KB Kookmin Bank, one of Korea’s top five commercial lenders here, launched its new Cambodian unit, KB Prasac Bank, to tap deeper into the market by offering loan programs for small merchants and digital banking services. KB Prasac Bank, Cambodia's fourth-largest commercial lender in terms of assets, held an opening ceremony in Phnom Penh on Friday (local time), according to the Korean firm. More than 700 individuals attended the event, including KB Financial Group Chairman Yang Jong-h

Kia's Niro, an eco-friendly sports utility vehicle lineup featuring exclusively green powertrains, has reached a milestone by surpassing 1 million global sales in eight years after its launch, primarily fueled by the popularity of its hybrid model. According to Kia on Sunday, the Niro tallied 1,082,822 units in global sales by January this year, with a breakdown showing 1,241 units sold in its home market and exports exceeding 10,000 units in January alone. Initially unveiled as a hybrid ve

Samsung to display wearable smart ring for 1st time, SK Telecom and KT to show cutting-edge AI technologies

Resignations continue at Google Cloud Korea as three chiefs so far have left their posts in the four years after serving as short as 10 months amid its grappling market share, according to industry sources on Sunday. As Kang Hyoung-jun, managing director of Google Cloud Korea, who took office in April and left the company last week, Google Cloud reportedly named Chi Ki-sung, head of SAP practice at its Asia-Pacific office as the next chief, the sources said. A Google Cloud official confirmed Kan

SK bioscience, a pharmaceutical affiliate under South Korea's SK Group, said Friday its typhoid conjugate vaccine has obtained prequalification certification from the World Health Organization. The vaccine, named SKYTyphoid, was jointly developed by the South Korean company and the International Vaccine Institute, with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, according to SK bioscience. SKYTyphoid is SK bioscience's fourth vaccine product to receive PQ certificat

South Korean conglomerates are expanding birth incentive programs to help boost the country’s record-low fertility rate amid mixed expectations about their effectiveness. Underwear maker Ssangbangwool announced Thursday that the company will provide up to 100 million won ($75,000) to employees who are expecting babies. Under the company's birth incentive scheme, an employee can receive 30 million won for the first child, another 30 million won for the second and 40 million won for the

South Korean steel giant Posco has recently reaffirmed its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 by adopting its own hydrogen reduction ironmaking technology, called HyREX. This strategic shift to low-carbon production is a testament to the company's ambitious pursuit of solidifying its leadership in the realm of sustainable steel manufacturing. To spearhead this transformation, the company set up a new team solely dedicated to carbon neutrality under the oversight of its CEO in

Less than a month has passed since the high-profile debut of Apple Vision Pro, the most advanced augmented reality headset in the market. Despite mixed reviews, Apple's rivals seem keen to make a similar entry into the brand-new segment. Dazzling demonstrations of the Apple Vision Pro made it look like a game changer, allowing the user to pop up their computer screens in the air, and control it with their fingertips and by moving their eyes around. But some users have been seen returning th

Lotte Holdings has launched a health care media platform in Japan in line with its strategic initiative to strengthen its foothold in the health care sector. Initially introduced as part of Lotte Group’s digital marketing efforts in 2020, Lotte transformed the platform into an independent media corporation on Feb. 1, now officially known as Lotte Medi Palette Co., Ltd. The health care platform is fully funded by Lotte Holdings with 100 million Japanese yen ($664,000) and is represented by

Chung Euisun meets Brazilian leader to discuss cooperation on green growth

Sprinkles Cupcakes, the famed cupcake specialist from California, is poised for a debut in the Korean market this year – its first venture beyond US borders, according to the company on Friday. Sprinkles said it will introduce its trendy cupcakes, cookies and chocolate treats globally this year, with imminent expansions planned for Singapore and Malaysia as well. For the upcoming Seoul store, the firm is expected to team up with Korean bakery giant SPC Samlip. For other international openi

KT&G Senior Executive Vice President Bang Kyung-man has been selected as the candidate for CEO of Korea's largest cigarette manufacturer, the company said Thursday. Bang's official appointment is scheduled to be made at the end of March during the regular shareholders' meeting. If Bang is appointed, it will mark the first change in KT&G's presidency in nine years. Earlier on Feb. 16, the company's CEO Recommendation Committee unveiled the shortlist of four candid

Kolmar Korea, a cosmetics original design manufacturer, said Thursday it has found a microbiome that can slow down skin aging induced by sun exposure for the first time, which could be a breakthrough innovation in the anti-aging skincare industry. Photoaging refers to the characteristic changes to the skin caused by cumulative sun damage over a lifetime of exposure. Recent research has found that the skin microbiome could serve as a potential tool to prevent and treat skin photoaging. Kolmar Kor

Lee Si-woo, formerly co-CEO of Posco alongside Kim Hak-dong, who served as CEO of Posco and vice chairman of Posco Holdings, will now lead the steelmaker on his own. Posco Holdings’ reshuffle released on Wednesday indicates that Kim will step down from his position and moves to the group’s executive adviser. Lee is expected to play a crucial role in guiding Posco through its transition toward carbon neutrality, while enhancing profitability and reinforcing the company's presence

Korea tech giants ramp up response to premium push by Chinese runners-up