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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

Hyundai Steel plans to build Chongqing plant

By Park Jin-hai Hyundai Steel, which recently merged with Hyundai Hysco, plans to build a steel processing facility in Chongqing, China.Construction of the Steel Service Center (SSC), the company’s overseas sales outlet for automotive steel, is expected to start by the end of the year at the earliest. It will provide steel for Hyundai Motor, which has been building a plant there to make small sedans and SUVs targeting Chinese customers.The size of the investment has not been disclosed, but industry insiders say it will be nearly 50 billion won. In line with Hyundai’s overseas plant expansion, the company has been building a SSC in Mexico to supply steel to a Kia Motors plant that has a capacity of 300,000 vehicles a year. The company previously said it would establish five new SSCs. Industry watchers say that its next location will be within Southeast Asia. Unlike rival POSCO, which operates nearly 10 processing centers in the region, Hyundai Steel has only one processing facility, in India. Hyundai Steel’s steel processing centers accounted for 67.4 percent of Hysc

Jul 5, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

The Next Spark offers fun city driving

GM Korea’s The Next Spark mini carBy Park Jin-hai GM Korea CEO Sergio Rocha says The Next Spark is a "game changer" in small cars, having the potential to elevate the carmaker to No.1 in the segment, beating its rival Kia Morning. I drove GM Korea’s new car at its recent media showcase on the 100-kilometer round trip between the busy city streets of Seoul, near Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and on highways to Namyangju in Gyeonggi Province.The next Spark seems to be the mini car that will cater to first-time buyers in their 20s and 30s who are looking for style and function on a small budget.Its exterior has been slightly upgraded with a sharper and more dynamic-looking front, while its interior is full of features that young people might find interesting, including Apple CarPlay, allowing drivers to make calls, send and receive text messages and listen to podcasts. The new Spark is the first domestically produced car with Apple CarPlay. Handling the functions was easy and I found it a big plus for a budget car.Safety features have been improved substantially, despit

Jul 5, 2015By Park Jin-hai
The Next Spark offers fun city driving
Companies

Hyosung to build new polyketone plant in Ulsan

By Park Jin-haiHyosung Group, Korea’s leading textiles and heavy machinery maker, has agreed with Ulsan city to build a polyketone plant there.Under the agreement, Hyosung will develop 208,000 square meters of land in Yongyeon-dong to build a research facility and plant that can produce 300,000 tons of polyketone a year by 2021.It is part of the company’s previous pledge to invest a total of nearly 1 trillion won to build polyketone plants in Ulsan city, but it had a hard time finding a site for the new plant.The company has been building a plant since last year, with the investment of 125 billion won, in the southeastern industrial city. The plant, scheduled to be completed in latter half of this year, will produce 50,000 tons of polyketone.Polyketone is a new type of plastic and a high-performance thermoplastic polymer.The value of the engineering plastic market, where polyketone can be applied, is estimated at a 66 trillion won in 2015, with the annual growth rate seen at more than 5 percent.With the help of the new facility and additional investment, the company predi

Jul 2, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai completes Sonata lineups

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor launched three new types of its flagship midsize sedan Sonata in an effort to gain a greater share in its target markets, including China.By adding the Sonata 1.7 diesel, 1.6 turbo and plug-in hybrid, the carmaker insisted that it has completed its full lineup with seven powertrains, including the previously launched Sonata 2.0 CVVL, 2.0 turbo, hybrid and LPi.Hyundai said the two new Sonata sedans feature improved fuel efficiency, while the plug-in hybrid model, the first domestically produced plug-in hybrid vehicle, is expected to awaken idling demand for eco-friendly cars in the local market.The new Sonata diesel mounting a U2 1.7 engine and seven-speed dual clutch transmission has a maximum 141 horsepower, with 34.7 kilogram-meter torque.Its fuel efficiency has improved 33 percent, in comparison to the previously launched popular 2.0 CVVL model. Its combined fuel efficiency can reach 16.8 kilometers per liter.The 1.6 turbo version has a maximum 180 horsepower, with the maximum combined fuel economy of 13.4 kilometers per liter of fuel, up 6 percent fro

Jul 2, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

GM Korea launches The Next Spark

Models pose next to the new Spark GM Korea unveiled during a press event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Wednesday. The sales for the latest Spark, developed by Korean staff in collaboration of a global team, will start in August and eventually be exported to 40 countries. The base price starts from 10.15 million won./ YonhapBy Park Jin-haiGM Korea unveiled the latest version of its Spark in a press event, prior to it going on sale in August.It is the next generation mini car that has been developed by Korean staff with the collaboration of GM’s global team, and will be produced at its Changwon plant from this month to be exported to 40 countries.“The Spark is one great-looking car with features that redefine the segment,” said GM Korea President and CEO Sergio Rocha during the press event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, showing his confidence in the car that will be the major rival of the Kia Morning in one of the most competitive small-car segment.“It is a state-of-the-art vehicle, which will accelerate our business in the country, and further leve

