Doubts have been raised over Samsung Group’s latest decision to make the executives of its key tech affiliates -- Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDI, Samsung SDS and Samsung Display -- work an extra day per week as part of the group's emergency measures to tackle ongoing business uncertainties. Critics pointed out that the six-day workweek for executives is "outdated and inefficient," and that it lies in contrast to other local Big Tech firms who are following the global trend

South Korean stocks ended almost flat Thursday thanks to gains in techs and autos despite higher-than-expected US inflation that dimmed hopes for the Federal Reserve's early rate cuts. The Korean won sharply fell to the lowest point in 17 months against the US dollar. After starting 1.45 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index pared earlier losses by rising 1.8 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 2,706.96. Trade volume was moderate at 522.4 million shares worth 12.5

Lee Boo-jin, the president and chief executive of Hotel Shilla, will reportedly sell some 440 billion won ($325 million) in Samsung Electronics stock, in an apparent bid to pay off her inheritance tax. Industry sources revealed Tuesday that Lee, a member of the Samsung Group founding family, is assessing buyer demand for a block deal involving 5,247,140 shares in the tech giant. Should the sale proceed, her shareholding in Samsung Electronics would decrease from 0.89 percent to 0.8 percent. The

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, the nation's leading non-life insurer, has ceased selling insurance products through bank channels, commonly known as "bancassurance." As of January, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance has halted all new sales through banks, following a consistent decline in sales through this channel, according to an official from the company. This decision comes after 21 years since the company first introduced bancassurance in 2003. Bancassurance allows ins

Samsung Group, South Korea’s top conglomerate, said Sunday that its official recruitment in the first half of this year will start Monday, with 19 affiliates joining the large-scale hiring of entry-level workers. The key affiliates include Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Biologics, Samsung SDS and Samsung SDI, Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance and The Shilla Hotel. Applicants are required to submit their applications via Samsung’s official recruitment website from

South Korean stocks closed higher Monday as foreigners extended their buying streak to seven consecutive sessions, with technology and financial shares leading the overall rise. The local currency gained against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 31.91 points, or 1.21 percent, to 2,674.27. Trade volume was moderate at 383 million shares worth 12.2 trillion won ($9.22 billion), with losers slightly outpacing gainers 442 to 436. Foreigners were net buyers, scooping

South Korean stocks finished lower Wednesday with investors waiting for the release of the minutes of the US Federal Open Market Committee's January meeting. The local currency rose against the US dollar. After starting marginally higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 4.48 points, or 0.17 percent, to close at 2,653.31. Trade volume was moderate at 551.7 million shares worth 8.9 trillion won ($6.7 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 553 to 313. Foreigners and re

South Korean stocks started higher Wednesday on foreign and institutional buying despite overnight losses on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 11.49 points, or 0.43 percent, to 2,669.28 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the U.S. stock market lost ground on investors' profit-taking ahead of the earnings release of artificial intelligence chip leader Nvidia. Nvidia is expected to release strong fourth-quarter results later Wednesday thanks to co

A labor union comprising workers of four Samsung Group affiliates was officially launched Monday, as employees seek ways to break away from the unreasonable relationship between workers and management. Samsung Group United Union, representing Samsung Electronics' Device Experience division, Samsung Display, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and Samsung Biologics, held an inauguration ceremony earlier in the day in Seoul. “Our purpose is to establish independence in the relations be

Three members of Samsung Group's founding family have sold their shares totaling 2.7 trillion won ($2 billion) in group affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, in an apparent bid to pay inheritance taxes. Samsung Electronics said in a regulatory filing Monday that Hong Ra-hee, the mother of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and her two daughters -- Hotel Shilla Co. CEO Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun, chief of the Samsung Welfare Foundation have unloaded a combined 29.8 million sha

Family members of Samsung Group plan to sell nearly 2.8 trillion won ($2.12 billion) worth of their shares in Samsung Electronics and other affiliates in a block deal in an apparent bid to pay inheritance taxes, industry sources said Wednesday. Hong Ra-hee, the mother of Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and her two daughters -- Hotel Shilla Co. CEO Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun, chief of the Samsung Welfare Foundation -- are pushing to unload a combined 29.8 million shares worth 2

South Korean stocks closed slightly higher Tuesday as investors remained cautious after a recent rally stemming from the US central bank's dovish stance. The local currency rose against the greenback. After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 3.08 points, or 0.12 percent, to close at 2,602.59, ending the two-day losing streak. Trade volume was moderate at 429.4 million shares worth 9.4 trillion won ($7.26 billion), but decliners outnumbered gainers 491 to

The South Korean construction sector is anticipated to maintain its streak of surpassing $30 billion in overseas orders for the fourth consecutive year, approaching the government's target of reaching this year's $35 billion goal. The total overseas orders that Korean builders have received as of Dec. 15 this year amounted to $29.25 billion, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Monday. The figure is a 7.2 percent increase from the $27.29 billion tallied in

Members of major conglomerate owner families generally become executives in their mid-30s, and assume leadership roles sometime in their early 40s, a report released Wednesday by a local corporate tracker showed. Leaders Index analyzed the careers of 199 members of owner families running South Korea's 100 leading conglomerates, who are either the chairman or vice chairman of their group, or a president of an affiliate company. In total, there are 827 members of owner families currently work

Samsung Medical Center has carried out the first successful uterus transplantation in South Korea. During the surgery in January this year, the multidisciplinary team were able to transfer the uterus to a 35-year-old woman with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome. MRKH is a rare disorder, which affects about 1 in 5,000 females at birth, characterized by an underdeveloped or absent uterus. A uterus transplant gives women without functioning wombs -- such as those with MRKH -- the opportunity