[DISCLOSURE] Epoxy and polyamide resins manufacturer Kukdo Chemical (007690) announced on Oct. 4 that it is issuing corporate bonds worth 20 billion won (US$18.10 million) with maturity date on Sept. 30, 2019, to acquire a factory site in Busan. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Boryung Pharmaceutical (003850) reported on Oct. 4 that it has signed a technology introduction contract with PharmaMar of Spain for rights to launch and commercialize Aplidin, a treatment option for multiple myeloma, in Korea. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Korea Zinc (010130), which manufactures and markets non-ferrous metal products, announced on Sept. 30 that it has signed a private contract with its parent company Young Poong to provide lead and silver bullion worth 2 billion won (US$1.82 million) and purchase raw material worth 38 billion won.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] The South Korean government said on Sept. 30 that it will encourage local steel and petrochemicals manufacturers to restructure in pursuit of higher value-added products. Besides facility downsizing, steel and petrochemicals companies will be induced to implement mergers and acquisitions for such uncompetitive products as thick plates, steel tubes, terephthalic acid and polystyrene, under the government's campaign to strengthen their competitiveness and sustainability in the globa

[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Rotem, the train-making unit of Hyundai Motor Group, reported on Sept. 30 that it has signed a 203 billion won (US$185 million) contract to supply train cars to Tunisia.The South Korean firm will supply 112 train cars starting in the second half of 2018 under the contract with the Tunisian government, the company said. A rendering image of Hyundai Rotem's train car. Hyundai RotemHyundai Rotem also won a similar deal, valued at 168 billion won, from Tunisia in 2007. With th

[DISCLOSURE] Singsong Holdings (006880) announced on Sept. 29 that its subsidiary Singsong Food has decided on a 10 billion won (US$9.09 million) short term borrowing to secure budget for its trust fund. This amounts to 10.9 percent of its equity capital, and will be invested in Koramco’s professional private real estate investment trust No. 42.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR]  The iris-recognition capability of the new Galaxy Note 7 smartphone by Samsung Electronics is expected to allow customers to use mobile banking services by Kookmin Bank, a bank official said on Sept.29. Samsung plans to start sales of the new Note 7 on Saturday in South Korea, about one month after the world’s biggest maker of smartphones announced a global recall of the old Note 7 due to a faulty battery. Samsung will soon announce a partnership with Kookmin Bank and other finan

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea and Uzbekistan on Sept. 29 signed a memorandum of understanding on new infrastructure projects in the Central Asian country, the Finance Ministry here said.South Korea’s Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho and his Uzbek counterpart Rustam Azimov held a meeting in Seoul to discuss ways to bolster economic cooperation between the two countries and expand the participation of South Korean companies in government-led projects in Tashkent, according to the ministry.Under the MOU, th

[THE INVESTOR] The ratio of senior citizens aged 65 and over in South Korea rose to an all-time high in 2015, underscoring the trend that the country’s population is aging at a fast pace, government data showed on Sept.29. According to the data by Statistics Korea, 6.57 million, or 13.2 percent of the country’s population of 49.7 million, excluding foreigners, is aged 65 or older, which is far higher than the 11 percent tallied in 2010.The ratio nearly quadrupled over the past half-century from

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea will double its investment in renewable energy technology as the country seeks to harness its climate change policy as a new economic growth driver, a senior diplomat said on Sept.29.“With recent low oil prices, the global energy market appears relatively stable, but actually it is in a stage of enormous change,” Lee Tae-ho, deputy minister for economic affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in his opening remarks for Global Energy Security Conference.“It por

[THE INVESTOR] Funds that invest in Vietnamese stocks are growingly popular among South Korean investors lured by the nation’s relatively high economic growth, data showed on Sept.29. Those funds drew net inflows of 78.3 billion won (US$72.20 million) in September, up from 50 billion won a month earlier, according to KG Zeroin, a fund evaluation firm here. The amount quite stands out as 27 other overseas stock funds posted net inflows of less than 5 billion won or suffered net outflows.A net tot

[THE INVESTOR] Interest rates on new personal bank loans slightly dropped from a month earlier in August and interest on new deposits also dipped, central bank data showed on Sept. 29. The average interest rate on fresh personal loans extended by local banks came to 2.95 percent last month, down 0.01 percentage point from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea or BOK.The August reading marked the fifth consecutive month of drop. Lower rates could prompt households to borrow more mone

[DISCLOSURE] Hyundai Home Shopping Network (057050) and AJ Networks (095570) announced on Sept. 28 that have not been selected as preferred bidders for Tongyang Magic. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] Cash reserves of South Korean households made a sharp dip in the second quarter due to increased spending and debt repayment, central bank data showed Sept. 28.Excess funds held by local households, including nonprofit organizations, came to 13.7 trillion won (US$12.40 billion) as of end-June, compared with 24.3 trillion won from three months earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea.The on-quarter decrease came as people increased their spending and payments o

[THE INVESTOR] The number of childbirths in South Korea were on a downturn at the fastest clip in nearly three years in July, government data showed on Sept. 28.About 33,900 babies were born in July, down 7.4 percent, or 2,700, from 36,600 a year earlier, marking the steepest monthly drop since November 2013, when it posted a 12.3 percent on-year plunge, according to the data from Statistics Korea.The number of marriages fell 10.2 percent on-year to a 10-month low of 21,200 in July, while 8,700

[DISCLOSURE] Imagis (115610), which produces non-memory semiconductor integrated circuit products, announced on Sept. 26 that it has obtained a patent for a pressure sensitive touchscreen. This new touchscreen is designed for games as it allows users to conduct a variety of tasks by varying pressure when they touch the screen. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Korea Financial Investment Association announced on Sept. 26 that it has listed MOA Information Technology on Korea-Over The Counter market, and it will start trading from Sept. 28. The price per share is 329 won (US$0.30) with a face value of 500 won. MOA has been installing and managing electronic prepaid payment systems since 2008. Its total assets are valued at 3.73 billion won while its total liabilities reached 3.624 billion won last year with equity capital standing at 107 mi

[DISCLOSURE] KG Inicis (035600), an online payment gateway service provider, said on Sept. 26 that it will acquire 600,000 shares (60 percent) of Allat, an affiliate of Samsung. The company added that after the acquisition, it will “further solidify our top market share in PG industry.” It also plans on expanding to online-to-offline commerce using VAN Business.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s imports increased sharply in August in both quantity and value, led by the machinery and chemical sectors, the central bank data showed on Sept.26.The import volume index jumped 7.5 percent to 124.58 in the month from a year earlier, marking the largest growth since late 2014, according to the Bank of Korea. It’s a 5.6 percent rise from 117.94 recorded in July.By item, the imports of machinery and chemical products rose 22.7 percent and 18.9 percent on-year, respecti

[DISCLOSURE]SM Robotics has been listed on Korea New Exchange, or KONEX, it announced on Sept. 26. SM Robotics manufactures toys, dolls and other goods for entertainment purposes including its main item, horse-riding simulators. Its equity capital was 3.51 billion won (US$3.18 million) in 2015 while its sales reached 4.86 billion won and operating profit was 726 million won. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)