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Park Jin-hai

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.

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Companies

GM Korea launches special black edition Chevrolet models

Models pose next to the Perfect Black Special Edition of GMs Aveo, Cruze, Trax and Orlando during a launch event in southern Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of GM KoreaBy Park Jin-haiGM Korea launched special editions of its four popular models in Seoul, Monday.The Perfect Black Special Edition of the Aveo, Cruze, Trax and Orlando has given the Chevrolet brand a new young and sporty look. “Chevrolet is known for its dynamic ride and handling and world-class safety,” said GM Korea CEO Sergio Rocha. “The Perfect Black Special Edition will further strengthen the brand’s image. It will appeal to those who seek different yet distinctive styling and sporty-looking vehicles.”The Perfect Black Special Edition comes with a special stripe that runs from the front to the back of the vehicle to give it a look of sportiness and performance. It is complemented by silver and gray decals on the hood and tailgate and alloy wheels with high-gloss black paint to showcase the distinct look of each model.The four share several common features, including decals on the hoo

Oct 12, 2015By Park Jin-hai
GM Korea launches special black edition Chevrolet models
People & Events

Two Oxbridge graduates mentor North Korean defectors

Kang Shin-woo, left, an Oxford University graduate, and Park Soo-hong, right, who gained a Ph.D. at Cambridge University, pose with Lee Jung-hyuk, a North Korean defector who attends Sogang University, at their study room in Seoul. / Courtesy of Oxbridge English ClassBy Park Jin-haiTwo graduates, one from Oxford, the other from Cambridge, have joined hands to mentor North Korean defectors in Seoul.Park Soo-hong, 30, Ph.D in mechanical engineering at Cambridge and CEO of IT startup Bagel Production, and Kang Shin-woo, 28, an Oxford graduate who heads the design company Artisan, have been running a small sized English class called Oxbridge since April for university students who defected from North Korea.“Graduates from both Oxford and Cambridge started having joint social meetings three years ago in Korea, putting away the age-old rivalry that separated us in the U.K. Over time, we came to look for something different than the ordinary dinner-at-a-hotel thing,” said Kang, who studied politics, economics and philosophy.“We wanted do something meaningful and

Oct 12, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Two Oxbridge graduates mentor North Korean defectors
Companies

VW owners remain frustrated

By Park Jin-haiVolkswagen owners remain frustrated with the disgraced German carmaker despite its apology and announcement of a recall of vehicles containing emission rigging software.Volkswagen Korea, which gave a belated apology 21 days after the emission cheating scandal was disclosed in the U.S., is still tightlipped on when the recall will begin and how long it will take.It only said the recall will take place in a way that fuel efficiency will not be affected with the removal of the software.Kim Han-young, 53, who has been driving a Volkswagen Passat for two years, is skeptical about the carmaker’s measure. “The carmaker said it will make the recall in a way that it will not compromise fuel efficiency, but I doubt how that is possible,” he said. “With the scandal, the credibility of the carmaker has crumbled. I’m concerned most about the mileage drop and the vehicle price drop in the secondhand market when I needed to sell my car.”Kim said he is closely monitoring what the German company and other Volkswagen owners are doing, and if necessary

Oct 11, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

103 companies to attend KOTRA-sponsored job fair

By Park Jin-haiThe Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) will hold a job fair for foreign companies seeking to employ jobseekers here on Oct. 15- 16 in Seoul.A total of 103 companies including Facebook, P&G and 3M will participate in the Job Fair for Foreign-Invested Companies 2015 at COEX, seeking youth employment.The two-day fair will have R&D, EU, North America and Asia themed booths and hold various events for jobseekers including lectures and tailored job consulting sessions. “Entering into the 10th year, the annual event has been elevated into the largest job fair here,” said Kim Jae-hong, KOTRA CEO said. “I hope it will serve as a meeting place where young talents are matched with competitive global companies, relieving the youth employment issue.”Facebook, the California-based online social networking service firm, which joined this year’s fair for the first time, will have a human resources official flown from Singapore and look to recruit for its Korean and Singapore offices. The participating companies in gener

Oct 11, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

POSCO, Renault Samsung team up

By Park Jin-haiFrancois ProvostRenault Samsung Motors CEOKwon Oh-joonPOSCO ChairmanPOSCO and Renault Samsung Motors Thursday signed an agreement for closer cooperation.Under the pact, POSCO will provide quality automotive steel for Renault Samsung’s new cars to be manufactured here from next month, while Renault will cooperate with the nation’s largest steelmaker in high-strength steel development and new materials for Renault cars.  “When the two companies, both trying to tide over the global economic downturn with leading innovation, join hands, we can prosper together,” said Oh In-hwan, head of Steel Business Division at POSCO, during the signing ceremony. “Let us strengthen the partnership in production, technology and marketing to maximize the synergy.POSCO, the world's fourth largest steel maker by output, is supplying its steel to all global top 10 carmakers including Volkswagen, Toyota and GM.Renault Samsung CEO Francois Provost said the agreement will pave the way for a strategic partnership.Renault is currently producing SM series sedans a

