TCL’s 'QD TVs' face antitrust probe over misleading advertising

Korean specialty chemicals and materials maker Hansol Chemical said Monday it has filed a complaint with the local antitrust authorities against Chinese TV maker TCL for the misleading advertising of its latest TV sets. The Korean firm accused TCL, China’s largest TV manufacturer, of falsely branding its liquid crystal display TVs as “QD TVs” even though they actually contain no QD or quantum-dot materials that help enhance image quality. Higher-priced QD-incorporated LCD TVs,

Nov. 11, 2024

[Photo News] Futuristic Cockpit

LG Electronics on Monday unveiled its new Digital Cockpit concept involving modular systems for ultimate customization. The Digital Cockpit gamma, the third-generation concept of the appliance giant's future mobility, features OLED displays, artificial intelligence and 5G technologies. (LG Electronics)

Nov. 11, 2024

[Photo News] Sharing love with kimchi

Hana Financial Group Chair Ham Young-joo (fourth from left) and other company executives join a "gimjang" or kimchi-making event at the group's headquarters in Seoul on Monday as part of the 2024 Modu Hana Day campaign. Some 300 people, including representatives of Hana's partner firms, participated in the annual event to donate 11,111 heads of kimchi to disadvantaged households. (Hana Financial Group)

Nov. 11, 2024

Young Poong's violations cast doubt on Korea Zinc bid

Young Poong, the world’s sixth-largest zinc smelter, has been ordered to close down its refinery facility for two months for discharging polluted wastewater without authorization, posing a possible setback in its attempt to take ownership control of Korea Zinc, its affiliate and the world’s largest zinc producer. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court dismissed Young Poong’s request to nullify an administrative order to shut down its Seokpo refinery in North Gyeongsang Provinc

Nov. 11, 2024

[Herald Interview] JobKorea’s Klik brings jobs, community to growing foreign workforce in Korea

As Korea’s foreign workforce nears the 1 million mark, JobKorea, the nation’s leading online recruitment platform, has launched the spinoff Klik, or Kickstart Life in Korea, to bring quality jobs and community to foreign national job seekers. Chris Heo, a 33-year-old Canadian national who leads the Klik team, said that the platform’s birth was largely inspired by his own experiences and challenges as a foreign national living in Korea. “I’ve struggled with complex a

Nov. 11, 2024

SK to enhance board's role in readiness for AI era

South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate SK Group announced Monday its commitment to further enhance its governance structure by expanding the board's role beyond decision-making to setting directions and evaluating performance, intent to better navigate the era of artificial intelligence. At SK Directors’ Summit 2024 in Seoul on Thursday, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and chief executives of the group’s affiliates, including Choi Chang-won, the head of the group’s

Nov. 11, 2024

Korean shipbuilders upbeat on Trump’s call for collaboration

Korean shipbuilders are raising hopes to expand their presence in the US, following President-elect Donald Trump’s call for more bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding sector. According to Seoul’s presidential office, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Trump had a 12-minute phone call Thursday morning after Trump won a second nonconsecutive presidential term. After exchanges of congratulations and gratitude, Trump specifically mentioned Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities and the US&

Nov. 10, 2024

LG Display unveils world's most stretchable display

South Korean display maker LG Display announced Sunday it succeeded in developing the world’s first stretchable display capable of expanding up to 50 percent, the highest elongation rate within the industry. The latest breakthrough, the outcome of five years of research, was unveiled during an industrial gathering at LG Science Park in Seoul on Friday. LG's new prototype features a 12-inch screen that stretches up to 18 inches while delivering a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch

Nov. 10, 2024

IFC Seoul in acquisition talks for over W3tr

Singapore’s ARA Asset Management is reportedly in talks with Brookfield Asset Management to acquire the International Finance Center Seoul, one of South Korea's largest mixed-use commercial properties, according to sources Friday. Following its purchase of the Conrad Seoul Hotel in August, ARA is now discussing a potential deal with the owner of IFC Seoul to buy the remaining office towers and retail mall. Located in Yeouido, Seoul, the IFC complex was initially developed by US-based

Nov. 8, 2024

KT&G declines FCP proposal to buy ginseng unit

South Korean top tobacco company KT&G has rejected a recent proposal from the Singapore-based activist private equity fund Flashlight Capital Partners to acquire Korea Ginseng Corporation, a KT&G affiliate. In a move to turn down Flashlight Capital Partners' bid, KT&G issued a statement Friday and reiterated its commitment to a long-term growth strategy focused on three core businesses, including health functional foods -- the segment Korea Ginseng Corporation falls under. KT&am

