Most Popular
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Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
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Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
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Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
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Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
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Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
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[KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
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North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
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Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
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S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership
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Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
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Mercedes-Benz Korea unveils 2014 M-Class
Mercedes-Benz Korea has unveiled the 2014 version of its premium SUV, the M-Class, the company said Thursday. An upgraded command controller, a digital TV tuner and an entertainment system for the rear backseat are among the car’s upgraded features.In particular, a custom-made navigation system for Korean consumers has been fitted to offer a realistic 3-D map that can search for both old and current addresses. The map supports Hangeul and up to 40,000 Korean words can be searched. Also, for the
Nov. 14, 2013
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BMW ends year with strong new models
NAMHAE, South Gyeongsang Province ― During a media meeting wrapping up this year on Thursday, BMW Korea CEO Kim Hyo-joon spared his words on what the company has achieved this year, including another possible sales record of about 33,000 vehicles. But he did not hide his high expectations for next year. Among other things, the long-anticipated i3 electric car will hit the Korean market in May, while a new BMW driving center ― the first outside of Germany and the U.S. ― will open in Yeongjongdo I
Nov. 10, 2013
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Revamped Ssangyong Actyon launched globally
Ssangyong Motor on Friday debuted the facelift version of the Actyon sport utility vehicle overseas, putting a greater strategic emphasis on the emerging Central Asian and Eastern European markets. The new Actyon, which boasts a more aggressive and sportier styling, is equipped with a more environment-friendly powertrain that meets the Euro 5 emission limits, according to the Korean carmaker owned by India’s Mahindra & Mahindra. Adding to its existing 150 horsepower gasoline engine, the new Acty
Nov. 10, 2013
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Hyundai Motor union returns moderate former leader to office
Hyundai Motor Co. workers returned to office a former union leader seen as more moderate than the incumbent, who led strikes that caused record annual production losses at South Korea’s largest automaker. Lee Kyung-hoon, 52, was backed by 52 percent of the 47,000-member union in a vote on Nov. 8, defeating Ha Bu-young, 53, according to the union’s website. Lee will replace Moon Yong-moon, whose leadership over the past two years came to be considered a sign of resurgent militancy at South Korean
Nov. 10, 2013
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Behind its funky exterior, Juke is a true CUV
It was not love at first sight, but after a four-day test drive, I had to admit that the Juke had a host of odd charms. The Juke, by Nissan, made its Korean debut in early October. The car has already made a strong statement here, with its funky looks garnering it nicknames including “jumping spider” and “horned lizard.” This is mainly due to the Juke’s bug-eyed front features and swollen front fender matched with a high waist, tapered side windows and a steeply descending roofline. Accordingly,
Nov. 3, 2013
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Renault aims to sell 4,000 SM3 Z.E.s
Renault Samsung Motors is aiming to sell up to 4,000 of its first full-electric car, the SM3 Z.E., next year.“I am convinced it would be a game changer in the (electric car) sector in the future,” said Gilles Normand, head of Renault’s Asia-Pacific operations at a press conference held Friday to mark the official launch of the compact electric vehicle. Normand stressed he was certain the car would find success in Korea as Korean customers care about the environment and innovative technology, and
Nov. 3, 2013
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Mercedes doubles U.S. lead over BMW on New CLA Coupe
Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz sold 4,895 of its $29,900 CLA coupe in the car’s first full month of availability, helping the brand post a 25 percent October gain and double its U.S. luxury-vehicle lead.Total sales for Mercedes rose to 30,069 vehicles, as E-Class deliveries climbed 23 percent from a year earlier, Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler said in a statement today. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s BMW brand reported selling 27,574 vehicles, a 4.2 percent increase.The CLA, the lowest-priced Merce
Nov. 3, 2013
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Lexus ES 300h defines perfection
Hands down, the Lexus ES 300h was the best car I’ve ever driven.It lived up to the Lexus reputation of being one of the most “perfect” cars around. So perfect, in fact, that it’s been trying to reshape the brand to gain a more dynamic appeal. For me, the drive proved that getting behind the wheel is not always about power and “feeling” it, but about how comfortable and relaxed you can be. In these terms, the sixth generation ES 300h far surpassed any other vehicle I’ve driven. The size was also
Oct. 27, 2013
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Retuning car modification culture in Korea
A Maserati Quattroporte, whose characteristic jazzy exhaust sound is admired as music among car enthusiasts, was recently stopped by a police officer in downtown Seoul for making “excessive noise.”The driver explained he hadn’t modified the car, but it was useless. The police officer seized the vehicle. The owner, who got the car back the next morning, is reportedly preparing a lawsuit. “That’s very unthinkable in Germany,” said Cha Ji-won, CEO of A-Seung Automotive Group, the official Korean im
Oct. 27, 2013
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Mercedes-Benz halves costs as Gangnam showrooms boom