Oct 8, 2015By Park Jin-hai
POSCO, Renault Samsung team up
Companies

Volkswagen Korea to offer apology to local customers

By Park Jin-haiVolkswagen Korea said Wednesday it will offer a belated apology to its customers in Korea.The official apology, scheduled to be announced on early Thursday, came 21 days after the German carmaker was found to have rigged software to falsify data during emission tests of its diesel vehicles.Volkswagen Korea will post a letter of apology on its website and send it to 92,000 customers who purchased the models thought to have been used during the scam. It will also recall those vehicles, although the details will be arranged after consultation with the Environment Ministry and its parent group.The company acknowledged that in its Oct. 1 website posting, saying that it is doing its best to find a way to resolve the issue, when revealing the number of EA189 engine models thought to have rigged software. However, this was short of offering an official apology.People still question whether Volkswagen has the will to correct its wrongdoings in earnest.Lee In-young, a lawmaker of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said that the company’s service on it

Oct 7, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Economy

Fintech makes insurance planning smarter

A Hanwha Life financial planner, left, talks about an insurance policy with a client, holding a tablet PC, at the company’s headquarters in Seoul. / Courtesy of Hanwha LifeBy Park Jin-haiPark Young-suk, 51, a Hanwha Life financial planner, received a call from a client asking to upgrade his insurance policy on the weekend. Unlike the old days, where she had to drop by her office to print a document, the process is as easy as taking out a tablet PC and sending the form to the client’s e-mail.The insurance industry is fast adopting fintech, the convergence of finance and technology. Hanwha Life is one of the first movers.“With the adoption of fintech, the workplace has become paperless,” she said. “As many as 100 sheets of paper needed for clients are gone. Now I can meet clients anytime anywhere.”  Since the company first started the electronic insurance policy subscription system in 2012 for the first time in the industry, the system has been upgraded and its application expanded.Park says she currently handles nearly 70 percent of insurance p

Oct 7, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai tops Indian SUV market for 3rd month

Hyundai Motor’s Creta SUVBy Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor’s has been the top-selling SUV for three consecutive months in India since its July launch, the company said Tuesday.Hyundai Motor sold 7,256 Cretas in India last month.It sold 6,783 Cretas in July and 7,437 in August. Its accumulated sales, including this month, reached 23,117.Hyundai reportedly has received over 54,000 advanced sales requests for the car, meaning customers have to wait for over three months.Although September sales for all SUVs in Indian automotive market have not been collected yet, the industry forecasts that the Creta would have surpassed sales of its rivaling Mahindra’s Bolero and Toyota’s Innova SUVs by around 2,000.“At a time when Hyundai holds already second place in market share, the latest Creta’s popularity is helping its stronger presence there,” said a Hyundai official.Hyundai Motor aims to sell 100,000 Cretas annually in India.Boosted by its sales, Hyundai sold record 42,505 cars, up 21.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the company.Since the carmak

Oct 6, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Citizens protest against Incheon City 'backtracking'

Songdo citizens stage a protest against the Incheon Metropolitan City’s move to scale down a waterfront project, a major development plan for Songdo, in front of Incheon City Hall west of Seoul, Monday./ Courtesy of Songdo International City Citizens CoalitionBy Park Jin-haiSongdo International Business District residents staged a protest against Incheon Metropolitan City, Monday, claiming the politically motivated city government is backtracking from an original water front project that they see as key to development of the area.   “Although the budget needed for the development comes from the Sondo district, not from city coffers, Incheon is trying to nullify the original plan, ditching the Incheon Free Economic Zone’s (IFEZ) key development plan,” said Songdo International City Citizens Coalition head Cho Hyung-kyu during the protest in front of Incheon City Hall.Incheon is pushing to be the business hub of Northeast Asia, with international business headquarters and convention centers. The Songdo Water Front Project is a major development plan to

Oct 5, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai Motor brand value ranked 39th

By Park Jin-haiHyundai’s brand value was ranked in the top 40 again this year, up one spot from last year.The global brand consulting agency Interbrand said Hyundai has been ranked 39th, with 13.4 trillion won worth of brand value ($1.13 million) among the Best Global Brands 2015.  Its brand value increased 8.5 percent compared with last year, when it was ranked 40th.Hyundai has been on the top 100 list since 2005.“In terms of brand value growth over the past 11 years, we have the fastest growth rate of any company on the list,” said a company spokesman.Hyundai’s brand value tripled over those years, from 2005 when it had 3.5 million won worth of brand value, while the company’s place on the list has jumped 45 spots.Among the automakers, Hyundai’s brand value ranked seventh, a spot ahead of Audi, for the past four years. Toyota topped the list, followed by BMW, Mercedes and Honda.Hyundai, since taking the new direction of “modern premium” in 2011, has been exerting all-out efforts to elevate its brand image, opening up communicatio

Oct 5, 2015By Park Jin-hai
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