Rebellions, Sapeon merge to create Korea's first AI chip unicorn

Artificial intelligence startup Rebellions said Monday that it has completed a merger with Sapeon Korea, SK Telecom’s AI chip subsidiary, to officially form Korea’s first AI chip unicorn under the unified name Rebellions. The merger was finalized about six months after the plan was announced in June. Rebellions has valued the merged entity at around 1.3 trillion won ($929 million), based on the agreed merger ratio of 1:2.4 for Sapeon Korea and Rebellions, respectively. The merged ent

IndustryDec. 2, 2024

Extending retirement age to 65 could cost W30tr won in labor costs: FKI report

Extending the legal retirement age from the current 60 to 65 could result in additional labor costs of over 30 trillion won ($21.39 billion) per year for local businesses, according to a report released Monday by a lobby group of local entrepreneurs. The Federation of Korean Industries' report estimated that in the first year of the new retirement age, companies across South Korea would have an additional 58,214 workers aged 60 to 64 on their payroll. This number of employees, who, under th

EconomyDec. 2, 2024

Seoul shares open higher on US gains

Seoul shares opened higher Monday, tracking gains on Wall Street, with the local stock market also getting a boost from advances in auto and energy shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) rose 23.63 points, or 0.96 percent, to 2,479.54 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.42 percent to 44,910.65 points and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.83 percent to 19,218.17. In Seoul, top carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 0.23 perc

MarketDec. 2, 2024

S. Korea to extend tariff quota on energy, food imports to ease burden on households

South Korea plans to extend its tariff rate quota on energy and food imports into part of next year to help ease the burden on households, the finance ministry said Monday, as the nation continues to struggle with high inflation and a strong U.S. dollar. The tariff rate quota system allows a specified volume of imports to enter the country under reduced tariff rates for a specific period of time. Under the initiative, the zero-tariff policy for liquefied natural gas imports, used for power gener

EconomyDec. 2, 2024

Woori Bank boosts internal verification at overseas branches

Woori Bank is enhancing its internal controls by implementing a fingerprint authentication system in the software used at its international branches, the lender said Sunday. Woori Bank is the first Korean commercial bank to adopt this technology for its overseas operations. The system uses advanced encryption to securely manage data through fingerprint verification, allowing employees to access the bank's computerized system and perform tasks. This innovation is aimed at preventing financ

IndustryDec. 1, 2024

Rising cacao costs cited for driving up S. Korea's chocolate snack prices

South Korea's major confectionery companies have decided to raise the prices of their popular chocolate snacks on the back of soaring cacao prices, driven by climate change. Orion announced a 10.6 percent average price increase for 13 products starting Sunday. The price of its popular products like Choco Songyi and Bichobi will rise by as much as 20 percent. Orion also said it would temporarily suspend the supply of its chocolate bar, To You, instead of applying an unavoidable price increas

IndustryDec. 1, 2024

[Photo News] Art takes off at Incheon Airport

Incheon International Airport unveiled a large-scale art project on Saturday, as part of its fourth-phase expansion completion, transforming Terminal 2 into a vibrant cultural hub. Featuring 18 art pavilions spread across 8,000 square meters, travelers can enjoy a fusion of Korean traditions and art from across the world as they walk through and spend time at the terminal. Some highlights from the permanent exhibition include Chae Byungrok’s "Good Luck & Colorful Wishes" an

IndustryDec. 1, 2024

FSS chief intensifies probe into Young Poong for accounting flaws

South Korea’s top financial regulator is intensifying its investigation into Young Poong amid growing concerns over the company’s environmental violations and potential improper collusion with private equity firm MBK Partners, as tensions rise in its continuing dispute with Korea Zinc. Lee Bok-hyun, head of the Financial Supervisory Service, said Thursday that the agency had launched a probe into Young Poong after uncovering accounting irregularities, including unrecognized impairmen

IndustryDec. 1, 2024

[Test Drive] BMW's new X3 offers sedan-like driving

The new X3, BMW’s latest sports utility vehicle, has come back as a premium mid-sized SUV that offers the comfort driving of a luxury sedan while looking more dynamic than ever. The Korea Herald got to ride the new X3 20 xDrive, a full-change model following the previous third generation that has been immensely popular in the global market since its launch in 2017, in a media test drive and launch ceremony held at the BMW Experience Center in Incheon on Thursday. The BMW X3 has led Korea&r

MobilityDec. 1, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Development assistance is important for export-dependent Korea'

Strengthening international development assistance efforts could be a solution to lifting the stagnant Korean economy, as such aid helps create a global economic environment favorable to countries with an export-led growth model, according to the chief of the multilateral lender World Bank Group’s Korea office. “For a country like Korea that is engaged in trading in international markets and a lot of its wealth comes from access to export markets, creating a stable and prosperous g

