Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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KT launches new mobile plans for foreign residents
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[Newsmaker] Local consumer protection group, 100 owners to sue BMW
Despite BMW Korea’s measures including a recall, checks and lease services, more owners of a problematic model that appears prone to catching fire are taking legal action against the automaker, this time joined by a local consumer protection group. Marking the first consumer protection group to take action since the series of BMW fires, the Korea Consumer Association said Monday it is preparing to file a lawsuit against the German luxury carmaker with about 100 members of a BMW car owners’ club.
Aug. 6, 2018
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Will South Korea’s lemon law work?
In light of the recent BMW incident in which vehicles caught fire presumably over a malfunctioning component, Korea’s auto industry is paying close attention to the amended automobile management act, also referred to as the Korean version of the US lemon law, slated to take effect next January.The law is being met with mixed reactions. Some critics view it as insufficient and say it should be complemented with stronger legal bounds, while others welcome it as the first step to strengthening cons
Aug. 5, 2018
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[Hydrogen Korea] Korea sets out to seize lead in hydrogen energy
The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles on South Korea’s latest measures, hurdles and the market drive for hydrogen economy. This is the first installment. -- Ed.After a decade of dragging its feet, the South Korean government has come up with a set of measures to nurture an ecosystem for hydrogen vehicles, seeking a transition from fossil fuels to zero emission energy.For more than a decade, the state drive for a hydrogen economy has been sidelined, due to policy inconsistencies thr
Aug. 5, 2018
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Govt. to start detailed probe into cause of fires in BMW vehicles
The government said Sunday it will kick off a detailed probe into the fires that affected vehicles made by German luxury carmaker BMW, with civilian experts allowed to join the effort.The move comes after BMW last month announced it will voluntarily recall 106,317 vehicles to fix a faulty component that may be causing fires in the engine area of 42 different models. The company said it already checked 15,337 vehicles, with a further 36,606 cars on its waiting list.A total of 32 cars made by the
Aug. 5, 2018
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Kia Stinger named segment winner in JD Power 2018 APEAL Study
Kia Motors Corp. beat its rivals to win the J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout award for its Stinger sports sedan, the company said Saturday.The Stinger fastback sports sedan won the J.D. Power APEAL award, beating Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan, BMW's 3 and 4 series in the compact premium car segment, Kia Motors said in a statement. Kia Stinger (Yonhap)Kia Rio also earned the APEAL award in the subcompact segment, beating the Chevrolet Bolt, Toyota Motors Corp.'s Prius C and H
Aug. 4, 2018
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BMW Korea under pressure to disclose cause of engine fire
BMW Korea, the local importer and distributor of the German luxury carmaker, is under growing pressure from the government and public to submit technical and auto parts documents to narrow down the reason for engine fires.“We urge BMW to take a responsible stance in the issue and provide substitute cars for owners alongside documents related to auto parts and technology promptly,” the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Friday.BMW Korea is scheduled to transfer the documents cont
Aug. 3, 2018
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Transport ministry advises BMW 520d owners to refrain from driving over possible engine fire
The Ministry of Transport and Land on Friday advised the owners of BMW 520d sedans to refrain from driving the vehicle, citing safety issues.“(We advise) owners of the vehicles subject for recall to receive a safety check up as soon as possible and refrain from driving the vehicle until safety is ensured,” said Sohn Byeong-seok, the first transport vice minister.While apologizing for causing public concern, the vice minister said that the government would conduct a thorough investigation into th
Aug. 3, 2018
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Hyundai launches #whatsnext campaign in Saudi for female drivers
Hyundai Motor has launched a campaign and programs tailored for female drivers in Saudi Arabia, joining a slew of global automakers eyeing a stake in the market to hike up sales in the region, the company said Thursday.During the company’s meeting of overseas representatives held last month, Hyundai said it would bolster sales in the Middle East in the second half of the year by targeting the Saudi Arabia market where a ban on female driving was lifted on June 24. A task force has been set up th
Aug. 2, 2018
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Another BMW 520d vehicle catches fire on expressway
Another automobile produced by German carmaker BMW 520d sedan caught fire while being driven on a local expressway on Thursday, further fueling safety concerns.Police said the vehicle caught fire at 11:47 a.m. in Gangwon Province in eastern South Korea.BMW Korea said late last month it will recall 106,000 automobiles after several 520d sedans caught fire. The massive recall will cover 42 different models, including the diesel-powered passenger car. (Yonhap)The German carmaker has identified exha
Aug. 2, 2018
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BMW, importers of Ferrari, Lamborghini to recall 270 vehicles: ministry
BMW and the importers of Ferrari and Lamborghini models will voluntarily recall 270 vehicles to fix faulty components, the transport ministry said Thursday. The move is part of the latest series of recalls by carmakers and importers to ensure vehicles meet safety requirements. (Yonhap)The three companies plan to recall 10 different models totaling 270 vehicles. The models are the Ferrari California sports car imported by Forza Motors Korea and the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Coupe imported by
Aug. 2, 2018
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BMW Korea offers free car rental for recalled vehicles
BMW Korea, the local importer and distributor of the German carmaker, will provide free car rentals for vehicle owners affected by its voluntary recall issued last week, the company said Wednesday.Owners of the 106,317 vehicles recalled related to an issue with engines catching fire will be able to rent cars free of charge in accordance with Korea’s standard auto insurance policy.In efforts to contain further incidents, BMW Korea plans to complete checkups on about 7,000 BMW vehicles that have b
Aug. 1, 2018
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SK Innovation rises six ranks on top global chemical firm list
SK Innovation rose six ranks on a list of this year’s global top 50 chemical companies complied by Chemical & Engineering News magazine, backed by its drive to beef up its chemical venture beyond its oil refinery business, the company said Wednesday.According to Chemical & Engineering News, published by the American Chemical Society, SK Innovation ranked No. 38 out of 50 global chemical firms, climbing up six notches compared to last year and showing the second-biggest improvement among the surv
Aug. 1, 2018
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[KH Explains] What caused BMW sedans to catch fire?
