The prices of apples and pears are expected to rise due to decreased fruit yields caused by poor weather conditions, according to data released by government-funded research organization Korea Rural Economic Institute on Wednesday. The projection for the agricultural sector for August raises concerns because the two fruits are typically in high demand in September, as they are the most popular choices for gift sets for the upcoming Chuseok, or Korean Thanksgiving, holiday. The major national har

Audi Korea said Wednesday that Hwang Hee-chan, the South Korean midfielder for Wolverhampton Wanderers, has been named the official brand ambassador for the German carmaker’s battery-powered compact sport utility vehicle, the Q4 e-tron. “Our futuristic brand image goes well with world-class soccer player Hwang’s vision and passion,” the company said. (Audi Korea)

Kia Corp., Mercedes-Benz Korea and six other companies will voluntarily recall more than 14,000 vehicles due to faulty components, the transport ministry said Wednesday. The companies, including Jaguar Land Rover Korea, Volkswagen Group Korea, Toyota Motor Korea Co., GM Korea Co., Tesla Korea and GM Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters Ltd., are recalling a combined 14,057 units of 21 different models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. The problems that prompt

Volkswagen Group Korea continues to make efforts to contribute to the growth of automotive-specific software talent with a series of educational and job-creating initiatives for the local economy, responding to the need for highly trained software professionals in the increasingly digitized automotive industry. One pillar of the initiatives is a partnership with German nonprofit coding school 42 Wolfsburg and Kookmin University in Seoul. The collaboration centers around the "SEA:ME" --

No. 2 carmaker in India looks to lead local EV transformation

South Korean home appliance maker Coway said Tuesday its latest air purifier, called the Coway Airmega ProX, has topped a recent US Consumer Reports rating among 186 air purifier models. The Coway air purifier earned the highest 93 points in performance evaluations conducted by Consumer Reports, a nonprofit consumer organization. It was the first time that a Korean brand air purifier has topped the rating. The Coway Airmega ProX also outpaced its rivals in terms of cleaning performance, energy e

By Cho Seung-hwan, minister of oceans and fisheries As summer arrives, the blazing sun glazes up the asphalt and the summer heat intensifies. Indeed, the season to embark on a well-deserved summer vacation has arrived. And yet, we inevitably mull over the specifics of somewhat vague but long-awaited vacations around this time of the year. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel priorities have shifted, focusing more on nature, outdoor activities, healing, relaxation and unique experiences.

After reducing stakes in key brands, chairman’s elder daughter takes yearlong absence of leave

Defense-to-energy giant Hanwha Group operates the largest number of overseas units among the nation’s top chaebol groups, with the figure surging from last year’s 102 to 739 this year, according to a recent report by corporate tracker Korea CXO Institute on Tuesday. Hanwha, the nation’s seventh-largest conglomerate, outpaced its bigger rivals such as Samsung, SK and Hyundai Motor. In particular, the number of affiliates in the US jumped by 45 to 241, while those in Spain increa

Korea's top EV battery maker establishes joint venture with China's Huayou Cobalt

Starbucks Korea announced Tuesday that it has donated scholarship funds to descendants of Korean independence activists who supported the country’s fight against Japanese colonial occupation. The donation ceremony was held earlier on the day at Starbucks Academy Center, also Starbucks Korea's former headquarters, located in Sogong-dong, Seoul, in collaboration with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and Community Chest of Korea, a local charity organization. It was attended

Galaxy Z Flip5, Fold5 foldables hit 1 million preorders, near record set by flagship Galaxy S23

By Kim Hae-yong, secretary general of the ASEAN-Korea Center ​Every August 8th, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations celebrates ASEAN Day in commemoration of its founding in 1967. While the celebration lends ASEAN’s collective effort to consolidate the region’s unity, it is also an opportune time to reflect on how ASEAN and Korea have become indispensable partners. Amid the multifaceted challenges brought about by the regional dynamics, the significance of the ASEAN-Korea par

LG Uplus Corp., South Korea's No. 3 mobile carrier, said Tuesday its second-quarter net profit rose nearly 32 percent from a year earlier, driven by its robust wireless business. Its net income amounted to 213.3 billion won ($163.3 million) in the April-June period, up 31.7 percent from the year-ago period. Operating profit for the April-June period was 288 billion won, up 15.9 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue rose 1.3 percent to 3.42 trillion won. T

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, on Monday reported its second-quarter net profit plunged 80.3 percent from a year earlier mainly due to investment in new businesses. Net profit for the three months ended in June was 9.9 billion won (US$7.6 million), according to the company's regulatory filing. The operating income for the April-June period fell 75.6 percent on-year to 8.4 billion won, while sales increased 9.7 percent to 733.5 billion