Martial law crisis stokes fears among food, beauty exporters

The unexpected martial law declaration late Tuesday by President Yoon Suk Yeol, which was lifted just two and a half hours later, left South Korean export-driven businesses fearing its impact on their global expansion. In particular, food and beauty companies, which have found renewed growth in overseas markets amid a stagnating domestic economy, voiced concerns about whether the incident might tarnish Korea’s reputation abroad and harm export performance. "We received multiple calls

Dec. 4, 2024

Korea faces new test of credibility in global supply chain

Although South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise declaration of martial law did not make it even through the night, such political unrest in a country home to leading tech giants could result in long-term market fallout, potentially weakening Korea's role in the global supply chain of critical technologies such as chips, experts said Wednesday. In the hours after martial law was declared, the Korean won fell to its lowest level against the US dollar in three years, while Korea-

Dec. 4, 2024

Corporate Korea on edge after overnight martial law turmoil

Korea’s leading conglomerates are keeping close tabs on the aftermath of the country’s first martial law declaration since 1979 as they look to minimize potential damage from the political rift. According to industry officials on Wednesday, executives at Samsung affiliates gathered throughout the night to determine a response after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law at around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. Samsung officials held emergency meetings the following morning. SK has been cl

Dec. 4, 2024

Smilegate makes strategic investment in Absurd Ventures

Crossfire and Lost Ark developer Smilegate said Wednesday that it had made a strategic investment in Absurd Ventures, a media and entertainment firm in the US, aiming to expand its presence in the global market. The size of the investment was not revealed immediately. Absurd Ventures was founded last year by Dan Houser, who spent over 20 years at Rockstar Games as the creative director for iconic game series like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Houser is now focused on creating success

Dec. 4, 2024

Korea, Kyrgyzstan collaborate on forestry to combat climate change

The Korea Forest Service announced Wednesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kyrgyz Republic to enhance cooperation on forestry issues amid the growing impacts of climate change. Kyrgyzstan is grappling with deforestation and forest fires exacerbated by dry weather and overgrazing, highlighting an urgent need for international collaboration. Under the agreement, Korea plans to leverage its forestry expertise to boost joint efforts in forest restoration, seed conservation and

Dec. 4, 2024

Seoul workers at global firms heave sigh of relief

Multinational companies doing business in Korea were thrown into confusion overnight as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, a drastic decision that was rescinded just six hours later. Most firms swiftly responded by issuing emergency notices, instructing employees to work remotely, while their headquarters closely monitored the situation by directing their Korean teams to report on the potential ramifications. "We stayed up all night monitoring fluctuating exchanges rates," s

Dec. 4, 2024

Korean Air to finalize controlling-share acquisition of Asiana Airlines next week

Korean Air Co. said Tuesday it will finalize its acquisition of a controlling share in rival Asiana Airlines Inc. next week, completing the merger deal between South Korea's leading carriers that has been sought over the past four years. Korean Air said it will invest 1.5 trillion won ($1.07 billion) in a third-party share issuance by Asiana Airlines on December 11 to acquire about 131.57 million new shares, or a 63.9 percent stake, in the rival carrier. The move is the final step in the

Dec. 3, 2024

US chip export curbs on China leave Samsung unscathed, for now

The latest US export controls banning shipments of high-bandwidth memory chips to China are expected to have a limited impact on Korean chipmakers, mainly Samsung Electronics. But the restrictions could result in lost opportunities to acquire new customers, experts said Tuesday. The US Bureau of Industry and Security announced Monday a new set of measures banning the export of critical chips and chip equipment, including HBM, advanced chip packages of stacked DRAM chips. The cutting-edge chips a

Dec. 3, 2024

[Photo News] 10 years of Shinhan Future's Lab

Shinhan Financial Group marked the 10th anniversary of its tech startup support program, Shinhan Future's Lab, with a gathering in Seoul on Monday. Chairman Jin Ok-dong hosted an alumni meeting of the decade-long program, under the theme "Run To:gather." Participants shared their experiences and celebrated companies that have successfully partnered with the group and its subsidiaries on Shinhan's digital initiatives through an awards ceremony. Since its launch in 2015, the Fu

Dec. 3, 2024

Kolmar vows to support global growth of K-beauty brands

Kolmar Korea Vice Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun on Tuesday reaffirmed his company’s dedication to becoming a trusted global partner in the beauty market during a visit by the nation's food and drug safety chief to the company's research complex in Seoul. “We will continue to strengthen our partnerships with independent brands and actively support them to ensure the continuous emergence of K-beauty's iconic brands,” Yoon said, welcoming Minister of Food and Drug Safety

Dec. 3, 2024

Toss Securities hits W30tr in overseas trading volume

Toss Securities, the brokerage arm of fintech giant Viva Republica, announced Tuesday that its monthly overseas stock trading volume reached a record 30.54 trillion won ($21.75 billion) in November. According to the company, the total monthly trading volume of overseas transactions, combining both sales and purchases, marked a second consecutive monthly increase after reaching 21 trillion won in October. This milestone makes Toss Securities the first Korean brokerage to surpass 30 trillion won i

Dec. 3, 2024

How much will you spend on Christmas cakes?

