Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City” and her collection of Manolo Blahnik stilettos were indisputably fashion icons of the 2000s. The pointy, faintly high heels symbolized feminine glamor and were an expression of self-confidence and sexuality. But in the fashion year of 2018, something unthinkable for Carrie is happening. Women are ditching heels and formal black shoes that have ruled the world since the Baroque period of the 17-18th centuries. Instead, they are turning to sneakers that fash

Arts & Design July 12, 2018

The soon-to-be chairman of South Korean steel giant Posco said Wednesday that he wants to hear not only from stakeholders but also from anyone interested in the company’s business about their ideas on its future.For the first time in the group’s history, the company’s chairman-designate Choi Jung-woo will seek suggestions from its employees, shareholders, clients and suppliers as well as the general public, the company said in a statement. A pop-up window shows Posco`s Love Letter campaign. (Pos

Industry July 11, 2018

Hyundai Motor has hired Kim Jong-hoon, a former chief negotiator who led a free trade agreement between South Korea and the US a decade ago as its special adviser, the company said Wednesday. The move appears to be part of preparations against growing fears over Trump’s car tariff push.US President Donald Trump last month reaffirmed his push to slap a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles to the US. Kim is a trade expert who led a series of bilateral free trade negotiations between Korea and th

Industry July 11, 2018

South Korean President Moon Jae-in asked the head of an Indian conglomerate to reinstate former workers at SsangYong Motor who were sacked during the restructuring of the then ailing carmaker.President Moon Jae-in (second from left) talks Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra during a roundtable session for business leaders from South Korea and India. Next to the chairman is Pawan Goenka, managing director of Mahindra Group and the chairman of SsangYong board. (Yonhap)“The issue of reinstating dismis

Mobility July 10, 2018

Posco said Monday that it will take legal actions against a former employee who has been at the center of a group accusing its chief nominee over alleged embezzlement and dereliction of duty. The steelmaker, in a rare statement, said the former worker who identifies himself as a whistleblower, was spreading false information, defaming not only the chairman-designate but also everyone at Posco. The company will file both a civil and criminal suit to the prosecution against him, saying the former

Industry July 9, 2018

Workers at Asiana Airlines, one of the two major air carriers here, held a candlelight vigil on Friday, holding the company‘s management responsible for a massive disruption to the carrier’s in-flight meal service and allegedly seeking profits in the interest of the owner family.Wearing black clothes, and the Guy Fawkes mask, a group of unionized workers at Asiana gathered in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, at 6 p.m. More than 300 people are expected to attend. They plan to hold another rally on Sun

Industry July 6, 2018

LG Innotek, a South Korean manufacturer of optical electronic parts, has unveiled a full lineup of LEDs generating light sources that grow plants faster than the natural sunlight.Named “Horticulture LEDs,” the products are a semiconductor light source that can control plant growth rates and increase the nutrient content of the crop by using the light of a specific wavelength, the company said in a statement. “This product was developed considering the characteristics that the physiological respo

Industry July 6, 2018

The chairman of Kumho Asiana Group, which owns the nation’s second-largest air carrier, apologized Wednesday for causing public concern amid escalating controversy over operating passenger flights without meals and a questionable deal behind it.Offering an official apology, Chairman Park Sam-koo said he was sorry for causing concern and that he feels “grave responsibility” for causing customer inconvenience.Kumho Asiana Chairman Park Sam-koo seen at a press conference held at the group's head of

Industry July 4, 2018

Controversy escalated Tuesday over some flights of major South Korean air carrier Asiana Airlines not providing inflight meals, not only for causing inconvenience to passengers but also on allegations of a questionable deal.(Yonhap)The air carrier’s catering service for some international routes got suspended Friday, citing a fire that had broken out at a plant of its new supplier Gate Gourmet Korea in March, according to local reports that quoted officials involved in the matter. To fill the la

Industry July 3, 2018

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor has invested in Autotalks, an Israeli chip company that makes vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems for self-driving cars. The exact size of the investment was not disclosed. Under the investment deal, the carmaker has agreed to collaborate with Autotalks for the development of a chipset that works like a human brain for connected cars.The chipset is a crucial part in self-driving technology for vehicles set to be equipped with a computerized system that

Mobility July 3, 2018

Shorter working hours kicked off nationwide Monday, testing both the competiveness and productivity of Korea Inc., which has long relied on a workforce that puts in long hours for its dramatic growth. Marking a significant change in the nation’s labor market, after the five-day workweek was adopted in 2004, the new system requires workers to work less than 52 hours a week. It has taken effect for large businesses with more than 300 employees for now. Smaller businesses with fewer than 300 worker

Industry July 2, 2018

Kim Sang-jo, FTC chairman (Yonhap)Hanjin Group, parent company of flag carrier Korean Air, is facing a number of accusations of breaching market rules alongside the cases of intra-company trade blamed for benefiting the interest of the owner family, the head of the nation’s anti-trust watchdog said Friday.“Not just intra-affiliate dealings for the benefit of the owner family, (Hanjin Group) have allegedly violated a number of rules,” said Kim Sang-jo, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission in a r

Industry June 15, 2018

A South Korean energy firm Daesung Group will hold a forum on microbes on June 21 to seek ways of tackling environment and energy problems through microbial waste management, the company said Thursday.Titled “2018 Daesung Haegang Microbes Forum,” the event will be held at The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquarters, featuring renowned speakers coming from around the world.  Panels talk at Daesung Group`s Few Nexus Conference held last year. (Daesung Group)The list includes Philippe S

Industry June 14, 2018

South Korean steel giant Posco appears to be taking a cautious approach in selecting its new CEO amid reports questioning the political neutrality of the formerly state-run enterprise.The firm’s council, consisting of five outside board members, picked 11 candidates from 21, in its sixth round of meetings, the company said Wednesday. The list of candidates was not disclosed. The council will interview five candidates at the next meeting, before selecting one finalist in June.The CEO candidate mu

Industry June 13, 2018

The possibility of North Korea opening up is something not just Hyundai Group is preparing for, with other South Korean conglomerates like Lotte, Hyosung and Posco also anchoring hopes on making inroads into the uncharted market in advance.Retail giant Lotte has been aggressive in forming a task force to study the North Korean market and neighboring countries Russia and China. Communication head Oh Seong-yeop is leading the team to conduct feasibility studies on promoting the tourism industry in

Industry June 13, 2018