The Korea Times

Luxurious comfort

/ Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz KoreaBy Park Jin-haiThe luxury offered by Mercedes-Maybach S-class cannot be replicated.This super luxury sedan is overwhelming at first glance, giving the impression that it is not just an extended version of the S-class.Yet, apart from the stately beauty of the exterior, what makes it “genuine” luxury is inside with the executive lounge-style back seats.As the saloon is designed largely as “chauffeur-driven,” I had the luxury of being seated in the back seat of a chauffer-driven Mercedes-Maybach S600 for an hour drive between the commercial district of Yeoksam and the small alley streets of Bukchon on a sunny Thursday morning. Simply put, the drive gave the feeling of being served in a first-class suite, not traveling in a car.Sitting in a large size nappa leathered executive seat with the seat massage function on was a comfortable experience that one wouldn’t get in a car normally.The leg room seemed enough even for the tallest people to stretch their legs. But, when the front passenger seat was folded forward and my s

Apr 26, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Mercedes-Maybach offers peerless driving experience

Companies

Park travels in Equus in Brazil

A Hyundai Motor luxury Equus sedan waits for Korean President Park Geun-hye to arrive at Brazil’s Brasilia International Airport, Thursday. The President used the bullet-proof Equus during her three-day visit that ended on April 25. The vehicle was provided at Cheong Wa Dae’s request — the first time Park has used a Korean vehicle on official overseas visits. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor’s luxury sedan Equus has been chosen as President Park Geun-hye’s car on her Brazil visit.Park used the bullet proof Equus sedan all throughout her three-day visit to Brazil between April 23 and 25, company officials said Sunday.This is the first time the President has driven in a local manufacturer’s car on her official overseas mission since she took office in 2013.Customarily, presidents on official visit use vehicles provided by the host nation.  This time, however, a Hyundai was provided at the request of Cheong Wa Dae.The presidential office’s pick of Equus reflects its intent to promote Hyundai Motor that has set up a produc

Apr 26, 2015By Park Jin-hai

People & Events

'Venture firms face challenges to survival'

Shim Dong-hoBy Park Jin-haiShim Dong-ho, CEO of NuriVision, a Seoul-based anti-spam solution provider, says that venture firms holding source technologies face a business environment hostile to their survival in Korea. “For service firms such as Kakao Talk to survive in Korea is relatively easy. But, it is extremely difficult for a small tech firm holding source technology to survive,” he said.The reason is because conglomerates want to buy out the source technology from venture firms at cheaper prices, but don’t want to share the profits with the firms.“It seems hard to imagine a future where big companies such as Google grow with the smaller venture firms together.”   His firm received a Venture Award in 2008 from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, a predecessor to the Ministry and Trade, Industry and Energy, in recognition of his firm’s innovative technology that reduces spam emails by 99 percent.   NuriVision, once regarded as an exemplary venture firm having annual sales of 680 million won, suffered a setback last year

Apr 23, 2015By Park Jin-hai

'Venture firms face challenges to survival'

Companies

ApexInfo platform develops meat trading system

ApexInfo CEO Kim Dong-won delivers congratulatory remarks during a presentation on its business-to-business online meat trading system at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of ApexInfoBy Park Jin-haiKorean livestock product trade platform developer ApexInfo has started an innovative business-to-business online trading system for meat products.“The distribution costs always burdened the meat market here, taking almost half the total costs,” said ApexInfo CEO Kim Dong-won on Friday, during a presentation to investors at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul. “Our online meat bidding system, Apex Meat Trading System (MTS), can effectively cut the distribution costs as well as return more margins for each trader.”  The MTS is similar to the stock trading system, where wholesale sellers and buyers can bid using more than 150,000 standardized codes by the kind of meat, origin, brand, grade, storage plant location, packaging methods and date of butchery.      “In traditional e-commerce, suppliers post their product

Apr 19, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Renault Samsung's QM3 rides on clever ad

A Renault Samsung online ad for its compact SUV QM3 bears a line saying: “Bring it on, Mini.” Internet users posted positive comments on the company’s provocative ads posted on its Facebook account./ Captured from Renault Samsung’s Facebook accountBy Park Jin-haiRenault Samsung has driven an aggressive online ad campaign, provoking its rivals and conjuring up expectations for its QM3 compact SUV special edition.In a series of teaser ads on its Facebook page, the automaker threw down the gauntlet to MINI and Volkswagen.It recently posted an ad saying: “Bring it on, Mini,” and ran the second ad that read “Bring it on, Golf,” before the release of the new QM3 on April 15.In response, MINI replied: “Did you call me? I’m MINI, not Mini.”Netizens have shown positive responses to Renault Samsung’s marketing campaign.In its finally released video clip, posted on Wednesday, it depicted the QM3 as football players lined up in formation. The compact SUV QM3 on the screen picks a fight with its rivals, saying &ldqu

Apr 17, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Tucson offers quiet, smooth, stylish ride

