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Samsung Tops Global Smartphone Shipments, But Apple Leads in Sales Amid U.S. Tariff Fallout

Samsung Tops Global Smartphone Shipments, But Apple Leads in Sales Amid U.S. Tariff Fallout

SEOUL, April 17, (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics retained its position as the global leader in smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2025, according to multiple market research firms. However, a separate analysis based on sales volumes placed Apple in the top spot, raising questions about diverging metrics and the impact of U.S. trade [...]

Employee Tenure Rises at South Korea’s Top Firms Despite Youth Turnover and Senior Retirements

Employee Tenure Rises at South Korea’s Top Firms Despite Youth Turnover and Senior Retirements

SEOUL, April 16 (Korea Bizwire) — The average length of service of employees at 80 major South Korean companies has increased in the past five years despite frequent job changes among young workers and retirement programs for senior workers, a corporate data tracker said Wednesday. In its survey of 80 companies that released data on [...]

Hyundai, Kia Cross 500,000 EV Sales in Korea as E-GMP Platform Powers Growth

Hyundai, Kia Cross 500,000 EV Sales in Korea as E-GMP Platform Powers Growth

SEOUL, April 7 (Korea Bizwire) —  Hyundai Motor and Kia have exceeded 500,000 cumulative electric vehicle (EV) sales in South Korea, marking a significant milestone in the automakers’ transition toward electrification. The figure comes nearly 14 years after Hyundai introduced its first mass-produced EV, the BlueOn, in July 2011. According to data released Sunday, total domestic [...]

South Korea Slips to Bottom Tier of Global Growth Rankings Amid Political and Economic Woes

South Korea Slips to Bottom Tier of Global Growth Rankings Amid Political and Economic Woes

SEOUL, April 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea ranked 29th out of 37 major economies in terms of economic growth during the fourth quarter of 2024, as weak domestic demand and heightened political uncertainty weighed on the nation’s performance, a central bank report showed Sunday. Asia’s fourth-largest economy posted real gross domestic product (GDP) growth [...]

Fewer Executives, More Employees: Korean Conglomerates Shift Focus Amid Slowdown

Fewer Executives, More Employees: Korean Conglomerates Shift Focus Amid Slowdown

SEOUL, April 1(Korea Bizwire) — The number of executives at South Korea’s top 30 conglomerates declined last year amid an economic slowdown, while that of employees increased, a market tracker said Tuesday. According to an analysis of 2024 business results released by 235 affiliates of the 30 conglomerates, the number of executives at the 235 [...]

More Than Half of Korea’s Top Firms Now Pay Average Salaries Above ₩100 Million

More Than Half of Korea’s Top Firms Now Pay Average Salaries Above ₩100 Million

SEOUL, April 1 (Korea Bizwire) —  For the first time, a majority of South Korea’s top 100 publicly listed non-financial companies are paying their employees an average annual salary of over ₩100 million, signaling a sharp rise in corporate pay and deepening the wage gap between large conglomerates and smaller businesses. A comprehensive review of [...]

Imported Cars in South Korea Surpass 3.5 Million, Now 13% of Total Market

Imported Cars in South Korea Surpass 3.5 Million, Now 13% of Total Market

SEOUL, March 26 (Korea Bizwire) —  The number of imported vehicles registered in South Korea has exceeded 3.5 million for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s evolving automotive landscape. According to data released Wednesday by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), a total of 3,508,876 imported vehicles were registered as [...]

Number of Insolvent Companies in South Korea Hits Six-Year High

Number of Insolvent Companies in South Korea Hits Six-Year High

SEOUL, March 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of South Korean companies with liabilities exceeding their assets has surged to its highest level in six years, signaling deepening concerns over corporate health amid delayed economic recovery and persistently high interest rates. According to a report released on Sunday by the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), 4,466 [...]

Nearly Half of Older Self-Employed in South Korea Earn Below Minimum Wage, Study Finds

Nearly Half of Older Self-Employed in South Korea Earn Below Minimum Wage, Study Finds

SEOUL, March 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly half of South Koreans over the age of 50 who transitioned from wage employment to self-employment are earning less than the country’s minimum wage, highlighting the precarious financial situation of older entrepreneurs. According to a report released on Sunday by the Korea Employment Information Service, analysis of Korea Welfare [...]

Manufacturing Woes Deepen in South Korea as Output Sees Biggest Drop in 18 Months

Manufacturing Woes Deepen in South Korea as Output Sees Biggest Drop in 18 Months

SEOUL, March 9 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s manufacturing production fell more than 4 percent from a year earlier in January, marking the sharpest drop in 18 months, data showed Sunday. The Manufacturing Production Index stood at 103.7 points in January, down 4.2 percent from a year ago, according to the data from Statistics Korea. [...]