[Herald Interview] Samyang CEO envisions elevating K-food as global cultural content

In the journey to establishing Samyang Roundsquare's global presence with its ramyeon products, CEO Kim Jung-soo has played a pivotal role. Taking on the position of CEO in September, Kim has been a key figure in the family-owned Samyang Group's leadership since 2017, being the daughter-in-law of Samyang Foods' founder, Chun Joong-yoon. Kim envisions the global market growth not merely as a culinary delight but as a cultural phenomenon extending beyond food. For example, the "

IndustryNov. 30, 2023

Spicing up the world: Samyang’s Buldak series makes global waves

South Korean food giant Samyang Roundsquare, under the leadership of CEO Kim Jung-soo, has been avidly pursuing its global market strategy, particularly focusing on key regions such as China and the US. With China contributing to 35 percent of overseas sales, the company is intensifying efforts to expand to the US, Europe and Southeast Asia, identified as the next growth drivers. During China's Singles Day shopping festival from late October to November, Samyang Roundsquare reached record s

IndustryNov. 30, 2023

NK will never discuss 'sovereignty' with US, says Kim Yo-jong

North Korea will never discuss its "sovereignty" in negotiations with the United States in any circumstances, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said Thursday in a statement, framing the recent launch of a purported military spy satellite as an assertion of sovereignty. Kim, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, denounced Washington for publicly criticizing Pyongyang’s launch of what it claimed to be a military

North KoreaNov. 30, 2023

Bomb threat causes midnight fuss at Yonsei university

An online threat claiming a bomb had been sent to Yonsei University in Seoul sparked a midnight scramble for police and firefighters, resulting in the evacuation of some 100 people on campus. Police received a report at 11:38 p.m. Wednesday of an online post that claimed a package carrying a bomb would be delivered to the campus, according to Seodaemun Police Station and Seodaemun Fire Department on Thursday. The post had been uploaded at around 10 p.m. on the bulletin board for Yonsei Universit

Social AffairsNov. 30, 2023

Man startled by quake warning alert left injured

A 60-something man in Busan in the early hours of Thursday fell out of the bed and injured himself, shaken not by the 4.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked nearby Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province but ironically by a state-issued emergency mobile alert about the tremor. The man, who lives in Haeundae-gu, Busan, received the notification, together with its loud warning alarm, on his phone at 5:39 a.m. and fell, injuring his face, resulting in him getting rushed to a nearby hospital for medical t

Social AffairsNov. 30, 2023

Rooftop meth cook using flu medicine nabbed

Members of a drug ring engaged in the production and distribution of methamphetamine derived from off-the-shelf cold medicine have been arrested, police authorities said. According to Jeju Provincial Police on Thursday, two individuals, both in their 50s, were sent to the prosecution Wednesday on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act. The accused include a man responsible for manufacturing the drug and his accomplice. Both men are suspected of manufacturing a total of 20 grams of meth

Social AffairsNov. 30, 2023

NewJeans, Seventeen, BTS win top honors at 2023 MAMA Awards

NewJeans, the fourth-generation K-pop girl group, notched Artist of the Year on Wednesday, the last day of the two–day 2023 MAMA Awards. The MAMA Awards, the world’s biggest K-pop festival organized by CJ ENM, took place at the Tokyo Dome, Japan’s top concert venue, Nov. 28-29. Artist of the Year was one of the four top awards presented this year. Three other main awards were the Worldwide Icon of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. This is the first time in 12 ye

K-popNov. 30, 2023

Photo of Fu Bao's baby twin sisters’ birth selected for Time's Top 100 Photos of 2023

The photo capturing the moment when giant panda Fu Bao's twin sisters were born has been selected as one of Time magazine’s Top 100 Photos of 2023. The list, announced last week, includes the photo of the mother Ai Bao with her newly-born female twin pandas taken on July 7 after their birth. It marked the first time twin pandas were born in South Korea after their older sister Fu Bao became the first giant panda to be born in the country. Fu Bao and her giant panda family are among th

CultureNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] Shinhan chief makes big ESG push

Shinhan Financial Group's efforts to make a sustainable financial ecosystem have gained global momentum this year under the leadership of Chairman Jin Ok-dong, who took the top post in March. On his first overseas business trip in April, Jin headed to Japan, his country of expertise with almost 20 years of work experience there. During his stay, he met with business and government leaders there to seek digital and ESG (environment, social and governance) cooperation and other possibilities

CompaniesNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] Going global essential in era of digital finance

By Yoo Chang-jo Professor of marketing at Dongguk University The rapidly evolving landscape of technology-driven finance demands a global perspective and competitive edge. Recognizing the role of financial institutions in this dynamic environment, The Korea Herald's Global Finance Awards, now in its seventh year, continues to honor those at the forefront of innovation and service in the Korean financial sector. This year’s awards were categorized into the Financier of the Year, In

CompaniesNov. 30, 2023

[팟캐스트] (536) 초중고 장래희망 1위는?