EconomyDec. 1, 2024

Samsung challenges LG in home appliance subscription market

Samsung Electronics has entered a new round of competition with LG Electronics in the home appliance subscription services market by launching its own service centered on artificial intelligence products. Samsung announced Sunday the introduction of its AI subscription club service, which is available at the tech giant’s offline store nationwide and official online store. This service allows consumers to pay a monthly subscription fee to use home appliances for a certain period. By subsc

IndustryDec. 1, 2024

Hyundai-Kia may face 19% profit loss from US tariffs: report

Korean automaker Hyundai and its smaller affiliate Kia may face a steep 19 percent decline in operating profitability if the US enacts a proposed 20 percent tariff on vehicles imported from South Korea, according to a report by S&P Global Ratings published last Friday. The potential tariffs, part of US President-elect Donald Trump’s suggested “universal tariff” on imports, would significantly impact the automaker’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amo

MobilityDec. 1, 2024

Korea’s advanced nuclear tech to take center stage at NES 2024

In aims to showcase South Korea's advanced nuclear power technologies and their potential to address global energy and climate challenges, the Global Nuclear Energy & Safety Confex 2024 will take place from Tuesday to Thursday at the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Hosted by the Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation, the three-day event, themed “Borderless Energy: Globalizing Nuclear Business,” will

IndustryDec. 1, 2024

Major banks' interest margin up for 3rd straight month despite BOK's rate cut

The interest margins of major South Korean banks have increased for the third consecutive month in October, data showed Sunday, despite the Bank of Korea's rate cut in the month that marked its first policy pivot in over three years. The average interest margin of five major banks -- KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH Nonghyup -- came to 1.04 percentage points in October, up from 0.73 percentage point tallied the previous month, according to the data compiled by the Korea Federation of

EconomyDec. 1, 2024

S. Korea's exports grow for 14th month in Nov. on record shipments of chips

South Korea's exports posted year-on-year growth for the 14th consecutive month in November, driven by record semiconductor shipments, data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed Sunday. Outbound shipments rose 1.4 percent from a year earlier to $56.3 billion last month, while imports fell 2.4 percent on-year to $50.7 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.61 billion. The country has maintained a trade surplus for 18 consecutive months. By sector, exports of semiconduct

EconomyDec. 1, 2024

Most foreign-owned land held by US citizens, houses by Chinese

The amount of property and land owned by foreigners in Korea has inched up this year, with Chinese nationals owning the majority of homes, but Americans owned the majority of land. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport released Friday a report on foreign-owned real estate, which showed that approximately 93,000 foreign nationals owned 95,058 homes in Korea as of the end of June, accounting for 0.49 percent of the total housing stock. This represents a 3.9 percent increase -- by 3,60

EconomyNov. 30, 2024

[From the Scene] At this Starbucks, you need ID

GIMPO, Gyeonggi Province -- South Koreans can now sip their Starbucks while taking in the rarest of views -- the shadowy realm of a forbidden land, North Korea. At a just-opened store, with seating for around 40 patrons, the glass walls frame panoramic vistas of Kaepung-gun and Songaksan in the North Korean city of Kaesong. It is located within the Jogang Observatory in the South Korean border city of Gimpo, part of the 154-meter-high Aegibong Peace Ecopark. This vantage point lies just 1.4 kilo

CompaniesNov. 29, 2024

Samsung promotes tech-savvy execs to tackle challenges

Samsung Electronics on Friday promoted a total of 137 executives in a year-end reshuffle, including tech-savvy executives with strong achievements in their respective areas, with a goal of reviving stagnant business performance. The total number of promotions is slightly down from last year’s 143, and includes 35 new vice presidents and 92 new managing directors. “Samsung Electronics carried out a major personnel reshuffle strictly based on the principle of meritocracy, with an aim t

IndustryNov. 29, 2024

Morocco promises robust incentives for Korean businesses

Over 100 business leaders and government officials from Morocco and South Korea gathered to explore new business opportunities and enhance bilateral relations between the two nations in Seoul on Thursday evening. The Moroccan Embassy in South Korea hosted an investment forum under the theme “Morocco -- Sustainable Hub for Investment and Trade." Chafik Rachadi, ambassador of Morocco to Korea, emphasized the historical ties and growing partnership between the two nations in his welcomin

IndustryNov. 29, 2024

Posco Group builds 2nd lithium hydroxide plant in Korea

South Korean steel giant Posco Group said Friday it has completed the construction of the second lithium hydroxide plant in Korea, which will drive up domestic production of this key material used in secondary batteries. The new facility, operated by Posco Pilbara Lithium Solutions, a joint venture, is located at the Yulchon Industrial Complex in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province. It is the second of its kind after the first plant was constructed in November 2023. Each plant can produce 21,500 to

CompaniesNov. 29, 2024