Despite a sluggish construction industry, corporate sentiment in the economy has rebounded slightly for the first time in three months, attributed to the recovery in semiconductor exports.According to the survey results of the Business Survey Index (BSI) and Economic Sentiment Index (ESI) for March
LG Group has decided to invest approximately 100 trillion won domestically over the next five years. This figure represents a slight decrease from previous investments, with half of it allocated for artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and batteries.On March 27, LG Corporation, the holding c
Last year, insurance companies recorded a net profit exceeding 13 trillion won (US$9.68 billion), marking a record high performance in history.According to the “2023 Insurance Company Management Performance” report released by the Financial Supervisory Service on March 26, the combined net profit of
On March 25, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) presented a study titled “The Rise and Challenges of Shareholder Activism” that was commissioned to Kim Soo-yeon, a researcher at the law firm Gwangjang.According to data from research firm Diligent, the research indicates that attacks by activi
China’s largest telecommunications equipment company, Huawei, is reportedly planning to release a new 5G smartphone next month.On March 23, Chinese media, including Finance World, cited multiple sources to report that Huawei’s next-generation flagship smartphone, the P70 series, is expected to be re
HD Hyundai Construction Equipment recently announced on March 20 that it has signed a contract for the supply of 60 construction machines, including 6 units of 34-ton large excavators and 36 units of 22-ton medium excavators in Sudan.Despite a nearly half decrease in excavator sales in the African m
Investment in 12-inch (300 mm) fab (semiconductor production plant) equipment is expected to surpass US$100 billion by 2025 and reach US$137 billion by 2027.The International Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Association (SEMI) reported on March 20 in its “300 mm Fab Outlook” that investment in
It is forecast that both the economically active population and the employed population will enter a declining trend starting from 2028. To sustain economic growth, it is analyzed that an additional workforce of up to 900,000 people will be needed by 2032.On March 19, the Korea Employment Informatio
As the Bank of Japan (BOJ) has embarked on its first interest rate hike in 17 years, it is anticipated that the strengthening of the yen due to the lifting of Japan’s negative interest rates could have a positive impact on domestic exports such as semiconductors, automobiles, and shipbuilding. Howev
“Predictability is what matters most for global companies,” said James Kim, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in South Korea (AMCHAM). “With an exodus out of China becoming a reality, we are receiving an influx of many inquiries from companies looking to move their Asia-Pacific headquarte
The combined operating profit of the top 10 companies by market capitalization in the South Korean stock market falls short of those of leading Japanese company Toyota and top Taiwanese company TSMC.To address the “Korea discount,” which refers to the undervaluation of South Korean stocks, it is poi
Twenty years ago, the wage level of workers in South Korea was not even half of that in Japan, but now it has surpassed Japan. The wage gap between large, medium, and small-sized enterprises has further widened due to the cumulative wage increases in large companies.On March 17, the Korea Enterprise
For the fourth consecutive month, semiconductor exports have shown double-digit growth rates, leading the charge in exports. With increases in exports across various components such as displays and computer/peripheral devices, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector as a whole is s
After the Korean government has announced a strategy to secure 33 key minerals used in high-tech industries, including lithium and graphite, by reducing its dependence on China to 50 percent by 2030, Korea’s dependence on China for some key items began to shrink in 2023.Korea’s lithium hydroxide imp
Coupang announced on March 11 that it has expanded its “Rocket Direct Purchase” service to Japan. The company has been expanding its direct purchase regions, starting from the United States in 2017, followed by China in 2021 and Hong Kong in 2022.Coupang’s decision to add Japan to its Rocket Direct
The number of subscribers to employment insurance increased compared to the same period last year, but the growth was primarily driven by an increase in foreign nationals. As a result of population decline, subscribers in their 20s and 40s have been decreasing for 17 and 4 consecutive months, respec
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) intends to initiate an investigation into Temu and Shein, following its inquiry into AliExpress, the leading online shopping platform in China, regarding potential consumer harm.This comes as the indiscriminate onslaught of Chinese online shopping malls, levera
South Korea has narrowed its gap with the United States in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by 0.1 years. According to the “2022 ICT Level Survey and Technology Competitiveness Analysis Report” by the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluati
It has been revealed that the hourly wages of domestic helpers in South Korea are more than four times higher than in neighboring countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan. In an effort to alleviate the burden of caregiving services, which is considered one of the causes of low birth rates, the Bank of
Last year, South Korea’s gross national income (GNI) per capita reached US$33,000, marking a rebound for the first time in a year. The annual real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate was recorded at 1.4 percent.According to the “2023 Preliminary 4th Quarter and Annual National Income” report re