Hyundai Motor Group has sold its Chongqing plant in China for about 300 billion won. This has reduced the number of production bases in China from five to three since Hyundai entered the country in 2002. The decision was made to reorganize the structure of its Chinese business, thereby boosting its
Korea’s automobile exports hit a record high of USUS$70.9 billion in 2023.Korea’s automobile exports increased 31.1 percent year on year to US$70.9 billion last year, according to 2023 annual automotive industry data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) on Jan. 16. This sur
Hyosung TNS showcased its latest unmanned payment solution, JetCheck, at the NRF 2024 retail trade show held in New York from Jan. 14 to 16.JetCheck is an unmanned checkout counter that provides a seamless payment experience and assists in store operations. This unmanned payment solution includes bo
A well-known Chinese automotive manufacturer is currently under investigation by South Korean law enforcement agencies for allegedly establishing a subsidiary in South Korea and illicitly acquiring domestic battery technologies from Samsung SDI and SK on, formerly SK innovation.According to industry
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will build the world’s largest and best semiconductor mega cluster in the southern part of Gyeonggi Province with a total investment of 622 trillion won. The Korean government will support this project by creating infrastructure and an investment environment, strengt
JW Pharmaceutical announced on Jan. 15 that it has received approval from the Malaysian National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) for a phase 3 clinical trial plan, or investigational new drug (IND), of its gout treatment drug Epaminurad (code name URC102).The Phase 3 clinical trial for Epami
The Financial Services Commission (FSC) has stated that trading bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) violates domestic capital market regulations in South Korea. However, overseas bitcoin futures ETFs will continue to be traded as usual.On Jan. 15, the FSC announced that the issuance of bitcoin
LG Electronics recently announced the establishment of an electric vehicle (EV) charger manufacturing plant in Fort Worth, Texas, in the U.S. The facility, covering an area of approximately 5,500 square meters, has the capacity to produce over 10,000 chargers annually.The Texas plant serves as a pro
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea announced the launch of the Asia-Pacific Food Regulatory Authority Summit (APFRAS) Secretariat on Jan. 15 to support the activities of the international cooperative body aimed at leading food sector international cooperation and regulatory harmoniz
It has been reported that China, which has implemented export controls on graphite, a key material for battery cathodes, since December of last year, has granted permission for the export of graphite to major battery companies in South Korea. However, there remains the possibility of further tighten
Celltrion’s biosimilar products for the treatment of autoimmune diseases have successively won bids in major European countries.According to Celltrion on Jan. 12, Yuflyma (active ingredient: adalimumab) has successfully won a government bid in Italy. Yuflyma was awarded in the adalimumab government
Foreign tourists spent 5.64 million won (US$4,297) and 1.43 million won on duty-free goods per capita in November 2022 and November 2023, respectively. The amount plunged by more than 70%.The number of foreigners who visited domestic duty-free shops in November more than doubled to 646,000 from the
South Korean passports took second place in the global passport power rankings. They moved up one spot from third place last year.The number of countries that give visa-free entry to Korean passport holders stood at 193, which means Korean passports claim second place, tied with Finland and Sweden,
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on Jan. 9 that they will take follow-up measures to establish the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) in earnest, as three bills related to the agency passed a plenary session at the National Assembly.In November
Cosmax, a global cosmetics original design manufacturing (ODM) company, will begin targeting emerging markets such as the Middle East and South America beginning from 2024.Last year, Cosmax operated the Emerging Markets TF for four regions -- the Middle East, South America, India, and Africa -- to s
The Bank of Korea (BOK) has decided to maintain the benchmark interest rate at 3.50 percent during its first Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the year, marking the “eighth consecutive” freeze. This decision is interpreted as a cautious stance, considering the ongoing global trend of major centra
GC Biopharma Group is approaching close to 5 trillion won in total assets, setting a milestone as the first traditional pharmaceutical group to reach the disclosure threshold for public reporting.According to the electronic disclosure system on Jan. 11, the total assets of GC Biopharma Group, includ
A research study revealed that the total market capitalization of all listed companies in South Korea has increased by nearly 500 trillion won over the past year. The top two companies in terms of market cap growth were Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, with the combined market cap of these two comp
In the global electric vehicle (EV) market, the market share of South Korean battery manufacturers has fallen below 50%. China’s CATL, previously dominant only in the domestic market, is now matching LG Energy Solution in the global market outside China, enhancing its presence significantly.Accordin
LG Energy Solution is actively expanding its business in North America. Following its success in electric vehicle batteries, the company is now accelerating its Energy Storage Systems (ESS) business. The growth of ESS is closely tied to the increasing generation of renewable energy.According to the