The Korea Times

Mercedes E-Class cruises to record sales

New look, updated safety features charm local customersBy Park Jin-haiMercedes-Benz Korea has beaten its long-time rival BMW in the Korean market for the first time. The German luxury carmaker sold a record-high 3,310 vehicles here last month, up 42.4 percent from a year earlier on the rising popularity of its premium sedan E-Class. Domestic motorists bought up a total of 1,666 E-Class models in April, making it the country’s best-selling imported car, according to data from the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA). Although German automakers are the market players in the imported car segment, it is a commanding feat for the company, since the title has been long held by its rival, BMW’s 520d.“The E-Class chalked up sales of 4,289 units during the first quarter, up 61.6 percent from a year ago. It has boosted the performances of Mercedes-Benz Korea this year,” a KAIDA official said. The German manufacturer has been doubly crowned to have its two E-Class models - the E 220 CDI Avantgarde and E 300 - become the top-selling cars in both

May 19, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Mercedes E-Class cruises to record sales

Companies

Carmakers bet on diesel market

Malibu Diesel, launched by GM Korea in March 2014, is popular in the local market. The midsize diesel powered sedan was sold out in less than two months, making other local carmakers jump into the diesel car business./ Courtesy of GM KoreaBy Park Jin-haiGM Korea and other local carmakers are gearing up to gain a bigger share of the diesel car market, currently dominated by imported vehicles. Diesel engine powered cars have been enjoying a sales growth, backed by the appeal of higher fuel efficiency, which is 20 to 30 percent better than those that run on regular gasoline. Last year, diesel engine car sales exceeded those of regular gasoline powered vehicles for the first time. “Part of the popularity of imported cars could be explained that they run on diesel. Customers nowadays pay more attention to fuel efficiency, since gas price has never been cut down,” said Suh Sung-moon, market analyst at the Korea Investment & Securities.In the four months leading up to April, a total of 42,090 foreign diesel cars were imported, amounting to 68.8 percent of all imported c

May 15, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

SK Planet expands overseas business

A model poses at the “n11.com Studio” in Turkey, a service center run by SK Planet for its online shopping mall, “The n11.com.” The e-commerce affiliate of SK Group launched the online shop in March 2013. / Courtesy of SK PlanetBy Park Jin-haiSK Planet, an e-commerce affiliate of SK Group, starting to see its overseas business pick up speed.SK Planet’s flagship online shopping mall 11 ST went operational in Turkey last year, followed by Indonesia this year. While its business is in its early stages in both countries, it competes shoulder to shoulder there with existing global e-commerce titans like eBay.  Partnered with Turkey’s Dogus Group, it launched “The n11.com” in March 2013, becoming the first Korean services platform making a foray into foreign market.As of December 2013, the online shopping mall has succeeded in securing some 7,000 local sellers and more than 6 million products on offer in just nine months. It posted $123 million in sales there last year. The local sellers in the online shop attribute its success

May 14, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Volvo trucks launch new range in Korea

Volvo Trucks holds a launching ceremony for three new models — the Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX — at the Jade Garden of the Grande Sheraton Walkerhill in western Seoul, Monday. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiChristophe Martin, Volvo Group Trucks Asia Oceania Sales chiefVolvo Trucks, the global leader in large-sized premium trucks and tractors, held a launch event for its new vehicle range in Seoul, Monday.The event, in celebration of its 80th year in business in the Asian Pacific region, was to unveil the Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX and their new features."Korea is important for us," said Christophe Martin, president of Volvo Group Trucks Asia Oceania Sales, in an interview with The Korea Times after the event. "We sold over 1,400 vehicles last year alone here in Korea, which is the highest among Asian countries."He added that since it started business in Korea in 1996, sales have expanded and the company has never experienced a loss, weathering the ups and downs of the local economy."Although people say competition is harsh in Korea, it is less or similar to t

May 12, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Exo-M tops Chinese music chart

By Park Jin-haiEXO-M, a six-member subunit of EXO performing in China, topped the Chinese music chart Friday with its new song “Overdose.” On CCTV’s global music section launched in March, the track sung in Chinese was voted as the most popular song in a week-long poll conducted through its website and ARS services.  EXO has been promoting the song since they showcased their 2nd album on April 15 in and out of Korea. The Chinese language album was released on May 7 concurrently with its Korean version released in Seoul.  On Sunday, EXO held a large-scale showcase “EXO-The 2nd Mini Album Comeback Show” at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, which drew some 10,000 fans.  

