Korean shipbuilders lagged behind Chinese shipbuilders to take second place in global ship orders in January.Global ship orders totaled 2.57 million CGT (96 ships) in January, down 26 percent year on year, according to Clarkson Research, a U.K.-based shipbuilding and shipping market research firm. O
The number of employment insurance holders rebounded for the first time in seven months in January. However, one third or more of the increase was among foreign workers.The figure also shrank in the manufacturing industry with the exclusion of foreigners. It had been on the wane for four months sinc
The global electric vehicle battery market, excluding China, has continued its strong growth trend, reaching close to 40 percent growth last year. While the battery usage by the three major K-battery companies increased significantly, their market share saw a slight decline.According to SNE Research
Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. are looking to ramp up their market shares by introducing more than five new electric vehicle models this year. The electric vehicle market, which grew rapidly, has slowed down somewhat, but the two automakers are expediting their electrification transition with the new m
The European Union (EU)’s decision to approve a Korean Airlines-Asiana Airlines merger is fast approaching, drawing more attention from the airline industry. While many experts believe that approval will be given with some conditions, a formal outcome has not come out, keeping both airlines on edge.
China is dominating the global battery market backed by overwhelming growth in its home market. Stopping China’s rise in the global battery industry has become a big challenge for Korea, which ranks second in the market behind Chinese companies as well as the United States and Europe.Six of the worl
Korea’s four major oil refiners are posting a gradual drop in their exports to China. They are diversifying their export destinations to Australia, Japan, and other countries to fill the void. China used to be Korea’s top petroleum product export market.According to the Korea National Petroleum Asso
As global electronic component companies that manufacture Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs) seek breakthroughs by expanding their automotive MLCC businesses amid ongoing smartphone demand slumps, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a leading South Korean MLCC company, is focusing its investments on the
Starbucks Korea, the leading coffee chain by sales, has been reported to have the fourth-largest number of stores worldwide. According to the distribution industry on Feb. 12, data from Starbucks’ global website showed that, as of the end of last year, the number of Starbucks stores in South Korea i
It has been revealed that the dividend payouts of major domestic companies increased by nearly 10 percent last year. Particularly noteworthy is the recent announcement by the government regarding the introduction of the “Corporate Value-Up Program” aimed at addressing the “Korea Discount,” which ref
South Korea’s aircraft exports exceeded US$1 billion for the first time in history last year. The successful export of FA-50 fighter jets to Poland is considered to have contributed significantly to this achievement.According to the Korea International Trade Association on Feb. 10, South Korea’s air
Pharmaceutical companies are expanding their presence into Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Vietnam. There is a high preference for Korean products and a high growth potential in these markets, leading to strong optimism about the possibility of expansion. Among these countries, Indonesia
It has been revealed that over 90 percent of nuclear power plants with operating licenses that have expired in major overseas countries are undergoing safety assessments and extending their operational lifespans for continued operation.The active pursuit of continued operation by various countries i
Following the announcement of the government’s introduction of a program to enhance corporate value, stocks with a low price-to-book ratio (PBR) showed strength. Over the past two weeks, foreign investors’ net purchases on the KOSPI surpassed 5 trillion won. While low PBR stocks surged due to foreig
Kolon Life Science filed a lawsuit against the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), claiming that the revocation of the license for its osteoarthritis gene therapy Invossa-K Inj. was invalid but lost the appeal.On Feb. 7, the Seoul High Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the appeal
On Feb. 7, Bloomberg reported that Tesla sold only one unit of the Model Y in Korea in January, citing Korean market research firm CarIsYou and government data.The growth of the electric vehicle market in Korea slowed as high interest rates and inflation have kept consumers from spending, while conc
The CEO Candidate Recommendation Committee of POSCO Holdings finally chose former POSCO President Jang In-hwa, a long-time POSCO insider, with rich experience in the steel business.POSCO Holdings held an extraordinary board meeting on Feb. 8 and resolved to select former POSCO President Jang In-hwa
On Feb. 8, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) unveiled its agenda for the year, intending to elevate the criteria for designating business conglomerates subject to disclosure. Criticism has been directed at the regulations governing the disclosure of business groups as they are unique to South Korea. T
President Yoon Suk-yeol reiterated the importance of adopting a global standard to address the “Korea Discount,” which indicates the undervaluation of the domestic stock market, during his televised speech on Feb. 7. This has sparked increased interest in low price-to-book ratio (PBR) stocks among i