The Korea Times

BAT Korea-labor to be strike-free for three years

BAT Korea’s CEO Guy Meldrum, left, and Goo Seong-il, the company’s Sacheon factory union leader, pose after the two signed a declaration of labor-management cooperation at the company’s head office in Yeoksam, southern Seoul, Monday. They agreed to establish industrial peace, ensuring a strike-free three years ahead./ Courtesy of BAT KoreaBy Park Jin-haiThe union of British American Tobacco Korea’s (BAT Korea) factory in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, agreed Monday with management to refrain from engaging in industrial action for the next three years.Goo Seong-il, the union leader, said they had agreed to the declaration after reaching a mutual understanding with management on the need for the factory to pursue sustainable growth.   “The tobacco industry has recently faced several difficulties, which have resulted in a drop in the volume of cigarettes produced,” Goo said. “We are also experiencing intensified competition among BAT Group production facilities. At this critical juncture, labor and management agreed to cooperate f

Oct 13, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Hyundai losing market share in home turf

By Park Jin-haiHyundai-Kia Motors’ market share in Korea has hit the lowest in September for the year.The country’s No. 1 carmaker and its smaller affiliate accounted for 67.3 percent of the local market last month. It is the lowest since December last year when they recorded 66.7 percent, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA).Hyundai has suffered steady falls in sales.After the March launch for LF Sonata, Hyundai’s market share peaked at 44.6 percent in April. But, its share has dropped for the past five months since: 43.5 percent in May, 42.8 percent in June, 40.8 percent in July, 39.1 percent and 37.6 percent in August and September.     Except for two models ― Sonata and Genesis sedans ― sales of the rest of Hyundai vehicles were down compared to a year earlier.Sonata’s accumulated sales in the first nine months grew 17.7 percent at 80,414 units, while the sales for Genesis nearly doubled at 27,596 from previous year.   Its compact Avante’s sales were down 6.4 percent at 65,075. Sal

Oct 12, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Mercedes-Benz beats BMW in monthly sales

By Park Jin-haiMercedes-Benz outsold its close rival, BMW, here last month.The German luxury carmaker sold 3,538 cars, up 45.5 percent from a year earlier.“This was the firm’s biggest monthly sales ever since it entered the local market,” said Yoon Dae-sung, the association's executive manager of the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.The new car effect following the series of new C- Class and GLA- Class launches, backed by E- Class’ steady sales, are believed to have pulled up its monthly sales.Mercedes’ recent sales success was also attributed to its CEO Britta Seeger’s field management. Since she took the helm of the company, she has frequented service centers across the country, to listen to the opinions of employees working in the field.BMW, which has been the solid top-seller for over three years, came second.It sold 3,303 last month, more than a 10 percent gain from the previous year, but slightly trailing behind the lead set by Mercedes-Benz.BMW said that this is temporary. “In September, BMW sold 3,303, but we ar

Oct 8, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Opinion

Gov't turns blind eye to UN finding

By Park Jin-haiEnding a week-long investigation, visiting U.N. special rapporteur Mutuma Ruteere said, "There are serious problems regarding the fishing industry that still need to be addressed.”But the government reacted as if it were nothing unusual.The U.N. delegation investigated reported cases of abuse facing foreign fishermen employed by Korean fishing firms. The move followed lawsuits filed by some 200 Indonesian sailors in New Zealand against two Korean companies _ Dong Won Fisheries and Dong Nam.They are demanding about $14 million in back pay.The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Ministry said the suit was an extension of a 2011 case and blamed New Zealand “brokers” for luring the Indonesians into taking action.That much publicized case was about some 30 Indonesian seamen fleeing the Korean flagged Sajo Oyang 75 vessel off New Zealand claiming sexual harassment, physical and verbal abuse.“No politicians are paying attention because it isn’t directly linked to more votes in elections,” said an activist working in Busan.  “They be

Oct 7, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Hanwha chief's third son joins construction unit

By Park Jin-haiKim Dong-seonKim Dong-seon, 24, the third son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, has joined Hanwha Engineering & Construction as a manager, the company said Monday.Unlike his two elder brothers, Kim Dong-seon has not been involved with group management. A graduate of Dartmouth College in the U.S. and an Asian Games gold-medalist in team dressage, he recently retired from equestrian competition and joined his father's company.Dong-seon will undergo management training at the company’s construction fields in Bismayah in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, where Hanwha Group is undertaking major construction projects.The company said that through this process, Dong-seon will learn firsthand about overseas construction projects, as well as working-level business skills.Chairman Kim Seung-youn’s eldest son, Dong-kwan, is a chief strategy officer at Hanwha SolarOne. His second son, Dong-won, joined Hanwha L&C earlier this year.

