Seoul shares rally to hit more than 1-week high on eased rate hike woes

South Korean stocks jumped more than 1.5 percent to hit a more than one-week high Thursday as investors were boosted by the latest US inflation data that would tone down the Fed's hawkish view on interest rates. The local currency increased against the US greenback. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 38.19 points, or 1.51 percent, to finish at 2,572.89, the highest since Sept. 5, when the index finished at 2,582.18. Trading volume was moderate at 406.1 million shares wor

Sept. 14, 2023

S. Korea becomes EU’s 7th-largest source of imports: KITA

South Korea has risen to become the European Union's seventh-largest source of imports in the first four months of this year, eclipsing Japan and Russia for the first time, according to the Korea International Trade Association on Thursday. The value of the EU's imports from Korea climbed 10.7 percent on-year from January to April while the European trade bloc’s total imports dropped 8.6 percent during the same period, a report released by KITA showed. Its imports from Korea in t

Sept. 14, 2023

FTC chief vows strict scrutiny over platform monopolies

SEJONG -- Fair Trade Commission Chairman Han Ki-jeong on Thursday vowed that the antitrust regulator will continuously make efforts to promote fair and innovative competition in the fast-evolving digital market, while closely monitoring platform monopolization. “As the paradigm shift to the digital economy is expected to proceed rapidly, we’ll strive to establish institutional foundations for the digital market,” Han said in a press conference held at the Sejong Government Comp

Sept. 14, 2023

[Photo News] Apgujeong gets green light for face-lift

Apartment complexes are seen in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Thursday. A city construction commitee under the Seoul Metropolitan Government passed a revision to relax reconstruction regulations placed on aging apartment complexes in the wealthy neighborhood. With the passage of the plan, obsolete buildings can be rebuilt as high-rise complexes with 50-plus floors. (Yonhap)

Sept. 14, 2023

LG Chem teams up with Italy's Eni SM for Korea's first integrated biofuel plant by 2026

South Korean chemical giant LG Chem said Thursday it is teaming up with Eni Sustainable Mobility, the Italian renewable fuel specialist, to build a hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) plant by 2026. They plan to finalize the investment decision by 2024 following a thorough feasibility analysis covering technical and economic aspects. The biorefinery is expected to have a production facility with an annual output of nearly 300,000 metric tons. This facility is slated to be located at LG Chem's

Sept. 14, 2023

Hanwha Aerospace to test out uncrewed vehicle for US military bid

Hanwha Aerospace said on Thursday that its multipurpose uncrewed vehicle, Arion-SMET, will be tested at a US Marine Corps facility in Hawaii in December for potential integration into the US Army. This marks the first time a Korean-made vehicle of this type will undergo such testing. It is part of Hanwha's efforts to solidify its stature in the global aerospace and defense market by 2030. The testing follows Hanwha's recent contract with the US Department of Defense to join the Foreign

Sept. 14, 2023

DS Dansuk to finish new biodiesel refinery next year

Resource recycling company DS Dansuk held the groundbreaking ceremony of its new Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil refinery in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday, the firm said Thursday. Aiming to finish the construction by next July, the second-generation biodiesel refinery is an extension of the company’s first biodiesel plant in Pyeongtaek. DS Dansuk will invest 35.7 billion won ($27 million) in the construction, the company said. The ceremony was attended by about 70 employees, includin

Sept. 14, 2023

‘Korean battery makers to catch up with Chinese rivals by 2025’

South Korea’s top three battery makers are highly likely to see a surge both in sales and operating profits despite their reduced market share in the global electric vehicle battery market, which is dominated by Chinese rivals, according to market tracker SNE Research on Thursday. “Due to China-made low-priced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On’s combined market share worldwide dropped from 30.4 percent in 2021 to 23.8 percent in t

Sept. 14, 2023

CJ to expand UK presence with Korean seaweed

Bibigo's Seaweed Snack will hit supermarket shelves in the United Kingdom, Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang said Thursday. The product will be sold at popular UK grocery market chains Asda and Ocado, as well as online. “Previously, the product was available in local ethnic sales channels (in the UK), but (by distributing it on major retail channels), more consumers will be able to buy and enjoy Bibigo’s Seaweed Snack,” said an official from CJ CheilJedang, which owns the B

Sept. 14, 2023

LG CNS joins forces with Korea University to foster AI talent

Information technology service provider LG CNS said Thursday it has inked a deal with Korea University to nurture future talent in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence and data science. Under the new industrial-academic partnership, a department temporarily named “AI and Data Science” will be set up at Korea University’s graduate school, and students will receive a job offer at the company upon graduation. Starting next year, the department plans to admit over 20 gra

Sept. 14, 2023

Posco to supply EV parts to Hyundai Motor

Posco International announced Wednesday it has signed with Hyundai Motor Group to supply an additional 3.53 million units of motor core, ramping up its presence in the global mobility industry. Under the contract starting from 2026, Posco International will provide 2.72 million units of motor core to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the carmaker’s first EV plant in the US, for eight years. The other 810,000 units will be supplied to Hyundai’s EV production at home for 10 years.

