SEOUL– The heads of South Korea’s biggest conglomerate Samsung Group and German carmaker BMW Group discussed ways to strengthen their battery business partnership, Samsung said Sunday. Samsung Group’s de facto leader Lee Jae-yong met with BMW Group Chief Executive Oliver Zipse at the BMW Driving Center in Incheon, just west of Seoul, on Saturday … Read more
SEOUL– North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the East Sea, the South Korean military said Sunday, the latest in a series of launches that raised tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said that it detected the launches from the Tongchang-ri area, North Pyongan Province, between 11:13 a.m. and … Read more
SEOUL– The Hanwha Eagles announced their signing of former major league pitcher Burch Smith on Sunday. The 32-year-old right-hander agreed to a one-year deal worth up to US$1 million, the maximum amount allowed for first-year foreign players in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The Eagles said Smith will earn $700,000 in guaranteed salary, $100,000 … Read more
SEOUL– Five major South Korean banks have offered a voluntary retirement program to their 2,400 employees this year despite record profits amid higher interest rates, industry sources said Sunday. The voluntary retirement plans at the five lenders — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, Hana, and NH Nonghyup – are accelerating as an increasing number of … Read more
SEOUL– South Korean international goalkeeper Song Bum-keun is taking his talent to Japan. Shonan Bellmare of the top-flight J1 League announced their acquisition of the 25-year-old custodian on Sunday. Song has been playing for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the top South Korean competition, K League 1, since his professional debut in 2018. Song backstopped … Read more
SEOUL– Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called Sunday for a prompt passing of the 2023 budget plan, saying the parliamentary standoff between the rival parties will only exacerbate a “grave” economic situation. “It’s extremely unfortunate that the first budget plan by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration hasn’t passed long after the legal deadline,” Han said at … Read more
SEOUL– South Korean steelmaker POSCO said Sunday it has resumed operations at a key steel plant after a three-month-long suspension due to a typhoon. On Thursday, POSCO restarted the No. 2 hot-rolled steel production plant in Pohang, 374 kilometers southeast of Seoul, bringing the number of normalized plants to 13 out of 18 plants … Read more
SEOUL– First Vice Health Minister Lee Ki-il was set to depart for Japan on Sunday to look into the country’s national pension scheme and caretaking policies for the elderly, the health ministry said. During the four-day trip, Lee is expected to meet with Kazuhiro Oshima, Japan’s administrative vice health minister, and policy experts to … Read more