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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's i10 hatchback tops 2 million in unit sales

Hyundai Motor’s i10By Park Jin-haiSales of Hyundai Motor’s i10 hatchback passed 2 million in 2014, eight years after it was released, the automaker said Monday. Total sales were 2.01 million.The hatchback was initially introduced in the Indian market in 2007, before entering other markets.The model was a great success in India with 14, 956 sold in its first year. Nearly 1.89 million have been sold there in total.Hyundai's Turkey plant began manufacturing a new i10 for the European market in 2013.Since then the company has sold 119,631 i10 hatchbacks there.“The i10 is as a good family car as the Sonata is in Korea. Regionally developed cars like the i10 in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia and India have played a major role in Hyundai reaching 8 million in global sales last year,” said an official.The first-generation i10 compact was developed in consideration of rough road conditions in local markets.It was also equipped with passenger seat airbags, along with anti-lock breaking systems and seat belt pretensioners.Hyundai and its sister firm Kia Motors h

Feb 2, 2015By Park Jin-hai
People & Events

Nuclear expert Han Pil-soon dies at 82

Han Pil-soonBy Park Jin-haiHan Pil-soon, former president of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), died of heart failure Sunday, according to his family. He was 82.His memorial altar has been set up at St. Mary’s Hospital in southern Seoul. His remains will be buried at Daejeon National Cemetery on Thursday.Born in Gangnam County, South Pyeongan Province (now North Korea), in 1933, Han majored in physics at Seoul National University and obtained a master’s degree at Illinois University. He also graduated from the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy.Han returned to Korea in 1959 after completing his Ph.D. degree at the University of California at Los Angeles, and participated as a founding member of the Agency for Defense Development in 1970.During this time, Han strived to produce parachutes, bulletproof helmets, grenades and Vulcan automatic cannons with domestic technologies.Han, the “father” of Korean atomic energy, became involved with atomic energy in 1982, when he was appointed vice president of the Korean Energy Research Institute, a prede

Jan 26, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Nuclear expert Han Pil-soon dies at 82
Companies

Pyeongtaek mayor roots for Ssangyong Motor's Tivoli

Pyeongtaek Mayor Kong Jae-kwang holds a placard that reads “Ssangyong Motor has launched the Tivoli. Pyeongtaek citizens offer support for its success,” at the Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Monday. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiPyeongtaek Mayor Kong Jae-kwang began a street campaign to promote Ssangyong Motor’s new compact SUV Tivoli Monday.In his effort to drum up support from the public, Mayor Kong, together with Pyeongtaek City Council Chairman Kim In-sik, held a two-hour promotion, holding a placard that read, “Ssangyong Motor launched Tivoli. Pyeongtaek citizens support its success,” at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul.“With the 153 workers dismissed in 2009 who couldn’t come back to the company, and the company still in red, the success of Tivoli is directly linked to the livelihood of workers at Ssangyong’s plant in Pyeongtaek,” said a spokesman for the mayor.“The Gwanghwamun promotion is intended for the general public, asking for their interest in the Tivoli. He will also start promotional activities targeting th

Jan 26, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Kolon Group chairman's eldest son returns to core unit

By Park Jin-haiLee Kyu-hoKolon Group Chairman Lee Woong-yeul’s eldest son has returned to work at the company’s core unit, Kolon Industries, from affiliate Kolon Global.Lee Kyu-ho, 31, who spent two years at Global, a trading and distribution arm of the nation’s 30th largest conglomerate, came back to Kolon Industries, the group’s industrial materials, chemical and fashion business.“Lee returned to Kolon Industries early this month after working at other affiliates to build up his career,” a company spokesman said.Lee is undergoing management training for the family owned group, insiders said.   The Cornell University graduate, who majored in hotel management, joined Kolon Industries in 2012.He was dispatched to the company’s Gumi plant in northern Gyeongsang Province to build up experience for a year, before he was transferred to Kolon Global.Kolon Group, established as a nylon importer in 1957, was divided into Kolon, a holding company, and Kolon Industries in 2009.

Jan 23, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Kolon Group chairman's eldest son returns to core unit
Companies

Kia expands dividend 44%

2014 operating profit down 19% to 2.57 trillion wonBy Park Jin-haiKia Motors said Friday its operating profit fell 19 percent year-on-year to 2.57 trillion won in 2014, as a stronger won against the dollar eroded its profits.  Net profit dropped 21.6 percent in 2014, hit by unfavorable foreign exchange rates and adverse business conditions in global markets. Its sales edged down 1.1 percent to 47.1 trillion won.It said it will pay 1,000 won in year-end dividend, up 44 percent from a year earlier.“During the fourth quarter, despite the global sales volume increase, the weak Russian currency and increased sales incentives we offered in the North American market, have led to a drop in our profitability,” said Han Chun-soo, executive vice president of the company’s finance and accounting division, during a conference call.“Since the ruble lost 35 percent in value and the Sorento model has aged in the U.S. market, it was inevitable to increase the sales incentive in the last quarter of 2014. It was a protective measure to defend our market share,” h

