The Korea Times

'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

South Korea

Foreign sailors shun Korean fishing vessels

By Park Jin-haiKorean fishing vessels are finding hard time in drawing Southeast Asian sailors because of their notoriety for severe human rights violations, diplomatic sources said Thursday.“Korea has emerged as one of the most shunned designations,” one diplomat said on condition of anonymity.He said that the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative (NFFC), Korea’s fishing industry lobby that also serves as to import foreign manpower, is now virtually “begging source countries to send more sailors.” Concerns over working conditions have been rampant since 2011, when a group of Indonesian sailors walked off the Sajo Oyang 75, a Korean-flagged vessel fishing in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone.Southeast Asians make up 30 percent of crews on boats, while more than 70 percent of crew on Korean trawlers in international waters are foreigners, according to the fisheries ministry data.Another diplomat said that while abuses occur near Korea, the greater concern are the vessels that fish in international waters, where monitoring is more dif

Sep 25, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Foreign sailors shun Korean fishing vessels

People & Events

Bentley designer stress global tastes

Lee Sang-yup, Bentley Motors’ head of exterior and advanced designBy Park Jin-haiLee Sang-yup, Bentley Motors’ head of exterior and advanced design, says a designer is like a good chef.“A great chef, before he cooks, figures out all the ingredients and their characteristics as well as the tastes of the diners,” he said during an interview held Thursday on the sidelines of the British luxury brand’s launch event for the Flying Spur V8 at the Banyan Tree Club and Spa in central Seoul. “A good designer, too, should study the market for every kind of car that he is designing.”For instance, the Continental GT’s sales are strong across the globe, he says. This means it is necessary to reflect global tastes as well as tradition.“So its body is lower and wider than a conventional Bentley’s,” he explains. “Bentley’s flagship sedan Mulsanne, however, is stricter on British style.”       Lee, better known as the man who designed the yellow Autobot Bumblebee ― a Chevrolet C

Sep 22, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Hyosung to financially support affiliates

Ro Jae-bong, right, executive vice president of Hyosung, and Chang Man-ik, executive director of Eximbank’s future industry finance department, pose after they signed a memorandum of understanding at the chemical company’s headquarters in Gongdeok, central Seoul, Monday, to provide low interest loans to Hyosung’s smaller business partners. / Courtesy of HyosungBy Park Jin-haiHyosung signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Eximbank, Monday, to provide financial support for the chemical company’s smaller business partners and subcontractors.The agreement calls for Hyosung and Eximbank to cooperate on financial programs in order to make it easier for Hyosung’s smaller business partners operating overseas to receive financial support.“We share the view that gathering the potential of a conglomerate and its smaller business partners as entities in the same boat is incremental to surviving harsh global competition,” said Ro Jae-bong, executive vice president of Hyosung. Under the agreement, Hyosung will help the firms obtain loans at in

Sep 22, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Taxies on road toward diversification

Taxi drivers ride in Renault Samsung Motors’ SM3 Z.E. electric taxies that the automaker provided to Seoul Metropolitan City for a test drive at Seoul Square, in central Seoul, Aug. 29. Starting this month and through April, the 10 electric taxies will run on the streets of the capital city. / YonhapFrom hybrid to diesel-powered, differnt types of cabs to hit the roadBy Park Jin-haiKang In-gi, a veteran taxi driver of 42 years, looks at a Toyota hybrid taxi Prius showcased on the first floor of the Seoul Transportation Center.“I’ve been mostly driving Hyundai cars, but now I’m considering buying a Prius,” he said.For the first time since Toyota launched its hybrid taxi model last month, more drivers have started to consider other options in the monotonous Hyundai-Kia Motors dominant taxi market.Another driver, Lim Heung-bin, said that if the Prius had no problems with after-sales service, he would be more than willing to make the switch.Following the Japanese carmaker’s lead, imported automakers also are considering entering the local taxi bus

Sep 19, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Hyundai Shaking off bid shock

By Park Jin-haiHyundai Motor’s surprisingly bigger-than-expected bid for Korea Electric Power Corp.’s land in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, is expected to have only a minor impact on its share prices, analysts said Friday.Hyundai Motor extended its fall for the second straight day, closing down 1.52 percent or 3,000 won, at 195,000. Its affiliate Kia Motors closed with a 0.92 percent increase, or 500 won, at 54,900 won. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed with a 0.30 percent increase or 6.08 points at 2,053.82.Most analysts said the market had already factored in the financial risk involving the bid to buy the state-run power company’s land.Hyundai Motor Group offered 10.6 trillion for the property in an apparent attempt to beat the Samsung Group. Given that the market value is in the range of 4.5-6.5 trillion won, the offer is three times the market value.Hyundai Motor stock fell 9.17 percent the previous day, hit by the news that its offer was far higher than the market expected and would add to its financial burden. The stock atte

Sep 19, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

'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

Foreign sailors shun Korean fishing vessels

Bentley designer stress global tastes

Hyosung to financially support affiliates

Taxies on road toward diversification

Hyundai Shaking off bid shock

Top 5 stories