South Korean biotech company Next & Bio, which specializes in developing organoid-based medicine solutions, aims to build the largest organoid library in Asia, its CEO told The Korea Herald in a recent interview. Organoids are cell-based in vitro models that mimic many aspects of the complex structure and function of the corresponding human organs. Organoid-based systems have been recently spotlighted as alternatives to animal experimentation in clinical research and precision medicine. &ldq

Hana Financial Group announced Thursday it will launch a five-year project, Hana-run day care centers, that are open 365 days, even 24 hours a day, with the aim of reversing South Korea’s continually falling birth rate. This new project is a part of the program, Hana Life Journey Support, which strives to alleviate the struggles shared by families going through life-changing events such as marriage, childbirth and aging. Aiming to tackle the nation’s record-low birth rate, Hana has f

European automakers called for a relaxation of regulations on selling electric vehicles in Korea during a press conference for the publication of a white paper by the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea on Thursday. The ECCK’s passenger vehicles committee chairperson, Kim Hong-joong, said that the recent law amendment requiring automakers to secure the pre-certification of electric vehicle batteries to prevent safety hazards should be aligned with United Nations standards. “We re

Korean IT solutions provider LG CNS said Tuesday its employees a one-day class for elementary students in Buyeo-gun, South Chungcheong Province, to promote inclusive access to digital education. The social contribution campaign is a part of the company’s “AI Genius” program to help the youths set their future goals and visions with AI. Following its first activity at Gangneung, Gangwon Province last year, LG CNS once again launched the coding class for students in rural areas,

Smartphone shipments in South Korea declined more than 13 percent on-year in the second quarter, recent data showed Thursday, as demand remained sluggish over economic uncertainties. The total shipment came to approximately 2.8 million units for the April-June period, down 13.2 percent from a year ago, as "demand for smartphones continued to slow down amid economic uncertainties," the Korea branch of International Data Corporation said. But the shipments of premium smartphones, priced

A recent favorable ruling in the US may have lifted some pressure on South Korea regarding its export of nuclear reactors, but challenges remain as its US partner shows no sign of agreement in their ongoing legal disputes. The District Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday dismissed Westinghouse Electric Company’s lawsuit against Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, ruling that the US energy firm -- which lacks the authority to enforce US nuclear technology export control requirements -- d

Samsung Group late Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s Jindo dog preservation project is getting a renewed spotlight as the group’s guide dog school marks its 30th anniversary this year. According to industry sources, the late Samsung patriarch acquired 30 Jindos in the late 1960s and strove to increase its population and raise its global awareness. “I spent days working with breeders, consulting with foreign experts and striving to create purebred Jindo dogs. When the original 30 dogs I

South Korea's new Industry Minister Bang Moon-kyu on Wednesday vowed sincere efforts to expand exports for the country’s economic growth and to restore the ecosystem of nuclear power plants here swiftly. “We will do our best to expand exports that will revive our economy. … It’s important to expand private investment to spread export momentum. For this, the government will mobilize all resources and capabilities,” Bang said in his inaugural speech. Korea'

Merck Korea, the Korean unit of the German chemicals giant, shared the company’s solutions for the future semiconductor industry at an academic conference held by Alumninetzwerk Deutschland-Korea, Tuesday. Under the topic “Unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning in semiconductor manufacturing,” Steven Eulig, head of business development for digital solutions at Merck Electronics, delivered a speech on the company’s digital insight. While th

SK Pharmteco, a global contract development and manufacturing organization under Korean conglomerate SK Group, said Wednesday that it has acquired the Center for Breakthrough Medicines, a US cell and gene therapy firm. The Korean firm exercised its right to acquire a controlling stake in CBM to obtain the management right of the Philadelphia-based cell and gene therapy CDMO, offering pre-clinical to commercial phase therapies. The right was given when SK Pharmteco made its capital investment i

South Korea’s leading battery maker Samsung SDI said Wednesday it has achieved the highest certification of "Platinum" from UL Solutions’ Zero Waste to Landfill program for all six facilities at home. UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, tested the company’s landfill diversion levels according to its ZWTL program, classifying them into 100 percent "Platinum," 99 to 95 percent "Gold," and 94 to 90 percent "Silver" ratin

Shinsegae Food, the food business arm of South Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group, said Wednesday it has launched plant-based alternative food brand "You are What you Eat." The brand will introduce a range of new plant-based products, such as vegan cheese, vegan sauce and oat milk developed with Shinsegae Food's original food technologies. As the brand's first products, three plant-based ready-made meals, including kimchi-topped rice, rigatoni ragu and lasagna Bolognese, hav

South Korean food giant Daesang said Wednesday it will be operating a pop-up store in London, England, from Saturday to Oct. 8, following the increase in demand for Europeans to consume kimchi. In the pop-up, various international dishes paired with Daesang's flagship Jongga kimchi products, such as kimchi tacos, will be sold, and, in the sidelines, an exhibition showcasing kimchi's fermentation process will be presented. According to Daesang, domestic exports of kimchi to Europe h

By Steve Brice In financial markets, there is an inherent tug-of-war between themes/stories and valuations. We are seeing one play out in the equity markets right before our eyes, in the semiconductor industry. This reminds me of my formative investment years of the late 1990s. While we should not blindly follow historical examples, this comparison is something for investors to bear in mind when it comes to making financial decisions and sizing investment positions. Let me start with a caveat.

South Korean biopharmaceutical company Samsung Biologics said Wednesday that the company achieved a stellar performance last year to stand shoulder to shoulder with top global pharmaceutical companies, buoyed by an array of large contract manufacturing deals. The company has been ranked in 37th place in market research company GlobalData’s list of the world's top 50 pharmaceutical companies in 2022, up 13 spots from 2021. According to the rankings, which listed companies based on thei

South Korean chemical and battery materials manufacturer Posco Future M announced on Tuesday that it has obtained the ISO 37301 certification, a global standard for compliance management systems, potentially reinforcing the company’s global credibility as a supplier of battery materials. It is the first company in the domestic battery materials sector to achieve this certification, which could give it a strategic advantage amid its recent expansions and partnerships with international batt

South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution said Tuesday it has raised $1 billion worth of global green bonds to finance its global production facilities. It marks the company's first foray into the global green bond market. Green bonds are bonds specifically designed to provide capital to industries and projects combating climate change, including batteries, an alternative to fossil fuels. This $1 billion bond comprises two portions: $400 million set to mature in 3 years and the remainin

Samsung Group’s guide dog school, which began operations after the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s new management declaration in September 1993, celebrated its 30-year anniversary Tuesday. Samsung held a ceremony commemorating the occasion at Samsung Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, sharing gratitude for the late chairman’s insights, philosophy and passion for his dogs. Lee Kun-hee established Korea’s first school for dogs, aimed at training them for work with the vis

Standard Chartered Bank Korea said Tuesday it started a commercial campaign for its new savings product featuring Kim Young-ok, the oldest working actress in Korea. Under the slogan “You still don’t know? Let’s be clear! Jaeil EZ account,” the new commercial features Kim, 85, as a restaurant owner, telling diners the benefits of the new Jaeil EZ account in a humorous and friendly manner. The bank also chose Korean rock band Itzi’s “Emergency Room” as the

BAT Rothmans, the Korean unit of British America Tobacco, said Tuesday it started a flower planting campaign dubbed “Kkot BAT,” with the aim to save alleys from litter and cigarette butts. “Kkot,” meaning “flower,” and “BAT," meaning “plot” in Korean, this new campaign lays lively flower pots or flower beds in neighborhoods suffering from littering and illegal waste disposal. Acknowledging the roles of citizens in this campaign, BAT Roth