S. Korean nuclear power firms buoyed by Amazon’s big energy push

Amazon’s decision to invest in clean energy projects to meet the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence has raised expectations for South Korean companies in the nuclear power sector. Amazon announced Thursday that it signed three new agreements to support the development of nuclear energy projects, including the construction of several new small modular reactors, or SMRs. Amazon joined a recent series of nuclear energy pledges by big tech companies such as Google and Microso

Oct. 17, 2024

LG Uplus chief stresses quality in AI innovations

LG Uplus CEO Hwang Hyeon-sik on Wednesday stressed service quality as the top priority in the telecom carrier’s ongoing efforts for artificial intelligence-based corporate transformation or AX. “The most fundamental aspect of growing into an AX company should be service quality,” the CEO said during a town hall meeting with employees on Wednesday. “No matter how innovative AI technology may be, it cannot create true customer satisfaction if not backed by quality.” &

Oct. 17, 2024

Shinhan partners with China's BoCom on QR payment service

Shinhan Financial Group announced Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Bank of Communications to enable its SOL Travel Card users to make payments using QR codes in China. The Bank of Communications, one of China’s five state-owned commercial banks, ranked ninth in The Banker’s 2023 Top 1000 World Banks. Its Seoul branch serves as the only designated renminbi clearing bank in Korea, managing settlements in yuan on behalf of other institutions. As par

Oct. 17, 2024

Hyundai Card to supply AI solutions to Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui

Hyundai Card announced Thursday that it has secured a global deal to sell its self-developed artificial intelligence software. The Korean card issuer signed an agreement to sell its AI software, known as Universe, to Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., marking the first AI software export deal by a Korean financial company. While the exact financial details were not disclosed, Hyundai Card stated the deal is valued at several tens of billions of won. Universe is a hyperpersonalized platform b

Oct. 17, 2024

CEOs at foreign insurers reappointed with hands full

The CEOs of major foreign insurance firms in Korea have been reappointed as they navigate challenges posed by a slowing market and local competition. Lina Life Insurance, the Korean unit of American insurance group Chubb, recently nominated current CEO and President Cho Jee-eun as the sole candidate for reappointment. Barring any unexpected issues, she is expected to secure her next term at the extraordinary shareholders meeting on Oct. 29. Fubon Hyundai Life’s Lee Jae-won and MetLife Kore

Oct. 16, 2024

ASML's lukewarm outlook pulls down Samsung, SK shares

Shares of Korean chipmakers fell on Wednesday in a bearish market as major chip-related stocks worldwide declined following a gloomy 2025 forecast from semiconductor bellwether ASML. ASML, a Dutch company that makes the world’s most advanced chip-making equipment, reported its booking was half the orders the market expected in its quarterly earnings, and saw its shares plunge 16 percent to close at 668.10 euros ($727) in Amsterdam. Other chip stocks also declined, with Nvidia falling 4.5 p

Oct. 16, 2024

Investors upbeat on LG CNS’ W7tr IPO

South Korean IT solutions provider LG CNS has emerged as a major initial public offering contender for next year as it began the listing process on the country’s main bourse Kospi earlier this month. Market watchers estimate the firm’s corporate value to reach around 7 trillion won ($5.14 billion), making it Korea's largest IPO since LG Energy Solution in January 2022. For a successful market debut, it will be crucial for the company to add more corporate clients and improve pro

Oct. 16, 2024

Posco Group Chairman joins WSA executive committee

South Korean steel giant Posco Group announced Wednesday that Chairman Chang In-hwa has joined the executive committee of the World Steel Association. The World Steel Association, consisting of 155 members ranging from global steelmakers to research institutes, aims to enhance profitability in the steel industry. Over the next three years, Chang will work on key issues such as low-carbon technology, the environment and safety. At the WSA executive committee meeting Sunday, leaders of the global

Oct. 16, 2024

Korea to pump in W8.8tr in 2025 to contend in global chip race

The South Korean government will inject 8.8 trillion won ($6.45 billion) next year to advance the country’s semiconductor ecosystem through low-interest loans while accelerating infrastructure construction and nurturing talent. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok announced a slew of plans for comprehensive support for the chip industry while presiding over a ministerial meeting Wednesday, with firms in the sector clamoring for more concrete measures to catch up to global rivals. “We wil

Oct. 16, 2024

British activist fund takes aim at SK to unlock value

London-based activist investor Palliser Capital is on its way to challenge South Korean chip-to-energy conglomerate SK Group, having secured a stake of over 1 percent in its investment arm SK Square. Having built a stake in SK Square over the past two years, the British activist fund is pushing for changes in the company to improve its market valuation, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. Though SK Square is the holding company of the group’s key chip-making affiliate SK hy

