[THE INVESTOR] Jaguar Land Rover Korea, the Korean unit of the UK luxury carmaker, is considering legal action against Ticket Monster, a local daily-deal site that recently sold 20 Jaguar cars on its online website. “We are selling cars in Korea through nine official dealers only. We have never discussed selling cars through a social commerce site,” said an official of Jaguar Land Rover Korea. “We are considering legal action for damage to our brand value and image and consumer confusion.” Jagua

[THE INVESTOR] SK Group, the nation’s fourth-largest conglomerate, topped the list of 20 conglomerates in terms of trading volume among their affiliates, according to Chaebul.com, a conglomerate-tracking research firm, on Aug. 10. The combined internal trading among SK companies was 33.3 trillion won (US$30 billion) last year, with 24 affiliates earning more than half of their revenue from transactions with sister firms. SK Group headquarters in Seorin-dong, central SeoulOther chaebol groups wit

[THE INVESTOR] SK Group, the nation’s third-largest conglomerate, is considering selling off its money-losing solar power business that has been conducted by its semiconductor and display material unit SKC Solmics. SKC Solmics confirmed the sell-off plan in a regulatory filing on Aug. 9. SK Group headquartersIndustry watchers predict the company could sell the business to a third party or just withdraw from the market. SKC Solmics entered the solar power market in 2010, producing wafers for sola

[THE INVESTOR] Korean Internet giant Naver on Aug. 9 launched its new translation app Papago that offers services in four languages, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English. The app translates text, speech and images into the target language. Words with several meanings come with related images to prevent mistranslation. The app is currently available on the Android OS only and is scheduled to launch its Apple iOS version in September. “We will take on global rivals with our own artifici

[THE INVESTOR] Seoul Semiconductor, the nation’s leading light-emitting diode maker, is investing US$300 million in Vietnam to build a new LED and chip plant there. According to industry sources on Aug. 9, the company recently got approval from the regional government for the construction.The new plant will be located on a 75,000 square-meter site in the northern province of Ha Nam by 2019. About 3,000 people are expected to be hired.  Seoul Semiconductor headquarters.The company said it aims to

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note 7 will hit the European market next month after a yearlong hiatus. According to industry sources on Aug. 9, the new Note phablet will be launched in Europe on Sept. 2, with the preorders starting from Aug. 16. Samsung skipped Europe for the predecessor Note 5 launch last year to focus more on key markets such as Asia and the US for the bigger-screen phone. Samsung’s mobile business chief Koh Dong-jin poses with the Galaxy Note 7 during an unpack ev

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics’ new smartphone Galaxy Note 7 saw more than 200,000 preorders over the past two days, double that of its S7 sibling, industry data showed on Aug. 9. The preorder figure is the highest-ever for a Galaxy phone. The latest Note, unveiled on Aug. 2, boasts diverse new features such as an iris scanner for unlocking the handset, a curved screen, waterproof and upgraded pen functions.  Samsung Galaxy Note 7Samsung’s aggressive marketing is also playing a role in attra

[THE INVESTOR] Amid a public outcry, presidential pardons are being discussed to set free some guilty tycoons on Aug. 15 Liberation Day. President Park Geun-hye had hinted she would pardon some jailed chaebol owners, citing economic difficulties. But industry watchers expect the number could be minimized considering negative public sentiment. The final list of those receiving a special pardon will be announced later this week. CJ Group Cairman Lee Jay-hyunCJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun is pinnin

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Display, the display-making unit of  Samsung Electronics, is facing supply constraints amid soaring Chinese demand for its organic light-emitting diode panels. According to Taiwan-based Digi Times, China’s budget smartphone maker Oppo may fall short of its revised goal of shipping 90 to 100 million smartphones this year due to insufficient supply of OLED panels from Samsung.  Oppo R9 smartphone that uses Samsung Display’s OLED display screenThe newspaper added Oppo has alr

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics is seeking partners to jointly develop nine key technologies such as fingerprint-proof coating, quick-charging and social network service analysis for its upcoming smartphones. Samsung Galaxy S7. Samsung is seeking partnership to prevent fingerprint smudges on touch-screen display and metal body.The company’s mobile business division recently announced the plan on Samsung’s website for global partnership management www.secbuy.com. It is the first time that the

