[THE INVESTOR] South Korean smartphone users spend an average 43 minutes per day playing mobile games, a survey showed on Sept. 20. According to the survey of 23,626 smartphone users, conducted in August by WiseApp, an app analytics company, the respondents spend an average 43 minutes per day, or 4 minutes and 28 second per session in a day. The most popular game app was the “Everybody’s Marble” run by KaKaoTalk, the nation’s biggest mobile messenger app, the survey showed. “Minecraft” and “Come

[DISCLOSURE] Samyoung M Tek (054540) announced on Sept. 20 that it has decided to retire its 544,827 common shares on Sept. 21. “The equity capital will not be reduced as the shares are acquired with profit available for dividends,” the company added.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Cowell Fashion (033290) announced on Sept. 19 that it has signed a trust contract with Meritz Securities (008560) to repurchase stocks worth 2.98 billion won (US$2.66 million). The repurchase aims to stabilize its stock price and boost shareholders’ value. The stock acquisition is expected to expire Dec. 19. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] Ediya Coffee has the most shops in South Korea amid rising demand for cheap take-out coffee, government data showed on Sept. 19. There were 1,577 Ediya Coffee franchise outlets across the country last year, followed by 821 Caffe Bene stores and 813 Angel-in-us shops, according to the data compiled by the Fair Trade Commission. The two other coffee franchise operators are also homegrown brands.Starbucks has around 900 shops in the country, but the brand was not subject to the surve

[THE INVESTOR] Rising wine imports have led to a sharp decline in size of grape fields in the country’s central region, a county official here said on Sept. 19.A total of 725 farm houses submitted applications to the county government from the June-July period alone to stop grape farming, with their total size reaching 302 hectares, the official said. Yeongdong, 214 kilometers south of Seoul, and its neighboring county, Okcheon, make up one of the three largest grape producing regions in the cou

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea has imported over 400 tons of food products grown with radiation exposure in Fukushima, Japan, over the past six years, a South Korean opposition lawmaker said on Sept. 19.A total of 407 tons of goods from the region were brought into the country, said Choi Do-ja of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, citing data of the Korea Food and Drug Administration submitted to the National Assembly.A devastating earthquake off the east coast of Japan and a subsequent tsun

[DISCLOSURE] Soulbrain (036830), a manufacture and distribution company of chemical materials used in semiconductors and displays, announced on Sept. 19 that it has terminated a trust contract to repurchase stocks worth 5 billion won (US$4.4 million) with Mirae Asset Daewoo, as the contract has expired.After the termination, the trusted stocks will be exchanged with cash. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] AeroSpace Technology of Korea (067390), a manufacturer of aircrafts and parts, announced on Sept. 19 that it has signed a 26.3 billion won (US$23.46 million) exclusive contract with US-based Spirit AeroSystems to provide stringers for Boeing 737’s single aisle.It amounts to 32.56 percent of its 2015 revenue and the contract expires on Dec. 31, 2023. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Korea Polymer (009810), a flexible intermediate bulk containers provider, announced on Sept. 13 that it is “mulling a bid for supplying bituminous coal to Korea Electric Power Corp. (015760) and other power plants,” in response to Korea Exchange’s inquiry regarding the recent surge in its stock price. The company will post a statement if it is successful.“The memorandum of agreement on developing mines in Indonesia can be turn into an actual contract and we are in the progress of ra

[DISCLOSURE] Unichem (011330) said on Sept. 13 that the safeguard period for its 314,862 common shares owned by Songam Global will expire Sept. 20. The returning period is Sept. 21. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (042660) said on Sept. 13 that “in an effort to implement the already established business normalization plan, we are reviewing expansion of its capital before the year-end.”“The creditors will decide the details including the scale, method and date based on this year’s income statement and other documents,” the company added in response to Korea Exchange’s inquiry. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Alpha Holdings (117670) said on Sept. 12 that it will acquire a total of 4.02 million shares worth 5.74 billion won (US$5.18 million) of US-based Viral Gene to advance overseas and participate in its management. Alpha Holdings will own 25.1 percent stake, making it the second-largest shareholder of Viral Gene.Its biotechnology subsidiary Alpha Biolabs has acquired 2.68 million shares, which amount to 6.7 million in total. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Aekyung Petrochemical (161000) said on Sept. 12 that it has decided to guarantee 14.29 billion won (US$12.84 million) loan of its subsidiary Aekyung Chemical that it borrowed from Citi Bank Shanghai.This amounts to 6.95 percent of its equity capital.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Zaigle (234920), a cooking appliance maker, reported on Sept. 12 that it will acquire land and a building worth 24.5 billion won (US$22.054 million) from Hanwha Engineering & Construction to establish a research and development center and a production and complex logistics center in Incheon. The deal amounts to 47.72 percent of its equity capital. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Imagis (115610), a non-memory semiconductor integrated circuit products company, announced on Sept. 12 that it has obtained a patent for quick charging device of switched-mode power supply by sensing the degree of angle. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] The new wireless earbuds from Apple Inc., AirPods, have been getting a lackluster reception in South Korea, mainly because of their relatively short battery life and high price.Unveiling the new iPhone last week, Apple showed that it had ditched the ubiquitous headphone jack for the smartphone. While Apple described the removal of the 100-year-old audio jack as “courageous,” some critics raised questions about the sound quality of wireless earbuds. The AirPods will be available fo

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s exports retreated 3.6 percent in the first 10 days of September from a year earlier, the latest customs data showed on Sept. 12.Outbound shipments totaled US$13.5 billion from Sept. 1-10, down from $14 billion tallied over the same period last year, according to the Korea Customs Service.Exports of semiconductors fell 5.2 percent on-year, and those of cars plunged 30.8 percent over the 10-day period, offsetting a 19 percent gain in ships and an 8 percent rise in auto

[THE INVESTOR]  Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho on Sept. 9 pledged to be on high alert to deal with possible wider volatility in the local financial market following North Korea’s latest nuclear test.North Korea said earlier it has “successfully” conducted a nuclear warhead explosion test, hours after an earthquake was detected near the country‘s nuclear site in the northeastern region.“The government will be more vigilant than in any other situation as North Korea’s provocation will possibly stir up

[THE INVESTOR]  About 30 percent of manufactured goods consumed by South Koreans in their daily lives were imported from abroad in the second quarter, latest data showed on Sept.9.Out of the total domestic manufacturing supply, including intermediate and consumer goods, foreign-made items accounted for 29.8 percent in the April-June period, up 0.4 percentage point from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.Foreign products took up 46.2 percent in the South Korean ele

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korea’s top financial regulator on Sept. 9 said it will review contingency plans in place for possible market turmoil caused by North Korea’s provocation.The Financial Services Commission convened an emergency meeting of senior officials to discuss the aftermath of the communist neighbor’s fifth nuclear test earlier in the day.In the session, presided over by the FSC’s chief Yim Jong-yong, the commission concluded that the local financial market has suffered no big impact f