President Moon Jae-in blames Japan’s export controls for GSOMIA withdrawal

UREX probiotics pioneer speaks about 30 years of research behind beneficial microbes for female health

Expansion of third-party phone production viewed as part of Samsung’s biz restructuring in China

South Korea's major entertainment agencies are expected to see improved earnings next year on growing album sales and global activities of their idol groups, analysts said Tuesday. SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, the two largest agencies by market capitalization, reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, and they are poised to deliver further improvement in their bottom lines, according to them. SM Entertainment's July-September sales rose to 173.5 billion won ($148.5 mi

McDonald’s Korea said it invited customers to its stores nationwide Tuesday for an open-kitchen event to highlight its food hygiene and safety system.The firm received applications last week from 1,600 customers hoping to participate in the event. The participants could visit any of McDonald’s 310 branches nationwide to survey its management of inventory, kitchen hygiene and the cooking process. A session was held on how McDonald’s cooks its burger patties. The company exp

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and Amway Korea will host the second Women’s Leadership Forum 2019 in Seoul on Wednesday to examine female leadership here and discuss ways to foster gender balance. “Policy support is needed to promote women’s economic activities and startups. We hope this forum will serve as an opportunity to reconsider ways to improve female leadership in corporates and foster next-generation female talent,” AmCham Chairman and CEO James Kim sa

Hyundai Motor began sales on Tuesday of its flagship full-size sedan The New Grandeur, which has undergone some drastic design changes since the sixth-generation Grandeur IG was launched in 2016. Under the slogan “Sensuous Sportiness,” Hyundai Motor has applied an integrated-type front grille with a checkered pattern called a “parametric jewel pattern.” The automaker has also used daytime running lamps, headlights that look like part of the front grille when turned o

Korea Aerospace Industries, South Korea’s sole aircraft manufacturer, is participating in a four-day exhibition in Bangkok to promote its technological competitiveness and to pursue new contracts from the Southeast Asian country, ranked 26th in military strength.At the Defense and Security 2019, KAI will introduce three major products that have already won international recognition for their advanced technological features and competitive prices. The list includes KT-1, a single engine tur

Hyundai Heavy Industries Group has appointed Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-gap as the group’s new chairman, according to the firm on Tuesday. The new leader, who joined Hyundai Heavy in 1978, served as director of the firm’s London and Seoul branches and president of Hyundai Heavy Industries Sports. Kwon was the first president of the group’s refinery unit Hyundai Oilbank in 2010. He was recognized for his management ability by growing the company’s operating profit of 130 b

Renault Samsung, the South Korean subsidiary of French carmaker Renault, has been targeting the niche markets of liquefied petroleum gas and commercial vehicles in recent months, to promote sales in the face of intensifying competition and a sluggish economy. QM6, a mid-sized sports utility vehicle powered by LPG, has boosted sales in the carmaker’s SUV segment by attracting customers looking for alternatives to diesel-powered SUVs here. Sales of SUVs with diesel engines have lost steam am

Kia Motors said Tuesday its new sport utility vehicle targeted for North American market was named SUV of the year by an auto publication MotorTrend. The magazine also chose Peter Schreyer, president and head of design management of Hyundai Motor Group as the “person of the year.” Kia is a sister company of Hyundai Motor, South Korea’s largest carmaker.  Describing Telluride as a new flagship SUV that has raised Kia’s profile, the magazine said seven of its 11 judges

South Korea’s largest steelmaker said Tuesday it had demonstrated a welding solution jointly developed with its client Kiswel at North America’s largest metal-forming event. At Fabtech 2019 in Chicago last week, Posco and Kiswel promoted their welding materials and welding technologies suitable for high-strength steel for automobiles and construction as well as cryogenic steel for liquefied natural gas storage tanks and marine structures.  Fabtech is North America’s larges

Antitrust watchdog to examine abuse of market dominance

SK Telecom Co. said Tuesday it has launched a virtual reality zone in partnership with major IT companies at home and abroad to provide various content available on its 5G network.South Korea's leading mobile carrier said users can create their own avatars in its VR space, Virtual Social World, to enjoy various activities in seven different themes. As VR content needs a compatible headset, SK Telecom said it collaborated with social networking giant Facebook to launch the head-mounted displ

The World Trade Organization will allow South Korea to keep a 513 percent tariff on imported rice next year, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday, a move that could help protect the rice market of Asia's fourth-largest economy.The move came after South Korea reached deals with five rice exporters -- the United States, China, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam -- to end a process meant to verify whether South Korea's high tariff is appropriate. The five countries, which had taken issue with South K