It started with smoke coming from the engine or an alert sign going off to advise the driver to add more coolant, according to owners of BMW vehicles that caught fire in motion in recent weeks. Sharing their experiences of watching their BMW vehicles burning on the road, some said via online communities that they at least had time to escape from the vehicles as it was not like the engine exploded.Since December 2017, a total of 30 BMW vehicles have caught fire on motorways here. Of the number, 1
July 31, 2018
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Lamborghini Aventador catches fire in Korea
Amid escalating controversy over some BMW vehicles that allegedly caught fire without external factors here, a fire reportedly started in the engine of a Lamborghini Aventador, burning nearly half of the vehicle, according to authorities and news reports Tuesday.According to the local fire department, a car fire broke out in the rear engine of the 2013 model year Aventador on a road in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, around 2:08 p.m. Monday. The driver pulled over to the shoulder after detecting the fire t
July 31, 2018
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[Behind the Wheel] Hyundai’s Santa Fe family SUV is bigger, safer
Hyundai Motor’s fourth-generation midsize sport utility vehicle Sante Fe is revamped for the first time in six years, geared with features for higher convenience and cutting edge safety suits.Like the Kona small SUV, the new Santa Fe also carries Hyundai’s trademark features of enlarged and contemporary exterior. The family SUV carries Hyundai’s signature hexagonal cascading grille and a composite light with light emitting diode daytime running lights placed on top of LED headlights.The enlarged
July 31, 2018
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BMW Korea vows to complete safety inspection of 100,000 vehicles in two weeks
BMW Korea, the local importer and distributer of the German carmaker, vowed to complete the inspection of more than 100,000 vehicles suspected of having faulty parts by operating its service centers nationwide 24 hours a day for the next two weeks.In an announcement released Monday afternoon, the company said that all vehicles subject to its voluntary recall would go through an hourlong inspection service and that the parts would be replaced. Alternative vehicles will be provided during inspecti
July 30, 2018
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Hands Corporation forays into Europe
Hands Corporation, a local aluminum wheel manufacturer, will complete construction of a factory in Morocco by 2024 with aims to expand its presence in Europe, the company said Monday. The company had announced construction of the Morocco factory in August last year and the groundbreaking ceremony was held in April.“By cooperating with the Moroccan government, we will do our best to become an example of successful expansion there. Also our goal is to post 1 trillion won ($895 million) in earnings
July 30, 2018
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[Newsmaker] BMW Korea faces lawsuit by customers over faulty engines
A group of customers has filed a lawsuit against BMW Korea and its dealer Deutsche Motors over faulty engine parts allegedly susceptible to fire, demanding compensation. Ha Jong-sun, a lawyer at the Seoul-based Barun Law, said Monday that four owners of BMW 520d sedans lodged a suit with the Seoul Central District Court, seeking 5 million won ($4,475) in damages for safety concerns and a drop in car value. The amount of compensation could go up, depending on the results of vehicle evaluation, he
July 30, 2018
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VW Korea CEO hints at Passat TSI markdown
Volkswagen Korea, the local importer and distributor for the German carmaker, is likely to offer a huge price reduction for its latest Passat series, intent to expand sales here.According to local sources, the carmaker has approved dealers to offer nearly 30 percent off the Passat TSI, expected to make its official debut here in mid-August. The retail price of the sedan is projected to be around 36 million won ($32,300), but the final price will drop to around 26 million won, bringing it into th
July 29, 2018
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Hyundai sells 223 Nexo hydrogen-powered cars to set new annual record
Hyundai Motor Co. said Sunday that it sold 223 Nexo hydrogen fuel cell cars since its launch in March, and that the company expects record sales for its clean car this year, buoyed by increases in domestic and worldwide demand.Korea's No. 1 carmaker said of the total, 179 of its fuel cell electric vehicles were sold in the home market, with 44 being shipped abroad, up till last month. (Yonhap)It said that while the overall volume is not high, it is close to the 269 Tucson FCEVs sold for the whol
July 29, 2018