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Korea Co. slashed borrowing costs by more than 50 percent as record demand for imported cars in Seoul’s Gangnam luxury-goods district spurs its lending business. The unit of German automotive group Daimler AG sold 130 billion won ($122 million) of two-year notes on Oct. 14 at 3.38 percent, 57 basis points more than similar-maturity government bonds, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That’s lower than both the spread on 2014 securities sold in November of 123 basis
Oct. 27, 2013
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New Genesis to take on BMW, Benz
The wraps have come off Hyundai Motor’s latest flagship sedan. On Thursday, the media was offered a sneak peak into the next generation Genesis that the country’s largest carmaker has been developing for years in a bid to outperform global premium brands such as the BMW and Mercedes-Benz.“The new Genesis is the first car that reflects our new brand identity of ‘modern premium’ and product identity of ‘caring,’” said executive vice president Hwang Jeong-ryeol who overlooked the project. “The new
Oct. 24, 2013
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Audit derided as show, lacking in substance
It’s called an “audit” and witnesses are called in, but those on the receiving end of the questions are barely allowed any time to answer, and it soon becomes clear it’s more about offering the “right” answers and less about the truth. The right answer, in most cases, is to agree with whatever the lawmakers have to say. When this doesn’t happen, things can get ugly. The local imported car sector learned this when the CEOs took a stand for the first time in Korea. Now, some of them may be facing
Oct. 21, 2013
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Toyota Korea marks Home Coming Day
To celebrate its fourth year in Korea this month, Toyota Motor Korea said it would hold a Home Coming Day event between Oct. 19 to 27 to offer gifts and test-drive opportunities to customers visiting Toyota showrooms.The company said that this year was particularly meaningful as Toyota was the fastest among imported carmakers to sell more than 30,000 cars since the data was first compiled in 2003. As of September, Toyota sold 30,490 vehicles here to surpass the 30,000 mark for the first time sin
Oct. 20, 2013
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Maxcruz, a practical all-purpose SUV
Simply put, Hyundai’s Maxcruz is a practical and well-performing diesel engine that promises to be a truly versatile SUV. That sounds much like an ad, but the Maxcruz deserves the praise, particularly for its exceptionally easy driving experience that combines smooth cornering with an adequately powerful engine. For me, the most surprising aspect was that despite its length ― the Maxcruz looks like a stretch-limo version of the Santa Fe and is about 20 cm longer ― the car was so easy to maneuver
Oct. 20, 2013
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GM Korea recognized for emission reduction
GM Korea on Thursday was awarded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for its efforts to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.The ministry, which adopted a CO2 emissions management system in 2010, evaluated related gas-reduction efforts at individual workplaces over the past three years. The Korean unit of the U.S.-based General Motors was the only carmaker that was honored with the award. “GM Korea is one of our global operations that have successfully carried out GM’s environme
Oct. 20, 2013
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New E-Class likely to achieve 7,000 sales
Mercedes-Benz is expected to reach the 7,000 mark in sales of the new E-Class this year as its chief executive Britta Seeger had previously predicted.Last month, the German carmaker sold more than 1,400 units, up from 866 in August. As of the end of July, it had sold more than 2,000, which suggests that the company will be capable of comfortably achieving the 7,000 goal, especially considering that the car was launched only in June. Packaged in a brand new design and grill, and with prices start
Oct. 20, 2013
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Jaguar Land Rover supports sports in Korea
Jaguar Land Rover Korea on Saturday held the 2013 Land Rover Han River Yacht Race jointly with the Seoul Yacht Association to help boost sports in Korea, the company said. It also marked the launch of the All-New Range Rover Sport on Friday.The Land Rover Han River Yacht Race was the largest cruising yacht race to be held on the Hangang River to date. Land Rover Korea also said it made a 200 million won ($188,600) donation to the Seoul Yacht Association to help nurture young yacht players and th
Oct. 20, 2013
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Hyundai Motor expects China sales to top 1 million this year
BEIJING (Yonhap News) ― Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s top carmaker, said Sunday that annual sales of its vehicles in China will likely reach 1 million units for the first time this year, despite an economic slowdown in the world’s largest auto market. Hyundai began its Chinese sales campaign in 2002 by establishing a joint venture with local partner Beijing Automotive.In the first nine months of the year, Hyundai saw its sales in China jump 28 percent from a year earlier to 760,916 units. “In
Oct. 20, 2013
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‘Korean-style’ BMW 4 Series Coupe unveiled
BMW Korea unveiled the 4 Series Coupe on Thursday at an event in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.Styled by Korean designer Kang Won-kyu, the all-new 4 Series Coupe is longer, lower, wider and more efficient than the outgoing 3 Series Coupe.“The 4 Series Coupe will be an attention getter on the road. The flowing roof emphasizes its masculine shoulder and voluminous body,” said Kang. He added that five Korean designers are working at BMW. The production model, which went on sale on the day, shares many of
Oct. 17, 2013
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Lawmakers grill foreign car execs
The chief executives of four foreign-brand cars here appeared at the National Assembly audit on Tuesday to answer questions on their trade practices. It marked the first time that these top executives took part in the sessions for testimony. The National Policy Committee had called on four CEOs: BMW Korea CEO Kim Hyo-joon, Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Britta Seeger, Ford Korea CEO Jung Jae-hee who is doubling as chairman of the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association, and C.S. Lim, ch
Oct. 15, 2013