my timesThe Korea Times
bkim

Kim Bo-eun

Korea Times Digital Content Reporter

Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.

Go to Email

Read more

Banking & Finance

K bank in urgent search for new CEO

By Kim Bo-eun/K bank is urgently searching for a new figure to serve as its CEO after former chief Lee Mun-whan resigned abruptly, Friday. The digital bank did not offer an explanation about Lee's decision to step down. Lee became K bank's chief in April 2020 and his term was set to last until March 2022.The resignation came as a surprise given the efforts Lee made to normalize operations at the firm. K bank, the first internet bank established in Korea in 2017, faced obstacles in securing capital in its early years. This resulted in a virtual suspension of operations in 2019. New laws went into effect last year that enabled K bank to get back on its feet with fresh capital injections.Lee is known to have made all-out efforts in this process, pitching to shareholders last year and sharing the digital bank's vision for the future.The online-only bank appeared to be back on track in 2020 with new investments and new loan services drawing attention.Expectations had grown for the lender because Lee was formerly CEO of BC Card and had also worked as a senior executive with the telecom gia

Jan 11, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
K bank in urgent search for new CEO
Tech & Science

LS Electric unveils vision for sustainable growth

An LS Electric employee watches CEO Koo Ja-kyun present the company's vision for the next 10 years, at LS Electric's headquarters in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / Courtesy of LS ElectricBy Kim Bo-eunLS Electric has unveiled a plan to achieve 10 percent annual growth each year through 2030, and to have its overseas businesses account for 70 percent of its portfolio and new digital businesses for 50 percent.CEO Koo Ja-kyun outlined his vision Monday to transform the automation services provider into a global digital firm.The strategy centers on adapting and finding growth opportunities for the company for the Fourth Industrial Revolution."We need to make this era of uncertainty where industrial paradigms are shifting rapidly into an opportunity for the company, and seek evolution beyond revolution ove the next 10 years," the CEO said in an online presentation to the company's executives and employees."The reason for our existence is not to become a long-standing firm that simply seeks to survive and maintain things the way they are ― we will need to achieve exponential growth to

Jan 11, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
LS Electric unveils vision for sustainable growth
Tech & Science

SDI's battery business set to grow in Q4

Samsung SDI exhibited the BMW i3 equipped with its batteries and displayed other new automotive technology at its booth during the International Electric Vehicle Expo held on Jeju Island in 2019. / Courtesy of Samsung SDIBy Kim Bo-eunSamsung SDI seems set to boost profits as the energy storage technologies it is developing will play a key role in reducing carbon emissions. Plus, the electrification of transport from vehicles and trucks, to ships, trains and planes will drive a huge upside for battery and fuel cell makers, and associated supply chains.Unsurprisingly, stock market analysts are trying to pick which firms could be the greatest beneficiaries in the rapid moves to cut CO2 intensity in the global battery supply chain.Along with Japan's AESC and Northvolt of Sweden, Samsung SDI is cited as the one of the top beneficiaries of the impending trend. Following a weak 2019 and 2020, demand for electric vehicles (EV) and the batteries that power them is expected to accelerate this year as China returns to growth and European strength continues. In Europe, a core market for Samsung

Jan 11, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
SDI's battery business set to grow in Q4
Tech & Science

LG Group chairman's aunts to sell-off cleaning service firm

LG Group's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul / Korea Times fileBy Kim Bo-eunLG Group said Friday that two aunts of Chairman Koo Kwang-mo will sell a cleaning service firm they own after a controversy brewed over the dismissal of the company's workers.The cleaning service firm Jisu Inc is owned by the late LG Group Honorary Chairman Koo Cha-kyung's two daughters, who each hold 50 percent of its shares. The company is not affiliated with LG.LG stated the owners will sell the firm, to settle a controversy over LG prioritizing the company in outsourcing cleaning services."The owners will seek to swiftly sell the company to another that will be able to offer quality services to client firms and stable employment to workers," LG said in a statement.LG Group's affiliate S&I corporation which manages LG's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, decided to terminate its contract with Jisu Inc last year; and workers for the latter were dismissed as of Dec. 31.S&I stated the contract was terminated because of the poor quality of the services offered by the workers. It also said Jisu Inc's workers

Jan 9, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
LG Group chairman's aunts to sell-off cleaning service firm
Tech & Science

LG, SK to accelerate BaaS business

By Kim Bo-eunLG Energy Solution CEO Kim Jong-hyunLG and SK are set to expand their battery as a service (BaaS) business model this year. This comes after related regulations were revised so that battery makers that had received government subsidies no longer have to return used batteries to the local authorities as they had to before.The revisions now allow the companies to develop businesses with them such as battery charging, swapping and upgrading."Utilizing accumulated battery data and vehicle management data, we will seek and develop the BaaS business model, including certification services needed for battery leasing or reuse," LG Energy Solution's Kim Jong-hyun said in his New Year address.SK Innovation's Kim Jun said "We will expand our battery business with the unique BaaS business model and secure additional value."SK Innovation CEO Kim JunEV batteries need to be replaced every five to 10 years or after vehicles have driven 150,000 to 200,000 kilometers. This is because battery performance falls as the distance travelled accumulates, resulting in decreased mileage and slower

