controversies

Tech, Media & Telecom Microsoft's quantum computing bet sparks controversy, again

In 2021, Microsoft Corp. faced significant scientific embarrassment when a landmark research paper it had sponsored was retracted.Published in the U...

Entertainment Controversy brews over HYBE Chair Bang’s investment deal with PEFs

Bang Si-hyuk, founder and chairman of HYBE Co., the South Korean entertainment giant behind K-pop global sensations BTS and NewJeans, is embroiled i...

K-pop Blackpink label YG to sell drama production unit

K-pop sensation Blackpink’s label YG Entertainment Inc. is slated to sell 60% of its drama production subsidiary Studioplex later this year, t...

Energy Growing controversy over call to share profits for using wind energy

Renewable energy companies in South Korea are facing growing pressure to share their profits from wind or solar energy electricity generation, stirr...

Beauty & Cosmetics S.Korea’s ModaModa unveils new hair darkening shampoo

South Korean haircare brand ModaModa launched its second-generation hair darkening shampoo "ModaModa Zero Gray Black Shampoo" on Thursday. Prev...

Korean startups Ready for an AI pastor? Not too distant future in South Korea

Some Christians in South Korea are actively embracing the hottest technology of ChatGPT in their spiritual life, sparking controversy over the role ...

Retail GS25 cuts prices amid controversy over World Scout Jamboree branch

South Korea's convenience store chain GS25, which has a makeshift branch for the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, an estuarine tidal flat in...

Korean food Bread mimicking S.Korean penny embroiled in design theft controversy

The Bank of Korea (BOK) has announced that it is in talks with companies to change the design of the “Gyeongju 10 won bread,” which rece...

Korean games Political crypto scandal hits Korean P2E game deregulation hopes

A South Korean lawmaker’s scandal over ownership of cryptocurrencies, including those issued by domestic game developers, is expected to jeopa...

Shareholder activism Korean activist fund mired in controversy over SM stock deals

A South Korean private equity firm leading shareholder activism against SM Entertainment Co. is mired in controversy as it has surfaced that it sold...

Batteries Korean battery players LG, Samsung, SK sweep US EV tax credits

It has long been talked about and finally confirmed: South Korean battery companies are well-placed to benefit from the strengthened requirements of...

Business & Politics KT CEO Ku Hyeon-mo drops reelection bid as controversy flares

KT Corp. Chief Executive Ku Hyeon-mo has abandoned his ambitious bid to lead South Korea’s largest telecommunications company for another thre...

Artificial intelligence Korea’s first ChatGPT-authored, AI-proofread book due this week

ChatGPT has been around for nearly three months and is causing untold chaos across industries and academia.Now, the artificial intelligence chatbot,...

Tech, Media & Telecom Korea internet data center construction faces health issue

South Korea’s information technology industry hit a snag with building new internet data centers (IDCs) due to controversies over the potentia...

Batteries South Korea bans L&F from building a battery material plant in US

The South Korean government has banned L&F Co., a battery materials maker, from building a new plant in the US amid a controversy over the Infla...

Culture & Trends Gucci to hold Alessandro Michele-directed show at Korean royal palace

Italian luxury fashion house Gucci will hold a fashion show choreographed by its famous creative director Alessandro Michele at a South Korean royal...

Earnings S-Oil sees softer Q3 refining margin after record Q2 profit

S-Oil Corp., the South Korean unit of Saudi Arabian Oil Co., on Thursday posted record sales and operating profit for a second consecutive quarter o...

Food & Beverage Starbucks Korea faces its biggest challenge in 23 years 

Starbucks Korea, the undisputed leader in South Korea’s coffee franchise landscape, is facing the biggest challenge of its 23-year history.&nb...

IPOs Kurly’s mounting losses spark controversy over planned IPO

South Korea’s Kurly Inc. nearly doubled its on-year losses on higher costs last year -- raising market controversy over its listing -- as the ...

Electronics Samsung controls 90% of foldable smartphone market

Samsung Electronics Co. is enjoying a dominant position in the foldable smartphone market, alongside the segment's explosive growth aided by afforda...

Cryptocurrencies WeMade under fire for massive clandestine WEMIX cryptocurrency sale

WeMade Co., a South Korean video game developer, has come under criticism for the massive unnoticed selling of its cryptocurrency WEMIX, allegedly i...

Hydrogen economy Hanwha partially sells stake in controversial Nikola

Hanwha Group has made a partial exit from Nikola Corporation, one of the most controversial firms in the US hydrogen sector. Green Nikola Holdings L...

The Deep Dive Misandry controversy rattles Korean retailers; CEO of No.1 fashion app steps down

Gender-discrimination controversies are rattling South Korean retailers, with two companies recently accused of misandry in publicity campaigns. In...

IPOs Controversy surrounds SK Bioscience’s $1 bn IPO valuation  

SK Bioscience Co., a spin-off of SK Chemicals Co.'s vaccine division, is set to list on the South Korean stock exchange on March 18 to raise up to $...