November 21, 2024

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EDITOR'S PICKS

• Companies 
  

  [Herald Interview] How Gopizza became big name in India

  South Korean pizza chain Gopizza is strengthening its foothold in the Indian market by blending food technology with the distinct flavors of Korean cuisine, offering a fresh take on the classic pizza experience. Founded in 2016 as a single-serving pizza concept aimed at making pizza more accessible, Gopizza entered the Indian market in 2019, tailoring its approach to meet the distinct preferences of Indian consumers. "We currently operate 60 stores across southern India and plan to expa

• Companies 
  

  Hanwha, HD Hyundai chiefs welcome second Trump era

  As Korean industries brace for a second nonconsecutive term of US President-elect Donald Trump, leaders of Korean defense and shipbuilding companies – namely Hanwha Group and HD Hyundai – are enhancing readiness to seize new growth opportunities. Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, in the process of passing the leadership baton to his sons, took on the role of chairman of Hanwha Aerospace, a key defense subsidiary of the group, last week. The move solidifies Kim's leadership in

• Markets 
  

  Hanwha Life acquires 75% stake in US securities firm

  Hanwha Life, a leading Korean insurance company, said Wednesday it has signed a stock purchase agreement to acquire a 75 percent stake in US securities firm Velocity Clearing. Established in 2003, New York-based Velocity Clearing is an IT-based securities firm primarily serving institutional investors. It offers various financial services, from clearing and settlement to securities lending and prime brokerage. Recently, it has expanded its unlisted US stock brokerage services to global clients,

• Companies 
  

  Posco shuts down wire rod mill on oversupply concerns

  South Korean steel giant Posco Group said Wednesday that it will shut down a wire rod mill at its steelworks in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, citing global oversupply. The company explained that the decision reflects recent market challenges, including the ongoing global steel surplus, aging facilities, and the impact of China’s low-cost exports. According to Posco, the global wire rod market in 2023 had a production capacity of approximately 200 million metric tons, while demand

• Companies 
  

  Samsung Biologics hits W5tr in annual orders

  Samsung Biologics said Wednesday that its cumulative orders this year have exceeded 5 trillion won ($3.59 billion), driven by consecutive large-scale deals with global pharmaceutical companies. In a regulatory filing, the company announced two new contract manufacturing agreements with a European pharmaceutical firm worth a combined 930.4 billion won. While specific product details remain undisclosed, the contracts will run through December 2031. As of November, Samsung Biologics has secured 1

• Companies 
  

  Hyundai Mobis eyes 40% of orders from global carmakers

  Hyundai Mobis, a car parts manufacturing subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, has committed to having global automakers account for 40 percent of its client base by leveraging its advanced automotive technology. “One of our core pillars of a long-term growth strategy is to become the world’s top three auto parts supplier, reducing reliance on Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia," which account for 90 percent of auto parts and system orders, said Axel Maschka, vice president and head of glo

• Companies 
  

  [KH Explains] Dissecting Hyundai Motor's lobbying in US

  Hyundai Motor Group is on track to report record-high spending for lobbying in the United States this year as the Korean auto conglomerate continues to ramp up its presence and influence in Washington, DC. According to OpenSecrets, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that tracks and publishes data on campaign finance and lobbying, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia -- the two automakers under Hyundai Motor Group -- have spent $2.51 million on lobbying in the US as of the thi

• Tech 
  

  Coway unveils winter-ready home appliances

  South Korean home appliance maker Coway has introduced new products designed to improve indoor air quality and provide personal comfort during the winter season. The Dual Clean Humidifier Air Purifier, one of Coway’s flagship products, is designed to tackle dry indoor air and poor air quality in winter. According to Coway, the device integrates a four-stage filtration system -- featuring a pre-filter, air matching filter, deodorization filter and fine dust collection filter -- to remove u

• Tech 
  

  Samsung Electro-Mechanics obtains European certification for automotive camera software

  Samsung Electro-Mechanics said Wednesday it has achieved the automotive spice (A-spice) level 3 certification for its camera modules used in automotive electronics and electrical equipment. A-spice is a European certification that evaluates the software reliability and development capabilities of automotive component manufacturers. It is categorized into six levels, ranging from the lowest, level 0, to the highest, level 5. Companies must meet level 2 or higher to supply products to European

• Companies 
  

  3 die of suffocation at Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant

  Three researchers died of suffocation during a vehicle testing at Hyundai Motor Company’s car manufacturing plant in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. According to police officials Tuesday, a man in his 40s, another in his 30s and one unidentified person were found unconscious at 3 p.m., following a vehicle test conducted in the multi-environment chamber within the plant's electrical quality division. The test involves vehicles being exposed to vibration as well as high tempe

• Companies 
  

  Experts dismiss Lotte's liquidity crisis rumors amid stock plunges

  Lotte Group's stock plummeted to record lows on rumors of a liquidity crisis, but experts claim these concerns are overstated and emphasize the need for better debt control. The holding company’s stock closed at 20,550 won ($14.80) on Monday, down 6.6 percent from the previous day, while Lotte Chemical saw the sharpest decline among its subsidiaries, falling 10.22 percent to 65,900 won and reducing its market capitalization to 2.82 trillion won, a 15-year low. Both stocks hit 52-week i

• Companies 
  

  Carmakers, battery suppliers vie for leadership in battery management

  Battery Management Systems, or BMS, often called the “brain” of an electric vehicle battery, play a crucial role with integrated hardware and software to monitor and control battery cells while safeguarding against potential fires. While battery manufacturers excel in advancing battery technologies, the BMS field has traditionally been a specialized area for automakers, who develop and integrate their own systems into battery modules. However, since a series of EV fire incidents i

• Companies 
  

  ZYX Technology teams up with Jeonbuk University to foster CAD experts

  South Korean design software developer Zyx Technology announced Tuesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jeonbuk National University to nurture future software talent in North Jeolla Province. Under the partnership, ZYX Technology plans to offer ZYX CAD licenses worth a combined 1 billion won ($720,000) over the next three years, while carrying out research and development in the AI software sector. ZYX CAD is a versatile computer-aided design software that leverages mul

• Companies 
  

  Hyundai E&C appoints first CEO born in 1970s, signals generational shift

  The appointment of Lee Han-woo, head of Hyundai Engineering & Construction's housing business division, as its new executive vice president and CEO marks a generational shift as Lee becomes the company's first CEO born in the 1970s. Born in 1970, Lee joined the company in 1994 and has held a range of leadership roles over the past 30 years, including head of the strategic planning division. As the incoming CEO, he is expected to enhance Hyundai E&C's global portfolio in civil enginee

• Tech 
  

  Mixed reactions as Korea seeks to lift 52-hour work limit for chipmakers

  Amid intensifying competition for chip supremacy, Korean lawmakers are pushing to lift the national cap on working hours to give chipmakers more flexibility. The ruling party's proposal, however, has sparked mixed reactions, with critics labeling it "regressive." In South Korea, home to the world's top memory chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, employees are prohibited from working more than 52 hours per week -- consisting of 40 regular hours and up to 12 hours of overtime

• Companies 
  

  Korea's space development to hit wall without private sector initiative: report

  The private sector should take the initiative in South Korea’s space development, currently led by state-run institutes, and foster the ground equipment and satellite communication service industries for the country to ascend as a space powerhouse, a report suggested Tuesday. The Federation of Korean Industries, a Korean business group, examined the current status of the aerospace industry and suggested development plans through a report commissioned by Kwak Shin-woong, a professor at K