[THE INVESTOR] Korea Electric Power Corp. has more than 10 trillion won (US$9.1 billion) in bonds set to mature by the end of 2018, industry data showed on Aug. 16.According to the data, KEPCO needs to repay bonds with a combined value of 10.2 trillion won by the end of 2018. That represents about 40 percent of all the corporation’s outstanding bonds, which comes to 26 trillion won. The value of bonds the company needs to repay by the end of 2020 stands at 16 trillion won. Although 3 trillion wo

[THE INVESTOR] Chinese investors are rapidly expanding their presence in Seoul’s real estate market, data showed on Aug. 12. According to government data, the number of plots in Seoul held by Chinese nationals rose 10.2 percent during the first three months of the year. At the end of last year, 3,192 plots were held by Chinese nationals, and the figure at the end of the first quarter of this year came to 3,516. According to the data, Chinese real estate investments in Seoul have been rising 40 p

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung BioLogics issued 50 billion won (US$45.31 million) worth of private placement bonds, local media reported on Aug. 12.Citing financial industry sources, the news reports stated that the company issued 1-year private placement bonds. This is the third time the company has issued bonds this year. In January and March, the company had issued bonds with a combined value of 120 billion won. The company said that the bonds were issued to raise money to cover the cost of building

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung BioLogics on Aug. 12 applied to the Korea Exchange for a preliminary listing review. The world’s third largest biologics contract manufacturer by capacity will be the first pharmaceutical firm to be listed on the benchmark KOPSI in 10 years. The company is 51 percent held by Samsung C&T, and 46.8 percent by Samsung Electronics.  A screen welcoming visitors to Samsung BioLogics/ The InvestorSamsung BioLogics is expected to be the largest IPO this year. The industry estimate

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean insurance companies are expected to be given a freer rein in investing in foreign-currency denominated assets.According to sources, revisions to the Insurance Business Act allowing more investment in foreign currency assets will be proposed in September. The revision is expected to be passed without much friction with neither the conservative ruling party nor the opposition parties having raised issue with the proposed changes.At present, local insurers’ investments i

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean money is flowing into dollar-based investment vehicles, as won continues to gain against the greenback. One Aug. 10, the won-dollar rate dropped below 1,100, and experts say that foreign entities consider the won to be undervalued. As the won strengthens against the dollar, local investment companies have seen the influx of funds into dollar repurchase agreements soar in July. The amount put into dollar RP at Daishin Securities went from US$82.96 million at the end of

[THE INVESTOR] Foreign Investment banks project that the Bank of Korea will lower the benchmark rate in the final quarter of the year, the Korea Center for International Finance said on Aug. 12.The KCIF’s analysis of foreign investment banks’ projections showed they expect that slowing international trade may force BOK to lower the rate it in October. The banks also projected that the ongoing corporate restructuring will begin to take its toll on the economy later in the year. BOK govenor Lee Ju

[THE INVESTOR] Two affiliates of Kumho Asiana Group -- Kumho Corp. and Kumho Terminal -- will be merged and relaunched as a single company named Kumho & Co. from Aug. 12.The group announce on Aug. 11 that the merger of Kumho Terminal with its holding company Kumho Corp. has been completed and will be officially launched.The company will be headed by Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo, and Kumho Terminal chief Kim Hyeon-cheol. “Kumho & Co. will have its own business of operating (bus) termi

[THE INVESTOR] Rising household debt is feeding financial risks for South Korea, and the financial authorities are discussing possible countermeasures, Bank of Korea Gov. Lee Ju-yeol said on Aug. 11. Speaking after the Monetary Policy Meeting where the benchmark rate was frozen at 1.25 percent, Lee said that countermeasures for containing household debt may be needed.“Household debt is rising faster than previous years, and it is acting as a factor that increases risks,” Lee said, adding that th

[THE INVESTOR] A Mongolian man working at Hyundai Heavy Industries ’ facility in Ulsan died on Aug. 11. The 42-year old, identified by the surname Bayasgalan, fell from a height of 5 meters while working on the exterior of a vessel. Bayasgalan is the second worker to lose his life at the company’s facilities in as many weeks. Since the beginning of the year, eight people have lost their lives due to accidents at HHI’s facilities. Bayasgalan had been working at HHI as an employee of a subcontract

