STX Group launched the think tank STX Future Institute on Monday.The organization will be headed by the group’s vice chairman Shin Chul-seak. STX Future Institute will be tasked with leading efforts to establish systemic management that is part of the company’s Vision 2020 plans, the company said.Announced at the group’s 10th anniversary event held in Dalian, China last month, Vision 2020 calls fo

Industry May 23, 2011

LS Cable and System, the country’s largest producer of cables and wires, announced Thursday that it has developed a cable for supplying power to airplanes, a first time for Korea. The cable was supplied to Incheon International Airport Corp. According to the company, the new cable is capable of carrying electrical currents of up to 400 hertz frequency, making the new product compatible with electr

Industry May 19, 2011

The number of people traveling the Seoul-Ulsan air route fell 39.4 percent since the last section of the Seoul-Busan high-speed railway was opened, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said Wednesday.The Seoul-Busan line connected the East Daegu-Busan line to the Seoul-East Daegu line that was completed earlier, and KTX high-speed trains began operating on the route on Nov. 1.Accor

Industry May 18, 2011

The two-day High-Level Forum on Korea-LAC Partnership began in Seoul on Wednesday. Held for the third time, high-level officials from 11 Latin American countries including First Vice President of Costa Rica Alfio Piva Mesen are attending the event.The main topic of this year’s discussions are ways to increase cooperation between Korea and Latin American nations in the field of trade, investment, e

May 18, 2011

The country’s second largest refiner GS Caltex Co. announced Tuesday that it will raise the retirement age by two years and apply peak salary system from next year.Under the agreement GS Caltex reached with its labor union last month, the retirement age will be raised from 58 to 60 years of age from Jan. 1, 2012. With the peak salary system taking effect on the same date, the base pay for workers

Industry May 17, 2011

The number of people working at small- and medium-sized enterprises increased by 3.47 million between 1999 and 2009, industry data showed Sunday.Under local regulations, SMEs are defined as companies with less than 1,000 employees and total assets less than 500 billion won ($458 million), and companies that meet the requirements but are affiliated to large companies are excluded from the category.

Industry May 16, 2011

Samsung Heavy Industries Co. applied for 1,099 patents last year, industry sources said Friday.The company is the first in the industry to have applied for more than 1,000 patents in one year.During the same period, the world’s largest shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. applied for 844 patents, while Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. made 665 patent applications. According to in

Industry May 13, 2011

Korean Air announced Friday that it received the top prize for in-flight meals in the 2011 World Traveller Awards.Organized by China’s largest travel magazine World Traveller, the annual event awards carriers that operate routes to China in 10 categories including in-flight meals.Korean Air said that it was selected for the award for its efforts in raising the quality and diversity of in-flight me

Industry May 13, 2011

The Bank of Korea should be given rights to supervise financial institutions independent of other financial authorities, BOK Governor Kim Choong-soo said Friday.Speaking after the monthly rate review meeting, Kim said that the central bank should be able to conduct independent supervision under “special circumstances.”“(The BOK) means to conduct (independent investigations) when a particular finan

May 13, 2011