Hansung Motors appoints new CEO

Hansung Motors, one of the top official Mercedes-Benz dealers in South Korea, has appointed Marco Kim as its new CEO, the company announced Monday. Marco Kim brings extensive global expertise in the luxury automotive sector, having held key leadership and consulting roles with several prestigious car brands. Born in South Korea and raised in Australia, Kim holds a medical degree and an MBA from the University of Queensland. He later became a chartered accountant and joined Deloitte Motor Industr

MobilitySept. 2, 2024

Hanwha Industrial Solutions launches as new subsidiary under Hanwha Group

Hanwha Industrial Solutions officially launched Monday with a founding meeting at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul. The new company, established as a subsidiary of Hanwha Vision and Hanwha Precision Machinery, represents Hanwha Aerospace’s move to consolidate and lead Hanwha Group’s industrial solutions business. During the inaugural meeting, key agenda items included the formal establishment of the company, the appointment of leadership and the enactment of company bylaws. Ahn Soon-Hong,

CompaniesSept. 2, 2024

Blockchain platform Kaia aims to become ‘Asia's gateway to Web3’

Blockchain network Kaia, formed through the merger of platforms launched by Korean tech giants Line and Kakao, announced Monday it hopes to serve as a gateway between Web2 and Web3 in Asia and beyond. The merger between Kakao's blockchain platform Klaytn Foundation, and Finschia Foundation under Naver's affiliate Line Tech Plus was completed under the name “Kaia” on Thursday. The two platforms' respective tokens will be integrated under the name "Kaia," which

IndustrySept. 2, 2024

Would Samsung benefit from Intel exit from foundry race?

Facing its worst earnings crisis in its 56-year history, Intel is reportedly reconsidering its lackluster foundry business, where it has set the goal of beating Samsung Electronics to become the industry's No. 2 by 2030. For Samsung, which is seeking to carve out its share in the foundry market dominated by Taiwan-based TSMC, Intel's exit could be beneficial, removing a potential threat, according to experts here. On Sunday, Bloomberg reported that Intel, the world's leading chipm

IndustrySept. 2, 2024

HIT Forum to shed light on new norm -- business diplomacy

Sharpening diplomatic skills is becoming an inevitable mission for Corporate Korea to give new traction to its export-oriented growth amid rising economic fragmentation. The unparalleled technology and unique cultural content that made-in-Korea products hold have led the country to be a trendsetter for Asia and beyond. This year, Korean companies faced new challenges and opportunities induced by major elections taking place around the world, coupled with growing protectionism and trade tension

IndustrySept. 2, 2024

Seoul shares rise ahead of US Fed meeting

South Korean shares rose Monday, as investors bet on a US rate cut. The local currency slightly lost ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 6.69 points, or 0.25 percent, to close at 2,681.00. Trade volume was moderate at 262.5 million shares worth 8.5 trillion won ($6.35 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 534 to 325. Foreign investors ended their six-day selling streak, purchasing a net 239 billion won worth of local shares, while institutions

MarketSept. 2, 2024

LG Electronics eyes IPO in India to spur growth

LG Electronics is mulling a stock debut in India, a burgeoning market where the Korean tech giant has made efforts to secure a firmer footing for almost two decades. In a recent interview with Bloomberg Television, LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan hinted at the possibility of an initial public offering of the company’s Indian unit, saying the company is closely monitoring the Indian market to meet its sales target of 100 trillion won ($74.6 billion) by 2030. “(An IPO) is one of many op

IndustrySept. 2, 2024

Better Korea-Mongolia cooperation can reduce trade reliance on China: officials

South Korea and Mongolia need to strengthen cooperation on the supply of critical minerals to lessen their trade reliance on China, officials and experts from the two countries said at the Korea-Mongolia Vision Forum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Co-hosted by Herald Media Group and the Ahnsei Foundation, the forum was held at the Novotel in the Mongolian capital on Aug. 27. During the session titled “Core Minerals Cooperation Plan," participants discussed ways for the two countries to wor

EconomySept. 2, 2024

[Photo News] HD Hyundai HeeMang Foundation

HD Hyundai officially launched the HeeMang Foundation on Monday, an initiative dedicated to supporting the families of workers who lost their lives in major shipyard accidents. The foundation, whose name means "hope" in Korean, will provide scholarships and financial assistance to bereaved family members, fulfilling a proposal made by HD Hyundai Chairman Kwon Oh-gap (first from left) earlier this February. Former Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Ki-kwon (fourth from left), appointe

CompaniesSept. 2, 2024

SK Ecoplant acquires SK Materials Airplus, eyes synergy in semiconductor business

Energy and environmental solutions provider SK Ecoplant announced Monday that it has officially incorporated energy supplier SK Materials Airplus as its subsidiary. During a special shareholders' meeting held at its headquarters in central Seoul, SK Ecoplant approved a comprehensive stock exchange agenda for SK Materials Airplus, which involves issuing new shares in exchange for the entire stake in SK Materials Airplus currently held by SK. SK Materials Airplus' long-term business mo

