[THE INVESTOR] Driving down the road, when suddenly an ambulance screeches by with red sirens flashing and calling out to clear the way, another driver would naturally see that the special vehicle belongs to a nearby hospital, without thinking about where it comes from.Actually, almost all of the ambulances on the road speeding by in Korea come from the KOSDAQ-listed tech company Autech.Autech ambulance (Autech)It not only makes ambulances with auto partners such as Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors,

Business June 14, 2016

As the vote over whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union is drawing near, analysts are issuing a series of warnings that Britain’s EU exit, or “Brexit,” would have a severe impact on the global economy.A Brexit would also deal a blow to Korea, whose biggest free trade partners include the EU, as investors are expected to pull their funds out of Asian markets exposed to risks stemming from Britain’s EU referendum.Confidence has already begun to be negatively affected with Kor

June 14, 2016

This is the 12th in a series of articles analyzing major companies by market capitalization traded on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ market. -- Ed.Driving down the road when suddenly an ambulance screeches by with red sirens flashing and calling out to clear the way, another driver would naturally see the special vehicle belongs to a nearby hospital, without thinking of where it came from.Actually, almost all of the ambulances on the road speeding by in Korea come from KOSDAQ-listed tech company Autech.A

June 14, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Attention is now focused on who chairman Park Hyeon-joo will name as his successor at Mirae Asset Financial Group. The founder, openly critical of Korea’s large family-owned conglomerate’ father-to-son transfer of throne, has on multiple occasions said he will not pass down the group’s control to his children. 　　Local media paid keen attention, however, when Park Ha-min, Park’s eldest daughter, joined Mirae Asset Global Investments in 2013 to learn the ins and outs of real estate

Business June 13, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Park Hyeon-joo is recognized as the brains behind the launch of Mirae Asset, one of Korea’s first asset managers to launch mutual and real estate trust funds in the country. Park Hyeon-jooAs the founder and chairman of the firm, Park -- a graduate of Korea University in business administration -- worked his way up the corporate ladder in brokerages, and gained keen trading sensibility. But like any great entrepreneur who has changed the world, Park was not alone in his quest for f

Industry June 13, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Global investment banking giants lament that their glory days are over. But for many Koreans, investment banking is still finance’s final frontier, all the more fascinating because it seems way beyond their reach. Park Hyeon-joo, arguably the most successful financier born in Korea, eyes Korea‘s presence in the world of investment bankers, from which existing players have been retreating. He aims to grow his Mirae Asset Financial Group into Asia’s leading investment bank. “I have

Industry June 13, 2016

The market was caught by surprise from the central bank’s earlier-than expected rate cut last week, providing support to the government’s policy on corporate restructuring amid a gloomy economic outlook.With the Bank of Korea lowering its base rate to record low of 1.25 percent in addition to committing to offering 10 trillion won ($8.5 billion) for policy bank recapitalization, analysts say it is now the Finance Ministry’s move to further cushion the economy from the negative outlook with expan

June 12, 2016

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Bank of Korea will inject 12 trillion won ($10 billion) both directly and indirectly via a fund into policy banks to finance the restructuring of debt-laden shipping and shipbuilding companies.Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said Wednesday that the government and the central bank have agreed to pursue restructuring through a mix of fiscal and monetary measures, adding that BOK will provide 10 trillion won as a loan to the Industrial Bank of Korea.With the

June 8, 2016

Unlike Korea’s shipping and shipbuilding industries, the domestic steelmakers may not face immediate credit risks given that their problems have more to do with overcapacity in the market.The government, therefore, put the steel industry on a different watch list last April, urging the companies to voluntarily and preemptively improve their finances by reducing costs associated with equipment and inventories to offset overcapacity. The financial regulator also suggested them to restructure via m

June 7, 2016

Rim Ji-hoon, chief executive of Kakao, the developer of Korea’s most-used mobile messenger, has recently been buying company stocks on the market in an apparent move to boost his leverage over the firm, according to news reports that cited investment banking sources.Last week, Rim acquired 1,522 shares of the company listed on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ at 98,800 won ($84.60) per share, with his equity ownership in Kakao now amounting to 4,264 shares. He previously bought 2,742 shares at between 100,