진행자: 홍유, Naomi Ng Athletes, teachers, doctors chosen as dream jobs for Korean students: survey 기사 요약: 장래 희망 직업으로 초등학생은 운동선수를, 중학생과 고등학생은 교사를 가장 많이 선호하는 것으로 조사됐다. [1] Athletes topped the list of most desired jobs for elementary school students, while teaching was picked as the most coveted job among middle and high school students, a survey showed Sunday. *desired: 바랐던, 희망했던 *coveted: 탐내는 [2] Teaching and becoming a doctor were picked by elementary school children as the most desirable jo

PodcastNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] Kyobo's new child insurance plan offers lifetime coverage

Kyobo Life Insurance, one of Korea's leading life insurers, has launched a cost-effective renewable child insurance product that provides lifetime coverage starting from the prenatal period to facilitate the healthy growth of children. The new plan offers tailored protection against major health conditions and diseases throughout one’s life cycle from pregnancy and childbirth to adolescence. Upon turning 30, subscribers can transition to adult coverage, renewing the period up to the a

IndustryNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] Woori ramps up global foray to become Asia’s leading bank

Buoyed by its rapidly expanding global presence, Woori Bank has vowed to achieve up to 25 percent of its net profit from overseas sales by 2030. As of November, Woori runs 469 global branches across 24 countries. Its global division logged an annual asset growth of 9 percent over the last three years, reporting a net profit of $340 million in 2022. To continue the upward trend, it plans to pour resources into its three units in the burgeoning Southeast Asian market -- Indonesia, Vietnam and Ca

IndustryNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] Mirae Asset Securities pioneers global expansion

Mirae Asset Securities, a leading brokerage house based in Korea, has been expanding its presence in the global financial market, backed by its burgeoning overseas operations. With 12 branches and three offices located out of Korea, the firm boasts a vast overseas network across 11 regions including Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Mongolia, China, the US, the UK, Greece and Brazil. The equity capital held by its overseas subsidiaries surpassed $3 billion as of June, according to

CompaniesNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] Kakao Bank at forefront of inclusive finance

Kakao Bank, Korea’s largest internet-only bank, has been leading efforts to achieve financial inclusivity in the industry, by developing various customer-friendly products and services. Since its founding in 2017, it has been catering to diverse financial needs by rolling out innovative savings accounts such as group savings accounts, 26-week and one-month installment deposit accounts, as well as tailored loan products for those with low credit scores. Buoyed by its user-friendliness and

IndustryNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] JB Financial shapes future of digital banking

JB Financial Group has accelerated its digital transformation efforts to bring more convenient options to a broader customer base by seeking innovative collaboration projects. Under the leadership of Kim Ki-hong, the group's chairman, the group has achieved record earnings over the past few years. To further expand its presence in the market and customer base, the banking group also tapped into the fintech and online banking industries. In July, it inked a partnership agreement with Seoul-b

IndustryNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] KB grows strength by leaps and bounds

KB Financial Group has solidified its status as a leading banking conglomerate by diversifying its revenue streams and strengthening its business portfolio beyond traditional lending activities. For two consecutive years, the group achieved net profits exceeding 4 trillion won ($3.1 billion) since 2021. It regained its title as the country's leading financial group in 2017, when its net profit surpassed 3 trillion won for the first time in its history. Its stellar performance stemmed from

MarketNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] Hana Financial paves way for future female leaders

Hana Financial Group has strengthened its unwavering support to keep promising women on the road to success via Hana Waves, an annual in-house program that has nurtured nearly 100 future female leaders since its establishment in 2021. Under the slogan “Women’s Actions, Voice, Emotion,” Hana launched Hana Waves with an aim to boost the group's gender diversity efforts at the senior executive level. The members were recommended by CEOs of Hana affiliates as potential femal

MarketNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] Mirae Asset ETF taps into Chinese market

Mirae Asset Global Investments has tapped into mainland China’s exchange-traded fund market, becoming the first Korean asset manager to do so. The Global X Hang Seng Tech ETF is the first eligible ETF under Mirae Asset to participate in the Hong Kong-China ETF Connect. The Global X Hang Seng Tech ETF is operated by the asset manager’s ETF arm Global X based in Hong Kong. Tracking the Hang Seng Tech index, the investments are concentrated in the 30 largest companies that are active in

MarketNov. 30, 2023

[Global Finance Awards] KB Bank retains No. 1 spot with customer-first strategy

KB Kookmin Bank has been striving to be a first mover that takes initiatives in the banking industry and develops innovative financial services by growing in line with its customers. For nine consecutive years, KB Kookmin Bank has ranked at No. 1 in the banking category of the National Customer Satisfaction Index, and once again secured first place in the latest report, released in early November. With “kookmin” meaning “people” in Korean, KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Jae-keun

CompaniesNov. 30, 2023