Middle East woes

Pension funds NPS yet to schedule external manager selection; PE firms’ fundraising woes deepen

South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS), the world’s third-largest pension fund, has yet to decide on a plan to select local extern...

Automobiles Exports of Korea-made used cars to hit record high in 2025

South Korea’s exports of used cars by its homegrown auto brands are expected to hit a historic high this year, thanks to their improved brand ...

Beauty & Cosmetics K-beauty defies trade headwinds as exports to China, US lead sales growth

South Korea’s beauty industry is mounting a powerful global push, defying trade pressures and economic uncertainties with a surge in exports t...

Economy Korea’s weak exports add to Trump tariff risk woes

South Korea’s exports in the first two months skidded as sales to the world’s two largest economies China and the US fell, adding to con...

Alternative investments KIC explores Europe middle-market private equity opportunities

The Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) on Monday explored investment opportunities in Europe’s middle-market private equity sector with other ...

Medical devices Middle East: New land of opportunity for Korean medical devices

South Korea is making inroads into the Middle East's medical device market dominated by the US and Europe, aiming to leverage the region’s str...

Beauty & Cosmetics Korean beauty giants Amorepacific, LG H&H come back from China woes

South Korea’s two largest cosmetics makers, Amorepacific Corp. and LG H&H Co., are recovering from years of lackluster overseas business p...

Aerospace & Defense Hanwha Aerospace nears $276 million K9 howitzer deal with Vietnam

South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace Co. is close to signing a 400 billion won ($276 million) deal to export as many as 30 units of the K9 Thunder s...

Debt financing Korea debt financing faces woes as $34 bn in corporate bonds mature in H1

South Korea’s financial markets will see nearly 50 trillion won ($34 billion) in corporate bonds mature in the first half of next year —...

Real estate GIC drops Seoul landmark building sale on Korea’s political woes

Singapore’s GIC Private Ltd., the world’s sixth-largest sovereign wealth fund, dropped the sale of a landmark building in Seoul due to t...

Venture capital S.Korean startup accelerators to boost overseas biz

South Korean accelerators (ACs) are turning to Southeast Asia and the Middle East market to support startups and expand their reach.ACs, companies t...

Shipping & Shipbuilding HMM introduces S.Korea's first LNG-powered vessels

South Korea's HMM Co. said on Friday that it will introduce two 7,700 TEU (1 TEU equals one 20-foot container) container ships powered by liquefied ...

Shipping & Shipbuilding Hanwha Systems, HJ S&C to enter overseas naval vessel market

South Korea's Hanwha Systems Co. said on Tuesday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HJ Shipbuilding & Construction Co. to...

Automobiles Kia debuts Tasman to target $333 bn global pickup truck market

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, on Tuesday premiered the Tasman, its first pickup truck to target t...

IPOs Hyundai to launch India’s largest $3.3 bn IPO next week

Hyundai Motor Co.'s Indian subsidiary said on Wednesday it is set to launch its initial public offering, the largest listing in the country, next we...

Tech, Media & Telecom LG Uplus, GSMA sign Open Gateway agreement

South Korea's LG Uplus Corp. said on Monday that it signed an agreement with the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) to parti...

Artificial intelligence Naver to set up Middle Eastern headquarters in Saudi Arabia

Naver Corp., which has been actively seeking to unlock opportunities in the Middle East with its new growth engines artificial intelligence, cloud a...

Shipping & Shipbuilding HD Hyundai to supply shaft generator for Middle Eastern firm

South Korea's HD Hyundai Marine Solution Co. secured a $37 million contract to supply shaft generator systems for 17 liquefied natural gas (LNG) car...

Aerospace & Defense S.Korea’s LIG Nex1, Iraq set for $2.6 billion deal on M-SAM missile system

Iraq has decided to import South Korean-made mid-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) system II, known as Cheongung II, in a deal estimated at $2.6 ...

Energy Taihan Cable completes 1st optical cable plant in Kuwait

Taihan Cable & Solution Co. said on Tuesday it has completed the first fiber optic cable factory in Kuwait, in a joint project with Rank General...

Automobiles Slowing economy creates opportunity for S. Korean used car sellers

South Korea’s used car sellers hope to take advantage of the slowing economic growth at home and abroad to expand their market shares.Lotte Re...

Automobiles Lotte Rental establishes UAE subsidiary

South Korea's Lotte Rental Co. said on Thursday that it established an overseas subsidiary in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to boost the expo...

Tech, Media & Telecom LG CNS, Aeon to collaborate on EdTech in Japan

South Korea's LG CNS announced on Thursday it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aeon, an education company operating over 300 direct l...

Private debt Value in the middle market: Smaller size means greater potential

Middle market direct lending can mean different things to different lenders and investors. Many, if not most, would agree that companies with over $...

Energy South Korea finds massive crude oil, gas prospects in East Sea: Yoon

South Korea, which heavily relies on imports for its energy use, has found a potentially massive reserve of oil and gas offshore close to its southe...

Business & Politics Naver beleaguered by weak Korean businesses amid Line woes

South Korea’s online giant Naver Corp. is struggling with sluggish core domestic businesses – commerce, search and sports – as Jap...

Venture capital UAE to invest up to $1 bn in S.Korean ventures

The United Arab Emirates is set to invest a maximum of $1 billion in South Korean startups via a joint venture, as a part of its mid- to long-term p...

Electronics LG Electronics hosts 'LG Showcase 2024' in UAE

LG Electronics Inc. announced on Friday that it hosted a new product showcase event called "LG Showcase 2024" in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, fr...

Bio & Pharma HK inno.N to release K-CAB in MENA market

South Korean bio-health company HK inno.N announced on Tuesday that it signed a contract with Saudi Arabian local pharmaceutical company Tabuk Pharm...

Foreign exchange Korean won at 17-month low on Middle East woes, Fed rate view

The South Korean won currency on Tuesday fell to its weakest level in 17 months, briefly touching the psychologically important 1,400 per dollar lev...