SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of employees newly registered for the country’s four major state insurance programs fell to a record low in 2023, marking the second consecutive year of decline, data showed Wednesday. A total of 26.14 million people were registered as employees in 2023, up 0.3 percent, or 88,000 individuals, [...]
SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) —At least two South Korean companies are among the early contenders to partner in one of the largest energy infrastructure initiatives in North America: the Alaska LNG project, a $44 billion liquefied natural gas endeavor led by U.S. energy firm Glenfarne Group. Glenfarne, which is spearheading the project through its [...]
SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea prepares to usher in a new administration following the 21st presidential election, the nation’s digital asset industry is poised for a potential regulatory breakthrough, with both leading candidates expressing support for broader integration of blockchain-based financial products into the legal framework. Both Lee Jae-myung and Kim [...]
SEOUL, June 3 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies are increasingly shifting toward direct sales operations in overseas markets, betting that bypassing local distributors will yield greater long-term profits and stronger control over pricing and marketing. Industry leader Celltrion has recently expanded its direct sales footprint in Europe, transitioning its Spanish operations [...]
SEOUL, June 3 (Korea Bizwire) — Luxury fashion house Chanel has raised prices on several of its best-selling handbags and jewelry items in South Korea by up to 10%, marking its third price hike this year and further straining consumers, especially brides-to-be preparing for weddings. Chanel Korea implemented the increases on Monday, raising prices on signature [...]
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Steel Co., South Korea’s second-largest steelmaker, said Monday it is considering selling a division that produces caterpillar tracks at one of its domestic plants, amid a prolonged slump in the construction industry. The company is in talks with Daejoo.KC — whose business spans steel structures to auto components [...]
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker by sales, said Monday its sales gained 1.7 percent last month from a year earlier on steady overseas demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Kia, a smaller affiliate of local industry leader Hyundai Motor Co., sold 269,148 vehicles in May, up from 264,699 [...]
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean defense giant Hanwha Aerospace Co. said Monday it has participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major international security forum held annually in Singapore, marking a step forward in its global defense engagement and becoming the first South Korean defense firm to do so. Michael Coulter, chief executive [...]
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Hanwha Ocean Co., a major South Korean shipbuilder, said Monday it has partnered with Lloyd’s Register (LR) of Britain to strengthen cooperation on ship certification as part of its broader strategy to expand into Europe’s naval vessel markets. The companies signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) Friday during [...]
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) — As Tesla’s dominance in the global electric vehicle (EV) market continues to falter, U.S.-based automotive outlet Electrek has named Hyundai and Kia as the most viable alternatives to the American EV giant, citing their competitive models and technological edge. In a recent analysis, Electrek highlighted Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 and Kia’s [...]