The Korea Times

HD Hyundai Oilbank supplies Korea's 1st engine oil for hydrogen cars

HD Hyundai Oilbank has developed Korea’s first engine oil specifically designed for hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles (HICEV), targeting the growing lubricant market for hydrogen-powered mobility, the refiner said Tuesday. The company recently began supplying its XTeer H2-ICE engine oil specifically developed for HICEVs, to hydrogen commercial vehicle manufacturers including Tata Daewoo. HD Hyundai Oilbank started developing lubricant technology for HICEVs in 2023 and completed product development and performance verification using its proprietary technologies last year. HICEVs operate at higher combustion temperatures than conventional internal combustion engines. Moisture generated during combustion can accelerate engine wear and degrade oil performance. Reflecting on these characteristics, HD Hyundai Oilbank independently developed three core technologies: engine protection, moisture control and suppression of deposits generated during combustion. The hydrogen-focused engine oil development came as hydrogen is attracting growing attention as an eco-friendly alternative to

Aug 11, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

HD Hyundai Oilbank supplies Korea's 1st engine oil for hydrogen cars

Companies

Kia's veteran dealer finds success in commercial vehicle niche

For most of his decades-long career at Kia, Hwang Kyung-ha has built his business not through flashy marketing or showroom traffic, but through relationships that spread by word of mouth. The veteran dealer recently became one of the carmaker’s elite “Grand Masters” after surpassing 4,000 cumulative vehicle sales, a milestone reserved for salespeople who reach the mark over their careers. Since joining the automaker in 1987, Hwang has averaged 101 vehicle sales annually, earning the title after reaching the milestone on June 16. His achievement is rooted in a niche that many retail-focused salespeople overlook: commercial vehicles for small businesses. Roughly 70 percent of Hwang's sales come from corporate clients and self-employed business owners, particularly companies involved in importing food ingredients from China and Vietnam. Refrigerated trucks, wing-body trucks and other commercial vehicles account for the bulk of his sales. Rather than pursuing large fleet contracts, Hwang cultivated a network of entrepreneurs over decades. Existing customers frequently introduced him to

Aug 10, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Kia's veteran dealer finds success in commercial vehicle niche

Companies

BMW, Mercedes-Benz turn to super luxury to fend off Tesla, Chinese EV challenge

BMW Korea and Mercedes-Benz Korea can better fend off the rapid rise of Tesla and Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) makers by pivoting toward Korea’s growing ultra-luxury vehicle segment — an arena where newcomers are unlikely to match their brand heritage and exclusivity anytime soon, industry officials said Friday. Rather than competing head-on in the increasingly crowded premium market, the German automakers are expanding their highest-end offerings, betting that their longstanding brand heritage and premium positioning will remain difficult for newer rivals to replicate. The strategy comes as Tesla and Chinese brands, such as BYD, continue to gain traction in Korea, eroding the dominance long enjoyed by established premium automakers. For instance, Tesla’s price-competitive Model Y won a title as the nation’s top-selling vehicle in the first half, accounting for more than 30 percent of all newly-registered vehicles here. While German brands still remain strong in the luxury segment, competition is becoming increasingly intense in mainstream premium models, prompting them to fo

Aug 8, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

BMW, Mercedes-Benz turn to super luxury to fend off Tesla, Chinese EV challenge

Companies

Korean LCCs ditch 'low-cost' image in push for higher-value customers

Korean airlines are moving away from the low-cost carrier (LCC) label in a bid to attract higher-value customers and build stronger brand identities. The shift is being led by airlines adopting hybrid models between full-service carriers (FSCs) and traditional LCCs. Air Premia has positioned itself as a premium hybrid carrier, while newly rebranded Trinity Airways is introducing the concept of what it calls “selective service carrier.” Trinity Airways, formerly T’way Air, explained the new identity reflects the carrier’s willingness to provide selected services based on customer demand by moving beyond typical images from FSCs and LCCs. The rebranding reflects a broader challenge facing LCCs. The low-cost model, built around cheap fares and limited services, has become increasingly difficult to sustain amid rising fuel costs, labor expenses and intensifying competition. Despite the rebranding strategy, both Air Premia and Trinity Airways still suffer from losses. Last year, Air Premia was ordered to improve its financial condition by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Trans

Aug 7, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Korean LCCs ditch 'low-cost' image in push for higher-value customers

