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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

Hanwha B&B receives social enterprise certification

Hanwha B&B employees pose next to a sign notifying that the company is a government-certified social enterprise, at its Beans & Berries café, in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Hanwha GroupBy Park Jin-haiHanwha B&B, Hanwha Group’s delicacy affiliate, has been certified as a “social enterprise” by the Ministry of Labor, the company said Thursday.The company that runs 36 Beans & Berries branches hires some 200 people as all-timers. The company fills 40 percent of them with the socially weak, including those from single parent and low-income families.It is the first time that an affiliate of local conglomerates has been certified as the title.Also, when it purchase ingredients, it uses more than 15 percent from the social enterprises and hold free consulting sessions for some 30 smaller neighborhood cafes a year.  The support program which took place in January and June designated 13 small cafes and provided a total of 2 billion won fund to aid their business.“They all have seen their monthy sales revenues jump 35percent on average from

Nov 20, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Hyundai Mobis modules lead Hyundai Motor's growth

Workers assemble parts at the second factory opened by Beijing Mobis. Parent company,Hyundai Mobis, the country’s largest auto parts maker, has production facilities in eight countries. Total ignition module production topped 100 million in 2013. / Courtesy of Hyundai MobisBy Park Jin-haiHyundai Mobis, Korea’s largest auto parts maker, has provided a full weight behind Hyundai Motor Group’s ascent overseas.It has developed world’s top quality modules to provide them to Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors.“We have provided the modules that have been inspected through the local quality control system to Hyundai Motor’s overseas markets. By delivering after-sales products in time, we also play the import role of guaranteeing Hyundai cars’ overall quality,” said a company spokesman.It has constantly expanded the supply of chassis modules to Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors since 1999 when it started supplying them for certain passenger car lines.Now it develops and manufactures three different modules ― chassis, front-end and cockpi

Nov 20, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Used car industry protests against new tax system

By Park Jin-haiUsed car dealers say a new government tax measure doubly taxes their incomes and the used car black market to grow.Since 1999, the government has enforced a value added taxation system that levies sales tax less purchase tax on dealers for each used car sold. The purchase deduction rate has been 0.091 percent for 12 years but decreased to 0.08 percent in 2011, while the sales tax rate has remained at 0.091 percent.The problem with the amended tax system, which was announced in August, is that it reduces the purchase deduction rate further to 0.065 percent and 0.047 percent for 2015 and 2017, respectively.“To reflect the principle of taxation, which states that where there is income, there is tax, and to refrain from double taxation, we need to adopt a marginal taxation system for the used car industry,” said lawmaker Yun Ho-jung during a recent discussion on the taxation amendment, which some 450 dealers took part in.Under the current taxation scheme, when a used car dealer sells a vehicle at cost and with no margin, say at 50 million won, he or she should

Nov 20, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Haitai hits jackpot with new potato chip

By Park Jin-haiHaitai Confectionery & Foods’ new snack is enjoying an unprecedented popularity, with some willing to buy it triple the price at online sites.Its Honey Butter Chip, a potato chip with sweet buttery taste, can’t meet an unexpectedly strong demand, leaving many convenience stores unable to secure enough supply, company officials said.Its retail price is 1,500 won, but it’s trading from 2,000 won to 5,000 won a pack on-line. Despite its higher price tag, people are queuing to buy one.  Since its August launch, the word of mouths fast carried its “superb” taste through social networks, making it Lotte Mart’s best selling potato snack among over 70 potato chips in October.The chip has emerged as the rare hit item for the company since the previous best-selling item “Mychew” taffy came to market a decade ago.The chip’s sales surpassed 5 billion won in three months.Consumers are sharing their episodes about how they get their hands on the popular snack. One with ID: Hodori ― love tweeted that when she wa

Nov 19, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Haitai hits jackpot with new potato chip
Companies

Hyundai Motor, KB Card reach agreement on fee in last minute negotiation

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor and KB Kookmin Card have reached an agreement Monday, ending their seven-month dispute over card fees.The representatives of the country's biggest carmaker and the second-biggest card-issuer by market share met on Sunday and have agreed to set the fee rate at 1.5 percent.Under the current policy, Hyundai has to return 1.85 percent of all money paid by a KB cardholder to the card company in fees.Hyundai argued that the rate is "exorbitantly" high, demanding KB to reduce it to 0.7 percent or lower, while the card firm said it cannot adjust it below 1.75 percent, citing various costs needed to keep the policy running.The two companies previously extended their negotiations twice, failing to find common ground due to significant differences over the terms of fees that Hyundai is required to pay to KB.Since the rate is fixed, experts predict it will serve as a barometer for other financing institutions such as Shinhan Card and Samsung Card, whose contracts are expected to be renewed in February and March.It is widely viewed that the two sides reached agreement

