SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — As Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo grabs global headlines with a 7 billion won diamond engagement ring, South Korea is witnessing its own wave of extravagant marriage proposals. Social media is awash with images of luxury handbags, five-star hotel suites, and designer jewelry, reflecting a growing trend of high-end courtship [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s major petrochemical companies are grappling with a deepening industry downturn, as key players reported average plant utilization rates falling below break-even thresholds during the first half of 2025, according to corporate filings reviewed on August 17. The average operating rates at leading firms—including Lotte Chemical, LG Chem, [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — A year after its launch, “SEOULDAL,” the tethered gas balloon ride that offers panoramic night views of the city from 130 meters above Yeouido, has attracted more than 50,000 riders — nearly a third of them foreign visitors — without a single safety incident, according to Seoul city officials. The [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Motor and Kia are accelerating their momentum in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East’s largest automotive market, by claiming the top two best-selling vehicles in the first half of 2025 — a region long dominated by Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan. According to sales data released by Hyundai [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Kia has officially launched “The 2026 Carnival,” an updated version of its flagship large recreational vehicle (RV), aimed at strengthening its foothold in the high-demand family and leisure car market. The company began full-scale sales on Sunday. The refreshed model is offered in two powertrains — a 3.5-liter gasoline engine [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of doctors working at South Korea’s public health centers and branch facilities has plummeted by more than 40% over the past decade, raising red flags about the country’s ability to ensure basic medical access in rural areas. According to data released on August 17 by the Ministry of [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — LG Electronics has introduced a new eco-conscious manufacturing process for its commercial system air conditioners, significantly cutting carbon emissions and reducing plastic use as part of its broader sustainability push. According to the company’s announcement on Sunday, LG’s latest four-way cassette system air conditioner received official carbon reduction verification from [...]
South Korea Moves to Codify ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’ by 2025, Amid Hurdles to Implementation SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean government is set to codify the principle of “equal pay for equal work” into the Labor Standards Act by the end of this year, aiming to implement the policy as [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics saw a continued decline in the average selling prices (ASPs) of their televisions during the first half of 2025, as global demand stagnated and competition from Chinese manufacturers intensified. The pricing shifts reflect a strategic push by the two South Korean tech giants to [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics reported a decline in first-half revenue from China, citing mounting U.S. sanctions, weakening demand, and intensifying local competition, while sales in the United States grew, buoyed by robust demand from Big Tech firms investing in AI infrastructure. According to the company’s semiannual report released Sunday, Samsung’s exports to [...]