[THE INVESTOR] Teaser images of the new i30 hatchback was released by Hyundai Motor on Aug. 11. The company also posted a video of the company’s design chief Peter Schreyer explaining the design concept on YouTube.In the video, Schreyer says that the new i30 is a European car developed and designed in Europe, and that the design is an expression of “new spirit” of Hyundai Motor. The new i30, which will hit the domestic market in September, is the third generation of Hyundai Motor’s compact hatch

[THE INVESTOR] The Bank of Korea held the benchmark rate at 1.25 percent on Aug. 11.The decision is thought to have been fueled by concerns over rising household debt, and to gauge the effect of the supplementary budget before making changes. Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeolIn July, household debt shot by 6.3 trillion won (US$5.7 billion) despite the government’s efforts to curb the rise with tougher loan regulations. Of the rise in July, home-backed loans accounted for 5.8 trillion won. The r

[THE INVESTOR] Potential new owners of Hanjin Heavy Industries’ three energy subsidiaries have been narrowed down to six, local media reported on June 10. The final bids have to be submitted on Sept. 26, and finalized the following month. The shortlisted bidders are IMM Investment, Keystone Private Equity, KDB Infrastructure Investments Asset Management, Meritz Securities PE, Hana Financial Investment PE and Mirae N. Hanjin Heavy's Suvic shipyard in Philippines. The deal would see 100 percent of

[THE INVESTOR] With the South Korean won strengthening against the dollar concerns are rising that if the trend continues it could damage the country’s economy. On Aug. 10, the won closed at 1,098.6 won to the dollar, falling below the 1,100-won line since the rate hit 1,097.5 won on June 22, 2015.According to LG Economic Research Institute’s analysis, the won has appreciated 3.3 percent since UK’s referendum on leaving the European Union on June 23.  An employee of Korea Exchange Bank counts US

[THE INVESTOR] Home-backed loans increased by the largest margin this year in July, fueling concerns about household debt that continues to grow despite government efforts.According to the data released by the Bank of Korea on Wednesday, home-backed loans taken out from banks rose 5.8 trillion won ($5.30 billion) in July to come in at 506.6 trillion won.Household loans in general rose 6.3 trillion won from June to come in at 673.7 trillion won, the BOK said. The BOK attributed the rise in home-b

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean government will inject 570 billion won (US$521.25 million) over the course of eight years to develop autonomous vehicle technologies. These and other plans were revealed at the science and technology meeting held by President Park Geun-hye on Aug. 10.  A driver sits behind the wheel of Hyundai Motor`s self-driving Genesis sedan during a road testing event. Hyundai MotorThe government estimates that autonomous vehicles will account for 4 percent of the market in 2025,

[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Motor’s labor union resumed partial strikes on Aug. 10, staying off work in two groups for four-hour stretches. The union will continue the partial strike following the same pattern on Aug. 11-12. The union and management continued negotiations through the nine-day summer vacation, but failed to narrow their differences.  Hyundai Motor's labor unionOne of the key sticking points is the company’s plans to expand the wage peak system. The company currently freezes the salari

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Heavy Industries is mulling plans to issue more shares to raise up to 1.5 trillion won (US$1.37 billion), local media reported on Aug. 10.According to reports, the company is reviewing such plans in preparation for expected delays in delivery of, and payment for, offshore drilling facilities. Samsung Heavy has missed the deadline for delivering a semisubmersible drilling rig to Sweden’s Stena Group, and is now said to be negotiating a new delivery date.  Samsung Heavy's sh

[THE INVESTOR] The Fair Trade Commission is investigating Toyota Motor Korea over allegations that the safety of the RAV4 SUV has been exaggerated. According to the FTC, reports of Toyota Motor Korea violating advertising regulations were filed, and it is now investigating the claims.  RAV4The reports concern the claim that the RAV4 has obtained the top safety rating from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The complaints claim that the RAV4 vehicles sold here are different from RAV4

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea's retail giant Eland has put up real estate in Seoul for sale, as it seeks to reduce its debt-equity ratio. On Aug. 9, Eland put up two plots in western Seoul, and a commercial property in Gangnam area for sale. The company had initially planned to build hotels in the two plots in western Seoul. The combined minimum bid price for the three properties is 300 billion won (US$272.47 million). The company said that the decision is unrelated to its efforts to improve financ