[THE INVESTOR] Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho’s only son and youngest daughter have taken over key posts in the transportation conglomerate, accelerating the succession of ownership to the next generation.The group announced Aug. 3 that his son Cho Won-tae, who is vice chairman of Korean Air, has been named as a director of Jungseok -- a private real estate management firm that is a core company in the group’s corporate governance structure -- “to strengthen responsible management for the sub

[DISCLOSURE] Samsung Engineering (028050) announced on Aug. 4 that it has signed a 814 billion won (US$728.42 million) contract with its affiliate Samsung Display to provide infrastructure for display panel manufacturing. This amounts to 12.64 percent of its 2015 revenue.

[THE INVESTOR] Chinese toy and game maker Hengsheng Group is to be listed on South Korea’s secondary bourse KOSDAQ on Aug. 18. Established in 1992, it is the largest toy manufacturer in Fujian province, supplying toys to international enterprises such as Disney, Mattel and Fisher-Price. It also has been making mascots for three consecutive Olympics from 2004 to 2012. “We will bridge the cultural industry between Korea and China, and grow into an international family entertainment company,” said

[THE INVESTOR] Retail giant E-mart announced on Aug. 3 that its own apparel label DAIZ will be reborn as a fashion-oriented brand. Although it has steadily grown to record the second-largest sales volume among SPA brands in the country next only to Uniqlo, it failed to outgrow the image of a private label offered by a big box retailer. As the discount chain and its social media-savvy owner Chung Yong-jin posted online, DAIZ will further communicate with its clientele through social media and fas

[THE INVESTOR] The South Korean government will put emphasis on new areas of logistics sector and let civilians take the initiative, according to a 10-year plan released Aug. 3.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced a mid- to long-term basic scheme for national logistics policies that included plans to establish infrastructure at major airports and seaports aiming to nurture new high added value businesses such as cold chains and O2O. Re

[THE INVESTOR] A well-known street lined with cafés in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, will be recreated in Jakarta, Indonesia. At a media conference on Aug. 3 in the neighborhood, the Small and Medium Business Administration announced that it will establish “K-Town for small businesses” in the Indonesian capital by the end of 2018.It aims to nurture K-Town into a local popular destination similar to that in Yongin where over 120 cafés and stores are attracting many visitors.As a global business mode

[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics will feature videos introducing UNESCO World Heritage sites in South Korea on electronic billboards around Times Square in New York until the end of August, it announced on Aug. 3.This is in accordance with the firm’s agreement with Cultural Heritage Administration, the government agency charged with preserving and promoting Korean cultural heritage, signed in June to help promote the nation’s sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The 60-second video will be projec

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Securities and Korea Investment Securities are in the race to acquire Commerzbank Tower, the tallest office building in Europe, according to local media reports Aug. 3. Estimated to be worth 900 billion won (US$809.35 million), the sale of Commerzbank’s headquarters is garnering international attention. Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC is also eyeing the prime real estate.The lead financial manager for the deal Commerz Real came to Seoul last month and had talks with

[THE INVESTOR] The US branch of Samsung Electronics has secured a large logistics center near Chicago, according to business webzine Chicago Business.  Samsung leased space in this 36,000 square-meter building in the CenterPoint Intermodal Center in Joliet and Elwood, Illinois. The tech giant reportedly signed a 5-year lease for about 36,000 square meters of CenterPoint Intermodal Center in Joliet and Elwood, Illinois, about 65 kilometers southwest of downtown Chicago. Established in 2002, the M

[DISCLOSURE] Hyundai Merchant Marine (011200) announced on Aug. 2 that it will issue convertible bonds worth 200 billion won (US$179.86 million) for private offering. The maturity date is June 30, 2019 and the conversion price is 9,530 won.

[THE INVESTOR] Shinsegae’s mega shopping complex slated to open in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, will become the first place to showcase Tesla’s electric vehicles, industry sources said on Aug. 2.Although Starfield Hanam and the US electric car maker’s Korean branch are fine-tuning the details, the first store is set to open in November taking up 200 square meters on the second floor of the mall, which will unveil in September as the largest mall in the country. Tesla Model 3.The showroom will be di

[DISCLOSURE] eTEC E&C (016250) announced on Aug. 2 that its second-quarter operating profit fell 25.8% to 21.94 billion won (US$21.94 million) from the same period last year. Its sales increased 3.97 percent to 325.88 billion won and net profit decreased 29.3 percent to 12.95 billion won.

[DISCLOSURE] Deutsch Motors (067990) announced on Aug. 2 that it will increase its short-term borrowings by 15 billion won (US$13.51 million) to secure short-term liquidity in accordance with the increase in new car sales. This amounts to 24.9 percent of its equity capital.

[DISCLOSURE] Namkwang E&C (001260) announced on Aug. 2 that the safe deposit period of its 3.2 million shares will end on Aug. 4. The securities certificates have been deposited for capital increase with third party allotment.

[DISCLOSURE] Woongjin Thinkbig (095720) announced on Aug. 2 that its second-quarter operating profit rose 348.6% to 9.3 billion won (US$8.37 million) from the same period last year. Its sales slipped 1.3 percent down to 155.2 billion won on-year.

[DISCLOSURE] Kaon Media (078890) announced on Aug. 2 that it has decided to issue convertible bonds for private offering to finance 15 billion won (US$13.51 million) operation funds. The maturity date is Aug. 10, 2021.

[DISCLOSURE] STX Engine (077970) announced on Aug. 2 that it has signed a US$29.68 million contract with an Asian shipbuilder to supply vessel engines. This amounts to 5.26 percent of its 2015 revenue.

[THE INVESTOR] Archigen Biotech, a 50:50 joint venture between Samsung BioLogics and Astrazeneca UK established in 2014, has recently resumed its stalled biosimilar development project. According to industry sources on Aug. 2, the company has applied for US Food and Drug Administration’s approval to initiate phase 1 of clinical trials for SAIT101 in June. A Samsung BioLogics plant in Songdo, IncheonSAIT101 is a biosimilar version of rituximab, more commonly known as Roche’s Rituxan, used to trea

[DISCLOSURE] MS Autotech (123040) announced on Aug. 2 that it has obtained a patent related to a laser welding technique.

[THE INVESTOR] Lee Myung-hee still reigns supreme as the chairwoman of South Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group. But it is her children now who lead the group’s two pillars: Chung Yong-jin of big-box retailer chain E-mart and Chung Yoo-kyung of Shinsegae Department Stores. Chung Yoo-kyung (left) and Chung Yong-jinIn April, they made news when the conglomerate announced that the brother-sister duo have decided to swap the shares they own in each other’s units. Shinsegae Vice Chairman Yong-jin ru