Samyang to release tom yum flavor Buldak in US

South Korean food manufacturer Samyang Foods said Friday it would launch a new tom yum flavor of its bestseller Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramen series in the US market later this year. Featuring the traditional Thai hot and sour soup, tom yum, the new export-version of Buldak targeted Asians as well as big fans of Asian food in the United States. It blended the tangy, sweet and sour flavor of Thai soup with spicy chicken noodles and also added lemongrass and cilantro to complete the iconic tom yum ta

Oct. 20, 2023

Geopolitical risks hold back South Korea's credit rating upgrade:Fitch

Fitch said that South Korea's "AA-" sovereign rating, which has remained steadfast over 10 years, could be adjusted upward if geopolitical issues such as inter-Korean relations and US-China conflicts are improved, during the 2023 Fitch on Korea seminar held in Seoul on Friday. While improved relations with North Korea are necessary for a positive rating adjustment, Fitch does not see that improvement as promising in the near term, said Jeremy Zook, Fitch's director of Asia-Pa

Oct. 20, 2023

STX issues new shares worth W80b to expand global business

South Korean trading company STX said Friday it had decided to initiate a paid-in capital increase of 80 billion won ($58 million), in a bid to finance funds for expanding its global secondary battery businesses and Trollygo, the company's new business-to-business trading platform to be launched next month. According to STX, the firm held a board of directors meeting at the STX headquarters in Jung-gu, central Seoul, to decide new issuance of a total of 7.36 million common shares. The price

Oct. 20, 2023

[Photo News] Nintendo pop-up in Seoul

Visitors browse a preview of the Nintendo pop-up store in Seoul at HDC IPark Mall in Yongsan, central Seoul, Thursday, a day before its official opening. The pop-up, operating from Oct. 20 to 26, is the first official Nintendo goods store opened in South Korea. Video game enthusiasts will have the opportunity to purchase unique and limited-edition merchandise previously available only at stores in Japan, as well as experience the latest game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which released Friday. (Y

Oct. 20, 2023

Samsung unveils foundry road map to lead automotive chip sector

Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chipmaker, unveiled on Thursday its new global foundry business road map, with a particular focus on automotive chips. The plans were announced at Samsung Foundry Forum 2023, hosted by the tech giant in Munich, Germany. “We seek to take the lead in the field of autonomous driving and electric vehicles through technological innovations that meet global customer demands in a timely manner,” said Choi Si-young, president and head o

Oct. 19, 2023

S-Oil to drive net-zero emissions with Shinhan Bank

South Korean oil refiner S-Oil announced Thursday that it has joined forces with Shinhan Bank to bolster its transition to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. Under a memorandum of understanding signed by the two on Wednesday, the Korean lender will support S-Oil in reducing its carbon footprint in the refining industry, one of the key contributors in global greenhouse gas emissions. As the industry is calling for prompt action to tackle carbon emissions, the agreement will be an opport

Oct. 19, 2023

Samsung Bioepis launches Soliris biosimilar in Europe

Samsung Bioepis, a biosimilar developer under Samsung Group, said Thursday that the company has completed the launches of its hematology biosimilar Epysqli, a biosimilar close to Soliris, in three European countries, hoping to gain ground in the rare blood disease biosimilar market. According to Samsung Bioepis, the company introduced Epysqli in Germany in July, and the biosimilar made its debut in Italy and Spain last month. Samsung Bioepis is also preparing for Epysqli’s launch in France

Oct. 19, 2023

[KH Explains] Why Starbucks' new coupon policy is a big deal in Korea

Starbucks’ recent decision to allow customers to purchase items cheaper than the value of their coupons and get a refund on the price difference is being greeted with enthusiasm by Korean consumers. The new coupon system, which is expected to take effect starting as early as December, has been a longstanding wish among consumers here -- until now, they were often required to spend extra money if they wanted to use mobile gift certificates and coupons at the nation's most popular coffe

Oct. 19, 2023

Kakao faces multiple whammy as CIO arrested

A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Kakao Chief Investment Officer Bae Jae-hyun on Thursday on charges of market manipulation related to SM Entertainment's stock price. The development has raised uncertainty about joint projects initiated by Kakao and SM Entertainment. "The arrest warrant was issued due to concerns about Bae destroying evidence or fleeing," the court said. The court dismissed arrest warrants for Kakao's head of investment strategy, surnamed Kang, and

Oct. 19, 2023

SK chairman says agile responses needed in times of geopolitical strife

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won urged top executives of the group's affiliates to respond with agility to survive in a fast-changing market environment and deepening geopolitical crisis, according to the group on Thursday. In the closing ceremony of the group's annual CEO seminar held in Paris on Wednesday (local time), Chey spoke about his awareness to executives of the group’s key affiliates and announced he would start implementing measures to counter risk factors in the macro

