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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 tops recall list here

By Park Jin-haiGM Korea topped the recall list in the first half of this year, making up almost half of the number of all vehicles recalled, according to Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TSA) data, Wednesday.The local unit of U.S. carmaker General Motors recalled 217,884 vehicles during the first half, followed by Hyundai with 56,311, and Kia with 53,721.The data showed the number of cars subject to safety-related recalls in Korea jumped 25.7 percent to 425, 212 from the same period last year.They included 335,040 domestically produced cars and 90,172 imported vehicles.Car models involved in the recalls also increased from 168 to 222.GM recalled 99,985 Cruzes, Lacetti Premieres and the Orlandos due to leaks in their hydraulics. Over 78,000 Malibus and Alpheons were also recalled for defects in safety belts.“After the ignition switch recall case in U.S., we are taking a policy to voluntarily recall our vehicles if any fault is spotted,” said a GM Korea official.Hyundai recalled 56,311 Avantes, Grandeur hybrids, Genesis and i30d.Of foreign carmakers, Mercedes-Benz ran

Jul 8, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Civic group calls for revision of law to limit corporate car tax benefits

By Park Jin-haiThe Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) on Wednesday called for revisions to be made to the tax law that allows corporate car owners to have uncapped benefits.Under the current Korean law, when a corporate owner registers his vehicle for business he can receive unlimited tax benefits for owning and operating the car, because it is all categorized as business expenses and becomes deductable.When the owner uses it for personal use, the law policing it is toothless.“The tax benefits for corporate cars have been too much. Those people buy high priced premium cars under corporate names and get tax deductions for the purchase and maintenance of those cars,” said a CCEJ official during a press conference at its headquarters in Seoul.“It is contributing to the recent jump in sales of luxury imported cars among corporate owners,” he added. The overall vehicle purchase price can be deductable each year over five years, regardless of the price and size of the car.The civic watchdog estimates that almost 1 trillion won was deducted in

Jul 8, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Volvo Trucks makes Asia premier for FL medium duty lineups in Seoul

Volvo Trucks Korea holds a launch event for its new FL series of medium-sized trucks in central Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiVolvo Trucks Korea launched the Swedish firm’s Volvo FL series in Seoul, Tuesday.With the new FL lineup, the truck maker aims to expand its business to medium-duty trucks, below 4.5 and 5 tons, to become the top player in the industry.“Korea is one of the representative countries leading our growth in the Asia-Pacific,” said Christophe Martin, president of Volvo Group Trucks Asia Oceania Sales, at the media launch.“Volvo Group has decided to introduce our Volvo FL series into Korea for the first time in the Asian region, followed by the Asian premiere of the new model range from 2014.”The company said the Korean mid-size commercial truck market has grown to annual sales of 10,000, similar to that of heavy duty trucks.Martin said the company was aiming for annual sales of 4,000 vehicles by 2020 across the medium and heavy-duty truck market in Korea.”We will firmly hold on to our prominent position,” he said.&nb

Jul 7, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai Motor to spur sluggish consumption

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor Group announced a set of measures Tuesday to provide aid for the faltering domestic economy, hit hard recently by the nationwide MERS outbreak.This was the second phase of a campaign, an offer last month to small shop owners and businessmen whereby they can delay payment on purchases of Hyundai cars for three months.This time, the nation’s top automaker will hold international events, including dealers’ conventions, regional skills competitions and various seminars here between July and November that had been previously held in overseas markets.It will also expand events inviting Chinese business partners and dealers to Korea, thus helping the local tourism industry.“We expect inviting global dealers here will help revive the local tourism industry,” said a Hyundai official.Following the outbreak of the respiratory disease, the number of Chinese tourists, the biggest contributor to local tourism industry, has shown a sharp decline. Their number shrank some 44 percent last month from the previous month, aggravating the local tourism

Jul 7, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Ssangyong Motor launches Tivoli diesel

By Park Jin-haiA Tivoli diesel compact SUV runs on a race track during a media showcase for Ssangyong Motor at the Speedium in Inje, Gangwon Province, Monday./ Courtesy of Ssangyong MotorINJE, Gangwon Province ― Ssangyong Motor, the local unit of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, launched a diesel version of the Tivoli compact sports utility vehicle (SUV), Monday.“The diesel version focuses more on improving driving performance,” said Shin Young-sik, Ssangyong’s managing director, during the media showcase at the Speedium in Inje, Gangwon Province.The latest Tivoli is powered by the e-XDi160 diesel engine that meets the tougher Euro 6 emission standards. The automaker spent three years developing the engine, which can generate up to 115 horsepower.Its fuel efficiency stands at 15.3 kilometers per liter.The Tivoli diesel could realize maximum power at 1,500-2,500 rpm, providing dynamic driving at the most frequently used rpm on daily drives, the company said.The gasoline version was launched in January and has made a huge contribution to the carmaker’

Jul 6, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Ssangyong Motor launches Tivoli diesel
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
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