[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s top two electronics parts makers -- Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek -- are betting big on surging demand for dual-camera smartphones. The parts units of Samsung and LG have been somewhat struggling in recent months amid cost-cutting pressure from smartphone manufacturers in a saturated market. But as their clients are focusing more on premium features especially on cameras, their dual-camera module business are recently gaining a fresh momentum. LG G5 that f

July 26, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] The binding bid for ING Life Insurance, launched by the nation’s largest private equity fund MBK Partners, will start early next month, industry sources said July 25. Morgan Stanley, the lead manager for the sale, has closed the preliminary bidding for the fifth largest life insurance firm in Korea, and will carry out the bidding for what is said to be the largest M&A deal in the first half of this year. One of the three Chinese companies, Hong Kong-based investment manager JD Cap

July 25, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in Seoul is an unusually large restaurant, especially for the upscale Cheongdam-dong area of Seoul. Step inside, past the mahogany reception desk and the main dining hall seems to spread out endlessly, with countless tables covered in white tablecloths. Overhead, private dining rooms line the second floor. Peter Zwiener, head of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse / Wolfgang‘s Steakhouse“Our Seoul branch is about twice the size of some of our other restaurants,” said Peter

July 24, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean retailers are capitalizing on the explosive popularity of Nintendo’s augmented-reality mobile game “Pokémon Go” with new products and services targeting local Pokémon game enthusiasts and fans.From a sudden rise in consumer spending at select Pokémon-appearing cities in Korea to the launch of Pokémon-inspired hotels, tour packages and goods, the smash-hit game appears to be leaving a notable imprint on the local retail sector.“Pokémon Go,” produced jointly by Nintendo

July 24, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s top five conglomerates have grown even bigger in terms of assets they hold and revenue they produce in the past three years, but their contribution to creating new jobs is lagging, a report showed Sunday.According to conglomerate tracking research firm Chaebul.com, the combined assets of the top five largest companies -- Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG and Lotte -- recorded about 930 trillion won ($817 billion) last year, a 15.5 percent rise from 2012. This accounted

Companies July 24, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] JEJUDO ISLAND  ㅡ  To eke out a breakthrough in the current economic stalemate, Korean businesses and the country as a whole need to make bold choices about the future, embracing the risk of failure, Chang Ha-joon, the world-renowned Korean economist said. “The industries that form the backbone of Korea’s economy now came to be as such in the ’70s, ’80s or ’90s at the latest. While those industries are now facing difficulties, challenged by latecomers, Korea has failed to make the

July 24, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Renault Samsung Motors is a curious name for many foreign drivers even though they may be well aware that Samsung is not making cars. Back in 2000, right after the Asian financial crisis hit the nation hard, France’s Renault Group acquired then troubled Samsung Motor from Samsung Group. The deal price was 615 billion won ($562 million). Despite the sell-off, Samsung Card, the credit card unit, purchased a 19.9 percent stake in the company and has maintained the share until now. “F

July 21, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] LG Display, the display-making unit of LG Group, has almost doubled production of its 65-inch organic light-emitting diode panels in the second quarter as more TV manufacturers are adopting the larger OLED display. According to UBI Research, a local research firm specialized in OLED, the company shipped a combined140,000 OLED panels in the April-June period. Of them, the 65-inch panel made up 28,000 units, doubling from some 14,000 units in the first quarter. The increased shipmen

Technology July 20, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung's succession has been set in motion, with Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee out of the picture since 2014 due to health problems. His three children have consequently been allotted key roles within Samsung, but there is still speculation about exactly how the group will be reshuffled.The following are some likely scenarios provided by local opinion leaders. (From left) Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hotel Shilla CEO Boo-jin, Samsung C&T fashion chief Seo-

July 19, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Lotte Group founder Shin Kyuk-ho on July 18 was discharged from a local hospital, some 40 days after he was hospitalized for minor fever. The elder Shin left Asan Medical Center and headed directly to his residence and office at the 34th floor of Hotel Lotte in Sogong-dong, central Seoul. All eyes are now on what kind of role he would play in the ongoing feud between his sons as they fight for control over Lotte Group. Lotte Group founder Shin Kyuk-hoHis eldest son Shin Dong-joo,

July 18, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Many start-ups want to be like Samsung. Ironically enough, Samsung wants to be like a start-up. And for the past few years, the nation’s largest conglomerate has been working hard to go back to basics.  Some liken it to a patient lying on an operating table: Some of its affiliates are being removed like dead tissue, while others are being stitched back together, at times after receiving several blood transfusions. The head surgeon is Samsung Group vice chairman and heir Lee Jae-yo

July 18, 2016

July 18, 2016