SK telecom is set to develop its proprietary communication security technology, Quantum Security Communication (QSC), as an international standard. It is anticipated that the technology will receive final international standardization approval in as early as two years.On Aug. 29, SK telecom announce
South Korea’s exports fell 12.4 percent in the first half of the year. Therefore, South Korea became the only country in the world’s top 10 to post a double-digit decline in exports. Its global export ranking dropped to eighth place from sixth in 2022. South Korea’s trade deficit is expected to reac
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at bk@nhqv.com -- Ed.In terms of policy effects, the US appears to be winning this new phase of the Cold War. Although Korea has chosen to support the US, it is still impacted by developments in both the US and China due to i
Forecasts indicate that China’s OLED shipments for smartphones will surpass South Korea’s by 2025.According to the “3rd Quarter OLED Market Track” report published by market research firm UBI Research on Aug. 28, the current market share of smartphone OLED shipments for South Korea and China stands
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. She can be reached at jiyoony@nhqv.com -- Ed.We hosted a non-deal roadshow (NDR) for The Nature Holdings following its 2Q23 earnings announcement. The attending institutional investors expressed interest in its timeline for overseas expansion
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. She can be reached at hpark@shinhan.com -- Ed.Strong top-line growth continuing in the domestic marketGamsung Corp sells Snow Peak brand apparel under its licensing agreement with the Japanese camping brand. The company's rapid growth in earnings has
The number of infants aged to 4 in South Korea is unusually small compared to those of other East Asian countries, according to an analysis.Lee Tae-yeol, a senior research fellow at the Korea Insurance Research Institute, said in a report on the severity of South Korea’s declining birthrate through
Due to a recent economic crisis in China, Korea’s exports to China may fall by US$36.92 billion this year, according to an analysis report.The report titled “Implications of Declining Exports to China on the Korean Economy,” released by the Hyundai Research Institute on Aug. 24, estimates how much a
“Every Mercedes-Benz vehicle in the world has a piece of Korea in it,” said Ola Källenius, chairman of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group in an all-electric showcase meeting with local media at Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Aug. 24. “Korea is a very important market. I believe our cooperation
Refining margins, a key indicator of profitability in the oil refinery industry, have risen steeply recently, expanding expectations for improved business performances in the second half of the year.Singapore’s composite refining margin stood at US$14.13 a barrel as of Dec. 18, the highest in about
In the second quarter of this year, Korea’s net external financial assets (external financial assets minus external financial liabilities), which reflects the country’s external solvency, declined amid rising stock markets at home and abroad.However, Korea’s ratio of short-term external debt to tota
In the first half of this year, South Korea’s top four petrochemical companies – LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Kumho Petrochemical, and Hanwha Solutions – have collectively lowered the average operational rates at their domestic petrochemical plants. This adjustment comes as the petrochemical industry ha
Samsung Heavy Industries has completed the shutdown of its local production subsidiary in China, Samsung Heavy Industries Ningbo Co., Ltd. This move comes as cost competitiveness in China has weakened due to reduced productivity and rising labor costs, eliminating the need for manufacturing faciliti
The development of next-generation network (6G) commercialization technology and core components, with a budget of 440 billion won, is set to begin in earnest next year. Further, there’s an ambition to demonstrate pre-6G technology by 2026 and secure 30% of the 6G international standard patents, aim
Hyundai Motor has started the process of selling its Chongqing factory in China, which has been non-operational for over a year. This is the second such move after it sold its Beijing 1 factory in 2021. Hyundai also plans to halt operations and prepare for the sale of its Chengzhou factory, one of t
The U.S. government is considering extending the waiver on export controls for semiconductor manufacturing equipment applied to South Korean and Taiwanese companies, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reported on Aug. 23. This waiver is set to expire in October.Quoting multiple industry insiders, Nikkei repor
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at jinmyung.lee93@shinhan.com -- Ed.Kukdo Chemical reported profit gains in 2Q23 despite weak ASP, backed by sales volume growth. The Chinese epoxy resin unit returned to profit. However, epoxy market conditions continued to be weigh
A bad feeling is growing among makers of electric vehicles that previously enjoyed rapid sales growth in the global automobile market. This is because their sales growth is staying on the skids year on year in major markets such as Korea, China, and the United States.According to the Korea Automobil
As the hydrogen market is expected to expand as an eco-friendly energy industry, major countries are rushing to promote hydrogen utilization promotion policies.On Aug. 22, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) released a report on policy research to boost the competitiveness of the Korean
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at sw.kang@nhqv.com -- Ed.Spiking real interest rates undermine fiscal sustainability. The US government will try to pace its spending and ease supply pressures through the TGA account. However, investors have no incentive to