Hyundai Motor’s new TucsonBy Park Jin-haiThe new Tucson has drawn praise that it is Hyundai’s next big thing with famous chief designer Peter Schreyer’s name tag.  This reporter wanted to test drive the Tucson, the compact crossover SUV, to see if it can really compete with Volkswagen’s popular Tiguan as the company says.The test drive took place on a 50-kilometer road between Downtown Songdo and Cheongna International City in Incheon.The first impression for the third generation Tucson was that it is like a lion cub ready to pounce ― its exterior has no extra hanging fat, but rather trained muscles.As many already pointed out, its design is not “original,” borrowing many elements from the bigger SUV Santa Fe, and the fluidic bodyline and stylish rear give it a stylish look.Compared with its predecessor, the new Tucson has become inches longer and wider, while its height has been slightly lowered, to give it a coupe-like sportier image.There are two engine types available: a downsized 1.7-liter diesel and a 2.0-liter diesel. The former ta

Apr 17, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Audi vows to put greater focus on customer service

Audi A6By Park Jin-haiAudi Korea has been expanding its market presence here and says it will beef up its customer service, giving “premium value” to customers.Audi Korea’s annual sales are close to 30,000 units, and Audi Volkswagen Korea has become the third-largest carmaker after Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors. The German carmaker says it will put greater focus on its service side, in line with its growing presence here.Audi Korea operates 25 service centers across the nation. It will lift this to 40, up 60 percent. Work bays will also increase 56 percent to 469 by the end of the year.“We are committed to pulling up the quality of customer service to match our premium image,” a company official said. “We plan to open 15 additional service centers, while two new showrooms are scheduled to open this year.”This renewed emphasis on customer satisfaction echoes what its CEO, Johannes Thammer, pledged during a year-end event.“In 2015, we will have a strong priority on improvement in service quality and capacity for both sales and after sales,

Apr 16, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Lamborghini to open Seoul office

By Park Jin-haiItalian supercar maker Lamborghini will embark on an aggressive marketing campaign ahead of opening a Seoul office this year, sources said Monday.In a statement released through its Japan office on Friday, Lamborghini said, “Since the company opened its first authorized dealership in Seoul in 2007, sales and brand awareness have grown quickly, achieving outstanding results. In order to meet this increasing demand, this year Lamborghini has made the decision to open a national sales company with Audi Volkswagen Korea.”Tokyo-based Automobili Lamborghini Japan, Korea and Oceania said the decision represents a further step forward in the global commercial strategy of the Italian Brand, focusing on a stronger consolidation of its official representation in key countries like Korea.“This new structure will allow Lamborghini to have better management of car supply and provide an even better service,” it said.Chamzone Imports, which doubled as the importer and Korean office, will be given dealership status, while its authorization process for imports wi

Apr 13, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

'Human-centric innovation is at core of Renault soul'

Christophe Dupont, executive managing director of Renault Design Asia, sits inside the EOLAB PHEV concept car, being showcased during the 2015 Seoul Motor Show for the first time in Asia that pushes fuel efficiency to the extreme, traveling 100 kilometers on a liter of fuel, at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday./ Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukRenault Samsung design chief talks about brand valueBy Park Jin-haiThe head of locally based Renault’s Asian design center has highlighted the importance of building values through brand identity during a lecture at the Seoul Motor Show.Christophe Dupont, executive managing director of Renault Design Asia, said strong brand value built on compelling stories was the foundation of Renault’s global success.“Renault makes cars to fulfill the lives of its customers during the various stages of their lives,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times. “This human-centric innovation is at the core of Renault’s DNA, which gradually translated into the vision that we make cars that make your life bet

Apr 8, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Motor show becomes more “car-centric”

A male model stands behind Audi’s vehicle on display at the 2015 Seoul Motor Show in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Visitors will see more male models at this year’s motor show. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Park Jin-haiAt this year’s Seoul Motor Show, racing models are apparently drawing less attention thanks to a new dress code.Instead of skimpy dressed models, this year knee-high skirts and business suits are the outfit of choice.Mindful of the increasing number of female drivers and family visitors, the Seoul Motor Show has evolved to be more car-centric.Its organizing committee, Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, requested prior to the show that exhibiters voluntarily cooperate with a less-revealing dress code so the exhibition would not become more of a “model show” than a motor show.   “At past motor shows, cars haven’t been the main focus; rather beautiful models standing by the vehicles were the stars. But now I can focus more on the cars,” said Lee Sang-hee, near the Audi showroom.Also noteworthy

Apr 7, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Luxurious comfort

Park travels in Equus in Brazil

'Venture firms face challenges to survival'

ApexInfo platform develops meat trading system

Renault Samsung's QM3 rides on clever ad

Tucson offers quiet, smooth, stylish ride

Audi vows to put greater focus on customer service

Lamborghini to open Seoul office

'Human-centric innovation is at core of Renault soul'

Motor show becomes more “car-centric”

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