South Korea's industrial production growth index for the manufacturing and mining sector grew for the third straight month in December despite concerns of general economic slowdown, a government report showed Wednesday.The report by Statistics Korea said index numbers reached 63.6 in the cited month, which is also the second month in a row that figures topped the "break-even" 50 mark.A index readi

Industry Feb. 2, 2011

South Korea's state-run expressway corporation said Wednesday that a local company won a contract to build and operate a highway rest area in Uzbekistan.Korea Expressway Corp. said the rest area will be built on the 300-kilometer-long highway connecting Tashkent and Samarkand. The unidentified Korean company will build the 99,000-square-meter rest area and retain operational rights over the facili

Industry Feb. 2, 2011

South Korea's trade volume expanded three-fold in the last 10 years, helping the country become the seventh-largest exporter in the world, a government report showed Wednesday.The findings by the Korea Customs Service said the country's export and import volume that stood at just $291.5 billion in 2001 moved up steadily to $545.7 billion in 2005 and hit a record $891.6 billion last year.For 2011,

Feb. 2, 2011

The average exchange rate of the Korean won is expected to hover at 1,093 won to the dollar this year, a report by a state-run think tank showed Wednesday.The Korea Development Institute (KDI) report said that the local currency should gain in value vis-a-vis the greenback on the strength of such developments as steady economic growth and favorable trade balance.In 2010, the Korean legal tender tr

Feb. 2, 2011

BUSAN (Yonhap News) – South Korean crew members of a ship hijacked by Somali pirates last month returned home Wednesday, 13 days after being rescued by the Navy.The seven crew members, including the ship's first officer, Lee Ki-yong, arrived at Gimhae International Airport, 450 kilometers south of Seoul, earlier in the day and plan to head for the local Coast Guard office to help in the ongoing in

Politics Feb. 2, 2011

All five local carmakers saw January sales increase from a year earlier on the back of strong demand from overseas markets, industry data showed Tuesday.Their total sales came to 626,806 vehicles, up 21.9 percent from 514,094 units sold in the same period last year.Their domestic sales grew 1.4 percent to 120,577 units and overseas sales, including exports, jumped 28.1 percent to 506,229 units.Kia

Industry Feb. 1, 2011

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. has delivered its 1,700th vessel, becoming the world’s first shipyard to pass the milestone figure, the firm announced Monday.The shipyard’s 1,700th vessel, a car carrier capable of loading 8,100 vehicles, was delivered to the Seoul-based EUKOR Car Carriers Inc. EUKOR Car Carriers is one of the world’s largest shipping firms specializing in automobile transportation, a

Industry Jan. 31, 2011

Volkswagen AG, Porsche SE and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG are feeling the pinch of tight component supplies as parts-makers struggle to keep pace with resurgent vehicle demand.Volkswagen, Europe’s biggest automaker, will halt production at its main factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, on Jan. 31, because of a shortage of engines and other parts. BMW, the world’s biggest luxury-car maker, Porsche and Dai

Mobility Jan. 30, 2011

Kia Motors Corp. is offering a chance to test drive the city car Morning for four days from Feb. 12 to 15.The event is open to anyone with a valid driver’s license over the age of 21, and applications can be submitted on the company’s website at www.kia.co.kr.The company will announce 50 successful applicants on the website from Feb. 10. Those selected for the event will also be given mobile coupo

Mobility Jan. 30, 2011

Renault Samsung Motors Co. is offering a 20 percent discount on mechanics fees and selected parts until Feb. 18.During the period, those replacing engine oils, batteries, anti-freeze fluid and brake pads will be able to receive services at the discount rates at the 448 directly-operated and associated service centers across the country. The offer is available for all Renault Samsung vehicles. For

Mobility Jan. 30, 2011

GENEVA (DPA) ― Ferrari is apparently planning to unveil at the Geneva Motor Show in March a Shooting Brake station wagon concept car based on the 612 Scaglietti, after spy shots of a car were revealed recently.The Italians could be testing the market for cars that could compete against the likes of the Porsche Panamera or other luxury sports utility vehicles, fitted with a V12 engine of some 540 h

Mobility Jan. 30, 2011

BERLIN (DPA) ― Volkswagen, Europe’s biggest carmaker, has brought plans for a fuel-thrifty car out of abeyance and will display an ultra-light hybrid car at the Qatar Motor Show at the end of this month, according to a German magazine.Volkswagen has spoken for years of making a car that can travel 100 kilometers on just 1 litre of fuel, but has never put one on sale. The magazine Wirtschaftswoche

Mobility Jan. 30, 2011