The feared situation has finally emerged for China’s e-commerce giant AliExpress, which ambitiously entered the South Korean market by prioritizing cost-effectiveness.In particular, consumer dissatisfaction is pouring in regarding services and customer responses, which have been consistently critici
The Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) has announced on Feb. 5 that it achieved a double-digit rate of return last year, with total assets under management increasing by over US$20 billion (26.71 trillion won).The KIC revealed on the same day that the annual rate of return for the year 2023, denomin
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive investigation aimed at eradicating the common practice of illegal short selling by global investment banks (IBs).In its business plan announced on Feb. 5, the FSS stated, “We will crack down on market disruptions
The U.S. semiconductor equipment industry has voiced the opinion that companies from allied countries, including South Korea and Japan, should also be subject to the same level of comprehensive regulations that they face in the process of exporting to China. There is speculation within South Korea t
The sale of ECORBIT, which is considered the key element in the normalization of Taeyoung Engineering & Construction, is gaining momentum with the selection of lead managers. UBS and Citigroup Global Markets Securities, two global investment banks (IBs), have been assigned the task.According to sour
The Consumers Union of Korea (CUK) revealed on Feb. 1 that consumer complaints related to AliExpress, an e-commerce platform operated by China’s Alibaba, have surged significantly.According to the CUK, the Consumer Consultation recorded a fivefold increase in complaints related to AliExpress last ye
In 2023, South Korean and Japanese tourists took first place in the rankings of the numbers of foreign tourists to Japan and South Korea. This is attributed to an improvement in bilateral relations following a South Korea-Japan summit, the Korean Wave, and weaker Japanese yen effects.The Korea Touri
Bentley Motors announced on Jan. 29 that it delivered a total of 13,560 units in the global market last year, the third highest performance in its history.In South Korea alone, the automaker sold a total of 810 vehicles in 2023. For the second year in a row, South Korea ranked fifth in Bentley sales
Four labor unions representing Samsung affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and Samsung Biologics, will merge to form a consolidated labor union. The launch of this mega labor union is scheduled for the end of this month. The establishment of t
Following the election of an anti-China candidate in the Taiwanese presidential election, the geopolitical risks associated with Taiwan, a central player in the global semiconductor supply chain, have elevated the roles of Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam as new global
South Korea’s foothold in the Chinese market is narrowing while its dependency on imports from China is growing. The relationship that used to yield the most trade surplus for South Korea with China seems to have reversed.According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on Jan. 28, Chin
Hyundai Motor Group running Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. is expected to have set a new sales record in 2023. It is also expected to claim the No. 3 global position for the second consecutive year.Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. are expected to have logged record annual operating profits of 15 trillion wo
In 2023, the volume of kimchi exports turned to growth, reaching a new record high. The global K-content craze had an impact on the increase in kimchi exports, experts say.According to the Korea Customs Service on Jan. 21, South Korea exported 44,041 tons of kimchi in 2023, up 7.1% from 41,118 tons
KT&G announced on Jan. 17 that it has been diligently cooperating with the U.S. government’s investigation into allegations of tobacco-related regulatory violations since 2021.KT&G issued a statement on the day, stating, “The company has submitted a comprehensive document and materials regarding the
As the maturity date for equity-linked securities (ELS) linked to Hong Kong’s Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) worth 10 trillion won (US$7.6 billion) approaches in the first half of the year, it has been revealed that a confirmed loss of 100 billion won has been incurred since the beginning
Following the largest fine ever imposed by the Fair Trade Commission due to a game item probability manipulation controversy, Nexon announced improvements just one week later.On Jan. 9, Nexon apologized for the recent controversy in a live broadcast starting at 6 p.m. and announced the suspension of
On Jan. 10, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) announced the results of its Venture Enterprise Detailed Survey, analyzing the management performance, employment, and research and development (R&D) of venture companies as of the end of 2022.According to the MSS, the average revenue of venture co
With the re-addition of Guatemala, the only Central American country that had previously withdrawn from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea and Central American nations, the FTA has reached its final completion.The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) announced that it formall
In 2023, overseas construction orders totaled US$33.31 billion, exceeding US$30 billion for the fourth consecutive year. However, it is just short of the target of US$35 billion.According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) on Jan. 8, 321 Korean overseas construction compa
The majority of Chinese companies listed on the South Korean stock market have experienced a sharp decline in their stock prices over the past year. This is attributed to the economic downturn in China last year, which worsened investor sentiment towards Chinese companies coupled with accumulated di