[THE INVESTOR] Tesla Motors, which is finalizing its entry plan into the Korean market possibly in November, is expected to see no benefits from the government’s consumer subsidies for electric vehicles. The Environment Ministry and provincial governments offer 12 million won (US$11,000) to 19 million won as subsidies for each EV purchase. But the benefits are given to a vehicle whose charging takes less than 10 hours with a 7 kilowatt-hour low-speed charger. Tesla Model STesla’s current two mod

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s top mobile game provider Nexon and game maker Wingstudio have jointly launched "Chaos Chronicle," the latest role-playing game targetting mobile users in Asia, the companies said on Aug. 5.　　"Chaos Chronicle" is a 2D game and was initially designed to outcompete rival companies in Japan, known as the birthplace of 2D games, said Heo In-ho, ceo of Wingstudio.s. He also expressed confidence that the game will gain popularity in Asian countries where 2D games are favore

[THE INVESTOR] Woongjin Foods is relaunching its own 815 Cola again after two failed attempts over the past decades. The company said on Aug. 5 it will reenter the nation’s 1 trillion won carbonate drink market with its refashioned 815 Cola and 815 Cider brands. The first Korea-made cola, named after the nation’s Liberation Day on Aug. 15, made its ambitious debut back in 1998 with an aim to take on the top two -- Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Its market share once soared to 13.7 percent. Woongjin Foods’

[THE INVESTOR] Orion Group Chairman Tam Chul-kon, one of some 10 chaebol owners who are likely to receive special presidential pardons on Aug. 15, is expected to wage a legal battle with former executives. On Aug. 2, three former Orion executives filed a petition to Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Justice, seeking the cancellation of the the planned presidential pardon for Tam. Orion Group Chairman Tam Chul-kon.Orion is a confectionery and media giant that is best known for its steady-seller C

[THE INVESTOR]  LG Household and Health Care is eyeing the nation’s soaring pet grooming market, launching a new brand called O’s Sirius.The pet market is currently crowded with smaller firms, most of whom are retailers of imported goods. The health care business unit of LG Group is said to be especially interested in locally producing premium pet products, news reports said on Aug. 5. The launching items include premium shampoo, conditioner, mist and deodorant that are made of natural ingredien

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s No. 1 mobile game developer Netmarble Games is seeking to go public on the nation’s benchmark stock exchange KOSPI in the coming months. The company has long gauged its initial public offering in Korea or the US as part of its push for global expansion.A NASDAQ debut could help it elevate its presence in overseas markets but there was risk of being undervalued as compared to KOSPI.  Netmarble founder Bang Joon-hyuk.Sources say its recent failed attempt to acquire Pla

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung SDI and LG Chem, the nation’s top two battery makers, are preparing to get battery certifications from China later this month, hoping the recent tensions between Korea and China will not affect the pending decision. After four failed attempts over the past months, this is their fifth attempt to receive China’s state subsidies for electric vehicles using their batteries. A total of 56 firms, most of them Chinese, have thus far been certified for subsidies that take effect f

[THE INVESTOR] LG Innotek, the electronics parts unit of LG Group, is expected to improve profits in the latter half of this year on the growing demand for its dual-camera modules used in smartphones. HMC Investment and Securities said on Aug. 4 that LG Innotek will secure more orders especially in the US as its rival Sony has failed to meet the demands due to a recent earthquake at its Japanese plant.The company suffered sluggish sales due to reduced shipments of its key clients Apple and LG El

[THE INVESTOR] Shares of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors on Aug. 4 started lower than the previous day after news reports that Samsung Electronics could purchase some or all stake in Mgneti Marelli, the parts maker of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Hyundai closed at 130,500 won (US$117) per share, down 1.14 percent from the day before.  Its smaller affiliate Kia plunged to a record low of 40,650 won in 52 weeks earlier in the day but the price recovered to 40,800 won, a 0.49 percent decline. Hyundai Mo

[THE INVESTOR] NEW YORK -- When Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note smartphone first hit the market in 2011, many critics, as well as rivals were doubtful on the success of the phone featuring a screen larger than 5 inches and a stylus. Some, including the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs in particular, were especially skeptical about the digital pen, which they said was too dumb to mimic the delicate moves of human fingers.Samsung Electronics’ president and mobile business chief Koh Dong-jin. Samsung Ele