May 11, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

'Han Gong-ju' draws 200,000 viewers

By Park Jin-haiThe low-budget film “Han Gong-ju” exceeded 200,000 viewers on May 9 becoming the most viewed indie film in the shortest period of time. On its opening day on April 17, some 10,000 people watched the film.  This increased to 100,000 in just nine days at an unprecedented pace, according to its distributor CGV Movie Collage on Friday.   The movie, based on the infamous Miryang gang rape in 2004, depicts the tragic story of a victimized girl. As of April 29, it reached the 150,000 audience mark, breaking the record of “Jiseul,” which sold 140, 490 tickets in 12 days. Amid the opening of such large scale commercial films as “The Fatal Encounter,” “The Target” and “Amazing Spiderman 2,” it has succeeded in attracting average audiences of 2,000 on any week day.       The film, directed by Lee Su-jin, has received a total of eight awards locally and overseas, including the 18th Pusan International Film Festival, Morocco Marakesh Film Festival and the Rotterdam Fil

May 11, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Hallyu stars return to big screen

Song Seung-heon, left, and Jang Dong-gun — will venture into new roles in upcoming films “Obessed” and “Crying Man” respectively. / Yonhap and Korea TimesBy Park Jin-haiTwo hallyu heartthrobs ― Song Seung-heon and Jang Dong-gun ― will venture into new roles in upcoming films.Song, 37, the star of “Autumn in My Heart,” will appear in the mellow romance movie “Obsessed” in May, while Jang in the action film “Crying Man” in June.At the press previews, held over two days, the two veteran actors of 20 years looked more tense than before. Both Song and Jang, are being put to the test for their new roles.Returning to the big screen in four years with “Obsessed,” Song is no longer a gentle, sweet lover. He is a married soldier who falls in love with the wife of his subordinate.Song Seung-heon plays a role of a married soldier who falls in love with the wife of his subordinate in “Obsessed.”He said that the movie itself was a great challenge for him.“It is the first time I

May 11, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Migrant women get support for starting business

By Park Jin-haiThe Social Enterprise Support Network (SESNet) is running an annual program to boost the economic standing of women from other countries who reside in Korea.The eight-session program, supported by POSCO, will offer lectures on the basics of social enterprise and tips on how to start businesses as well as providing mentoring and consulting services from May 9th to July 31st.   A social enterprise is an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements for people and the environment, rather than only maximizing profits for shareholders.  “It is the fifth such project, since 2010. Including up until last year, 32 teams or 80 percent of all program beneficiaries have started their own businesses, creating 119 new jobs,” said So Eun-sun, from SESNet.  Among those, 24 teams started businesses in the social economy, including cooperatives, nonprofit organizations and charities.   Anyone interested in building startups should make a team, comprised of a least two, and submit an application form before Friday to s

May 7, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Others

More career women opt for younger men

TvN’s “A Witch’s Love” is a romantic drama where a 39-year-old successful career woman dates a 20-year old courier serviceman. As drastic as it is, Korean society has changed, witnessing more and more couples with women being older than their male partners. / Korea Times fileBy Park Jin-hai, Yoon Sung-wonKim Seo-young, 39, a high school teacher, married nine years ago. At the time of their wedding, their drama-like love story was the talk of town. “I met him when he was 15. I was teaching students at a high school in Gyeonggi Province,” she said. “Of course, I had never imagined such a romance drama like a love story, a teacher marring her student, could be possible in real life.”Kim, then 24, knew him through a four-week training session for student teachers and after the short stint she returned to her regular life and friends. A few students kept in touch with her through emails, but her husband was not one of them. “One day a message was sent onto my Cyworld, a social networking service, saying that he is my former studen

May 6, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Joo Won cast in Chinese film

By Park Jin-haiActor Joo Won, 26, will make a foray into the Chinese film market. His agency announced Tuesday that the actor has been cast in the upcoming “Wiao You Qiao Mu,” a joint Korean-Chinese venture. Jo Jin-kyu has been tapped as director, and Han Kyung, a former member of K-pop group Super Junior will costar. Chinese production and distribution firm, China Film, and entertainment agency, Yuehua Entertainment, have jointly invested in the production of the film. The romantic drama based on an Internet novel will depict the love story of three men and one woman. “Joo’s dramas receive a lot of support in China. Considering this, we believe the new film will be a great hit,” said Lee Sang-gyu, head of the Yuehua Entertainment’s Korean office. Meanwhile, Joo’s movie “Fashion King” will be premiered during the 67th Cannes Film Festival.

May 6, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Mercedes E-Class cruises to record sales

Carmakers bet on diesel market

SK Planet expands overseas business

Volvo trucks launch new range in Korea

Exo-M tops Chinese music chart

'Han Gong-ju' draws 200,000 viewers

Hallyu stars return to big screen

Migrant women get support for starting business

More career women opt for younger men

Joo Won cast in Chinese film

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