Small- and medium-sized enterprises say that positive changes have been seen since Sept. 29 when the government drew up a comprehensive plan to promote shared-growth, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said Monday.According to the ministry, which inspected 12 industrial complexes to gauge SMEs’ sentiments, more SMEs responded that large firms were adopting measures promoted under the project.Change

The number of counterfeit South Korean banknotes rose 8.4 percent in the first half from a year earlier mainly due to a jump in the discovery of fake banknotes in the second-highest denomination, the central bank said Monday.The number of counterfeit bills found in the country reached 5,153 in the January-June period, compared with 4,755 the previous year, according to the Bank of Korea. Compared

Hyundai Heavy Industries announced Monday that it will establish Hyundai Electricsystems in Vladivostok, Russia, that will produce gas insulated switchgears.Gas insulated switchgears are equipment used to control electricity flow, and to cut off power if a fault occurs in a power supply system.The company said it will invest 40 billion won ($38 million) in building the plant, and that the facility

Flawed recruitment methods render system virtually meaninglessOutside directors at South Korea’s banks and financial firms have been mostly nominated by their largest shareholders and chief executives, undercutting their roles as corporate watchdogs, financial regulators’ data showed on Sunday. Officially, a neutral committee is supposed to name eligible outside directors, whose primary function i

South Korea is witnessing a clear increase in trade volume with the European Union after a free trade agreement between them took effect on July 1.The Korea Customs Service said Sunday that the exports and imports with the EU amounted to $1.48 billion and $1.65 between July 1-13, an increase of 19 percent and 16 percent, respectively. The customs agency said that the newly signed FTA may have driv

Inter-Korean relations are unlikely to remain perpetually tense, a high-level government official said Sunday, signaling that the government is willing to continue efforts to improve ties despite recent troubles caused by the North's disclosure of details of secret talks with the South."The door to dialogue remains open," the official told reporters, requesting not to be named due to the sensitivi

Lotte Confectionary Co. announced Sunday it plans to merge with Lotte Pharm Inc. in a bid to foster synergies in their health food business.The Korean snack and sweets maker will remain the largest stakeholder in its pharmaceutical unit as it already holds a 100 percent share. Lotte Aluminum Co. has a controlling stake in Lotte Confectionary with 15.29 percent.The merger, which needs statutory app