Industry June 6, 2016

With the global economy in a low-growth trap, Korean exports are expected to remain in negative territory, affecting the growth prospect of Asia’s fourth-largest economy this year.Data by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development showed that the growth of Korean exports, which the country relied mostly on to expand on account of weak domestic consumption, has dropped since last year.(Yonhap)Although Korea ranked fourth in the OECD after Japan, Ireland and Mexico in January last y

June 6, 2016

Fiscal policymakers of South Korea and the U.S. reaffirmed their strategic alliance against the potential threat from North Korea using the international financial system.In the first meeting between the finance chiefs of the two countries in Seoul on Friday since the G20 summit in 2010, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said that two sides will continue to collaborate in dealing with and resolving any financial matters concerning the North.Lew’s visit to Seoul comes after the U.S. Treasury Depa

June 3, 2016

Drastic times call for drastic measures. As the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development suggested, it is time for the global economy to take a “comprehensive and collective action” to tackle and overcome the low-growth trap.South Korea is no exception to this global downward spiral, as over the last couple of weeks a series of statistics have clearly showed its key economic data, such as employment, production, consumption, inflation and now growth, pointing south. The Bank of Kore

June 2, 2016

Korea’s overall production and consumption fell last month on the back of slow manufacturing and retail sales, despite a slight pickup in the services industry led by the finance and insurance sectors, according to Statistics Korea on Tuesday.The index of all industry production, which tracks industrial production, services, public administration and construction, stood at 110.9 in April, down 0.8 percent from the month before.“Low production and an increase in finance reflect a change in activi

May 31, 2016

The second possible inclusion of U.S.-listed Chinese blue chips, including Alibaba and Baidu, into the Morgan Stanley Capital International’s Emerging Markets index on May 31 is expected to trigger capital outflows from Korea’s stock market, analysts warned.With increasing exposure to Chinese tech and consumer heavyweights on the $3.5 trillion global index, institutional investors such as pension funds are bound to realign their equity portfolios to growth stocks such as those from China, the wo

May 30, 2016

Established in 2005, NongHyup Bank’s agriculture financial consulting service has provided assistance to farmers nationwide in analyzing their financial statements to help them effectively manage their income and cash flow.The consulting unit of NH Bank offers 3,226 comprehensive financial services, and has handled more than 3,650 cases involving asset management and consulting. NH Bank’s consultant provides financial consulting to a farmer. (NH Bank)This year, it has set a target of 3,500 compr

May 30, 2016

South Korea’s annual economic growth fell out of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development top 10 for the first time in nine years in 2015.Asia’s fourth-largest economy grew 2.6 percent last year, ranking 12th, behind Eastern European economies including the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, according to the OECD. The Czech Republic grew 4.2 percent last year, while Hungary 2.9 percent and Poland 3.6 percent. The country’s growth was also lower than that of small economies such

May 29, 2016

ING Life Insurance will be extending its sales offer by the end of this week to fuel more potential bids for the insurer owned by Korean private equity MBK Partners following lower-than-expected buyout interests, according to news media citing investment banking sources.MBK and ING could not be reached for comments. Morgan Stanley is the sales manager of MBK’s ING Life Insurance.Only about three companies at home and abroad submitted their letters of intent for the insurer on Monday. MBK seeks t

May 24, 2016

Shares in Korea and other emerging markets are forecast to lose ground as foreign investors are likely to pull out their funds ahead of a possible rate rise in the U.S. next month, analysts said Monday.The global market is anxiously awaiting the next Federal Reserve meeting on June 14-15 when the U.S. central bank will decide whether to raise or keep its rate steady, depending on market data especially its job rate.In a meeting last month, members of the Federal Open Market Committee sent the mo

May 23, 2016

Korea’s top financial regulator said Friday that regardless of the deadline, Hyundai Merchant Marine should seek to continue negotiations to reduce charter fees with foreign shipowners, hinting at giving the ailing shipper more time to settle deals. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with regional bankers, Financial Services Commission Yim Jong-yong said, however, that if negotiations are not successful, HMM will be put under court receivership.The government had initially given the shipper u

May 20, 2016