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
Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical, a leading biotechnological and pharmaceutical company in South Korea, is poised to achieve a nearly sevenfold increase in operating profit in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the same period the previous year. This remarkable growth is attributed to the tech
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at minwoo.ju@nhqv.com -- Ed.Near-term earnings are likely to remain tepid at LGES due to ASP decline and fixed cost burden resulting from low operating rates. As such earnings weakness has been foreseen from 2023, however, it
Korea’s current account has been in surplus for seven consecutive months as its exports recovered.Korea’s current account surplus stood at US$4.06 billion in November last year, according to provisional balance of payments statistics released by the Bank of Korea on Jan. 9. It had been in surplus fo
Samsung Electronics’ stock price has been struggling to reach the 80,000-won (US$60.61) mark. On Jan. 9, the company concluded the market at 74,700 won, recording a decrease of 1,800 won, or 2.35%, compared to the previous day. Although Samsung Electronics briefly rose to 77,000 won in the early mar
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 big three Korean shipbuilders -- HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Hanwha Ocean -- are expected to lower their annual order targets for 2024 compared to last year. According to a recent industry report, HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding intermediate holding comp
In the fourth quarter of last year, the annual performance of South Korea’s largest container shipping company HMM and bulk carrier operator Pan Ocean plummeted due to a slump in the shipping industry.According to financial information firm FnGuide on Jan. 8, the estimated performance consensus for
LG Electronics continued its strong performance in 2023, setting new records in sales for the third consecutive year and achieving significant growth. Notably, in the fourth quarter of 2023, its operating profit surged by an impressive 350.9% compared to the same period last year, demonstrating soli
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at youngryu@nhqv.com -- Ed.SK Hynix is expected to post stable results, aided by earnings for high-performance memory products such as DDR5 and HBM, thanks to its superior technological competitiveness. Demand for high-perfor
The government’s new entrusted operating funds for the Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), the sovereign wealth fund, have effectively ceased from 2022 until last year. Some argue that the KIC faces concerns about its international competitiveness. In a landscape where competing sovereign wealth fun
According to market research firm Euromonitor, in 2023, the average coffee consumption per adult in South Korea reached 405 cups per year, more than double the global average of 152 cups. This marks the highest consumption rate among major Asian countries, translating to more than one cup of coffee
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
The government has announced its intention to reduce the ratio of household debt to gross domestic product (GDP) to below 100 percent by the year 2027.On Jan. 4, the government released the “2024 Economic Policy Direction,” outlining its strategy for managing household debt.According to the Bank for
Household and corporate debt as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) has decreased for the first time in five years and nine months, signaling a trend of adjustment for the surging debt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.According to preliminary third-quarter cash flow data released by the Ban
BMW Korea has reclaimed its position as the leader in the South Korean imported car market for the first time in eight years, surpassing Mercedes-Benz Korea. Sales of eco-friendly cars, including electric and hybrid vehicles, have overtaken gasoline cars.According to the Korea Automobile Importers &
The landscape of venture investment, including startups and other unlisted companies, has undergone significant changes after enduring a cold spell lasting more than a year and six months. Instead of Software as a Service (SaaS), the rise of manufacturing industries such as semiconductors has become
Starting in the second half of this year, non-index-linked general public funds will be directly listed on the Korea Exchange and traded like exchange traded funds (ETFs). With increased convenience for investors and reduced sales commissions, expectations are high for the revitalization of the fund
Nexon Korea, the operator of the online game MapleStory, is set to face a hefty fine of more than 10 billion won from the Korea Fair Trade Commission for selling game items with virtually zero chance of being won.The KFTC announced on Jan. 3 that it would impose a corrective order and a fine of 11.6
Overseas luxury brands are once again raising product prices early in the new year.According to the retail industry on Jan. 2, Hermes has raised the prices of its shoe products starting from Jan. 1. Among the various models of “Oran” sandals, the one crafted from lizard leather has witnessed a subst