McKinsey & Company released an economic diagnosis report titled “Korea’s Next S-Curve” on Dec. 11. This report comes ten years after the firm’s previous report titled “Beyond Korean style: Shaping a new growth formula,” suggesting that the South Korean economy has reached its growth limits.In its re
On Dec. 12, Canada’s renowned coffee brand, Tim Hortons, held a media event at its first domestic location, the Sinnonhyeon Station branch in the Gangnam district of Seoul. During the event, the company unveiled the reasons behind its entry into the South Korean market and discussed its strategies f
Fundraising in the venture capital (VC) industry has completely frozen due to continued high interest rates. The number of large venture funds valued at more than 100 billion won, a barometer of a booming VC market, has fallen to just five in the first three quarters of this year. The figure was 17
Huawei’s launch of a 5G smartphone equipped with a 7-nanometer chip in August sparked immediate calls in the United States for stronger sanctions against China, highlighting the global significance of the U.S.-China tech competition.However, upon closer examination, this U.S.-China tech rivalry also
A top European Commission (EC) official has given a positive assessment for the first time to remedial measures submitted by Korean Air to the EC for its merger with Asiana Airlines.“We have seen very positive progress on some of the proposals in Korean Air’s remedial measures,” EC Justice Commissio
비지니스코리아 Jasmine Choi (pr@businesskorea.co.kr)Chinese panel manufacturer BOE is poised to overtake Samsung Display as the world leader in foldable panels by the end of the year, propelled by the aggressive market expansion of Chinese smartphone makers.Market research firm DSCC reported on Dec. 7 that
The new regional head of the Hyundai Motor’s labor union, the largest single union in the country, has pledged to introduce a “4-day workweek” starting next year. This commitment has reignited the debate over reduced working hours, often described as a “hot potato” in the industry.On Dec. 6, Hyundai
It has been revealed that the outstanding corporate loans of the five major commercial banks in South Korea have surged by over 65 trillion won since the beginning of this year. With the government and financial authorities seeking to restrain household loans, there is increasingly intense competiti
Hanwha Ocean has recently entered into a research and development service contract with the Defense Technology Quality Institute for the design of new “magnet-reducing equipment for submarines,” the company announced on Nov. 29. This equipment is designed to reduce the magnetic field generated by su
The small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector is urging the swift passage of the “Business Succession Support Act” currently under consideration in the National Assembly, advocating for businesses to opt for continuity rather than closure. This comes as numerous companies consider closure inste
In 2024, 165,000 foreign workers will enter Korea on non-professional work visas (E-9). This will be the highest number ever. The industries they can work in will also be expanded to include restaurants, mining and forestry.The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the decision in a meeting of
South Korea’s small and medium-sized semiconductor material, component, and equipment companies are making a bold move by establishing their production facilities within the semiconductor cluster taking shape in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The anticipated tech hub, known as the Yongin Semiconductor C
Moody’s, the international credit rating agency, issued a forecast today stating that the exposure and risk levels of domestic banks to real estate are significant. The agency warned that the materialization of “tail risk” depends on the conditions of the real estate market. Tail risk refers to a ty
The Korea Startup Forum (Chairman Jae-Wook Park, hereinafter referred to as KSF), the organizing organization of the global startup festival COMEUP, announced that COMEUP 2023, which was held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) for three days from November 8 to 10, attracted about 66,000 people. It was
As orders for tankers increase in the global shipbuilding market, South Korean shipbuilders are being watched closely as they leverage their eco-friendly technological capabilities to expand their global influence, competing against China, which emphasizes quick delivery and lower prices.According t
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced on Nov. 7 that a total of 14,359 production workers were injected into the Korean shipbuilding industry through the first three quarters of this year. The workers included Korean workers, foreign specializ
The Korean defense industry is growing rapidly as the world recognizes the excellence of Korean-made weapons. At the center of the Korean Defense Industry gripping the global arms market is the Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA).Founded in 1976, the KDIA is a specialized defense industry orga
Seven Korean companies, including LG Electronics, Lotte Chemical and Samsung Fire & Marine, have joined RE100 this year, bringing the total number of Korean companies to 34, according to the U.K.-based Climactic Group on Nov. 3.This means that Korea has the fourth-most number of companies after the
KG Mobility is set to build a battery pack manufacturing plant in South Korea, leveraging the technology of BYD, China’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer.On Nov. 1, KG Mobility announced that it had signed a “Battery Pack Factory Construction and Hybrid System Joint Development Agreement” at th
The proportion of so-called “zombie companies” unable to cover interest costs with their operating profit has reached its highest level since 2009, standing at 42.3 percent last year. Due to the global economic slowdown and the impact of high interest rates, corporate underperformance persisted in t