export controls

Bio & Pharma Korea’s pharmaceutical exports set to top $10 bn, led by ‘K-M7’ champions

South Korea’s pharmaceutical exports are on course to surpass $10 billion this year, underscoring the country’s growing clout in the glo...

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 ...

Economy Korea’s Q1 economic contraction adds to stimulus expectations

South Korea's economy unexpectedly contracted in the first quarter as exports and consumption fell amid a political crisis and fears over the impact...

Aerospace & Defense South Korea’s renewed stock market darlings: Weapons makers

South Korea’s defense industry is once again capturing investor attention, as exports of tanks, armored vehicles and other weapons systems soa...

Economy Trump’s tariffs are hitting exports, early Korean data show

The effects of President Trump’s new tariffs are starting to be felt across the world, preliminary South Korean trade data suggest, as Seoul p...

Economy China bans export of Korean goods containing its rare earth metals to US

The Chinese government has warned South Korean companies of retributions for exporting any product containing its critical metals to US military con...

Beauty & Cosmetics Korea launches $27 mn fund to invest in K-beauty startups

South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups on Thursday announced the launch of a 40 billion won ($27 million) fund to invest in Korean beauty...

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...

Beauty & Cosmetics K-beauty exports to China rebound after 4-month slump

South Korea’s beauty industry is showing signs of recovery in China, with exports rebounding after four months of decline.The turnaround follo...

Mergers & Acquisitions Korea Zinc faces multiple legal, regulatory challenges in fight against MBK

Korea Zinc Inc. Chairman Choi Yun-birm appears to have kept his grip on the world’s largest zinc smelter after successfully fending off an MBK...

K-pop K-pop exports boom as end of Chinese K-wave ban looms large

Exports of Korean popular music, or K-pop, have seen a significant surge in recent months, driven by increasing demand from China and Japan, accordi...

Shareholder activism STIC Investments draws activist interest, including Align Partners

STIC Investments Inc., South Korea’s only listed private equity firm, has become the latest target of shareholder activism as Seoul-based Alig...

Business & Politics Korea sees record February auto exports before looming Trump tariffs

South Korea enjoyed record February auto exports on strong demand in the US ahead of its looming tariffs, the government said on Tuesday, while the ...

Leadership & Management Kakao founder Kim to resign as control tower chair

Kakao Corp. founder Kim Beom-soo, also known as Brian Kim, will step down as chairman of the South Korean tech giant’s top decision-making bod...

Food & Beverage Korean snacks mesmerize global consumers amid K-pop popularity

South Korea’s snack exports soared to a record high in February, surpassing $40 million for the first time, as global demand surged amid the s...

Automobiles Kia’s Chinese operations turn to profit after 8 years; Export strategy pays off

South Korea’s No. 2 automaker Kia Corp. saw its Chinese operations turn profitable in 2024 for the first time in eight years as brisk exports ...

Mergers & Acquisitions MBK's fight for Korea Zinc control drags on after court ruling

The battle for control of Korea Zinc Inc. between an MBK Partners-led alliance and the zinc smelter’s Chairman Choi Yun-birm is evolving into ...

Economy S.Korea logs current account surplus in Jan; Growth slows

South Korea reported a current account surplus for 21 straight months in January but with a moderated gain largely due to a contraction in the goods...

Korean food China under spell of Korean spicy instant noodles; Samyang leads  

South Korea’s spicy instant noodles are poised to captivate China, the world’s largest ramen market, with their shipments to the neighbo...

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...

Real estate Korea’s top property asset manager IGIS Asset’s controlling stake up for sale

South Korea’s top real estate asset management firm IGIS Asset Management Co. plans to sell a controlling stake owned by the heirs of the comp...

Airlines Sono Hospitality becomes new owner of Korean budget carrier T’way Air

South Korea’s top resort operator Sono Hospitality Group has emerged as the new owner of budget carrier T’way Air Co. by acquiring ...

Steel Korea to probe Chinese, Japanese steel imports over anti-dumping claims

South Korea is set to launch an anti-dumping investigation into hot-rolled steel imports from China and Japan, according to government and industry ...

Aerospace & Defense S.Korea’s Hanwha eyes L-SAM exports with UAE’s EDGE  

Hanwha Group’s Vice Chairman and heir apparent Kim Dong-kwan is on the front line to export South Korea's latest homegrown air defense system ...

Private equity Bain Capital acquires control of Mohegan's Korean resort

Private equity firm Bain Capital has acquired control of Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort on Yeongjong Island, the largest integrated resort in ...

Aerospace & Defense S.Korea’s defense order backlog reaches record $73.1 billion at end-2024

South Korea’s seven major defense companies saw their combined order backlog reach a record 105.6 trillion won ($73.1 billion) at the end of 2...

Economy South Korean state think tank cuts 2025 growth forecast, flags US tariff risk

South Korea’s state-run think tank has cut its growth forecast for the country this year, citing President Donald Trump’s trad...

Korean chipmakers SK Hynix’s HBM exports plummet, now susceptible to seasonal demand

Exports of SK Hynix Inc.'s multi-chip packages (MCP), including high-bandwidth memory (HBM) AI chips, are rapidly dropping as the South Korean chipm...

Economy Korean exports snap 15 months of gains in Jan despite higher chip sales

South Korea’s exports dropped in January on-year for the first time in 16 months due to more holiday days in the month, although overseas sale...

Robotics LG Electronics secures control of Bear Robotics

LG Electronics Inc. has secured control of Bear Robotics Inc., a service robot developer, by raising its stake to 51% from 21% as it aims to expand ...