Nov. 8, 2024

Starbucks to open store on North Korea's doorstep

Starbucks Korea will open a new outlet this month, just 1.4 km away from North Korea. The store will be located on the second floor of the observatory at Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. Aegibong, a 154-meter peak, offers a direct view of North Korea’s Kaepung County and Songaksan. Since the park’s opening in 2021, the observatory has drawn large crowds. Last year, almost 140,000 tourists visited the park to catch a glimpse of North Korea. The ecopark features an o

Nov. 8, 2024

Posco considers selling off steel plant in China amid market oversupply

Posco Group is reportedly considering selling its stainless steel plant in Zhangjiagang, China, as part of a broader restructuring initiative led by Chairman Chang In-hwa to streamline 125 low-profit and non-core assets. According to industry sources Friday, Posco is in the process of selecting an advisory firm to aid in decision-making regarding the sale of Zhangjiagang Pohang Stainless Steel. With an annual production capacity of 110,000 metric tons, the plant was constructed near the Yangtze

Nov. 8, 2024

Naver to enhance 'AI Briefing' after record Q3 earnings

South Korean internet giant Naver on Friday reported record-high quarterly earnings for the July-September period, showing strong performances in all of its major businesses including the search platform, commerce and content. During an earnings call, Naver Chief Executive Officer Choi Soo-yeon said the company would expand its "AI Briefing" summary function to mobile phones next year. The feature provides direct answers to search queries by understanding user intent and context based

Nov. 8, 2024

Korean transformer export surge on clean energy, AI demand

South Korea’s transformer industry is booming thanks to rising global demand for clean energy and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Leading Korean manufacturers like HD Hyundai Electric and Hyosung Heavy Industries have seen a significant surge in orders for their high-capacity transformers, which are essential for handling the massive electricity loads required by renewable energy projects and data centers supporting AI. With their order books full and growing, these companies are n

Nov. 8, 2024

KT&G reports record cigarette sales in Q3

KT&G, the nation’s largest tobacco company, said Thursday its cigarette sales hit a new record in the third quarter, largely buoyed by overseas sales. In the July-September period, the company reported 1.04 trillion won ($780 million) in cigarette sales, up 7.7 percent from a year ago and the highest-ever quarterly figure. Operating profit in cigarette sales also soared 23.6 percent to 333 billion won. Overseas sales made up about one-third of its total cigarette sales, worth 419.7 bil

Nov. 7, 2024

Mirae Asset Securities Q3 earnings more than double

Mirae Asset Securities, a leading brokerage house in Seoul, reported robust earnings in the third quarter, largely buoyed by the strong performance of overseas units. In its earnings report on Thursday, the brokerage firm said its operating profit more than doubled to 370 billion won ($265 million) in the July-September period compared to a year ago, while its net profit soared to 290 billion won, almost tripling on-year. The company attributed the upbeat earnings to the growth of its foreign su

Nov. 7, 2024

Chipmakers urged to leverage AI edge in tackling uncertainties

Donald Trump's second presidency is unsettling the chip industry globally, after the outspoken leader had publicly threatened during his campaign to cut subsidies for chipmakers and raise tariffs on foreign firms. South Korea, home to the world’s top two memory chip-makers, is no exception. Experts suggest that Korea should leverage its strengths in artificial intelligence chips and further bolster ties with the new US administration. One of the imminent concerns is the possibility of

Nov. 7, 2024

Korean auto, battery firms buckle up for second Trump term

Korean automakers and battery-makers now face the daunting task of coping with a second Donald Trump administration, as they try to prepare various measures to weather the storm of uncertainties expected from the next president of the United States. Throughout his election campaign, Trump has openly criticized the Joe Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and its Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit that have given financial benefits to Korean companies in the electric vehicle

Nov. 7, 2024

Coupang founder to sell $360m of stock

Coupang founder and CEO Bom Kim announced on Thursday plans to sell 15 million shares valued at some $360 million — his first sale since Coupang’s New York Stock Exchange debut on March 15, 2021. He also plans to donate an additional 2 million shares to charity. Kim currently owns 174,802,990 Class B shares and the shares he plans to sell represent almost 9.7 percent of the total holding. The Class B shares, exclusively owned by Kim, have 29 times the voting power of regular shares.

Nov. 7, 2024

India’s vibrant economy ready to lure Korean investors, says ambassador

Deeper economic and commercial ties between India and South Korea could pave the way for mutual growth, India’s ambassador to South Korea said, highlighting the potential of India’s young, expanding consumer base and robust annual growth rate. “India’s economy continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, driven by forward-looking government policies,” India’s Ambassador to South Korea Amit Kumar said in his opening remarks at the Global Business Forum hoste

Nov. 7, 2024