Oct. 19, 2023

Hanmi Global to host forum on data center construction

South Korean construction management firm Hanmi Global said Thursday the company will hold the 2023 Datacenter Innovation Forum at Coex, southern Seoul, on Nov. 6. Via presentations from global companies such as program management service provider Turner & Townsend, British design engineering company Bryden Wood and architectural design company Arup, the forum will review the latest global trends in the efficient construction of data centers. "Following the emergence of digitalization a

Oct. 19, 2023

LG Energy Solution's new residential ESS to hit US market

LG Energy Solution said Thursday it is set to launch a new residential energy storage system device lineup called LG enblock S in the United States next month. Installed with nickel, manganese and cobalt batteries, the LG enblock S is a device with high energy density that can provide a wide range of power sources for households. “With LG enblock S products, households can save energy and lower electric bills. They can also be used as a backup power source when the electricity is shut do

Oct. 19, 2023

Cha Medical to hold global forum on next-generation medicines

Cha Medical and Bio Group said Wednesday that the group will hold the Global Forum on Future Medicine 2023 at Cha Bio Complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 27. The forum will invite experts in stem cell research, regenerative medicine and cell and gene therapies, as well as officials from the government's regulatory agency. “The forum will provide opportunities for us to share the latest trends and new findings in the stem cell and GCT research areas,” said Yoon Ho-sup

Oct. 19, 2023

LIG Nex1 seals global defense ties at Seoul ADEX 2023

South Korean missile defense systems provider LIG Nex1 said Wednesday it had inked a series of collaborative ties with several global defense and aerospace leaders at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, or Seoul ADEX 2023. The agreements are intended to bolster the company's international presence and spur innovation in missile technology, avionics and space exploration. During the Seoul ADEX held from Tuesday to Sunday, LIG Nex1 is showcasing a slew of innovations. No

Oct. 18, 2023

Posco International completes EV parts plant in Mexico

Posco International said Wednesday it completed a production facility for traction motor cores, or parts responsible for converting electric energy into kinetic energy in electric vehicles, in Mexico, in a bid to accelerate its foray into the North American market. Posco International said it held a ceremony in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, to commemorate the completion of Posco International Mexico E-Mobility, or PI-MEM. According to Posco International, the completed facility stands on 63,925 square m

Oct. 18, 2023

Samsung Biologics expansion ahead of schedule

In a wide open space just a few minutes away from Samsung Biologics’ first Bio Campus in Songdo, Incheon, the company’s Plant 5 is under construction. Prefabricated concrete-based frames implemented in a neatly controlled construction environment provide a glimpse into the company's new facility, which would further consolidate the firm’s leadership as the world’s largest contract development and manufacturing organization, or CDMO. On Tuesday, Samsung Biologics, the

Oct. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] New Royal Salute whisky debuts in Korea to tap growing premium market

Pernod Ricard’s Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Richard Quinn Edition 2 has recently made its world debut in South Korea, where young drinkers are increasingly turning their eyes to high-end whiskeys. The second collaboration with UK fashion designer Richard Quinn "features a deeper and more flavorful blend, and the design is bolder and more colorful," said Pernod Ricard Korea CEO Frantz Hotton in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. “The reason why Korea was selected as the

Oct. 18, 2023

SK gears up for largest-ever tech conference on AI

SK Group has opened registrations for its annual tech conference, the SK Tech Summit 2023, which will be held on its largest scale ever, the telecom carrier SK Telecom said on Wednesday. Under the theme of “AI Everywhere for a Better Future,” the SK Tech Summit 2023 is scheduled to take place from Nov. 16 to 17 at Coex in southern Seoul. A total of 17 subsidiaries under the conglomerate, including SK Telecom, will prepare sessions, exhibitions and additional activities featuring

Oct. 18, 2023

Industry minister asks refiners to use fair pricing policy amid Israel-Hamas war

South Korea's industry minister on Wednesday requested local oil refiners use a fair and transparent pricing policy amid the growing volatility of crude prices as the Israel-Hamas war intensifies. "We ask (local oil refiners) to use a transparent and fair oil pricing policy so that the recent rise in oil prices does not unilaterally burden the people," Industry Minister Bang Moon-kyu said during a meeting with business officials. Bang emphasized that stabilizing oil prices is th

Oct. 18, 2023

SK Chemicals partners with Estee Lauder for eco-friendly cosmetics containers

SK Chemicals said Tuesday it has partnered with global cosmetics giant The Estee Lauder Companies, in a bid to provide eco-friendly plastic solutions and accelerate its efforts to popularize cosmetics containers that incorporate recycled materials. SK Chemicals said it signed a letter of intent with Estee Lauder to provide Ecotria CR and Skypet CR to the cosmetics firm. Both materials feature advanced recycling technology that allows the chemical decomposition of plastic into monomers. SK Chemic

Oct. 17, 2023