SEJONG, Feb. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s construction industry is facing its worst downturn in years, with employment falling below 2 million workers for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting growing concerns about the broader economic impact of the sector’s prolonged slump. According to the Statistics Korea, construction employment plunged by 169,000 jobs [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced plans to become the first local government in South Korea to develop and publish a “coexistence index” that will evaluate delivery platforms on their commitment to fair business practices and cooperation with small businesses. The initiative, aimed at curbing excessive commission fees and preventing [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Small business owners in South Korea saw their income drop more than 10 percent from a year earlier in 2024 amid sluggish consumer sentiment, a poll showed Tuesday. According to the survey conducted by Mono Research from January 20 to February 7 on 500 small business owners, the level [...]
ULSAN, Feb. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose steep tariffs on imported vehicles has sent shockwaves through Ulsan, South Korea’s automotive manufacturing powerhouse, where cars account for nearly a third of the city’s exports and form the backbone of the local economy. According to data from the Korea International Trade [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Despite a prolonged economic downturn and high interest rates, several prominent South Korean mid-sized companies are actively pursuing major mergers and acquisitions, highlighting a shift in corporate strategy. The number of completed M&A deals valued at over 10 billion won in South Korea reached 474 in 2024, marking a 12% [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. (E&C) said Friday it, together with a public firm here, has signed an initial pact with a government agency of New Zealand to enter New Zealand’s housing development market. Hyundai E&C and the Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corp. (KIND) have signed a [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Hanwha Ocean Co. said Thursday it has successfully delivered the company’s 200th liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, marking a major milestone in the shipbuilding industry. According to Hanwha Ocean, the vessel was delivered to SK Shipping Co., which will operate the vessel under a South Korean consortium in the [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — E-commerce giant Coupang and its affiliates have reached a landmark agreement with small business owners and labor organizations, committing to improved working conditions and financial support measures. The agreement, signed on February 19, includes the abolition of a controversial policy that had been linked to overwork among delivery drivers. [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — In a move to ease burdensome regulations, the South Korean government has approved guidelines allowing bakeries to provide complimentary birthday candles with cake purchases, addressing a peculiar regulatory oversight that had technically criminalized the common practice. Until now, birthday candles were classified as “household chemical products,” making their distribution — [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — A new survey has revealed that 92.8% of South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe they cannot meet national greenhouse gas reduction targets within the designated timeframe. The Korea Federation of SMEs announced these findings on February 19, based on a survey of 500 manufacturing SMEs conducted last year. [...]