-
Business
FTC fines Samsung for obstructing probe
Korea’s anti-trust regulator has fined technology giant Samsung Electronics 400 million won (about $354,000) for obstructing an investigation into whether collusion took place between the company and wireless operators to fix prices of mobile-phones, thereby defrauding consumers. It marks the biggest fine ever levied by the watchdog for such charges.…
Read More » -
Business
Kakao the invincible under threat
Popular mobile messenger service Kakao Talk is available on iOS, Android and Blackberry operating systems. The most popular mobile messenger service in the country, Kakao Talk, recently put the IT industry on alert by announcing that it has 42 million subscribers. It has become a must have application for smartphone…
Read More » -
Business
Korean companies urged to upgrade CSR
Participants are all ears during an international seminar about corporate social responsibility, organized by the Korea Social Responsibility Institute, at a Seoul hotel, Wednesday. Wayne Visser, an internationally-renowned corporate social responsibility(CSR) expert said Wednesday that companies need to change their traditional CSR concepts to more creative and transformative ways, which…
Read More » -
Business
KORUS FTA: boon or bane?
A sign offering a 40 percent discount for American wines in celebration of the March 15 effectuation of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS FTA) hangs at the entrance of a wine store in an E-Mart outlet in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. The KORUS FTA will remove a 15 percent tariff…
Read More » -
Business
Japan presence affects agencies’ shares
K-pop entertainment agencies see their fortune greatly affected by the success of their bands in Japan. Clockwise from top left are male band Big Bang, girl group Girls’ Generation and duo TVXQ. K-pop boy band TVXQ is on an 11-city, 26-concert tour in Japan that started February and runs through…
Read More » -
Business
Good contents Needed for Korean Wave 4.0
The continued development of high quality contents and diversification in the means of using them are the key to continued success of the so-called Hallyu or the Korean Wave, said the participants in the panel session of the Asian Leadership Conference. The session, held Wednesday (Mar. 7) at Hotel Shilla, was attended by…
Read More » -
Business
France, US, Chile wage wine war in Korea
The Korean love affair with wines has fluctuated wildly between highs and lows in recent years. Distributors now hope that the effects of relaxed retail regulations and free trade pacts with wine-making nations will put the relationship on firmer ground by making them more affordable. Wine consumption appeared to be…
Read More » -
Korean tax office to gain access to Swiss bank accounts
The National Tax Service (NTS) said Thursday that it will be able to gain access to Swiss bank accounts held by Korean citizens, which it expects will help detect illegal slush funds and prevent overseas tax evasion. The tax office said the National Assembly ratified a revised treaty with Switzerland…
Read More » -
Business
Naver: online chaebol?
American Internet giant eBay has been controlling Korea’s electronic commerce markets through its affiliates Auction and Gmarket, but it remains to be seen whether local search king Naver could give it a run for its money. Search giant looks to launch open market service Naver, Korea’s near omnipresent portal accounting…
Read More » -
Business
Samsung mum on Apple ahead of critical rulings
It seems that Samsung Electronics is beginning to mince its words about its high-profile intellectual property fight with Apple ahead of crucial rulings in Germany. It was just months ago that the Korean technology giant had expressed bullishness in its legal battle with Apple, which doubles as its friend in…
Read More »