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Banks to promote films, dramas
Korea’s major lenders are expanding their support for the content and entertainment industry, which has taken off with the popularity of hallyu worldwide. The state-run Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) plans to lend a total of 750 billion won during the 20142016 period to nurture the culture and content industry,…
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Korea offers makeovers Chinese cannot resist
A cosmetic surgery hospital in southern Seoul mirrors a Chinese drama set in a luxury model home. Beside a statue of Venus, a woman lies with her face wrapped in bandages. A young woman in a patient gown talks with a man in black sunglasses. A group of Chinese tourists…
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NH takes over Woori Securities
A mega-size brokerage house will come into existence following the merger of the brokerage units of Woori Financial and NH NongHyup Financial groups. Both the size of assets and the number of staff will be the country’s largest. The boards of directors of the two groups approved NH NongHyup Financial’s…
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Samsung restructures financial units
Financial affiliates of Samsung Group are undergoing restructuring as their performances have been poor in recent years amid the economic slump. While they earlier decided to freeze workers’ salaries this year, the life insurance and brokerage units have launched reorganization plans and are accepting voluntary retirement applications. The restructuring follows…
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Siding with big tobacco
Korea’s first tobacco litigation ended up in smokers’ defeat Thursday, running counter to the global trends of punishing the rogue industry. Wrapping up the 15-year-long damage suit, the Supreme Court ruled ― quite regrettably ― the link between tobacco and “non-specific cancers” was difficult to prove. It also said the…
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Foreign companies hunting Korean talent
AMCHAM president says Korean employees are No. 1 in the world Global technology majors such as Microsoft, Intel and International Business Machine (IBM) are pitching up to hire Korean graduates. “Korean employees are No. 1 in the world,” Microsoft Korea Country Manager James Kim said at a student session held…
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BOK raises growth outlook to 4%
New governor indicates rate hike in offing The country’s top central banker Thursday hinted at raising the key interest rate to rein in growing inflationary pressure resulting from economic recovery. “We will consider price stability, economic growth and other factors in shaping our monetary policy,” Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor…
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Flea markets booming
If you find old clothes, toys or small home appliances during your spring cleaning, don’t throw them away. Take them to a flea market. Flea markets are gaining popularity in Korea, with several new ones popping up across the country in the last few years. They include the Songdo Good…
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‘Apple should rather focus on innovation’
A former Wall Street Journal reporter says that Apple should shift the focus of its business to “innovation” from patent disputes with Samsung Electronics. In a written interview with The Korea Times, Yukari Iwatani Kane said that Apple’s consistent claims that its design patents were copied by Samsung are rather…
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Ha tries to stare down new crisis
Citigroup Korea Chairman Ha Yung-ku, a heavyweight in the Korean banking industry, is battling the biggest challenges of his career. Chief among them are reports that the parent company has left him to grapple with the fallout of recent troubles alone. It comes in the wake of the theft of…
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