A South Korean business association has welcomed on Friday the passage of three revised bills that ease regulations on the use of personal information. A day earlier, the National Assembly passed the revisions of three bills related to the promotion of information and communication networks, personal information protection and credit information protection in a plenary session. They were proposed in November 2018. “Data is like crude oil in the fourth industrial revolution. The amendm

Industry Jan. 10, 2020

The head of Samsung’s anti-corruption committee said Thursday that the panel would look closely into a broad range of issues affecting the group, including management succession, corruption and labor issues, with independence and autonomy.“The basic principles of the committee’s operation will be independence and autonomy,” said Kim Ji-hyung, the former Supreme Court justice who was named to head the compliance committee, in a press briefing on the day. Kim said he had re

Industry Jan. 9, 2020

LG Electronics said Wednesday its fourth-quarter operating profit is expected to have increased by more than 30 percent from a year earlier, but the performance was below analyst expectations. The annual sales, however, are expected to reach an annual record high of 62.31 trillion won ($53.22 billion), up 1.6 percent from a year earlier. The operating profit will be around 2.4 trillion won for the whole of last year, a year-over-year decline of 10 percent, in the firm’s regulatory fil

Technology Jan. 8, 2020

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin stepped down as an executive director of the group’s construction unit last month, according to the firm’s regulatory filing on Tuesday. Shin resigned from his post at Lotte Engineering & Construction after two years and nine months to take responsibility following the Supreme Court’s decision on his involvement in a bribery scandal and to strengthen responsible management, the group said. In October, the nation’s top court conf

Industry Jan. 7, 2020

Heightened tensions between the US and Iran may force South Korea to further lower its oil import reliance on the Middle East, according to industry watchers. As hostilities between the two nations escalated over the weekend, international oil prices have soared, stocks have fallen and prices for safe assets have soared. International benchmark Brent crude closed at $68.60 a barrel on Friday, up 3.55 percent, the highest level in six months. Gold rose 1.3 percent to $1,549 an ounce, the highest

Industry Jan. 6, 2020

Samsung Electronics will release the sequel to the Galaxy S10 at an event next month. In an invitation sent to media on Sunday, the Korean tech giant said it “will unveil new, innovative devices that will shape the next decade of mobile experiences. The reveal will take place at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event in San Francisco at 11 a.m. on February 11.” Samsung is expected to unveil Galaxy S20, the next iteration in the Galaxy S series, and Galaxy Fold 2, the successor to the

Technology Jan. 5, 2020

Although Korean conglomerates faced a rough time in 2019 amid growing geopolitical uncertainties and trade tensions topped by Japan’s export controls, the US-China trade war, rising protectionism and a global economic slowdown, most of the top business chiefs here hope for better prospects this year. Leaders from large corporate groups -- including Samsung, LG, Hyundai Motor, Posco, KT, CJ, Hanwha and Shinsegae -- have stressed the need to prepare for future business, customer-centered man

Industry Jan. 2, 2020

Ailing Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee retained the top spot as the wealthiest South Korean businessman with his stock assets rising by 4 trillion won ($3.4 billion) in 2019, to reach 17.6 trillion won, according to a corporate tracker Tuesday. According to CEO Score, Lee’s stock assets rose the most in the nation in 2019 and he is the only individual whose share value exceeds 10 trillion won here. The huge increase comes mainly from his holdings in Samsung Electronics, which soared in

Industry Dec. 31, 2019

Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae and his mother Lee Myung-hee have publicly apologized for a family quarrel that broke out last week. “We sincerely apologize for causing trouble at Lee’s house last Christmas,” they said in the written statement released Monday. The public apology comes after Cho visited Lee’s home on Christmas day and had a quarrel with her. The photo revealed by Lee on the day showed pieces of shattered glass scattered on the floor and a wound on h

Industry Dec. 30, 2019

South Korea’s food and entertainment conglomerate CJ Group has promoted or appointed 58 executives, including a new chief to lead major affiliate CJ Cheiljedang, the group said Monday. Vice President Kang Shin-ho, 58, was appointed as the new leader of the group’s food unit CJ Cheiljedang. Kang was credited with accelerating the spread of the company’s Korean cuisine brand Bibigo in the global market since 2018, the group said. Vice President Cha In-hyok, 53, was tapped to

Industry Dec. 30, 2019

Daewoo Engineering & Construction said Sunday it has succeeded in developing a remote drone control system, the first by a South Korean construction company.Daewoo Construction Drone Surveillance (DW-CDS) is capable of remotely and comprehensively controlling drones at a control center through an exclusive application and program. It can also monitor up to 256 sites simultaneously by transmitting video to its control platform called CDS.Live on 4G and 5G networks, the firm said The system su

Industry Dec. 29, 2019

Hyundai Electric & Energy Systems said Thursday it has appointed the former chief of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power as president and CEO, the first outsider to take the top job.The Korean electrical power equipment provider said new CEO Cho Seok was appointed to replace former chief Chung Myung-lim, who resigned two days ago. The company is an affiliate of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group. Cho, 62, began his career at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy in 1981 after graduating from Seoul

Industry Dec. 26, 2019

Entrepreneurs in South Korea, Japan and China called for free trade and economic cooperation at a business meeting held in Chengdu, China, according to a local business association Tuesday. The business summit, jointly organized by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its Japanese and Chinese counterparts, was held on the sidelines of the summit between leaders of the three nations. The event was attended by President Moon Jae-in, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese Premier Li

Industry Dec. 24, 2019

S-Oil has awarded a total of 70 million won ($60,261) to six maritime police officers at a ceremony in Songdo, Incheon, the company said Monday. At the awards ceremony, S-Oil gave a plaque and an award of 20 million won to Lt. Lee Sung-hee of Pohang Maritime Police Office, selected by the Korea Coast Guard and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare. Five other police officers received a plaque and 10 million won each. Lt. Lee Sung-hee, who was selected as the top hero of the maritime

Industry Dec. 23, 2019

GS Group said Monday it donated 4 billion won ($3.44 million) to the Community Chest of Korea to support the livelihood and education of people in need. Separately, the group’s affiliates have been supporting disadvantaged families through diverse volunteer work in line with Chairman Huh Chang-soo’s vision of corporate social responsibility. GS Caltex has been running year-end relay volunteering programs for 15 years, comprising 21 projects, including making kimchi, upcycling of

Industry Dec. 23, 2019