Sept. 14, 2023

Fledgling upcycling startup dreams big to save sea

The coast of Ulsan, a major industrial city in the southeast, was once a site where pods of gray whales were easily spotted, a scene that has become rare as marine pollution and whale hunts took a toll. Among the factors that made the whales disappear, the marine waste issue was what inspired Byun Eui-hyun, CEO of Usisan, to start a business to help clean up the ocean and save the endangered largest animal on Earth from dying from ingesting plastics. "We are the first plastic upcycling comp

Sept. 14, 2023

Samsung's giant billboards become operational at Vatican

Samsung Electronics Co. has finished installing four LED billboards at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, where the Pope gives his weekly address. Samsung's billboards became operational in time for the Papal Audience, the general audience session held every Wednesday morning for Catholic followers and tourists visiting the revered sanctuary. A Samsung delegation visited the Vatican to meet Pope Francis on Wednesday morning to mark the installation, before meeting Cardinal Lazarus You

Sept. 14, 2023

SMEs agency aids local firms' entry into overseas markets

The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency is supporting local firms to enter overseas markets, with 30 medium-sized companies receiving overseas media promotion and marketing services in the most recent campaign carried out in August. The campaign was conducted in partnership with a global communication company with an extensive PR network worldwide. English-language releases on the selected 30 companies were distributed to North American online media outlets, including newspapers, broadcasters, teleco

Sept. 14, 2023

Seoul shares start higher on eased rate hike woes

South Korean stocks started higher Thursday as concerns over a further rate hike by the Federal Reserve were eased despite higher-than-expected US inflation data. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 12.99 points, or 0.51 percent, to 2,549.69 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US consumer price index rose 3.7 percent in August from a year earlier due to high-flying oil prices. But analyst said the US central bank is expected to keep its key rate steady at the upcoming rate-s

Sept. 14, 2023

Industry minister nominee vows swift restoration of nuclear energy ecosystem

South Korean Industry Minister nominee Bang Moon-kyu vowed Wednesday to expedite efforts to restore and further develop the ecosystem of the country's nuclear power generation industry to better achieve net-zero goals and energy security. During a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Bang also pledged efforts to boost exports amid unfavorable global business circumstances and to strengthen cooperation with the United States, Japan and other partners on stable supply chains in advanced indu

Sept. 13, 2023

[Contribution] The beginning of 50 more years with Indonesia

By Woo Tae-hee Indonesia, a large economy with a population of 270 million people and an average age of 29, has impressively sustained an annual growth rate exceeding 5 percent in recent years. In 2018, Standard Chartered projected that Indonesia would become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030. Moreover, Indonesia is a nation endowed with abundant natural resources. Notably, the recent surge in the electric vehicle market has generated a huge demand for nickel, of which Indon

Sept. 13, 2023

SPC’s Paris Baguette secures bigger footing in North America

South Korean bakery giant SPC Group said Wednesday that it is opening nine new Paris Baguette stores in North America this month, seeking a bigger footing in one of the key strategic markets. With the planned nine new openings, SPC will be operating a total of 150 stores in the region. In Canada, SPC will open a Paris Baguette store at the Southpark on Whyte, a residential complex located in Alberta on Friday, while another outlet is set to open in Newmarket, Ontario, next week. In the US, seven

Sept. 13, 2023

S. Korea, Africa bolster ties for growth

Economy-related public officials from South Korea and Africa gathered in Busan to attend the 7th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Ministerial Conference, discussing ways to bolster the economic cooperation between two entities and explore new business opportunities. The event, organized by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Export-Import Bank of Korea, kicked off on Tuesday in the southern port city of Busan. The four-

Sept. 13, 2023

$6b financial package unveiled to empower African nations

South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho on Wednesday announced a financial package of approximately $6 billion in support for Africa to be provided by 2025, at the 2023 Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) conference held in Busan. This biennial conference, spanning four days from Tuesday to Friday, is jointly hosted by the African Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) and Ministry of Economy and Finance. The new fin

Sept. 13, 2023