Jan 23, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

BMW focuses more on customer service

The exterior of BMW Korea’s newly opened Opo Service Center in Gyeonggi Province. The two-story building opened last week and has 20 work bays that can repair up to 60 cars a day, as well as provide a fast-lane service that can exchange working parts in less than two hours. / Courtesy of BMW KoreaBy Park Jin-haiBMW Korea says it will prioritize improving customer services and cementing its place as Korea’s largest import car brand by sales.“We make a great deal of investment into customer services,” said BMW Korea CEO Kim Hyo-joon, during a recent interview.The German automaker sold more than 40,000 cars in Korea last year and already has the largest after-service networks of any foreign car brand with 59 auto shops and 793 work bays.  Now the company will increase that number to 78 auto shops and 1,183 work bays across the country by 2016.In particular, the number of fast-lane auto shops that provide speedy services for simple mechanical problems in cities will increase to five, while auto technicians will be nearly doubled to 2,246 from 1,500. To a

Jan 22, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Ssangyong Motor reopens dialogue with fired workers

By Park Jin-haiLee Yoo-ilSsangyong Motor CEOSsangyong Motor reopened dialogue with the union to discuss the reinstatement of fired workers during the company’s financial turmoil in 2009.Ssangyong Motor CEO Lee Yoo-il met with the company union leader Kim Kyu-han and Kim Deuk-joong, union head for dismissed workers Wednesday.“The meeting took place before the company CEO dropped by the Tivoli’s launch event. They agreed to initiate talks to discuss major labor issues,” said a company official.The main issues on the agenda include the reinstatement of the dismissed workers, support for the bereaved families of 26 workers who died from either suicides or disease after their dismissal, and stopping the 10 billion won compensation claim the company filed against ex-workers who staged a three-month strike at its Pyeongtaek plant in 2009.“We have upheld the stance that the company’s business should be normalized first to discuss the reinstatement issue. The initiation of working-level talks means that the company has made a concession for a cooperative fu

Jan 22, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Ssangyong Motor reopens dialogue with fired workers
Companies

EU to decide on Korea's illegal fishing status in Feb.

By Park Jin-haiThe European Union has said it will delay its final decision on Korea’s illegal fishing status to the end of February. This will allow Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries and Acting Minister Kim Young-suk to fly to Brussels in a last-ditch effort to explain the government’s progress.Kim will visit EU headquarters between Jan. 21 and 24 to inform of the progress Korea has made and drum up support to lift the imposition of the temporary illegal fishing status.“The delay was caused by a change in members of the EU’s Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MARE) executive committee,” said a ministry official. “For now, we are cautious about the EU’s final decision. Through Kim’s visit, we intend to show that we have a strong political will to clamp down on illegal fishing at all costs,” he added.Kim will meet MARE’s Director-General Lowri Evans and Karmenu Vella, commissioner for the environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, Thursday, and International Maritime Organization officials, Friday.   The EU

Jan 20, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai Motor to phase out CD players

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor will eventually remove CD players from its vehicles.Starting with new cars for 2016 in the United States, the old audio system will be replaced with a new infotainment unit, embracing smartphone connectivity, according to the automaker.“In the United States, people no longer listen to music with CD players. Thus, USB and Bluetooth functions will be placed in the company’s future cars, enabling drivers to listen to music on smartphones,” said a Hyundai Motor official.CD player use in vehicles has been declining ever since the emergence of Apple’s iPod in 2001.According to a 2011 Nielsen SoundScan survey, sales of digital music have exceeded those of CD albums.“As affordable car buyers are often younger, Hyundai aims to provide what they want most in their car ㅡ all the latest smartphone-enabled technologies at a lower price,” said Cason Grover, senior group manager of cross-carline planning of Hyundai Motor America.The new infotainment system will be optimized for use with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, software that ca

Jan 19, 2015By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai Motor seeks performance-based wage system

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor says it is seeking to introduce a performance-based wage system to reduce labor costs.The move, which comes after the company won its legal battle against the union over ordinary wages, is expected to bring protests from workers.Hyundai Motor vice chairman Yoon Yeo-chul said the company needed to replace the seniority-based system with one based on productivity.“Having a seniority-based wage system when global competition gets fiercer, it is almost impossible to catch up with our rivals such as Toyota,” he said.“As agreed with labor, we will come up with a new wage system that can replace the current one by March.”Seoul Central District Court ruled on Friday that only daily bonuses should be included in “ordinary wages,” the basis for fixing employees’ benefits, rejecting union claims for a broader application.The court said that a regularly paid daily-counted bonus to two of the 23 plaintiffs could be calculated into ordinary wages, but denied the others because the bonus payments were not regular enough.As the r

Jan 18, 2015By Park Jin-hai
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