Luxury cakes have emerged as seasonal highlights in South Korea's hotel industry, appealing to consumers seeking something special for Christmas, but they have drawn criticism as well as praise, thanks to their high prices. On Nov. 25, Hotel Shilla showcased "The Taste of Luxury," a Christmas cake priced at 400,000 won ($285), up 30 percent from the hotel's most expensive Christmas cake last year. According to the hotel, this year’s version has 25 percent more premium w

Dec. 3, 2024

MBK accused of misusing confidential reports in hostile takeover bid of Korea Zinc

MBK Partners, the private equity firm seeking to take over Korea Zinc, the world’s largest zinc smelter, faces accusations of betrayal for allegedly misusing confidential reports to launch a hostile bid against the company. According to reports from the local investment industry on Monday, MBK had been among the potential partners for Korea Zinc’s ambitious “Troika Drive” and other new business initiatives in 2022. The firm reportedly gained access to sensitive informatio

Dec. 3, 2024

AmCham hosts seminar on 'K-healthcare' strategies

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea hosted a seminar in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss strategies for creating a patient-centered health care ecosystem and fostering medical innovation between Korea and the US. Now in its 15th year, the annual seminar brought together over 150 participants, including government officials, industry leaders and patient advocacy groups, to discuss building a patient-centered “K-Healthcare” environment through public-private collaboration and Korea-US

Dec. 3, 2024

LG CNS to bring smart building tech to the US

LG CNS said Tuesday it would launch its smart real estate business in the US, leveraging digital transformation technologies to enhance building asset value. The company signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding with SomeraRoad, a US-based real estate investment firm, and Mastern America, the US subsidiary of Korean alternative investment manager Mastern Investment Management, to collaborate on smart building projects. Under the partnership, the three firms plan to jointly promote smart

Dec. 3, 2024

LG Energy Solution, GM to jointly develop prismatic battery cells

South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution Ltd. said Tuesday it has signed a deal with General Motors Co. to develop prismatic battery cells. Under the agreement, the companies will jointly develop prismatic battery cell technology and affiliated battery materials or "chemistries." Once developed, the prismatic battery cells will power GM's future electric vehicles (EVs), LGES said in a statement. Prismatic battery cells feature a flat, rectangular shape with a rigid enclosure,

Dec. 3, 2024

US unveils new package of chip export controls against China

The United States on Monday announced a new semiconductor export control package against China, including curbs on high-end chips for artificial intelligence that are likely to affect the South Korean industry. The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security unveiled the package on the Federal Register, including restrictions on exports of high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. Two South Korean firms -- Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix -- and Micron Technology lead the global HBM

Dec. 3, 2024

POSCO labor union takes step closer to launching first-ever strike

Unionized workers of South Korea's top steelmaker POSCO held a ceremony Monday to demonstrate their intention to launch their first-ever strike, officials said. Last week, 72.25 percent of its 7,934 members voted for a walkout, as management has refused to accept the union's demand of an 8.3 percent hike in basic wage and other incentives. If the union goes ahead with the collective action, it will be the first such move since the company's foundation in 1968. "We still have

Dec. 2, 2024

LG CNS gets preliminary nod for market debut

LG CNS Co., an information technology (IT) service provider, on Monday received preliminary approval for a stock market debut with its listing likely to take place during the first half. LG CNS, a unit of South Korea's No. 4 conglomerate LG Group, had sought for an initial public offering in 2022 but dashed its market debut plan amid the coronavirus pandemic. Established in 1987, LG CNS, 49.95 percent owned by LG affiliates, is the only unlisted major IT service company in Asia's fourt

Dec. 2, 2024

Dunamu’s Viver launches global transaction platform for luxury watches

South Korea’s luxury watch transaction platform Viver said Monday it is launching its cross-border service, largely buoyed by its successful launch at home. Dunamu, the operator of the nation’s largest crypto currency exchange Upbit, established Viver as a subsidiary in 2022 to venture into new markets for physical assets. The platform has seen steady growth, with cumulative transactions surpassing 100 billion won ($71.3 million). More than 16,000 products have been filed and almost

Dec. 2, 2024