Celltrion begins distribution of COVID-19 therapy in Korea

Celltrion began nationwide distribution of its monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 on Wednesday. Celltrion’s regdanvimab is Korea’s first emergency-approved COVID-19 treatment. All 156 state-designated COVID-19 medical institutes are eligible for free distribution of regdanvimab, Celltrion said, upon individual submission of supply request. Patients who can receive the shot are confirmed COVID-19 patients who have yet to pass seven days from the first onset of symptoms, who

Feb. 17, 2021

Samsung’s imprisoned chief barred from working at Samsung

Employment restrictions have been imposed on the jailed Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong following his conviction for bribery. Observers said, however, that since Lee is not employed by Samsung and holds only a symbolic title, the ban wouldn’t change the conglomerate’s top leadership. According to local reports Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice notified the Samsung Group’s de facto chief of the employment ban against him and the procedures required to gain appr

Feb. 17, 2021

[News Focus] SK Innovation’s battery split-off plan called into question

In its self-proclaimed rivalry with LG Energy Solution, SK Innovation has been eyeing a split-off of its battery business with a potential initial public offering, but a major setback in the US could pose a challenge to the plan. Speaking at a battery expo in Seoul last October, Jee Dong-seob, the Seoul-based company’s battery division chief, said that he was considering the separation from a “financial perspective.” 　 As a latecomer in the white-hot electric vehicle batte

Feb. 17, 2021

[Advertorial] LG Energy Solution No.1 battery patent holder through extensive R&D

LG Energy Solution said it had invested 2 trillion won ($1.8 billion) in battery research and development over the past six years, allocating 5-6 percent of its revenue every year. According to the South Korean battery giant, it held the highest number of battery patents as of late last year -- 23,610, which is at least 10 times as many as of a leading Chinese battery firm that joined the global race recently. LG Energy Solution’s battery research has continued for about three decade

Feb. 17, 2021

Neowiz acquires Sticky Hands, doubles down on casual game biz

South Korean online game publisher Neowiz said Wednesday it has acquired a 60 percent stake in a local mobile game company Sticky Hands. “The acquisition will give Neowiz the business management rights over Sticky Hands and allow the company to boost its competitiveness in the global casual game market,” a Neowiz official said. Launched in 2016, Sticky Hands specializes in solitaire, a tabletop game which one can play by oneself, usually with cards. Its solitaire game series rec

Feb. 17, 2021

100,000 German households subscribe to Hanwha Q Cells’ green electricity service

Hanwha Q Cells said Wednesday that more than 100,000 households in Germany have joined its Q.Energy service so far, which allows customers to buy and consume electricity generated 100 percent by renewables. According to the solar power unit of Hanwha Solutions, the Q.Energy service sources the electricity from renewable-energy power plants in Germany and Austria and delivers the energy to the German households. “The Q.Energy service, which garnered more than 100,000 household subscri

Feb. 17, 2021

Seoul stocks snap 3-day winning streak on foreign and institutional selling

The South Korean stock market ended its three-day winning streak Wednesday amid strong foreign and institutional selling that stemmed from concerns over a US yield hike. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 29.52 points, or 0.93 percent, to close at 3,133.73 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 1.8 billion shares worth some 16.6 trillion won ($15 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 422 to 417. Foreigners sold a

Feb. 17, 2021

Operation of new budget airlines delayed amid prolonged pandemic

Newly-launched South Korean low-cost carriers Air Premia and Aero K have been given an extended time frame by the Transport Ministry to begin the operation of their service amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the two airlines can fly their first flights by the end of this year in order to retain their operating license, pushing back the date from early March to December. The move, approved by an advisory co

Feb. 17, 2021

W2.4tr spent on Coupang and Coupang Eats in January: report

Shoppers in South Korea spent some 2.4 trillion won on fast-growing e-commerce giant Coupang and its food delivery app Coupang Eats last month, according to data released from industry tracker WiseApp on Wednesday. The latest data showed some 20 million people spent a total of 2.4 trillion won during the month of January, with each spending a total of 144,000 won per month on average on both apps. The data is based on credit card and debit card transactions and bank transfers of South Koreans

Feb. 17, 2021

S. Korea’s money supply sees record gain

South Korea’s money supply gained a record amount of currency and other liquid instruments on-year in December, central bank data showed Wednesday, triggering alarm bells about inflation. The country’s M2 amounted to 3,191.3 trillion won ($2.9 trillion) as of end-December, gaining 260.9 trillion won on-year, showed preliminary data compiled by the Bank of Korea. In terms of percentiles, the M2 increased 9.8 percent on-year and 0.4 percent on-month. The M2 is a calculation of the mo