Nov 17, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Daewoo International puts focus on power projects

By Park Jin-haiDaewoo International, one of Korea's biggest trading companies, says power infrastructure projects will be the next driving force behind its growth.In a roadmap drawn up in September, CEO Jeon Byeong-eal designated power plant construction as one of six core tasks the company will focus on for sustainable growth, together with overseas energy development, food, mineral, steel and auto parts businesses.The company’s power infrastructure projects cover all three areas: investment in and operating power plants, building power plants and supplying equipment.“Based on our networks with affiliated companies, we have been building power infrastructure in all three areas since early 2000,” a company spokesman said.The company has more than 100 global networks over 60 countries.“We have played the role of an organizer, making business plans work both for us and our affiliates, and supplying equipment,” the spokesman said. “Because local companies have price and quality competitiveness in the fields of engineering, procurement a

Nov 17, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Companies

GM Korea union fears massive layoffs

By Park Jin-haiGM Korea will accept applications for voluntary retirement from its workers.As part of an effort to shed production costs and improve the factory’s falling productivity, its Gunsan factory’s two-shift system will change to one-shift.The retirement program will be limited to managerial positions. But, coupled with the planned factory system change, unionists are worried that it could be a signal of upcoming large-scale layoffs.The company conducted a voluntary severance plan in February when some 300 workers left the company.The scale of the voluntary retirements this time around has not been confirmed, but it is widely speculated to be similar in size and to be done before the end of the year.Sergio Rocha, GM Korea's CEO, mentioned the Gunsan factory’s shift system change during a business presentation to unionists early this month.The company claims that the current two-shift system could jeopardize the production quota for the next generation Cruze.In December, GM decided to stop selling its Chevrolet-branded cars in Europe by the end of 2015, a mov

Nov 14, 2014By Park Jin-hai
People & Events

Hanwha director - PR person of the year

Kang Kee-sooBy Park Jin-haiHanwha Group public relations director Kang Kee-soo has been named Public Relations Person of the Year by the Korea Public Relations Association (KPRA).He was chosen for his contribution to enhancing his company’s image through media and online promotions as well as organizing cultural events and corporate social responsibility programs, according to the KPRA.Kang, 52, also served as president of Korea Accredited Public Relations, an association of more than 700 PR experts selected and fostered by KPRA over the last decade.The Ministry of Employment and Labor’s public relations campaign “Ability Comes Before Age,” which promotes the hiring of middle-aged people, won the 2014 KPRA grand prize for this promotional drive.   

Nov 13, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Hanwha director - PR person of the year
Companies

Korea announces joint fuel efficiency standards

By Park Jin-haiThe Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Wednesday that it had agreed with two related ministries to unify their final “notification on testing for vehicle fuel efficiency, emission and fuel consumption rates.”Under the new standards, the first test of a vehicle’s fuel efficiency will be done on three cars.However, when if the average result is over 5 percent from what is claimed, tests will be carried out on another three.The final fuel efficiency will be decided by averaging all the data from tests on the six vehicles.So far, the fuel efficiency has created plenty of wrangling between ministries. The Ministry of Trade released fuel efficiency data under the category of energy conservation, the land ministry did the same based on vehicle safety and the Ministry of the Environment focused on greenhouse gas emission control.The main control has now been placed under the land ministry.The new testing standards will take effect when it and the trade and environment ministries announce a joint notification next week.The testing inst

Nov 13, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Companies

Japanese carmakers accelerate sales pitch

Models pose next to Nissan’s compact SUV Qashqai, launched in Blue Square, Hannam-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. The second generation sport utility vehicle comes in three models, with its basic model priced at 30.5 million won. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiJapan’s top three carmakers, after giving way to diesel-powered German rivals for years in the local market, are launching new cars over the last two months of the year.Nissan Korea launched its first compact diesel SUV Qashqai on Tuesday, marking the sixth anniversary of its entry into the market. The company also unveiled plans for its flagship electric vehicle “Leaf” that will be launched in December.Toyota meanwhile will launch the new Camry next week, while Honda will launch its flagship SUV CR-V in December. “This year Nissan Korea has posted a 40 percent annual sales increase from the previous year,” said Takehiko Kikuchi, president of Nissan Korea, during Qashqai’s launching event in Blue Square in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Tuesday.“The newly launched Qashiqai, together with the Altima will

Nov 11, 2014By Park Jin-hai
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