NEW DELHI, India -- Korea’s leading asset manager Mirae Asset Global Investments has been rapidly expanding its presence in the Indian market, riding on the country’s strong “appetite for Korean businesses.” Recognizing the country’s growth potential, the company was the first of its peers to enter the Indian market, setting up an office in Mumbai in 2006. “When Mirae Asset came to India, it was a 100 percent foreign-owned equity,” Shrinivas Khanolkar, h

NEW DELHI -- The India-Korea Business Partnership Forum 2024 held at the Yashobhoomi convention center in New Delhi on Friday highlighted India’s potential to grow as more than a manufacturing hub. South Korean tech behemoth Samsung Electronics believes Indian talent will drive innovation to take the country a step further on the global stage. “Samsung was one of the first companies to realize India's potential as a manufacturing powerhouse. Each state represents a diverse mic

NEW DELHI -- South Korea and India have significant untapped potential for developing trade and economic cooperation in a wide range of areas, experts said at a forum in India on Friday. To commemorate the 51st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and India, the Korea-India Business Partnership Forum took place at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, with more than 600 government officials, business leaders, and cultural and artistic figures from both countries in attendance. A complementary m

South Korean stocks fell Tuesday as investors sat on the sidelines following sharp gains the previous session, with US President-elect Donald Trump vowing tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 13.98 points, or 0.55 percent, to close at 2,520.36, ending a two-day winning streak. Trade volume was moderate at 434.77 million shares worth 8.51 trillion won (US$6.09 billion), with winners ou

US President-elect Donald Trump is likely to use tariffs not only as a tool to protect American manufacturers but also as a way to ensure that trade negotiations are fair and expedited, a top Washington lobbyist says. “Trump has several administrative avenues to implement tariffs and his suggestion of a 10 percent universal tariff on all imports is still a possibility,” Brian Ballard, president of the Washington lobbying firm Ballard Partners, told The Korea Herald in a written inter

As Samsung Electronics is grappling with multiple challenges including poor earnings and technological setbacks, the conglomerate's chaebol chief has publicly acknowledged the struggles for the first time. With chairman Lee Jae-yong pledging to tackle the difficulties, the tech giant is expected to introduce some drastic changes, including a major personnel reshuffle anticipated this week. In the final hearing of a retrial on allegations including stock manipulation related to a controversi

Hana Financial Group held the fourth edition of its "Hana Waves" conference on Monday to empower female leaders within the organization. Launched in 2021, the program aims to enhance women's leadership capacities and increase their presence, driving innovation through their actions, voices and emotions. Monday's conference, which marked the conclusion of the program's monthslong journey, was attended by Group Chairman Ham Young-joo. In the photo, Ham (front row, eighth f

South Korean online lender Kakao Bank has committed to enhancing its corporate value and increasing shareholder returns as it strives to become a leading, comprehensive financial platform within the next three years. In a meeting with analysts on Tuesday, CEO Yun Ho-young presented a detailed three-year plan centered on two main goals: "sustainable growth" and "innovative expansion." The plan sets ambitious targets, including 30 million customers, 100 trillion won ($71.6 bill

Korean steelmaker Hyundai Steel introduced its new mascot Yonggangi on Tuesday. Yonggangi, named after “yonggang,” which means purified molten iron in Korean, symbolizes the value of the steel industry and embodies a dynamic corporate culture, the company said. The mascot is portrayed as a people-loving guardian of the company’s facilities and processes who was born in the steel mill and grows alongside the employees. Known for its friendly personality, the character eagerly pa

South Korean bakery giant SPC Group said Tuesday it has opened its first Paris Baguette franchise store in the UK, marking its debut in franchising within the European market. Paris Baguette had previously operated company-owned stores in Europe, including France and the UK. The first franchise store, which is Paris Baguette’s third outlet in the UK, is located in Canary Wharf, a financial business district in east London. The Canary Wharf store occupies a 50-seat space on the first floor

South Korean automotive and car parts manufacturers are bracing for potential disruptions in their Mexican operations as US President-elect Donald Trump vows to enforce stricter tariffs and cut back on preferential treatment for goods produced in the region. According to industry sources on Tuesday, the Industry of Trade, Industry and Energy recently met with six companies – namely Kia, Hyundai Mobis and LG Innotek – to discuss the impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs. “Mex

Top online lender Kakao Bank said Tuesday that it aims to further jack up its customer base, thus achieving 100 trillion won ($71 billion) in assets by 2027. The internet-only bank said it also plans to boost the portion of its non-interest income to 40 percent of its operating income by 2027 via mergers and investments. As of end-September, its number of customers stood at 24.43 million, up 2.15 million from a year earlier. It aims to achieve 30 million customers by 2027. Its assets stood at 62

South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday, despite overnight U.S. rallies, led by losses in auto and financial shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 11.04 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,523.30 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 0.99 percent to a record high and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 0.27 percent, as investors welcomed Trump's nomination of Scott Bessent as his treasury secretary on hope that he would gui

South Korea's business sentiment index remained pessimistic for December due to concerns of weak domestic demand and external risks, a poll showed Tuesday. The business survey index (BSI) for the country's top 600 companies by sales stood at 97.3 for next month, according to the monthly poll by the Federation of Korean Industries. A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists, while a figure above the benchmark means the opposite. The index has remained below 100 for 33 cons

Insurance companies in South Korea saw their combined net profit surge 13 percent in the first nine months of the year on the back of increased sales and investment returns, data showed Tuesday. The combined net profit of 22 life insurers and 31 non-life insurance companies in the country came to 13.4 trillion won ($9.53 billion) in the January-September period, up 1.56 trillion won, or 13.2 percent, from the same period last year, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service. Th

South Korea's consumer sentiment fell in November as concerns have risen over slowing exports and uncertainties stemming from expected policy changes of the new Donald Trump administration, a central bank poll showed Tuesday. The composite consumer sentiment index stood at 100.7 this month, down from the previous month's 101.7, according to the survey conducted by the Bank of Korea (BOK). A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists. As for inflation, ordinary people expect

Prosecutors requested five years in prison and a fine of 500 million won ($356,000) for Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Monday, in the final hearing of a retrial over suspected stock manipulation related to a high-profile 2015 merger case. The prosecution had appealed in February immediately after a lower court acquitted Lee of all 19 charges it had filed. In the appellate court on Monday, the prosecution kept to their original claims, insisting the chief of the country's large

Mercedes-Benz’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee said Monday that it has donated 500 million won ($358,000) to establish a specialized child protection center, aimed at protecting abused children and preventing further abuse. The funds, raised through the 11th Mercedes-Benz Give ’n Race charity event, will be fully allocated to the Incheon Child Protection Center to be built in Seo-gu, Incheon. A donation ceremony was held at Incheon Metropolitan City Hall on Monday, attende

Global tobacco giant British American Tobacco on Monday officially launched its synthetic nicotine-based liquid e-cigarette, Nomad Sync 5000, in South Korea, the first market in the world to release the product. The Nomad Sync 5000, available in sweet “Purple” and refreshing “Cold” flavors, offers up to 5,000 puffs with a liquid capacity of 10 milliliters and a nicotine concentration of 0.9 percent. Priced at around 17,000 won ($12), the product is now available at vape s

South Korean stocks rose more than 1.3 percent Monday as investors hunted for big-cap tech bargains amid hopes for the new Donald Trump administration's softer approach to tariffs. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 33.1 points, or 1.32 percent, to close at 2,534.34. It marked the highest level since Nov. 8, when the index closed at 2,561.15. Trade volume was heavy at 535.26 million shares worth 12.54 trillion won ($8.95 bill