Troubled company’s CEO scans production lines at home and abroadLG Electronics’ top man Koo Bon-joon’s air mileage must be piling up at record speed with all the overseas trips he has logged since taking over the distressed electronics maker last September.Koo, 50, has been particularly travel-happy over the past few months, according to those close to the company, embarking on frequent trips to e

Honda Korea is offering a larger discount and longer installment period for the compact car Civic until the end of the month. Until the end of the month, those purchasing the Civic ― either the 1.8 and 2.0 ― can choose between a 4 million won ($3,600) discount, and two special rate financing programs. Honda CivicThe financing schemes are a 36-month zero interest installment program and a low inter

The new Range Rover TDV8 Vogue was launched on the local market on Feb. 14.The vehicle is fitted with a LR-TDV8 4.4-liter engine that puts out 313 brake horsepower and 8-speed automatic transmission. Range Rover TDV8 VogueThe vehicle manages 9.6 kilometers per liter, which according to the company is 18.5 percent more efficient than the previous engine. The new engine also emits 14 percent less gr

Kia Motors Corp.’s Forte Eco Plus, the country’s first vehicle fitted with an idle stop-and-go-system for automatic transmission, will go on sale today.The idle stop-and-go-system automatically shuts down the engine when the vehicle comes to a halt and restarts the engine when the car is back on the move to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Forte Eco Plus. (Kia Motors Corp)Acco

Muscle car measures up to competition, but stiffer price may dampen enthusiasmChevrolet’s iconic muscle car Camaro was unveiled in South Korea on Friday.The Camaro is the third model of the eight Chevrolet vehicles GM Daewoo Auto and Technology Co. plans to introduce to the local market this year as part of its strategy for pushing up domestic market share and to leave behind the less-than-flatter

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. consumers are more likely to buy a smartphone than any other electronic gadget this year, according to a new survey.Technology research company Gartner said consumers in the United States are more likely to buy a smartphone in 2011 than a personal computer, a basic mobile phone, an electronic book reader, a tablet computer or gaming products.Gartner said the next most popul

   ROME (AFP) - Dozens of naked women surround the Italian primeminister vying with each other to arouse him -- Silvio Berlusconi's "bungabunga" parties as reportedly described to prosecutors by a key participant.   "After dinner we went into a hall in the basement where the bunga bunga washeld," Karima El Mahroug, a pole dancer nicknamed "Ruby the Heart Stealer", was quoted as saying to investiga

Obama talks jobs with Jobs, other tech leaders   WOODSIDE, California (AP) _ President Barack Obama assembled someof the biggest names in Silicon Valley to confer on jobs and innovation, trying to get leaders from companies like Google and Apple behind his push to keep spending on high-tech initiatives even as Republicans push to slash the budget.   Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, Google chief e

Kozlowski calls Korea-Europe FTA a win-win deal benefiting businesses, consumersThe Korea-EU free trade agreement expected to come into force in July will benefit businesses, workers and consumers of both economies, Thomas Kozlowski, the new EU ambassador to Seoul, said Friday. The European Parliament approved the landmark accord on Thursday. Korea seeks a parliamentary ratification during an extr