Oct. 16, 2024

S. Korea picks adviser for oil, gas exploration in East Sea

South Korea's state-run oil developer said Tuesday it has picked an adviser for the exploration of potential oil and gas reserves off the nation's East Sea. The Korea National Oil Corp has named S&P Global as the adviser for a project in the East Sea that could potentially uncover between 3.5 billion and 14 billion barrels of gas and oil. If confirmed, the quantity would be sufficient to meet the country's gas demand for up to 29 years and its oil demand for four years. The KN

Oct. 15, 2024

Samsung Display showcases OLED for AI monitors in Taipei

South Korean display maker Samsung Display showcased its latest organic light-emitting diode panels for monitors and laptops optimized for artificial intelligence applications at the Samsung OLED IT Summit in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday. To address growing demand for OLED panels in the IT device market, Samsung Display reorganized its original Samsung OLED Forum as the Samsung OLED IT Summit to emphasize its focus on OLED panels for IT devices, the company said. Some 300 officials from 20 companies,

Oct. 15, 2024

Manpower Korea sees robust growth in RPO service sales

Manpower Korea, the Korean unit of global human resources service company ManpowerGroup, said Tuesday that its recruitment process outsourcing, or RPO, service has seen robust growth since its debut 10 years ago. When the RPO service was first introduced in Korea in the early 2000s, they mainly served multinational companies entering the Korean market. But the service has secured a bigger footing here in recent years as both domestic and global companies struggle to respond effectively to drasti

Oct. 15, 2024

Herald Business Forum envisions future with AI

Herald Media Group hosted the Herald Business Forum on Tuesday, offering insights to help businesses make decisions that enable them to lead the global industrial ecosystem. The theme was “Surviving Technology’s Metamorphosis.” "AI has become a key technology for national economy and security. The government will fully support companies so that they can boldly challenge the global market and achieve success,” said Park Chun-sup, senior presidential secretary for econ

Oct. 15, 2024

[Photo News] Masterpiece on the frame

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday it has forged an exclusive partnership with the Museum of Modern Art in New York to showcase a curated collection of 27 masterpieces, including Piet Mondrian's Trafalgar Square, on The Frame, the company's premium TV. Samsung said users will be able to enjoy iconic artworks of the most distinguished artists in 4K quality directly in their homes via Samsung Art Store, the company’s digital curator service. (Samsung Electronics)

Oct. 15, 2024

LS Electric forays into Vietnam’s smart factory solutions market

LS Electric forged a partnership with Becamex, an industrial development firm in Vietnam, in a bid to enter the booming smart factory solutions market. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, outlining ways to advance smart factory businesses in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector to contribute to creating a sustainable industrial ecosystem. LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun and Becamex Chairman Nguyen Van Hung and other executives attended the signing ceremony held at the

Oct. 15, 2024

KT&G calls W2tr buyout offer ‘unilateral’

Singapore-based activist fund Flashlight Capital Partners has offered to acquire Korea Ginseng Corp., an affiliate under South Korea's dominant tobacco company KT&G, at the price of nearly 2 trillion won ($1.47 billion). KT&G called it a “unilateral” offer. Korea Ginseng Corp., under the wings of KT&G, is the company behind the well-recognized red ginseng brand, JungKwanJang. “The acquisition offer was unilaterally released without any discussion with the compa

Oct. 14, 2024

Tender offer closes for Korea Zinc, signaling prolonged proxy fight

The alliance of MBK Partners and Young Poong took the lead in the power struggle over Korea Zinc, the world's largest zinc smelter, securing an additional 5 percent stake in the company on Monday. Yet with Korea Zinc's separate tender offer lingering on the table, the conflict is likely to evolve into a prolonged proxy fight. The MBK-Young Poong coalition was able to secure over 5 percent stake in Korea Zinc through a tender offer that concluded Monday. Combined with the existing 33.1

Oct. 14, 2024

Korean chipmakers should not repeat mistakes of Toshiba, Intel: ex-ministers

Former industry and science ministers urged the government to take a more proactive approach to support the domestic chip industry, including providing direct subsidies, to maintain an edge in the intensifying global semiconductor race. Five former ministers and chip experts on Monday discussed the future of Korea's chip industry at a special panel discussion organized by the Federation of Korea Industries in Seoul, where they agreed on the need for "all-around" support from the g

Oct. 14, 2024

Oktoberfest arrives at Songnidangil BBQ Village

Oktoberfest has arrived at Songnidangil BBQ Village, bringing a taste of Bavaria to the heart of Seoul for the entire month of October. In partnership with German beer Paulaner, the Oktoberfest beer of which is served in Munich's Oktoberfest tents, Korean chicken giant BBQ Chicken is offering a special Bavarian-themed menu and festive atmosphere at its Jamsil branch in southern Seoul. At the heart of the celebration is the Oktoberfest Platter, a feast featuring brathendl (roast chicken), br

Oct. 14, 2024