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Mobility
[KH Explains] Will KG Mobility, Korea's SUV dark horse, triumph globally?

KG Mobility, a stalwart in the South Korean sport utility vehicle scene previously known as Ssangyong Motors, has set an ambitious total sales goal of 147,000 units for this year, a 26.6 percent increase from last year, as it aims to penetrate overseas markets in Europe and Southeast Asia, away from its home turf dominated by Hyundai-Kia. By doubling down on its legacy of tough-looking, rugged SUVs, the company is incorporating cost-effective production strategies, including electrification, and
March 15, 2024 - 15:13:33
Economy
[KH Explains] Will Webull reshape Korea's mobile trading?

Commission-free US platform aims high with imminent Korean launch Webull Corporation, a prominent US-based online stock trading platform, has initiated preliminary operations to establish its presence in South Korea. Speculation surrounding the debut of the New York-headquartered company's services rose recently following reports indicating Webull's engagement with local financial regulators to secure related licenses for domestic operations. Citing Webull Korea Preliminary CEO Rhee Won-jae, Her
March 14, 2024 - 16:50:58
Industry
[KH Explains] Tussle over Nexon’s loot box controversy intensifies

Nexon faces Korea’s largest game-related class action suit over deceiving MapleStory players The feud over South Korean game developer Nexon's Maplestory, a popular side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game, or MMORPG, is escalating, with gamers filing a class action suit and Nexon taking the antitrust regulator’s fine assessment to court. As the in-court battle is expected to take a long time to reach any sort of conclusion, gamers are hoping that the case can help spread aw
March 13, 2024 - 15:36:59
Industry
[KH Explains] Coupang's Farfetch gambit: Was the deal undervalued?

In December last year, South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang made a surprise announcement that it was buying Farfetch, the British luxury shopping platform, in a $500 million deal. The highly-publicized acquisition seemed like a win-win for both: Coupang’s global expansion could be accelerated, backed by Farfetch’s extensive business network, while cash-strapped Farfetch could streamline its operations to elevate its sluggish profits. But a group of Farfetch investors, called the 2027 Ad Hoc Gro
March 13, 2024 - 15:11:12
Market
[KH Explains] Missing pieces of 'value-up' program

The government’s measures aimed at increasing shareholder returns to boost Korea's undervalued stock market have sparked much debate on their effectiveness due to the lack of motivational drivers for companies to join the program. In the Corporate Value-up Program announced by the Financial Services Commission on Feb. 26, the government directed some 1,600 firms listed on the Kospi and Kosdaq markets to disclose their major investment indicators such as price-to-book ratio, and make public annou
March 11, 2024 - 16:36:10
Market
[KH Explains] ‘Kimchi premium’ returns, but weaker

Price discrepancy narrows as more investors join After the global rally of bitcoin earlier this week, the “kimchi premium,” -- the price discrepancy in cryptocurrency between Korea and international markets -- has soared as well. Shortly after the global price of bitcoin hit a record high, rising above $69,000, the gap had widened to 12 percent as of Wednesday, meaning the bitcoin that traded in Korea was 12 percent more expensive than the global average. It later came down to the 6 percent rang
March 8, 2024 - 16:02:41
Industry
[KH Explains] Warship rivals at loggerheads

Defense experts say it's not time for Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to fight The dispute between South Korea’s two major shipbuilders -- Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, housed under Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, respectively -- is escalating, with Hanwha taking legal action. Hanwha Ocean on Monday filed a complaint with the National Office of Investigation to probe into the case of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ nine employees who were convicted of coll
March 6, 2024 - 15:42:51
Mobility
[KH Explains] Shipping constraints shackle Korea's auto export boom

Korean automakers are grappling to maintain their export momentum due to a shortage of car carriers to transport them, driven by the increasing volume of Chinese automotive exports and stringent maritime environmental regulations. The scenario has led to an unprecedented rise in the cost of chartering vehicle transport vessels. This comes as South Korea's auto production exceeded 4 million units for the first time in five years in 2023, with auto exports reaching a record $70.9 billion, contribu
March 5, 2024 - 17:16:34
Industry
[KH Explains] Korea’s next-generation space rocket project off to bumpy start

Stakeholders in space industry concerned about tepid interest from private firms, delayed bidding process Korea’s 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion) next-generation space launch vehicle project got off to a bumpy start, as the bidding process to select a private entity to lead the large-scale task is likely to be a one-man show. Officially named the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-III, the goal of the next-generation rocket project is to assemble a launch vehicle capable of sending a lunar lander to the m
March 4, 2024 - 15:40:03
Social affairs
[KH explains] Why is S. Korea mulling ease on marriage ban between blood relatives?

The debate on consanguineous marriage is heating up, as the government appears to be moving toward easing laws related to intrafamily marriage. Currently, South Korea prohibits marriage between blood relatives within eight degrees of relations ("chon" in Korean), according to the Civil Act, Article 809 and Article 815. That means that Koreans may not marry third cousins -- their grandparents' cousins' grandchildren -- or closer relatives. Article 809, Section 1 states that “a marriage may not be
March 4, 2024 - 13:51:45