The decision to build a plant in Korea for manufacturing dry pumps for semiconductors was a natural one designed to give Edwards a leg-up in the Asian markets. “Korea is geopolitically well-situated to be able to export to the (Asian) markets due to its proximity to the customer, ability to form intimate relationships with them and concentration on technology and right quality of people,” Mathew T

Industry May 30, 2011

OCHANG/CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong Province ― LG Group’s chemical affiliates is targeting 50 trillion won ($46 billion) in sales by 2016 in a bid to complete the firms’ transition from smokestack to high-tech.The combined sales target of LG Chem, LG Household & Healthcare, LG Hausys and LG Life Sciences would mean double the 24.8 trillion won they raised last year. The growth, LG said, would be dr

Industry May 29, 2011

Siemens Korea will next month appoint Kim Jong-kap, former head of Hynix Semiconductor, to become the first Korean chief executive in its 60-year history, the company said on Thursday.  Kim Jong-kapKim, 59, was most recently chief of Hynix, the world’s No. 2 memory-chip manufacturer. He completed a three-year term that started in 2007 and is currently head of the board of directors. Prior to Hynix

Industry May 26, 2011

Zippo, most widely known in Korea and around the world for its portable lighters dating back to the second world war, is aiming to rebrand in efforts to reach out to more consumers in search of individuality.“On a global basis, Zippo is moving aggressively from a lighter manufacturing company to a lifestyle products marketing company,” David B. Warfel, the global marketing director of Zippo Manufa

Industry May 25, 2011

Samsung's Galaxy S 2 smartphones (Yonhap News)‘Apple COO Tim Cook visited Korea to discuss bilateral cooperation’ Apple Inc.’s chief operating officer Tim Cook discussed adopting Samsung’s AMOLED display technology for tablet PCs during his recent visit to South Korea, industry sources said.“Apple wants to tap into Samsung’s AMOLED technology for an upgraded version of the iPad 2, considered as m

Industry May 25, 2011

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency on Monday said it is investigating Shinsegae Department Store on allegations that its employees illegally sold gift vouchers worth billions of won to ramp up sales performances. The police have raided Seoul and Busan Centum City offices of the department store and is combing through all financial records related to the gift certificates, officials said. “It’s s

Industry May 23, 2011

Jack Tong, president of HTC’s North Asia markets, on Friday pledged to beef up commitment on the observation that Korea is a “difficult place” for a foreign brand to succeed mainly due to the competition posed by strong local brands.“I have to admit it is not easy. The Korean market is the most difficult and challenging market for foreign brands,” Tong said. “It’s difficult for the foreign brands

Industry May 20, 2011

Two heavyweight firms up for grabs on local M&A marketThe company boasts a healthy financial report card, and has long-term expertise in logistics as one of the nation’s first logistics firms ― it was established in 1930. No one for Hynix Hynix, due to its heavy dependence on research and technology, is considered a business that is not as lucrative as expected because of the capital it is forced

Industry May 19, 2011

Applications related to media, games, lifestyles most profitableChoi Hyun-young, a wedding planner by profession, says life has become so much easier since downloading Awesome Note on her smartphone. The application ― which is basically an online organizer and note-taker ― helps Choi keep her hectic schedule intact with customized folders for work and her personal life, under which she keeps and m

Industry May 17, 2011