In an interview conducted on March 25 at the Pascucci Centro Seoul branch in the Jung district of Seoul, Chairman Mario Pascucci stated there is no bakery franchise of significant scale in Italy that can compete with Paris Baguette, expressing a strong desire to launch Paris Baguette in Italy as soo
South Korea and Malaysia have agreed to resume negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced on March 26 that Jung In-gyo, chief trade negotiator of the Ministry, met with Tengku Zafrul Aziz, the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry of Mal
A recovery in the influx of Chinese group tours into South Korea is becoming noticeable. Chinese tourists to South Korea have passed the pre-COVID-19 level and are getting closer to the level where they peaked in the past. New momentum in China’s recovering economy is also something that can help se
Hyundai Card, which commenced offering Apple Pay services since March last year, has received a favorable performance report.According to the Credit Finance Association’s report on March 26, Hyundai Card secured the second position in cumulative personal credit sales transaction volume for January a
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have both reached new record highs simultaneously. Samsung Electronics share price has recovered to 80,000 won (US$60) in approximately two years and three months, while SK hynix’s market capitalization approaches 130 trillion won. Expectations are rising for Samsung
A scenario analysis has been conducted on the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, which poses a major risk to the Korean secondary battery industry for electric vehicles which is expected to expand supply in earnest beginning from 2025.If U.S. presidential hopeful Donald Trump, who has ment
As Korean battery companies are struggling amid slowing growth in the global electric vehicle market, they are expected to improve their profit margins despite falling sales in 2024.“This year, LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI are expected to maintain profit margins in the 5 percent range, while S
The rapid increase in direct overseas purchases through Chinese e-commerce companies such as AliExpress, Temu, and Shein has led to discussions about alternative measures to mitigate the side effects. However, it has been confirmed that the proposal to tax small imported goods is closely linked to t
Last year, the amount spent in Korea through mobile devices such as smartphones and smartwatches exceeded that spent through physical cards for the first time. Thanks to the expansion of mobile payments, the average daily card usage surpassed 3 trillion won (approximately US$2.23 billion).According
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) announced on March 25 that it would initiate a concentrated investigation into what are colloquially referred to as “zombie companies.” These are businesses considered financially distressed, resorting to tactics such as capital increases through disguised pay
On March 25, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) presented a study titled “The Rise and Challenges of Shareholder Activism” that was commissioned to Kim Soo-yeon, a researcher at the law firm Gwangjang.According to data from research firm Diligent, the research indicates that attacks by activi
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at pk.park@nhqv.com -- Ed.Recent ELCC data released by J&J proves that the expanded adverse reactions seen during phase III trials of Mariposa can be managed. With approval expected mid-year, now is the time to pay attention
LG Chem is seeking solutions to revive its struggling petrochemical business. Splitting the petrochemical business and attracting foreign investments from the Middle East to create a joint venture are among the scenarios being discussed.Vice Chairman Shin Hak-cheol of LG Chem responded to reporters’
The OLED TV market, recognized as a top-tier premium TV segment, is experiencing a breath of fresh spring air. Attention is focused on whether LG Display, the global leader in the OLED TV panel market, can turn the tide.According to market research firm Omdia on March 25, global TV shipments have be
South Korea is under subtle pressure from China following reports that it may join the United States in export restrictions against China. During a visit to China for the China Development Forum (CDF), SK hynix has been highlighted by Chinese officials emphasizing the importance of the Chinese marke
Among domestic construction companies, GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) has received the highest number of defect judgments in the last five years, with a total of 1,646 cases.According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on March 24, GS E&C had 3,284 defects reported to the
SK’s oil development project, which has been aiming to become a “resourceless oil-producing country” for 40 years, is expected to record its highest performance ever this year. The plan is to maximize profitability through full-scale production in the Chinese block, for which it has secured independ
Align Partners Capital Management has raised the issue of overseas shareholders not being able to properly use a cumulative voting system ahead of JB Financial Group’s general shareholders meeting scheduled for March 28.“We have confirmed a number of cases where overseas shareholders have been unabl
The Carlyle Group, a global private equity fund management firm, is stepping in as a facilitator for the overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&A) of domestically prominent defense companies with a stature that is growing worldwide.According to industry and investment banking (IB) sources on March 24,
Pulmuone's Museum Kimchikan announced on the 24th that it will expand the number of kimchi experience programs for foreign visitors who want to experience Korean kimchi and kimjang culture from the existing 2 to 4 starting this month.As the number of foreign visitors interested in experiencing kimch