Jul 1, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai become official NFL sponsor

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor has become the official automotive sponsor of the National Football League, replacing General Motors.Under the four-year sponsorship with the NFL, Hyundai can use NFL trademarks in its marketing as well as have access to big events such as the Super Bowl, playoffs and the widely watched draft of college players.Hyundai will also be able to display promotional vehicles at the Super Bowl and other games.The company didn’t disclose the amount of the contract, but industry observers estimate that it will be close to the $25 million per year GM paid to sponsor America’s most viewed sports league. General Motors has sponsored the NFL since 2001, but didn’t renew its deal this year."We can't wait to show the NFL's 188 million fans the great design, advanced technology, dynamic performance and numerous safety features within the Hyundai lineup," said Hyundai Motor America President Dave Zuchowski.Hyundai has identified Super Bowl TV commercials as a means to raise its brand awareness in the United States. Hyundai commercials have aired during th

Jun 30, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai teams up with POSCO to build EV charging stations

By Park Jin-haiAhead of the launch of the Sonata plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) next month, Hyundai closed an agreement with POSCO ICT, a leading firm that specializes in EV charging stations, to build 120 charging stations this year, the company said Monday.PHEV shares characteristics of both a conventional hybrid electric vehicle, which has an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, and of all-electric vehicles, which have a plug to connect to the electrical grid. They are an upgraded model of hybrid cars currently available in the market as they can run longer distances through electricity.Under the agreement, Hyundai will build the infrastructure, while POSCO will operate and manage the charging facilities. Some 180 charging stations that POSCO has been operating  and some 120 more it plans to build across the country will be open to Hyundai customers as well.Those stations will be within discount stores and movie theaters and places that have better daily access to people.So far the charging stations have been criticized for inconvenience because most of t

Jun 29, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Vehicle demand rises ahead of stronger emission standard

By Park Jin-haiAs the Environment Ministry adopts stronger Euro 6 emission standards for vehicles sold here from September, customers are rushing to buy cheaper but less environmentally friendly Euro 5 models.Under the Euro 6 standards, nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced to 80 milligrams per kilometer, down from 180. Particle matter will be reduced to 4.5 milligrams per kilometer from 5.However, to meet the new standards a price hike was inevitable, because the vehicles need extra purification equipment, lifting the price of cars to 3 million won.Local carmakers are already selling Euro 6 models. Hyundai has the i30, i40, Grandeur, Tucson and Santa Fe diesel models that meet Euro 6 standards.However, for the Avante compact and Maxcruz SUV, Euro 5 models will be sold until new models are scheduled to launch in the latter half of this year.  Hyundai will launch its new Sonata diesel in July, complying with Euro 6 standards.Most Kia Motors vehicles meet the new environmental standards, including the Pride, Sorento, Carnival and Soul. The new Sportage with Euro 6 engine will be la

Jun 29, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Daewoo E&C starts premium Prugio apartment sales in Guri

A bird’s eye view of Guri Galmae Prugio apartment complex Daewoo Engineering & Construction recently started selling. The builder started selling 921 mid- and big-sized apartments in 10 buildings in Galmae, Gyeonggi Province./ Courtesy of Daewoo E&CBy Park Jin-haiDaewoo Engineering & Construction has begaun sales of its latest Prugio apartment complex “Guri Galmae Prugio” that offers large sized apartments in Guri, Gyeonggi Province.Prugio is the company’s flagship housing brand, introduced in 1994.Guri Galmae Prugio, located in Galmae residential area C1 block, offers 921 apartments in 10 buildings ranging from 84-142 square meters in area.The C1 block is the slot of land that is only permitted to build big apartments. During bidding for apartments in the C1 block in March last year, competition reached 120 to 1.   “Some 460 apartment or nearly half of what we provide are mid- and large-sized apartments, 99 square meters and up. Given that the number of big sized apartments, including ours, takes just 4.6 percent of all new apartme

Jun 28, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Economy

Hana, KEB merger plan gets go-ahead from court

By Park Jin-hai The Seoul Central District Court ruled Friday that Hana Financial Group could go ahead with its plan to merge Hana Bank and Korea Exchange Bank (KEB).The ruling came after Hana Financial filed an appeal in March against a previous court ruling that ordered a suspension of merger moves between two banking units of the financial group.Its union accused the group of violating a promise not to seek the merger until 2017.In February, the court issued an injunction stopping the merger, which was effective for the first half of the year.The banking group will soon file a request with the Financial Services Commission (FSC) for its approval of the merger.Hana Financial argued that its early merger decision was made to preempt a possible financial crisis.It bought KEB in February 2012 from U.S. buyout firm Lone Star Funds, but agreed with the KEB union to keep the lender independent for five years.Hana has sought an early merger to raise the banks’ efficiency. The KEB union adamantly opposed the move and accused the financial group of breaking its promise.

Jun 26, 2015By Park Jin-hai
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