South Korean food company SPC Samlip has signed an exclusive contract with US-based Chobani to distribute and sell their yogurt products here, the company said Thursday. Starting July, SPC Samlip said it will exclusively supply Chobani products to retailers here, and also work on producing new products under the brand using homegrown ingredients. Chobani supports the Farmer’s Assuring Responsible Management animal welfare program, which ensures that farms supplying milk to the company

Posco broke ground on a 760 billion-won plant for lithium hydroxide, a key material for electric vehicle batteries, in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, the company said Wednesday. The factory, to occupy a 196,000-square-meter plot inside the Yulchon Industrial Complex in Gwangyang, would have an annual production capacity of 43,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide, a volume enough to produce 1 billion electric vehicles, the company said. The construction is expected to complete in 2023.

SK global chemical received the highest mark on a United Nations environment-friendly certification thanks to its plastic upcycling technology, the company said Tuesday. According to the company, it received the top score for the Guidelines for Reducing Plastic Waste & Sustainable Ocean and Climate Action Acceleration (GRP) certificate, which the Association for Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN announces every May. The GRP certificate is aimed to encourage companies

Hyundai Steel is running an upcycling campaign to find new uses for discarded coffee grounds as part of its social contribution project, the company said Monday. From May 17 to June 16, the steelmaker is putting up advertisements showing eco-friendly products made from coffee waste inside subway stations and on city buses operating in Incheon, the company said. The campaign is designed to promote the idea of upcycling coffee waste. People who take selfies with the advertisements and post th

With the Earth’s rapidly changing climate and its consequences being felt around the world, calls are growing for nations to take immediate action to tackle the issue. To play its part in the global fight against climate change, South Korea is implementing measures to become a net-zero emitter of greenhouse gases. Among them is a plan to plant 3 billion trees by 2050, and the key is to keep the country’s forests young, Choi Byeong-am, the minister of the Korea Forest Service tol

Major business associations in South Korea welcomed the outcome of President Moon Jae-in’s visit to the US, and praised announced partnerships on strategic business areas including semiconductor chips and batteries. The Federation of Korean Industries, a major business lobbying group here, issued a statement on Sunday on the business agreements made over the weekend in line with President Moon’s summit talks with his US counterpart Joe Biden. “We view the agreement of the

As the car industry is moving fast to migrate to environmentally friendly energy sources, Hyundai Steel is going full steam ahead with its hydrogen business.　 The steelmaker said Thursday that it will expand its hydrogen business to go in tandem with its biggest client Hyundai Motor Group’s fuel cell electric vehicle production. Hyundai Motor Group, in its Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Vision 2030 unveiled in 2018, said it would produce 500,000 FCEV units by 2030. It was in 2016 that Hyun

What completes a perfect ride relies not only on the car’s driving performance, but also how it instills a sense of self-worth and pride in the driver, people here often say. Luxury Italian automaker Maserati’s sport utility vehicle Levante S ticks all of those boxes, naturally catching the eyes of passersby with its classy, yet powerful aura. The Korea Herald had the chance to test drive the Maserati Levante S GranSport Zegna Pelletessuta, the limited edition model whose interi

Posco International has agreed to supply tools and materials for Korea Midland Power’s overseas renewable energy business under a new partnership agreement, the company said Tuesday. The trade arm of Posco, the country’s leading steelmaker, signed a memorandum of understanding with KOMIPO for the supply agreement, with Posco International President and Chief Executive Officer Joo Si-bo and KOMIPO President Kim Ho-bin in attendance. “We wish for the country to gain a footho

Convenience store chain GS25 is opening three locations in Mongolia, in its second major overseas foray, the company said on Tuesday. According to GS Retail, the firm behind the chain, it has partnered with Shunkhlai Group, one of leading conglomerates in the country, to enter the Mongolian market. A launch event was held in both South Korea and Mongolia, livestreamed online on Tuesday, with company officials as well as dignitaries from both countries in attendance, including the South Kore