Jan 8, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
LG, SK to accelerate BaaS business
Companies

Tesla protests against Korea's green car incentive program

A Tesla vehicle / Korea Times fileBy Kim Bo-eunAttention is growing over a local policy incentivizing car manufacturers to produce more eco-friendly vehicles, as Tesla is known to be lobbying the government in an attempt to benefit from the program.The policy requires local carmakers to increase the portion of eco-friendly vehicles they produce. The program fines companies that fail to meet the required percentage of green cars, but rewards those that do by providing incentives.The U.S. tech company claims the policy is unfair because it only applies to car manufacturers that sold at least 4,500 vehicles here as of 2009. Tesla does not fall under this category.The company is known to have stated the policy goes against the national (equitable) treatment principle under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). The principle requires governments to treat local and foreign businesses equally, given products of the foreign business have entered the local market.While details of the policy have yet to be laid out, companies that fill the yearly requirement of eco-friendly vehicle

Jan 7, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Tesla protests against Korea's green car incentive program
Tech & Science

High-tech parts suppliers to watch in 2021

GettyimagesbankBy Kim Bo-eunEyes are on local SMEs manufacturing high-tech materials, components and equipment amid expectations of a super cycle for semiconductors this year and scaled-up government support.The semiconductor equipment market is expected to grow to $71.9 billion in 2021, up 4.3 percent from $68.9 billion in 2020. The market is forecast to grow to 76.1 billion in 2022.The government has been focusing on fostering local high-tech suppliers, after Japan imposed trade restrictions on key materials for semiconductors and displays in July 2019. Korea had relied heavily on Japanese vendors up until then.What began as efforts to secure materials, parts and equipment locally to prevent supply chain disruptions has grown into a strategy to foster globally competitive suppliers. The government has pledged to invest 2.5 trillion won in R&D and infrastructure as well as financing for the industry this year. This is up 23 percent from investments for 2020.Backed by government support and a surge in demand for semiconductors, displays and batteries this year, small-but-strong s

Jan 6, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
High-tech parts suppliers to watch in 2021
Banking & Finance

Banks go increasingly casual

Employees of Woori Bank hold a meeting clad in casual attire after the new dress code went into effect at the lender earlier this year. / Courtesy of Woori Bank By Kim Bo-eunBanks have become increasingly wary as tech companies expand their portfolio of financial services. Tech companies hold immense potential, not only due to the traffic their platforms generate but also due to their flexible working culture which facilitates the development of new ideas.This is why traditional financial firms are increasingly making new attempts to change their corporate culture, which has remained one of the most conservative and rigid among other industries.Hana Bank is the latest lender to join the trend of getting rid of uniforms."In order for innovation to take place, we first need to create a working environment that is conducive to it," Hana Bank CEO Ji Sung-kyoo said in a recent note to employees."Let us make adopting a casual dress code the starting point for employees to

Jan 1, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Banks go increasingly casual
Tech & Science

Tit-for-tat continues between Samsung, LG over TVs

By Kim Bo-eun LG Electronics' QNED Mini LED TV unveiled earlier this week / Courtesy of LG Electronics The feud between electronics giants Samsung and LG has escalated over the latter's branding of its next-generation TV.LG recently unveiled its "QNED" Mini LED TV, to be launched at CES 2021 in January. This came as an unpleasant surprise to Samsung, which has been developing its next-generation TV display technology under the same name.Samsung and LG are the top two players in the global market for TVs. The two have been competing with their respective flagship models ― Samsung's QLED made with LCD panels and LG's OLED. Last year Samsung began developing QNED technology which applies fine quantum dot material to LEDs to enhance image quality. The company had intended on developing a new model incorporating QNED technology to succeed its QLED. QNED stands for quantum nano-emitting diode.But LG recently applied for QNED trademark rights in Korea, the U.S., Europe and A

Jan 1, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Tit-for-tat continues between Samsung, LG over TVs
Tech & Science

KT, LG in talks with Disney

Attention is growing over which local telecommunications firm Disney will partner with to offer its content. / Korea Times fileBy Kim Bo-eunThe planned entry of Disney's over-the-top (OTT) media services into the local market next year is drawing attention to which telecom firm the U.S. entertainment giant will partner with in order to offer its content here.Disney's video streaming service Disney Plus is set to launch in Korea in the latter half of 2021, and the company is known to have been in negotiations with local telecom companies for some time.Expectations in the industry are Disney Plus could possibly partner with more than one telecom firm, given the case of Netflix, which has joined hands with both LG Uplus and KT to offer content via their internet protocol TV (IPTV) services.KT and LG Uplus are known to have been negotiating with Disney for some time. KT is seen to have an advantage as the No. 1 player in the IPTV and OTT market, as it is able to offer Disney Plus its vast membership base and network. Disney Plus will enable KT to solidify its dominant market presence.LG

Dec 30, 2020By Kim Bo-eun
KT, LG in talks with Disney
previous page
4344454647
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.