October 16, 2018

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SKT, Samsung complete first 5G call

[THE INVESTOR] SK Telecom and Samsung Electronics announced on Oct. 15 that they have completed a joint project to make the first 5G call in Korea, kicking it up a notch in the race to commercialize the next-generation service.Completing the first call is a step to test whether data transactions can be done without a hitch before commercialization.Their first 5G call, utilizing the new 3GPP 5G radio standards and 3.5GHz spectrum, was made at SKT’s laboratory in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.The com

CJ CGV’s Vietnam unit to slow down IPO process

[THE INVESTOR] CJ CGV Vietnam Holdings has decided to delay its plans to be listed on the main KOSPI bourse, according to industry sources on Oct. 15.The firm had originally planned to start the demand forecast for listing on Oct. 18-19, but has delayed it to Nov. 1-2. It has also moved its subscription period, which was set to happen on Oct. 24-25, to Nov. 7-8. The firm, a special vehicle based in the British Virgin Islands, currently operates the largest multiplex chain in Vietnam through its

Schindler sues Korean gov’t over Hyundai Elevator

[THE INVESTOR] Schindler Group, the second-largest shareholder of Hyundai Elevator, has officially filed for an investor state dispute settlement against the Korean government seeking US$300 million in compensation for losses over its approval of paid-in capital increase of the Korean lift maker from 2013 to 2015. According to the Ministry of Justice on Oct. 15, Schindler has notified the government that it has filed for arbitration, proposing Hong Kong International Arbitration Center to handle

Dream Gream offers taste of real art world, broadens aspirants’ horizons

[THE INVESTOR] Getting a glimpse of the real world and experience in their field of interest is important for all students, especially for young artists who aspire to portray different aspects of life through their work.Han Sung Motor, the largest official dealer of Mercedes-Benz here, which initiated the CSR art project Dream Gream in 2012, participated in the 17th Korea International Art Fair earlier this month to broaden the horizons of young artists by enabling them to take part in one of As

CJ ENM joins forces with Bluehole for expansion in US

[THE INVESTOR] CJ ENM announced on Oct. 12 that as part of its expansion plans in the US it plans to open an e-sports arena in partnership with Bluehole, developer of the immensely popular game “PlayerUnknown’s Battleground.” The 3,252-square-meter arena, which will open in November at Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, can house 500 fans and 100 e-sports players -- the largest in the West Coast. The stadium is specifically designed for battle royale games, in which a number of players compete to sur

Heads of Hanwha, Heritage Foundation call for stronger US-Korea alliance

[THE INVESTOR] The chiefs of South Korea’s Hanwha Group and the US-based Heritage Foundation called for efforts to strengthen the US-Korea alliance during a meeting in Seoul on Friday, the conglomerate said Sunday.Hanwha Chairman Kim Seung-youn and Heritage Foundation founder and former president Edwin J. Feulner Jr. exchanged ideas on various topics, including cooperation on strengthening US-South Korea relations, forging peace on the Korean Peninsula and the US-China trade war. The two have me

Samsung to unveil first smartphone with 4 rear-facing cameras

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics is kicking it up a notch in the neck-and-neck competition in the smartphone market with its new mid-tier lineup, and is scheduled to take the wraps off its latest Galaxy A models in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Oct. 11. As previously announced, it will unveil Galaxy A7, featuring three rear-facing camera lens, at the launch event. In addition, Galaxy A9 with four camera lenses on the back will likely wow the audience as well as Samsung fans around the world.The A

Subcompact car sales fall to 10-year low last month

[THE INVESTOR] Mini car sales in Korea fell to a 10-year low last month due to lower demand and reduced tax benefits, local carmakers' sales data showed on Oct. 14. In September, sales of subcompact cars plunged to 8,627 units, the lowest figure since the 8,172 units in January 2009, according to sales data offered by the country's three carmakers.  Renault Samsung Motors' two-seat electric car Twizy.Mini car models, mostly with a 1.0-liter gasoline engine, sold in Korea include Kia Motors 's Mo

BK Global Consortium acquires Bithumb for W400b

[THE INVESTOR] BTC Korea Holdings, operator of Korea’s major crypto exchange Bithumb, on Oct. 12 said it has agreed to sell the firm to Singapore-based BK Global Consortium led by renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Kim Byung-gun’s BK Group for 400 billion won (US$352.31 million). The consortium has signed a deal to take over 50 percent plus one share of BTC Korea Holding’s 75.99 percent ownership in Bithumb. Kim was already the fifth-largest shareholder of BTC Korea Holding when he invested 3 billion

Chang Byung-gyu consolidates hold on Bluehole

[THE INVESTOR] Chang Byung-gyu has strengthened his control of Bluehole Studio, developer of the immensely popular game “PlayerUnknown’s Battleground,” after acquiring an additional 6.7 percent stake with friendly investors, according to industry sources on Oct. 12. The co-founder and chairman of Bluehole and other executives in tandem with IMM Investment and JKL Partners bought the additional stake for 360 billion won (US$316 million), or 650,000 won per share, from early investors including K

Consumers confused over harmfulness of HNB cigarettes

[THE INVESTOR] The harmful effects of heat-not-burn cigarettes over regular ones continue to confuse consumers here with government agencies and tobacco makers giving conflicting versions.The government recently announced its inspection results on the harmfulness of HNB cigarettes, which was immediately refuted by tobacco makers like Philip Morris International, which launched its products here last year. According to a survey by local pollster Realmeter, 69 percent of the HNB cigarette smokers

Gov’t likely to announce ICO stance in Nov.

[THE INVESTOR] The Korean government is likely to announce its stance on the much–disputed status of initial coin offerings in November, a top official said on Oct. 10. “We have had several discussions (on ICOs),” said Hong Nam-ki, chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, during a parliamentary audit, when asked about government’s position on ICOs. “Once the survey results are in by end-October, we plan to finalize the government’s stance.”Earlier in September, the Financial Super

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 to beat Apple’s iPhone XS in screen size

Schindler sues Korean gov’t over Hyundai Elevator

SKT, Samsung complete first 5G call

CJ CGV’s Vietnam unit to slow down IPO process

Celltrion’s Truxima market share surpasses 30% in Europe

DAYLI Partners CEO bets on future growth of Korean biotech

Renault Samsung launches Master van to diversify lineup

Airbnb calls for law revision in Korea

Samsung releases new Cube air purifier

SK Telecom’s LTE+5G network-aggregation tech approved by 3GPP

Korean smartphone makers join trend of multi-camera handsets

[EQUITIES] ‘Hyundai Rotem gains speed in winning orders’

[EQUITIES] ‘JYP Entertainment to set earnings record in Q3’

[EQUITIES] ‘SPC Samlip burdened by costs’

[EQUITIES] ‘Hanwha Chem remains undervalued’

Red Dot names Hyundai brand of the year

Korean Air chief indicted for embezzlement

Imported commercial vehicle sales fall 27% in Sept.

BMW mulls additional recall plan for EGR-carrying models

Yanolja teams up with Terra to adopt blockchain solutions

[INTERVIEW] Y Combinator scouts next Memebox in Korea

Aroundus to launch web variety show with T.cast, BucketON

[INTERVIEW] SparkLabs eyes blockchain to boost growth

Why birth order is a big deal at LG

New thinking needed on GM Korea

Fall of the ‘Angel of Death’?

Wherever you end up going