Han Sung Motor, the largest Mercedes-Benz dealer here, presented its third signature perfume, Passion Mystique, as part of efforts to better connect with its customers, the company said Monday. To create a new brand experience, Han Sung Motor has sought to link its unique fragrances with the brand’s identity, and launched its first signature perfume Hansung Interior Fragrance in 2015 upon the company’s 30th anniversary. The company released Han Sung No. 2 in the following year. A

Fake meat, or meat analogues are becoming more familiar in the South Korea’s food scene, with fast food franchises rolling out items that use plant-based meat alternatives. It was just February last year when Lotte GRS’ burger chain Lotteria became the first fast food franchise to roll out a meat analogue option. The Miracle Burger uses a specially developed patty made of wheat and beans. Since then, more fast food franchises have added options with meat alternatives to their menu

Major conglomerates in South Korea are introducing paid leave of 1-3 days for workers who get COVID-19 vaccine shots, following the government’s recommendation. CJ Group was the latest to announce it would introduce the system, allowing its employees to take two days off work -- the day of the vaccination and the day after. Those who suffer from side effects of the vaccine can take one more day off paid, without a doctor’s note, the company said. The vaccination leave is also g

After Porsche unveiled its first electrified sports car, the Taycan, in 2019, the automaker faced questions from car enthusiasts. What makes a sports car a sports car? Could a battery-powered car really ever offer the same thrilling ride as a high-performance conventional sports car? But after taking the Porsche Taycan 4S for a 350-kilometer trip in a mountainous region of Gangwon Province, this reporter was impressed. The car not only proved as capable as any sports car that runs on gasoline

Leaders of South Korea’s major conglomerates will accompany President Moon Jae-in on his trip to the United States for his first summit with US President Joe Biden, industry sources said Thursday. Unlike previous presidential visits, this one will not include an official business delegation due to safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the government has reportedly asked select companies in the fields of semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals and batteries to join Moon, as wel

The so-called “boss car” Mercedes-Benz S-Class has returned in seven years with a complete makeover, boasting what a luxury saloon can offer for a car ride. Since the launch of its previous model in 2013, the S-Class has maintained its reputation as a prestigious sedan and often the choice of business entrepreneurs for its luxurious image. The car also appeals to older drivers, not only for the high price range, but also for its classic design that has remained unchanged for sev

The Malaysian government has decided to reverse its preliminary decision to impose anti-dumping tariffs on Korean polyethylene terephthalate products, according to industry officials on Sunday. After an investigation, Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry recently concluded that PET products imported from Korea will not damage the country’s oil and chemical industries, and decided to lift the temporary anti-dumping tariffs, according to industry sources here. Acc

As competition is escalating among hydrogen automakers, Toyota Motor topped global fuel cell electric vehicle sales in the first quarter this year, beating Hyundai Motor, which had led the global FCEV market in 2020, research revealed Wednesday. According to SNE Research, global sales of FCEVs jumped 89.2 percent on-year, hitting nearly 4,000 units in the first quarter this year. Toyota, which took 15.1 percent of the FCEV market share in 2020, witnessed a surge in its FCEV sales by nearly

Zigzag, a fashion e-commerce platform that mainly targets customers in their 20s and early 30s, has recently hired Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung, who is 73 years old, as a model. In Zigzag’s advertisement revealed online, Youn asks, “There are a lot of people who are younger and prettier, but then, I got the role (for the advertisement). Did you guys make a mistake?” The hire came as a “fresh” idea, attempting to break the norm that young figures are hired as model

Namyang Dairy Products Chairman Hong Won-sik offered his resignation Tuesday, after the company came under fire for the claim that its yogurt drink Bulgaris can help protect from COVID-19. Hong, who took over the company from his father, the late founder Hong Doo-young, also said he will not hand over management rights of the company to his children. “We have received much love from the public as the oldest private dairy company. But I failed to fulfill the expectations of the consumer