The “square Grandeur” is back. Hyundai Motor’s latest and seventh edition of its flagship sedan combines cutting-edge technology with a heritage design inspired by the first-generation Grandeur. When the Grandeur -- Hyundai Motor’s classic high-end sedan -- made its debut in 1986, the luxury car became an instant hit among CEOs at leading companies across South Korea and became a symbol for successful businessmen. Due to the sedan's front side design, it received the

Mobility Dec. 11, 2022

South Korean IT giant Kakao vowed Wednesday to triple its investment in efforts to set up more stable service operations after the company faced heat when its major services, such as KakaoTalk, were shut down due to a data center fire. “Kakao will invest more than three times the amount it invested in the past five years to secure human resources and develop technologies for service stabilization while implementing disaster recovery with a triple structure or higher over the next five year

Technology Dec. 7, 2022

BMW Korea said Tuesday that the German carmaker will begin selling its flagship sports activity vehicle the New X7 here. According to the carmaker, the New X7 will feature almost a complete face-lift as the model dons a new exterior design and a more luxurious interior. Prices of the different New X7 models range from 145.8 million to 179.6 million won ($111,300-$137,100).

Mobility Dec. 6, 2022

BlueOval SK, a joint venture between SK On and Ford, has broken ground to build the largest EV battery plant in the US, establishing a strong foothold to expand its market share in the global battery market. According to SK On, about 400 business leaders, US state and federal officials and local residents including SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won took part in the EV battery plant’s groundbreaking ceremony in Glendale, Kentucky, on Monday. “Right here in Kentucky, Ford a

Industry Dec. 6, 2022

Hyundai Mobis will showcase its latest future mobility technology for the first time at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas from Jan. 5 to 8, 2023, the company said Monday. The concept vehicle named M Vision TO will feature four pillars that operate sensors for autonomous driving and display technology for mixed reality.

Mobility Dec. 5, 2022

Posco Chemical has secured a deal worth $688.6 million with Ultium Cells, a US-based joint venture between LG Energy Solution and General Motors, to supply artificial graphite anode materials, the company said Monday. According to the company’s regulatory filing, Posco Chemical will begin the supply of the key battery material from next year to the end of 2028 under the contract. Artificial graphite anode materials, which are core components used in making batteries for electric vehicles,

Industry Dec. 5, 2022

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s planned visit to South Korea later in the week has raised expectations he will meet with the heads of major conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, to discuss cooperation and further partnerships. According to industry sources Monday, Gelsinger is expected to begin his Korea trip on Friday. The Intel CEO’s detailed schedule regarding the length of his stay and the list of people he will meet has not been confirmed. In May, Lee and

Technology Dec. 5, 2022

South Korea must work toward securing irreplaceable technologies in critical industries as the country looks to become a tech powerhouse, a top government official at the Ministry of Science and ICT says. “Our country wants to become a strong country, but we are not a big country in terms of the (physical) size. So it’s impossible to have all technologies inside the house,” said Joo Young-chang, vice minister and the ministry's top innovation strategist, in an interview with T

한국어판 Dec. 5, 2022

South Korea must work toward securing irreplaceable technologies in critical industries as the country looks to become a tech powerhouse, a top government official at the Ministry of Science and ICT says. “Our country wants to become a strong country, but we are not a big country in terms of the (physical) size. So it’s impossible to have all technologies inside the house,” said Joo Young-chang, vice minister and the ministry's top innovation strategist, in an interview wi

Technology Dec. 4, 2022

Hanwha Aerospace, the space business arm of South Korean conglomerate Hanwha, has been tapped as the company to lead the project of upgrading the homegrown Nuri rocket and launching it four more times through 2027, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute said Friday. According to Hanwha Aerospace’s regulatory filing, the company on Thursday signed a contract worth approximately 286 billion won ($220 million) with the state-run institute. The official selection came about two months after th

Technology Dec. 2, 2022

Hyundai Glovis, a logistics affiliate under South Korean automobile giant Hyundai Motor Group, has tapped Lee Kyoo-bok, an executive with the carmaker, as the company’s next CEO, officials announced Wednesday. Lee, who was also promoted to the group’s executive vice president with the CEO appointment, has served as the head of the carmaker’s sales office in Europe and chief financial officer of the US manufacturing corporation. As an expert in strategic planning for overseas sa

Mobility Nov. 30, 2022

Luc Donckerwolke, Hyundai Motor Group’s executive vice president and chief creative officer, has been promoted to the group’s president, the South Korean auto giant announced Wednesday. Donckerwolke, a Belgian native, has led the growth of the carmaker’s brand identity in the global market since he joined the company in 2016. Hyundai Motor said Donckerwolke has initiated the direction for the company’s various creative projects, including the establishment of Genesis Hous

Mobility Nov. 30, 2022

  Korean Air, South Korea’s largest air carrier, will begin offering lie-flat seats in smaller aircraft -- its recently received Airbus 321neo -- in December, the company said Wednesday. With the introduction of the A321neo, Korean Air will become the country’s first air carrier to have lie-flat seats in a narrow-body aircraft. The A321neo, a single-aisle airplane with 182 seats, will operate on short-haul routes to China, Japan and Southeast Asia, according to Korean Air. Short

Mobility Nov. 30, 2022

Hyundai Motor Group and SK On have teamed up to beef up production of electric vehicle batteries in the US, a fast-growing market that offers hefty incentives to only locally produced electric vehicles and batteries. The new partnership comes after the South Korean auto giant suffered subsidy cuts to its popular electric vehicles, including the Ioniq 5, in the all-important US market following the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act that took effect in August. The "US-first

Industry Nov. 29, 2022

BUSAN -- Korean game developers should begin creating accessibility for people with disabilities as it can be easily done with some of the existing guidelines, says a longtime activist who has led the US movement for gamers with disabilities. “You can start making real change tomorrow with the resources out there,” said Mark Barlet, founder and executive director of the AbleGamers Charity, in an interview with The Korea Herald at South Korea’s game exhibition, G-Star, in Busan

Technology Nov. 20, 2022