Feb. 17, 2021

Insurance firms’ performance in alternative investment under par

Although the insurance industry fared well overall last year in terms of profit amid the coronavirus pandemic, its performance in the foreign alternative investment segment was disappointing, according to data announced Wednesday. Mirae Asset Life Insurance saw its operating profit drop 17.7 percent on-year to 115.8 billion won ($104.56 million) in 2020, although it secured a market share of more than 50 percent in the variable insurance segment. Its profit fell as the value of its alternati

Feb. 17, 2021

Zero Pay mulls partnership with China’s UnionPay

Zero Pay, a mobile payment app developed by Seoul City, is considering a partnership with China’s financial platform UnionPay International, the company’s official said Wednesday. “We’re negotiating with UnionPay and other payment apps abroad but it is very early stage,” an official from Korea Easy Payment Foundation, which operates Zero Pay, said. “But it is our firm goal to expand our network beyond Korea so that users can pay with our app overseas,&rdqu

Feb. 17, 2021

Samsung ranks 2nd in Russia's Q4 online smartphone market: report

Samsung Electronics Co. was the second-largest vendor in Russia's online smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2020, a report showed Wednesday, amid the pandemic-induced stay-at-home trend. The South Korean tech giant accounted for 27 percent of online smartphone shipments in Russia in the last three months of 2020, up from 24.9 percent a year ago, according to market researcher Counterpoint Research. Samsung was the top brand in the overall Russian smartphone market in the October-Decemb

Feb. 17, 2021

FSC chief denies political consideration on short selling ban extension

Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo said Wednesday that there were no political considerations at play in the regulator’s latest decision to extend its temporary ban on short selling, stressing that the practice a “necessary” trading tactic. “Even tough retail investors have voiced against short selling, the authorities reached a conclusion that short selling is a necessary trading tactic in the stock market,” Eun said at a parliamentary briefing,

Feb. 17, 2021

Mr. Pizza operator’s stock trading suspended again

Shares of MP Group, the South Korean company that controls pizza restaurant franchise Mr. Pizza and coffee chain Manoffin, have been suspended from trading, nearly two months after resuming transactions on the nation’s secondary bourse. The Korea Exchange’s Kosdaq Market Committee decided Wednesday to halt trading of MP Group shares as the firm has been suffering operating losses for six consecutive years. The decision came to “protect investors from a possible delisting,&rdqu

Feb. 17, 2021

Regulator to file complaints against 4 steelmakers over price fixing

South Korea's antitrust regulator said Wednesday it will file complaints with the prosecution against four steelmakers for colluding to fix the purchase price of steel scrap. Last month, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) decided to fine seven steelmakers, including No. 2 player Hyundai Steel Co., a combined 300 billion won ($270 million) for price fixing. The corporate watchdog said it has decided to file complaints with the prosecution against Hyundai Steel and three other steelmakers, n

Feb. 17, 2021

Samsung launches kiosk machine highlighting security, hygiene features

Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday said it has launched a kiosk machine in South Korea that highlights advanced security and hygiene features as the South Korean tech giant enters the self-service machine business amid the pandemic-induced contactless trend. Samsung Kiosk is an all-in-one self-service machine that allows consumers to select, order and pay for services and products at restaurants, marts and pharmacies. Samsung said its first-ever kiosk machine will be globally available in th

Feb. 17, 2021

Kia teases exterior design of all-new K8

Kia Corp. South Korea's No. 2 carmaker, on Wednesday revealed the exterior design of the new large sedan K8, the first model that bears its new brand logo. The K8 is a successor of K7, better known as Cadenza in the United States, which has sold over 500,000 units globally since its launch in 2009. Its new corporate image features elongated 5,015 mm body with a low roofline, which combines sportiness and sleek exterior design. At the front sits a new signature frameless tiger nose grille that

Feb. 17, 2021

SK Telecom enters AI-based video security business

SK Telecom Co., the country's largest mobile carrier, said Wednesday it joined hands with its security subsidiary ADT Caps Co. and local video management solution company Innodep Inc. to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based video analysis services. Under an agreement, the three companies will develop such services to effectively manage video surveillance systems in the growing local market in the private and public sectors, according to SK Telecom. The mobile carrier said it will optimiz

Feb. 17, 2021

Seoul stocks open steeply lower on tech, auto losses

South Korean stocks opened steeply lower Wednesday amid strong institutional and foreign selling, led by tech and auto losses. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 27.65 points, or 0.87 percent, to 3,135.6 points in the first 15 minutes of trading. Stocks came off to a lackluster start as the KOSPI's three-day gain increased valuation pressure, in addition to the yield hike concerns on Wall Street. Top cap Samsung Electronics lost 1.41 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix she

Feb. 17, 2021