Employee activism grows at big tech companies over fears of layoffs following yearslong hiring spree

Samsung Life Insurance announced on Thursday that it has acquired a 20 percent stake in Meridiam SAS, a French private equity firm focused on infrastructure investment. With this investment, Samsung Life has become the second-largest shareholder of the French company. "As Meridiam has diverse investment experience and expert executives in the infrastructure sector, we believe that it is an adequate strategic partner for Samsung Life Insurance's global alternative investment expansion,

Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday unveiled the concept image of a lunar exploration rover, signaling the auto giant's initiatives to develop future space mobility. Working with South Korea's leading institutes, Hyundai Motor said it expects to complete the development of a prototype in the second half of 2024, setting 2027 as the target year to launch the actual product. The lunar rover will be equipped with autonomous driving technology, a self-charging system based on solar power, and

A delegation from Vietnam held a conference in Seoul on Wednesday to promote the Vietnamese province of Thai Binh's potential to rise as an industrial zone, calling for investments from South Korean companies. The event, co-organized by Thai Binh Provincial People's Committee, the Embassy of the Vietnam and The Korea Herald, sought to introduce the province's transition from agriculture-oriented industry to a smart industrial complex. "As of first quarter of 2023, Thai Binh&#

Sources say ministry may have felt pressure from public backlash, especially ahead of general election next year

Seoul to closely monitor protectionist measures; vows full support for exporters

The latest home appliances are showcased by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics at the World IT Show 2023 that kicked off Wednesday in Seoul. The nation’s two top tech giants set up exhibition booths to show off their latest home appliances and mobile devices at the tech trade show running through Friday. Above is LG’s MoodUp color-changing refrigerator, while below is a gaming zone for Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S23 smartphone.

Hyundai Mobis, a car parts maker under Hyundai Motor Group, is renewing its commitment to the all-important Chinese market as it showcases its latest technologies at Auto Shanghai 2023, the first large-scale motor show since the COVID-19 pandemic. The company said Wednesday it is holding extensive business meetings with Chinese and other global carmakers during the trade show that kicked off Tuesday. Over 1,000 carmakers and their suppliers have flocked to the Chinese city to flaunt their late

Korea’s Fair Trade Commission to make final decision on April 26

South Korean fried chicken franchise Genesis BBQ said Wednesday it recently opened a new restaurant in California in an effort to further penetrate the American market. Labeled under the franchise’s brand name “bb.q Chicken,” it is its 35th outlet in California. The restaurant is located in a bustling business center called Callens Corner in the Orange County city of Fountain Valley. With schools, hospitals, churches and other public facilities in the area, Callens Corner is a

Philip Morris Korea, the Korean branch of US tobacco giant Philip Morris International, said Wednesday that Hanna Yun, former managing director of Philip Morris Australia, has been named its new chief. An industry veteran who has dedicated 27 years to working at Philip Morris and its numerous international branches, Yun is a leader with extensive experience in business strategy and finance, the company said. After majoring in finance at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia and receiv

Samsung Electronics has regained the top spot in the global smartphone market in the first quarter of this year, slightly outpacing its archrival Apple, the No. 1 in the previous quarter, a report showed Wednesday. In the January-March period, Samsung held a market share of 22 percent, followed by Apple with 21 percent, according to the report released by market tracker Canalys. The South Korean tech giant was the “only leading vendor” to achieve a quarterly jump during the first thr

Hyundai Motor said Wednesday that it held a ceremony to donate two units of the X-ble MEX, a wearable robot developed to help users exercise the lower body, to Asan Medical Center in Seoul. The wearable robots will be used to help with the treatment and rehabilitation of paraplegia patients, according to the company. Hyundai has trademarked X-ble as its wearable robot brand with the intention to expand the technology to various industries.

Volkswagen Group Korea said Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with 42 Wolfsburg, a German nonprofit coding school, the German Embassy in Korea and a consortium led by Seoul’s Education Ministry to nurture young tech talent in the automotive software sector. The signing ceremony was held Thursday in commemoration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Germany, with German Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel (front, center) and Volkswagen Group K

The price of spirits used to make soju products went up Tuesday, marking the biggest jump in the last 20 years. The price hike comes for a second consecutive year, increasing burdens on local soju makers. Korea Ethanol Supplies Co. said Tuesday it has raised the price by 9.8 percent. The price hike will apply to all soju makers as the company is the country's sole distributor of the spirit. The latest 9.8 percent increase follows an 8 percent raise last year, and it is the highest increase