IndustrySept. 2, 2024

Posco chief urges closer Korea-Australia ties

Posco Group Chairman Chang In-hwa, who also serves as the head of the Korea-Australia Business Council, emphasized the need to strengthen economic relations between South Korea and Australia, particularly in the areas of natural resources, eco-friendly materials and infrastructure. “South Korea and Australia have been collaborating to pioneer future green development, which includes advancing eco-friendly materials and infrastructure beyond traditional resource cooperation in minerals and

IndustrySept. 2, 2024

[Photo News] Kia EV center in Ecuador

Kia inaugurated the Kia E-Ground in Quito, Ecuador, on Monday to boost its position as a leading electric vehicle brand in Latin America. The 1,420-square-meter center features three thematic zones -- Planet, Energy and Mobility -- where visitors can explore Kia’s sustainability initiatives, cutting-edge EV technology and future mobility solutions. Highlights include an ocean cleanup virtual reality game, an EV driving simulator and displays of Kia's E-GMP platform. As Ecuador ranks

MobilitySept. 2, 2024

[Test Drive] Chevy’s new Colorado offers smooth ride as all-around truck

The all-new Colorado, the latest generation of the Chevrolet’s pickup truck, has returned as a well-rounded off-roader featuring an impressive powertrain and unexpectedly comfortable driving experience. The Korea Herald checked out the newly launched American pickup in a recent test drive including both on- and off-road courses in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Measuring 5,410 millimeters in length, 1,905 mm in width and 1,810 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,337 mm, the new Colorado looke

MobilitySept. 2, 2024

Seoul shares open lower on large cap losses

South Korean stocks opened lower Monday with most large caps in negative terrain. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 7.73 points, or 0.29 percent, to 2,666.58 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The index had dipped more than 1 percent Thursday on reports of worse-than-anticipated performance by artificial intelligence giant Nvidia, before slightly rebounding on bargain hunting the following day. US stocks closed higher Friday on growing hopes of a US rate cut, with the US Fede

MarketSept. 2, 2024

Korea, Mongolia explore energy cooperation at Vision Forum

South Korean and Mongolian government officials discussed opportunities for cooperation in green energy, mineral resources and trade, emphasizing a shared vision for mutual growth and strategic partnership at the 2024 Korea-Mongolia Vision Forum held Tuesday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. About 250 representatives from the government, state-run organizations and academic and political sectors attended the event co-hosted by the Ahnsei Foundation, Herald Corporation, Yonsei University and Korea Univer

EconomySept. 1, 2024

Forum envisions closer Korea-Mongolia partnership

From rare minerals and smart city projects to cultural collaborations, South Korea and Mongolia have ample avenues to build mutually beneficial partnerships, leaders of the two countries stressed at a recent forum in Ulaanbaatar. At the Korea-Mongolia Vision Forum, held at the Novotel in the Mongolian capital on Aug. 27, 26 speakers from politics, business, civil society and academia engaged with an audience of about 250, exploring ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and promote private-sector

IndustrySept. 1, 2024

[KH Explains] Will battery brand awareness influence EV shoppers in Korea amid safety concerns?

Starfield Hanam, a shopping complex located in Gyeonggi Province just east of Seoul, is home to South Korea’s first Tesla showroom, which opened its doors in 2017. Here, the allure of Tesla vehicles has always drawn a crowd, but recently, a different kind of interest has been brewing among potential buyers -- an interest not just in the cars themselves, but in the batteries that power them. Recent high-profile EV fires in Korea have sparked public concern about the reliability of the batte

MobilitySept. 1, 2024

Daewoo E&C chairman calls for enhanced Korea-Mongolia cooperation

Daewoo Engineering & Construction Chairman Jung Won-ju, who doubles as chairman of Herald Corp., expressed his hopes for the South Korean government to join in strengthening cooperation with Mongolia. “In Daewoo’s latest success in a bid for a nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic, the South Korean President and the Trade Minster were actively engaged on multiple occasions,” said Jung during a special networking event held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Aug. 26. "I w

IndustrySept. 1, 2024

LG Electronics sets up consortium for heat pump technology in China

LG Electronics said Sunday it has established a consortium in China to accelerate the development of the core technologies for next-generation heat pumps, adding to its research hubs in North America and Europe. Under the collaboration agreement, LG will be working with leading heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Xian Jiaotong University, the company said. The company has been expanding its research a

IndustrySept. 1, 2024

SK Speedmate launches as rebranded auto repair firm

SK Speedmate, an automotive maintenance company, announced Sunday its official launch after spinning off from SK Networks to become a top automotive aftermarket service provider in Korea. SK Networks decided to spin off the Speedmate division as part of its push to transition to an AI-centric company. The automotive maintenance business has been rebranded as SK Speedmate, and is now a full-owned subsidiary under the rental firm. SK owns 43.9 percent of SK Networks. “Utilizing our strong br

IndustrySept. 1, 2024