Kia Motors Corp. saw its global market share come to 2.9 percent, the highest ever for the company, in 2010, industry data showed Sunday.According to the carmaker, it sold about 2.09 million units ― about 485,000 units domestically and 1.605 million units overseas ― in 2010. Comparing the figure to the world market volume of 71.35 million units calculated by J.D. Power and Associates, Kia’s global

The Bank of Korea is focusing on the coming revised outlook of the International Monetary Fund for the 2011 global economy as the U.S. economy is showing positive signs of recovery.An issue is whether the IMF will revise its forecast on Korea’s GDP growth upward for this year, from its projection of 4.5 percent in October. The figure was identical to the outlook issued by the BOK.While BOK Governo

TOKYO (DPA) ― Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plans to launch eight models of electric cars and plug-in hybrids by the financial year that ends in March 2016, the Japanese carmaker said Thursday.The strategy includes the introduction of hybrid vehicles in the 2013-14 financial year, said Mitsubishi, which produces an electric hatchback but has yet to introduce hybrid models.It plans to also expand its lin

Chunwoo Motors, Toyota Korea’s Lexus dealer for the Yongsan area of Seoul, opened a Lexus showroom in Ilsan-gu, Goyang in Gyeonggi Province on Thursday.The company said that the new showroom will strengthen its sales network in northern Gyeonggi Province including Ilsan and Paju. The showroom is located on the ground floor of a three-story building that includes office space, and a service stall t

Hyundai Motors Co. will shuffle production of two models between its Czech factory and a plant operated in neighboring Slovakia by the carmaker’s affiliate, Kia Motors Corp.The factory near Zilina, Northern Slovakia, will take over production of Kia Venga compact cars, which are currently assembled in the Czech Republic, according to Dusan Dvorak, spokesman for the unit. Similarly, production of H

Renault Samsung Motors Co. will be operating vehicle checkup points at 14 rest stops on expressways from Feb. 1 to 6 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for those traveling during the Seolnal, Lunar New Year, holiday.The checkup points offer general checkups free of charge, and replacements for various parts and components. Mechanics stationed at the checkup points will also provide tips on vehicle maintena

The court appears to be exercising greater caution in issuing arrest warrants now than before, making it more difficult for prosecutors to detain criminal suspects for an inquiry. That may be a source of frustration or even anger for prosecutors. But it should be welcomed from the viewpoint of human rights protection.On Jan. 13, a Seoul district court turned down a request from a prosecutor for an

The 1987 constitutional amendment was primarily aimed at putting an end to military-backed dictatorships. With democracy fully restored now, few would dispute that this aim has been attained.But the downside is what many regard as a flawed governance system. It is generally agreed that the president, banned from seeking a second term in office, has no more than three years in which to effectively

Is our political speech really more bitter and poisonous than it’s ever been?No, though it’s certainly more debased and lacerating than it was just a few short years ago. We’ve been through eras of bitterly expressed politics more often than we’d probably care to admit. The Federalists and anti-Federalists bickered ferociously. Contention over the Bank of the United States during the Jacksonian er