to the latest Polestar 4 coupe-styled SUV. At a time when it is crucial to beef up its produc

Dec. 17, 2023

MBK ups ante in Hankook bid

Seoul-based private equity firm MBK Partners is gearing up for a second round in a battle for control of Hankook & Co., the holding company behind Korea's largest tire maker, Hankook Tire & Technology. On Friday, MBK said through Ventura, a special purpose company set up for the bid, that it has raised its offer for the public tender for Hankook & Co., from 20,000 won ($15.34) to 24,000 won per share. "This would be the first and last price raise," MBK said in a statem

Dec. 17, 2023

Mirae Asset's Hong Kong unit marks 20th anniversary

Mirae Asset Global Investments said Sunday that its Hong Kong unit, its first overseas operation, has marked its 20th anniversary. The Hong Kong subsidiary, founded in 2003, has been pivotal to the company's overseas expansion. In 2005, it launched Mirae Asset Asia Pacific Star Securities Investment – the first fund to be managed directly overseas. It also facilitated overseas investment opportunities for Korean investors by introducing various emerging market funds including BRICS --

Dec. 17, 2023

[Herald Interview] Group14, SK Materials to operate Asia’s largest silicon plant for EVs

The joint venture between Washington-based Group14 Technologies and SK Materials, a chemical materials unit under Korea’s SK Group, will start the commercial operation of Asia’s first large-scale manufacturing plant for silicon battery materials in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, early next year. “(SK Materials Group14), the joint venture in Sangju, is the Asia’s first electric vehicle-scale silicon anode manufacturing facility that will go online very soon in the next

Dec. 17, 2023

LG donates W12b to support neighbors in need

LG Group said Sunday that it has donated a total of 12 billion won ($9.24 million) to Community Chest of Korea, a local charity organization, as part of its year-end charitable giving. The ceremony was held at the charity’s Seoul office on Friday, with officials including CCK Chairman Kim Byong-joon and LG President and Head of Management Support Division Ha Beom-jong in attendance. "We hope that our neighbors in need can spend a warm year-end with hope and courage," said LG Pres

Dec. 17, 2023

Sales of Hyundai, Kia in US exceed 1.5m this year

The combined vehicle sales of Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top carmaker, and its affiliate Kia Corp. in the United States surpassed 1.5 million units this year, according to industry data on Sunday. Hyundai and Kia sold 788,403 and 722,176 units, respectively, over the January-November period, the data showed. Hyundai's figures include sales of its independent Genesis brand, which also hit an annual record of 62,372 units. The combined figure marks the highest yearly sales since Hy

Dec. 17, 2023

[Weekender] Korea's elderly poverty reveals itself in heart of Seoul

The streets of Nakwon-dong behind Tapgol Park in central Seoul are often referred to as a place for older adults, in particular, those living on limited means. “Here, a 10,000 won ($7.58) bill is enough to make your day," said Kim, 74, at a small restaurant in Nakwon-dong. "A bowl of hot soup with rice costs only 3,000 won, and you can even get coffee for an additional 200 won. If you want a haircut, it costs only 6,000 won. That's the reason why people like me, who are down

Dec. 16, 2023

IMF chief warns against premature monetary easing

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said it is too early for central banks to go easy on inflation control despite signs of recovery. “We have seen through history that at this very last moment of controlling inflation, some countries prematurely declare victory,” the IMF chief said during a press conference held in Seoul Friday. Georgieva’s remarks come on the heels of the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting Wednesday, during which

Dec. 15, 2023

LG Electronics supplies automatic frying machines to BHC

BHC, one of South Korea’s biggest fried chicken franchises, said Friday it has adopted automatic frying machines from LG Electronics on a trial basis. “BHC has introduced LG Electronics' automatic frying machines to some BHC stores in the country. The company plans to expand the adoption of the machine after testing its efficiency,” the BHC official said. The automatic frying machine, known as Tuiibot, developed by an internal venture unit under LG Electronics’s busi

Dec. 15, 2023

Seoul shares close higher on hope for US rate cuts

South Korean stocks closed higher Friday amid expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will start its rate-cutting cycle in 2024. The local currency inched down against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 19.38 points, or 0.76 percent, to close at 2,563.56. Trade volume was moderate at 458.2 million shares worth 12.7 trillion won ($9.8 billion), with winners outpacing losers 498 to 378. Foreigners bought a net 849.5 billion won, while individuals dumped a net 1.1

Dec. 15, 2023

Hugel wins award for $70m exports of cosmetic products

Hugel, South Korea's botulinum toxin products maker, has been recognized by the government for its recent accomplishments in exports, the company said Friday. According to Hugel, the company has been awarded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association for reaching the $70 million export milestone between July of 2022 and June this year. The value of the company’s exports in the 12-month period was the highest among the companies based in

Dec. 15, 2023