The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at kyeongkeun.kang@nhqv.com -- Ed.Specialized in rechargeable battery safety solutions, Inics manufactures battery cell pads and fire-resistant barriers. It has successfully secured an initial market for EV safety-related com
South Korean ramen exports nearly reached US$1 billion last year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Jan. 17, ramen exports stood at US$952.4 million last year and marked a whopping increase of 24.4 percent compared to the previous year. Ramen exports have been consi
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
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
Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) participated in CES 2024 held in Las Vegas, Nevada, the U.S., from Jan. 9 to 12. It was joined by 19 partner companies, collectively providing opportunities for global market expansion.K-water’s booth attracted numerous global buyers, investors, accelerato
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,
MBK Partners announced that Moon Joo-Ho, the executive director in charge of special situations investments in Korea, was promoted to the position of partner and vice president on Jan. 1.Vice President Moon graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration and holds a
Hanwha Aerospace will borrow 400 billion won (US$304 million) and pay off all of its debts with the funds. Analysts say that the company will feel the burden of investing 1.3 trillion won to acquire Hanwha Ocean in 2023 more acutely.Hanwha Aerospace announced on Jan. 5 that it has finalized the issu
In 2023, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Korea exceeded US$32.7 billion, a record high. High-tech materials, parts, and equipment such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and biotech items led the increase in FDI in Korea.According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Jan. 4, FDI
In India, where global corporations and investors are focusing their attention as the “next China,” Mirae Asset Global Investments is gaining influence in the local market by surpassing 1 trillion won in assets under management (AUM) with its exchange-traded funds (ETFs).According to the asset manag
The National Tax Service (NTS) announced on Dec. 28 that it has collected 1.35 trillion won (US$1.05 billion) in tax assessments in the area of overseas tax evasion alone through tax investigations conducted this year. The figure exceeds the average annual collection for the three years before the C
Debt, or credit, for both households and businesses surged to a historic peak, surpassing twice the gross domestic product (GDP) during the third quarter of this year. With an increasing number of businesses relying on non-banking institutions after the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a rising house
In response to the demand from individual investors for the introduction of a no-borrowing short selling monitoring system, securities-related agencies have indicated that it is practically challenging and proposed institutional investors to establish their own systems.During a forum hosted by the K
On the morning of Dec. 23 a fire broke out at POSCO’s Pohang Works, temporarily halting the operation of three blast furnaces. The government and POSCO said that the restart of the furnaces after putting out the fire would not cause any major disruption to the production and supply of products. Howe
Coupang is making a significant entry into the 500-trillion-won luxury market by acquiring Farfetch, the world’s largest luxury platform. Farfetch boasts a collection of 1,400 luxury brands, including Chanel and Hermes, catering to global consumers in 190 countries such as the United States and the
LG Display has accelerated its efforts to secure its global leadership in the vehicle display market, a key area of future growth, by leveraging its superior technology. According to display industry sources on Dec. 19, LG Display entered the vehicle display market in 2005 by producing Central Infor
Mirae Asset Group has announced that its founder, Chairman Park Hyun-joo, will receive the International Executive of the Year Award at the Academy of International Business (AIB) Annual Conference to be held in Seoul in July 2024.The International Executive of the Year Award, presented by the Acade
Hanwha Aerospace has delivered an additional six K9 self-propelled howitzers to Estonia, adding to the 24 already in operation there. By 2026, when the remaining six units are delivered, Estonia will have a total of 36 K9 howitzers in operation.According to the defense industry on Dec. 18, the Eston
Samsung Heavy Industries disclosed on Dec. 18 the arbitration tribunal’s decision regarding the damage compensation for defects in the cargo holds of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers they built.On Dec. 15 (local time), the London arbitration tribunal ruled that Samsung Heavy Industries must
Samsung Electronics, once the world’s No. 1 research and development (R&D) company, has slipped to seventh place. The number of Korean companies in the top 2,500 global R&D companies has also dropped.Samsung’s R&D investment in 2022 amounted to 18.435 billion euros (US$20.083 billion), pulling down