[THE INVESTOR] Cosmetics maker Cosmax has signed an agreement with US-based skincare firm Nerium International to develop new products related to bio-health and cosmetics, a spokesperson for the Korean company said on June 23. Through the newfound partnership, Cosmax hopes to widen its laboratory research of ingredients and development of fresh products. The results of the collaboration will be sold in the US and Korea, and eventually the potential markets of Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia.  Co

[THE INVESTOR] Korea and France have reached an agreement to increase flights between the two countries, allowing more visitors to travel easily, the Transport Ministry said on June 23. The number of flights from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport will be increased to 14 from 12 every week, the ministry said. The agreement was reached during the bilateral aviation talks in Paris from June 21-22. As to the exact timing of increased flights, the two cities wi

[THE INVESTOR] Minor shareholders of Samsung SDS are reaching out to the National Pension Service in their fight against the company’s reorganization plans. Samsung SDS is reviewing plans to spin off some of its businesses including the logistics operations. Since Oct. 19, Samsung SDS stock has been on a downward slope with prices down by half since then. The minor shareholders’ association has put the blame squarely on the company’s spin-off plans, and has been demanding action from Samsung SDS

[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Merchant Marine is considering joining the 2M Alliance, a vessel-sharing agreement between Denmark’s Maersk Line and Switzerland’s Mediterranean Shipping Company -- the world’s first and second largest container carriers. Amid growing speculation that Korea’s second-largest shipping company is set to join the alliance, a HMM official confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the alliance parties on June 23. A container vessel is displayed at Hyundai Merchant Marine's hea

[THE INVESTOR] Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Yoo Il-ho will meet with representatives of US businesses in Korea to seek ways to improve economic cooperation, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said on June 23. At the June 30 conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Yoo will give a special address and hold meetings with GM Korea chief James Kim to discuss ways to improve Korea-US cooperation and economic issues in the two countries.Deputy Prime Minister for Economy

[THE INVESTOR] Minor shareholders of Samsung SDS are raising the heat, accusing the firm of neglecting profits to ensure Lee family’s control over the group. In a letter addressed to Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong, minor shareholders of Samsung SDS called on him to take steps for improving the share price. Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong.“A decision to improve stock prices is needed. Restore the property rights of the minor shareholders that was lost (by the decisi

[THE INVESTOR] SK hynix’s second quarter operating profit is likely to decrease 20 percent on-year, according to analyst forecasts, with the target market price maintained at 37,000 won (US$32.15).　The chipmaker’s revenue will amount to 3.89 trillion won while operating profit will be 4.6 billion won, a rise of 7 percent and decline of 19 percent over the previous year, respectively,” said Do Hyun-woo, analyst at Mirae Asset Securities. 　He noted that DRAM prices in the second quarter kept decre

[THE INVESTOR] Korean and Spanish construction companies are working together in efforts to expand trade and gain a foothold in new markets. Korea’s trade promotion agency KOTRA held a forum in Madrid, Spain, with Association of National Field Construction Companies in Spain (SEOPAN) on June 22 (local time). A total of 13 companies participated in the forum, including Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Daechang Corporation, and Spain’s Groupo ACS, the world’s leading construction fir

[THE INVESTOR] The world’s largest container ship operator Seaspan has demanded Hanjin Group chairman Cho Yang-ho to dip into his private coffers to normalize Hanjin Shipping.“Hanjin Shipping without a liquidity injection from controlling shareholder, the Cho family and the Korea Development Bank will have a very challenging road ahead,” Seaspan CEO Gerry Wang told Splash 24/7 in an interview on June 21. “It is a well run company which hit liquidity snags due to market conditions.” Splash 24/7 i

[THE INVESTOR] LG Group is in talks with KORAMCO REITs Management and Trust over purchasing STX Namsan Tower near Seoul Station. According to industry sources, KORAMCO is negotiating the sale of the 23-story building to LG Group. Details about the negotiations remain unknown, but the property is estimated to fetch about 300 billion won (US$260 million) for KORAMCO. KORAMCO had selected Korea Investment Management as the preferred bidder in September, but the deal fell through when the latter fai

[THE INVESTOR] The Cho family of Hanjin Group received about 1.1 billion won ($954,000) in dividends from Hanjin Kal although the company posted 205.2 billion won net loss in 2015.Hanjin Kal is the holdings company of Hanjin Group that counts Korean Air among its subsidiaries. The company posted a large deficit for 2015, but paying out total of 4.01 billion won in dividends was approved at the general shareholders meeting in March.Hanjin Group chairman Cho Yang-ho and his three children, includi