April 16, 2024

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EDITOR'S PICKS

• Markets 
  

  Korean won slides amid heightened uncertainty

  The Korean won weakened to 1,400 won against the US dollar during trading hours Tuesday, marking a new 17-month low as the Korean economy faces headwinds from the escalating volatility in the Middle East. The local currency against the greenback closed at 1,394.5 won, losing its value by 10.5 won from the previous trading day. Shortly after trading began at 1,389.9 won, the rate weakened to 1,400 won to $1 at 11:32 a.m., marking the first time in 17 months for the currency exchange rate to hi

• Tech 
  

  Line Next redefines digital market in Web3 era

  Line Next, the Web3 unit of Japanese-based LY Corp., has redefined the digital market with its mobile service Dosi, which made its official debut in January this year. Line Next says it has transformed Dosi from an NFT platform into a dynamic digital service that integrates Web3 technology with existing web features. Seeking to expand the non-fungible token ecosystem, Line Next is paving the way to lead the Web3 market by offering differentiated services and exclusive digital perks users want

• Markets 
  

  Credit card transactions hit W900tr in 2023

  Last year, South Korea's card payments surged past 900 trillion won ($644.6 billion) for the first time, amid heightened inflation and escalating consumer prices. Data compiled by the Financial Supervisory Service reveals that the combined card payment performance of the nation's eight major credit card companies -- Shinhan, Samsung, Hyundai, KB Kookmin, Lotte, Woori, Hana, and BC -- reached 920.5 trillion won, marking a 6.4 percent increase from the 2022 total of 856.4 trillion won. This mil

• Companies 
  

  Renault Korea revisits evolution of lozenge emblem

  Renault Korea on Tuesday outlined a brief history of its iconic “lozenge” emblem, revisiting its evolution following the company's rebranding earlier this month. The rebranding replaced the "storm’s eye" logo used exclusively by its Korean branch since 2000 with Renault's original diamond-shaped lozenge emblem. The diamond-shaped logo is prominently featured at the company's new flagship store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, where the rebranding announcement took place. Th

• Markets 
  

  Finance chiefs of Korea, US, Japan to hold 3-way talks for first time

  Finance leaders from South Korea, the United States and Japan were set to hold their first-ever trilateral meeting in Washington on Wednesday, to step up economic cooperation amid heightened geopolitical risks in the Middle East. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok departed for the US on Tuesday to attend the three-way meeting, as well as a meeting of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank presidents as part of the annual Spring Meetings between the International Monetary Fund and the World

• Companies 
  

  Chanel, Louis Vuitton see muted growth in Korea

  Luxury fashion houses reported a slowdown in sales growth in Korea after years of upbeat sales that peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent earnings reports. “Consumption of expensive luxury products soared over the past few years, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. But, luxury purchases started to slow down last year as consumer confidence remained low amid economic woes,” an industry source said on the condition of anonymity. The two largest luxury brands

• Markets 
  

  Pineapple, mango imports surge to record highs in March

  South Korea witnessed its highest-ever import figures for pineapples and mangoes in March, largely driven by the government’s recent efforts to address the soaring prices of homegrown apples by diversifying demand toward alternative options. According to the Korea Customs Service on Tuesday, the import volume of pineapples reached 8,686 tons, worth $8.68 million, in March, up 44.7 percent from the previous year, marking a record high. Imports of mangoes also more than doubled to 6,264 t

• Companies 
  

  Doosan, LG team up to debut EV charging robot

  Doosan Robotics has teamed up with LG Electronics to test an automated electric vehicle charging system that uses its advanced collaborative robots to streamline the EV charging process. This system combines LG’s 100-kilowatt fast chargers with Doosan’s high-dexterity collaborative robotics tech to replace the manual process of handling bulky charging cables that drivers often find cumbersome. The companies started a pilot operation for their new automated EV charging station last

• Companies 
  

  Mom’s Touch opens first store in Tokyo

  South Korean chicken and burger chain Mom’s Touch announced Tuesday that it has entered into the Japanese fast-food restaurant market by opening its first direct store overseas in Shibuya, Tokyo. The new venue, which used to be the former site of McDonald's Japan for 39 years, spans approximately 418 square meters of floor space and includes 220 seats distributed over three floors. Strategically located near Shibuya Scramble Square and Shibuya Station, the bustling hub of the Japanese ca

• Tech 
  

  US confirms $6.4 billion chip subsidy for Samsung

  The US government announced Monday that it will award up to $6.4 billion to Samsung Electronics for its chip fabrication facilities in Taylor, Texas. "The return of leading-edge chip manufacturing to America is a major new chapter in our semiconductor industry," said White House National Economic Adviser Lael Brainard in a press briefing. US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo also revealed that the subsidy plan, coming under the US Chips Act, will support Samsung's two chip product

• Companies 
  

  ShinWon accelerates global expansion with big ESG push

  Amidst increasing global awareness of corporate responsibilities across various sectors, South Korean fashion company ShinWon Corporation has been actively involved in extensive social initiatives at home and abroad. On International Women's Day in March, ShinWon's headquarters and its overseas subsidiaries organized various activities to commemorate advancements in women's rights and equality. In Vietnam, ShinWon's two production plants hosted a grand gala concert and a poster contest for em

• Markets 
  

  How should Korea adjust its trade defenses against Chinese EVs?

  Korea, home of the world’s third-largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Group, finds itself at a critical juncture as the rise of Chinese-made electric vehicles in the domestic market poses a complex challenge: how to protect national interests while embracing the inevitable shift toward electrification. Unlike the United States and the European Union, which perceive Chinese EVs as a grave security threat, experts argue Korea should adopt a more nuanced regulatory strategy. This involves refin

• Markets 
  

  Korea braces for blows from Middle East conflict

  The heightened geopolitical tensions from Iran's attack on Israel have cast gloom on Korea as well, bringing down local shares and leading to currency depreciation. While the Korean won has been losing its value against the US greenback in recent days with weakened anticipation on the US Federal Reserve taking a pivot in its monetary policy any time soon, the escalated volatility has led to further depreciation. The won weakened against the dollar on Monday, with the exchange rate closing at

• Companies 
  

  Greyd’s video platform helps Korean sellers go global

  Greyd, a social commerce platform developed by Seoul-based software developer Arbaim, aims to secure a bigger footing in overseas markets as it offers an effective marketing tool for Korean sellers that is also entertaining to attract global customers. Short-form videos, typically defined as any video under 90 seconds in duration, have become increasingly popular on a variety of social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Advertisers are also turning their eyes to the new

• Tech 
  

  Samsung, LG showcase built-in lineup at Milan Design Week

  Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the leading home appliance giants in Korea, are participating in this year’s Milan Design Week this week to showcase their new built-in appliances incorporating artificial intelligence and connectivity. Milan Design Week is one of the largest international design and furniture exhibitions, held in the city in northern Italy with the participation of some 2,300 companies. This year the event runs from Tuesday to Sunday. The tech giants have also set

• Markets 
  

  Hanlim, Kazakhstan partner on greenhouse gas reduction project

  Hanlim Architecture Group said Saturday it was embarking on a joint collaboration with Kazakhstan's environmental group KMG and the city of Shymkent on a landfill greenhouse gas reduction project. The partnership went through a joint project agreement, which was marked by a visit to the landfill site in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, by KMG Chairman Choi Ik-jun, Hanlim Architecture Group Chairman Park Jin-sun, and other officials. During the site visit, Chairman Park detailed the project’s devel