Hansung Motors, one of the top official Mercedes-Benz dealers in South Korea, has appointed Marco Kim as its new CEO, the company announced Monday. Marco Kim brings extensive global expertise in the luxury automotive sector, having held key leadership and consulting roles with several prestigious car brands. Born in South Korea and raised in Australia, Kim holds a medical degree and an MBA from the University of Queensland. He later became a chartered accountant and joined Deloitte Motor Industr

Mobility Sept. 2, 2024

Hanwha Industrial Solutions officially launched Monday with a founding meeting at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul. The new company, established as a subsidiary of Hanwha Vision and Hanwha Precision Machinery, represents Hanwha Aerospace’s move to consolidate and lead Hanwha Group’s industrial solutions business. During the inaugural meeting, key agenda items included the formal establishment of the company, the appointment of leadership and the enactment of company bylaws. Ahn Soon-Hong,

Companies Sept. 2, 2024

Starfield Hanam, a shopping complex located in Gyeonggi Province just east of Seoul, is home to South Korea’s first Tesla showroom, which opened its doors in 2017. Here, the allure of Tesla vehicles has always drawn a crowd, but recently, a different kind of interest has been brewing among potential buyers -- an interest not just in the cars themselves, but in the batteries that power them. Recent high-profile EV fires in Korea have sparked public concern about the reliability of the batte

Mobility Sept. 1, 2024

“Tech otakus save the world” is a motto from Hoyoverse, the Chinese game giant behind the global subculture gaming phenomenon Genshin Impact. While it might seem exaggerated, the sentiment isn’t entirely off the mark. Subculture gaming, once considered niche, has exploded into a mainstream cultural force -- as is especially evident in South Korea. Subculture games -- games that originally targeted small, dedicated communities with specific cultural interests often rooted in ani

weekender Aug. 31, 2024

Mercedes-Benz Korea will loan new E-Class sedans free of charge to residents of the apartment complex in Cheongna, Incheon, who lost their vehicles in an electric vehicle fire on Aug. 1. The fire, which occurred in the underground parking lot of the complex, destroyed approximately 70 vehicles. Mercedes-Benz Korea communicated details of the support program through the management office of the Cheongna apartment complex on Thursday. The company will provide one vehicle per affected household, sp

Mobility Aug. 30, 2024

Renault Korea has been in a slump, with sales in Korea nosediving from nearly 100,000 units in 2020 to just 22,000 last year. Now, the company is pinning its hopes on the Grand Koleos, a new mid-size hybrid sport utility vehicle, to spark a comeback. With its debut marking Renault Korea’s most ambitious launch in four years, the big question is: Does the Grand Koleos have what it takes to turn things around? The Korea Herald reporter took it for a spin on a test drive in Busan last Tuesday

Mobility Aug. 30, 2024

Doosan Group has officially scrapped its merger plan between Doosan Robotics and Doosan Bobcat, following shareholder opposition and regulatory pressure. However, the group still intends to move forward with its broader strategy to integrate Bobcat under Robotics in a bid to achieve synergy across its business operations. On Thursday, the boards of Doosan Bobcat and Doosan Robotics each convened and decided to cancel the comprehensive share exchange agreement initially designed to streamline the

Companies Aug. 29, 2024

Hyundai Motor Company is making a bold move towards the future with an investment of 120.5 trillion won ($90.3 billion) over the next decade. This investment is designed to keep Hyundai agile as mass adoption of electric vehicles remains uncertain. Key initiatives include the introduction of advanced hybrid systems, an expanded range of hybrid vehicles, and a new category of vehicles -- extended range electric vehicles, or EREVs -- that combine the strengths of both internal combustion engines a

Mobility Aug. 28, 2024

Doosan Group is under intense scrutiny as it struggles to win investor confidence in its proposed governance overhaul. This comes amid growing speculation that the plan could collapse due to discrepancies between the proposed share purchase warrant prices and the company’s current stock prices. The situation has been worsened by regulatory pressures and increasing dissatisfaction among investors, leading to a dip in the stock prices of several Doosan subsidiaries. On Aug.19, shares of Doos

Companies Aug. 26, 2024

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have just secured their place among the world’s most financially sound automakers. According to industry sources Monday, both companies received A ratings from the world’s three major credit rating agencies -- Moody's, S&P and Fitch. This positions Hyundai and Kia alongside just three other automakers -- Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Honda -- that have earned A ratings from all three major credit rating agencies. Credit ratings from these agencies i

Mobility Aug. 26, 2024

Renault Korea’s Grand Koleos stands out as a mid-size hybrid sport utility vehicle with extensive safety features, including numerous advanced driving assistance systems and high-strength materials. This vehicle has gained attention in the Korean market since its June debut, particularly for its robust safety features, which have become increasingly important to consumers amidst rising concerns over road safety. The Grand Koleos comes in three trims: Techno, Iconic and Esprit Alpine. Even

Mobility Aug. 25, 2024

Amid one of South Korea’s hottest summers on record, Hyundai Motor Group hosted the Heat Tech Day event on Thursday in Seoul to preview three advanced climate control technologies to improve passenger comfort in both scorching summers and harsh winters. The three technologies introduced at the event include a nano-cooling film that significantly lowers cabin temperatures during the summer, a radiant heating system that quickly warms passengers in winter and a metal-coated heated glass that

Mobility Aug. 22, 2024

LG Energy Solution said Wednesday it is expanding its battery safety diagnostic software business in response to the rising demand from electric vehicle manufacturers for more advanced safety measures. "With the recent EV fires, automakers are under pressure to enhance battery safety, but developing reliable diagnostic software is both complex and resource-intensive. LG Energy Solution is in a strong position here -- we have the diagnostic capabilities, the patents, and the real-world data.

Mobility Aug. 21, 2024

The family of Nexon's late founder, Kim Jung-ju, has sold a significant portion of their shares in the company's holding firm, NXC, to help cover the hefty inheritance taxes following his death. On Monday, NXC announced it had bought back shares from Kim’s widow, Yoo Jeong-hyun, who chairs NXC’s board, and their two children. The family sold a total of 125,288 shares -- 649.9 billion won worth (approximately $488 million). Additionally, NXC purchased 3,122 shares in Wisekid

Companies Aug. 20, 2024

LG Energy Solution said Tuesday that it is on track to complete a pilot line for its advanced dry electrode process at its Ochang Energy Plant by the end of this year, with the goal of scaling to full production by 2028. The dry electrode process is a cutting-edge method of making batteries that could transform the way they’re produced. Traditionally, most batteries are made using a wet process. This involves mixing active materials with organic solvents to create a slurry, which is then c

Industry Aug. 20, 2024