SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s economy is expected to operate below its potential capacity for six consecutive years through 2025, according to new projections from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), raising concerns about structural weakness in what was once one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies. Among the Group of 7 nations [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – Two decades after their introduction to South Korea, Private Equity Funds (PEFs) have transformed from behind-the-scenes investors into influential powerbrokers wielding control over industries ranging from heavy manufacturing to fast-food chains. These once-reclusive investors, who previously surfaced only for occasional mega-mergers, now command a significant presence across South Korea’s business landscape, [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – Despite the government’s initiatives to boost corporate value, the return on equity (ROE) of South Korea’s top companies has plummeted over the past three years, with average ROE nearly halving. ROE, a critical metric for evaluating value enhancement, measures net income relative to shareholder equity, reflecting how effectively a [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – Lotte Group announced a sweeping set of initiatives on November 28 to address liquidity concerns and improve financial stability. The measures include revaluing land assets, divesting underperforming properties, and scaling back investments. As part of its strategy, Lotte is also considering exiting poorly performing overseas duty-free locations. During an [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – For years, private equity funds (PEFs) were synonymous in South Korea with “predatory capital” and “corporate raiders,” drawing criticism for prioritizing short-term profits over corporate health. The perception stemmed from practices such as aggressive cost-cutting, asset sales, and layoffs, which were viewed as tactics to maximize returns at the [...]
SEJONG, Nov. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – South Koreans experience their largest per-capita financial deficit of 40.78 million won at age 17 and reach their maximum surplus of 17.53 million won at age 43, according to new government data. Labor income begins declining after peaking at 43, leading to a return to deficit spending at age 61. [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – The number of Korean venture companies surpassing ₩100 billion in annual revenue exceeded 900 for the first time last year, signaling robust growth in the country’s innovation-driven economy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on Tuesday. The total reached 908 firms in 2023, a 4.5% increase from 869 in [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – “All cosmetic samples for just 10,000 won.” Such listings have become increasingly common on Danggeun Market, South Korea’s popular secondhand trading platform, reflecting a growing divide in the nation’s beauty market amid persistent inflation. While some consumers hunt for bargain cosmetics and sample-size products, others flock to luxury brands like [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – Following the recent suicide of a single mother in her 30s who was harassed by loan sharks, experts are calling for stronger enforcement of debt collection laws amid continuing reports of illegal collection practices. According to the Supreme Court’s Judicial Yearbook released November 24, only 13 cases (16.7%) out of [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – Following the devastating Mercedes-Benz EQE fire in an Incheon apartment complex parking garage last August, which damaged approximately 800 vehicles, concerns about rising auto insurance premiums have become reality, even as traffic accidents and fatalities decline. According to the Korea Automobile Citizens’ Association, traffic fatalities have dropped by half, from [...]