S. Korea’s top auto group vows to transform into future mobility solutions provider in lines with market demands

Fuel cell technology plays pivotal role for Hyundai Motor Group’s effort to transform into a mobility firm

Ikea Korea labor union goes on second strike for indefinite period, as negotiation falls through

LG Electronics Inc. on Thursday announced it will pay out more dividends to its shareholders in a move to increase shareholder value. LG said its shareholders will receive 1,200 won ($1.07) per common share and 1,250 won per preferred share for the fiscal year of 2020 after approval in March at its shareholders meeting. Last year, the company gave 750 won per common share and 800 won per preferred share to its shareholders. At its board meeting, LG also approved its 2020 earnings report. The

The Q4 earnings season peaked in South Korea with the undefeatable Samsung Electronics reporting Thursday. Already overshadowed by the IT giant, the country’s top internet operator Naver and battery maker Samsung SDI reported record-high business results in 2020.  Naver reports record profits Thanks to the contactless trend, Naver saws its total sales and operating profit hit new highs in 2020. Revenue reached 5.3 trillion won in total, while operating profit climbed to 1.2 tri

The COVID-19 pandemic has thwarted many businesses, but for some, it acted as a stressor for growth. On the back of increased contactless working, Naver’s Cloud service experienced a 41.4 percent on-year revenue growth in 2020 at 273.7 billion won ($245.3 million). Naver Cloud currently offers the biggest portfolio of cloud services within Korea at a total of 173 products in 16 categories. It operates a separate cloud system for financial businesses like banks and for public institutions

Employment restriction on Kim Seung-youn to be lifted next month

Construction equipment maker Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. said on Thursday that it has signed a deal with Chinese forklift maker UN Forklift to produce forklifts under an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreement. Hyundai Construction Equipment plans to expand its global sales of forklifts produced by the Chinese maker to $100 million by 2025, the company said. The forklifts to be produced by UN Forklift include 10 kinds of 2 to 3.5-ton models, Hyundai Construction Equipment said.

Asia tackles the transnational risks of climate and pandemic through AFoCO

AFoCO hopes for a greener Asia with strong, resilient forests and communities

S-Oil Corp., South Korea's No. 3 refiner, said Thursday its fourth-quarter net profit soared 172.1 percent from a year earlier as strong sales of petrochemical products offset the weak refining margin. S-Oil posted a net profit of 129.7 billion won ($116 million) in the October-December period, compared with 47.7 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Its operating profit jumped 880.5 percent on-year to 93.1 billion won, while sales tumbled 33.9 percent to 4.3 tri

South Korean mobile carriers are launching unmanned stores and expanding their online retail platforms as the COVID-19 pandemic limits in-person contact and accelerates the use of virtual services. KT Corp. said Thursday it launched its first unmanned store equipped with digital kiosks for customers to buy phones and switch data plans all on their own. The store, located in the southeastern city of Daegu, is run by employees during the day and operates unmanned at night, allowing virus-wary cu

Lack of labor flexibility, continued industrial action and annual wage negotiations remain major challenges to doing business in South Korea and attracting foreign investment, the chief of GM Korea Co. said Thursday. GM Korea President and Chief Executive Kaher Kazem said there are things to be improved to make multinational companies invest further in Korea. He mentioned the Korea-US free trade agreement, Korea's stable economy, its manufacturing capability and highly competitive supply base

The Korea Public Health Association has teamed up with P&G Korea’s Febreze to launch a public hygiene campaign to keep homes clean. The new campaign is designed to raise awareness of what has been dubbed the “new normal” lifestyle that has emerged in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, putting an emphasis on hygiene at home, the company said. The four-step guidelines touch on sterilization, disinfection, ventilation and humidity and also lays out ways to disinfect item

‘Dream team’ of KAC, Hanwha, SKT and KOTI to accelerate efforts to commercialize air taxis