Oct 7, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Hanwha chief's third son joins construction unit

South Korea

'Korea should pass anti-discrimination bill'

Foreign immigrants hold a candle-light vigil for victims of the Sewol ferry sinking in Wongok, Aansan, in this April 26 file photo. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiThe U.N. special rapporteur on racism Mutuma Ruteere on Monday urged Korea to quickly pass anti-discrimination legislation, calling the move a necessity amid demographic shifts. “I strongly recommend that more attention and effort should be put into enacting that particular piece of legislation,” he told reporters in Seoul after wrapping up a week-long visit to Korea. “Because without explicit prohibition of racial discrimination and racism, the tools available to victims are limited and therefore there is a need for enactment of this legislation.” Despite multiple attempts, Korea has been unable to pass such legislation due to conservative opposition to sexual minorities.  Korea is party to a number of international instruments against discrimination, such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and UNESCO Convention on the Promotion

Oct 6, 2014By Park Jin-hai

UN raps gov't over foreign sailor abuses

Companies

Hyundai, Kia sells 9 million cars in China

By Park Jin-haiHyundai-Kia Motors’ cumulated sales in China topped 9 million for the first time since their entry into the market 12 years ago.During the first nine months of this year, the two companies sold in China a combined 1.28 million, a 9.5 percent increase from 2013.“Since we surpassed the 8 million sales mark in February, we have reached the 9 million, continuing the growth in the market,” said an official of the company.  It attributed the strong sales in the country to growing demand for compact cars and SUVs.  Among Hyundai cars, compact Avante MD (locally known as Langdong) has been the top-seller, with 179,139 being sold between January and September this year. Verna and Avante HD (locally known as Yuedong) followed at 175,742 and 103,915 each.Sales of Hyundai’s SUVs ― Tucson ix (local name ix35) and Santa Fe also increased to 103,848 and 49,658 during the period.Hyundai expect its Chinese sales will rise further, once their Chinese-market customized compact SUV ix25 hits the market this month, followed by the LF Sonata to be laun

Oct 5, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Samsung C&T, Hyundai Development collude in subway line No. 9 construction

An expert checks the stability of the soil at the construction site of subway line No. 9 in Bangi-dong, southern Seoul, where some sinkholes were spotted, in this file photo taken on Aug. 20. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiSamsung C&T and Hyundai Development were notified Sunday that the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will fine each of them for collusion during bidding for the construction of the subway line No. 9, the FTC said SundaySamsung C&T will face a fine of 16.2 billion won fine, and Hyundai Development Company 2.8 billion won.The bidding was for a contract to build a 1.56 kilometer stretch of line connecting Jamsil Hospital and Seokchon subway station.The FTC said that the two builders submitted mutually agreed bidding prices so that the successful bidder could secure a contract worth more money.It also filed a complaint with the prosecution against the two builders, involved with Seoul City’s subway line No. 9 that contributed to the recent scare over the appearance of “sinkholes”, for allegedly colluding during the bidding process. The 1.56-ki

Oct 5, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Samsung C&T, Hyundai Development collude in subway line No. 9 construction

Companies

German carmakers stingy with donations

By Park Jin-haiGerman carmakers were found to have been far from generous on donations.  The three German carmakers ― BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi Volkswagen Korea ― spent 2.3 billion won in total on donations in 2013, according to their audit documents filed with the National Tax Service.It translates that each carmaker spent an average 770 million won last year.Given the total sales of 103,566 they made altogether, with their vehicles’   average sales price of 63 million won, it makes each car sold last year donated 22,500 won.   Audi Volkswagen Korea turned out to be the one which spent the smallest sum on donations.It sold 45,700 cars, with an average vehicle price of 52.4 million won. But it donated just 200 million won, equivalent of less than 0.01 percent of its sales accrued that year.In 2012, it made the operating profit of 52.2 billion won, but donated just 110 million won.Mercedes- Benz, whose average vehicle price is the most expensive than the rest two German rivals, has donated 450 million won, the equivalent of only 0.03 percent

Oct 1, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Ssangyong revs up Actyon image in NZ

Actyon Sports utility vehicles race on a track during the “Ssangyong Racing Series” at Taupo Motor Park, in New Zealand, Sunday. The park with a 3.2-kilometer race track will be renamed “Ssangyong Motorsport Park” from April 1 next year./ Courtesy of Ssangyong MotorBy Park Jin-haiTAUPO, New Zealand ― All 25 Actyon Sports utility vehicles hit the Taupo Motorsport Park tarmac here on Sunday for the Korean premium SUV maker’s first one-make event, the “Ssangyong Racing Series” on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28 ― part of the Premier NZ Supertourers Series.“I’ve dreamed of this whole racing series, since I came up with the idea a little over one year ago,” said Deon Cooper, managing director of the automaker’s New Zealand head office Great Lake Motor Distributors, at the opening day press conference. About 12,000 spectators, mostly sports-loving families, cheered on the amateur racers. “Not only do we have motor racing, but its popular with people aged from 14 to 60 ― That is a big market reach. A 14-year-old te

Sep 29, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

BAT Korea-labor to be strike-free for three years

Hyundai losing market share in home turf

Mercedes-Benz beats BMW in monthly sales

Gov't turns blind eye to UN finding

Hanwha chief's third son joins construction unit

'Korea should pass anti-discrimination bill'

Hyundai, Kia sells 9 million cars in China

Samsung C&T, Hyundai Development collude in subway line No. 9 construction

German carmakers stingy with donations

Ssangyong revs up Actyon image in NZ

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