Companies

Airports become unlikely summer refuge for older Koreans

YEONGJONG ISLAND, Incheon — Beneath the cool air blowing from the ceiling vents of Incheon International Airport's Terminal 2, dozens of older residents settled into passenger lounges Thursday afternoon, turning the nation's largest airport into an unexpected refuge from a relentless summer heat wave. Some sat quietly with their eyes closed beneath the steady hum of air conditioning. Others chatted in small groups or watched the stream of travelers passing through the terminal. Few carried suitcases. None appeared to be going anywhere. As record-breaking heat waves and tropical nights continue to scorch the country, Korea's largest airport has quietly become an unlikely sanctuary for vulnerable residents. Retirees aged 65 and older can travel to the airport for free under Korea's senior subway fare exemption program, allowing them to spend hours escaping the heat inside the terminal's spacious halls. Some passenger seats throughout Terminal 2 were occupied by groups of elderly visitors who looked more like regulars than travelers. Some had settled into lounge areas for long conversation

Aug 7, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Airports become unlikely summer refuge for older Koreans

Companies

Incheon airport aims at becoming Asian MRO hub

YEONGJONG ISLAND, Incheon — Incheon International Airport is moving beyond its traditional role as a passenger and cargo gateway, expanding into high-value aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services through a large-scale aircraft conversion and maintenance complex. The Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) said Thursday the construction of the airport's first tenant facility — a passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion center within its High-Tech Aviation Complex — was completed late last year. It has since entered full-scale operations, marking a major milestone in Korea's effort to build a competitive domestic MRO industry. The global MRO market is projected to grow from approximately 171 trillion won ($120 billion) in 2025 to 224 trillion won by 2035, expanding at an average annual rate of 2.7 percent, according to data from the airport operator. Despite the industry's strategic importance for aviation safety, Korea has long relied on overseas providers because of its limited domestic maintenance ecosystem, high labor costs and substantial upfront investment r

Aug 6, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Incheon airport aims at becoming Asian MRO hub

Companies

PHOTO Trinity Airways debuts with new uniform

Flight attendants showcase Trinity Airways' new uniforms during the airline's brand launch and uniform runway event in Seoul, Thursday. The low-cost carrier, formerly T'way Air, was rebranded after it was acquired by Sono Trinity Group. Joint Press Corps

Aug 6, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

[PHOTO] Trinity Airways debuts with new uniform

Companies

Korea's China dilemma deepens as Chinese carmakers expand strategic influence

Chinese carmakers are rapidly cementing their presence across Korea's automotive industry by expanding beyond low-priced electric vehicles (EVs) into strategic investments and critical supply chains. This puts their Korean counterparts in a state of growing dilemma over their future strategy, as the pace of Chinese carmakers’ inroads is widely seen as much faster and far-reaching than expected. The latest in a series of such moves came on Sunday when KGM signed a strategic investment agreement with China’s Chery Automobile. Under the agreement, Chery will invest $75 million in KGM and jointly develop mobility technologies with the Korean automaker. The deal followed the rapid expansion of BYD Korea. The Chinese EV maker entered the Korean market in January 2025, and rose to become the nation’s fourth-largest imported carmaker in the first half of this year. Reflecting on the success of BYD Korea, other Chinese carmaker, such as Zeekr and Xpeng, prepares to enter the market directly. The developments suggest Chinese players are shifting from simply exporting vehicles to building a lo

Aug 5, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Korea's China dilemma deepens as Chinese carmakers expand strategic influence

Others

Korea to review joining CPTPP for export growth

Korea will review joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to broaden its trade network and reduce reliance on traditional export markets, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Tuesday. In a policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung, Kim identified the review as a key agenda item for the second half of this year. “We will review joining the CPTPP to secure new markets, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Mexico, and accelerate exports of K-content and consumer goods,” Kim said. He stressed that the government would “fully gather opinions from interested parties, including the agricultural and fisheries sectors and the National Assembly,” acknowledging the sensitivity of the trade pact for domestic producers. The CPTPP is one of the world's largest free trade agreements, comprising 12 economies and reducing or eliminating tariffs on most goods traded among its members while establishing common rules for trade, investment and digital commerce. Its 12 members are Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom,

Aug 4, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Korea to review joining CPTPP for export growth

Companies

Hankook Tire turns beach parking lots into safety checkpoints

DONGHAE, Gangwon Province — On a sweltering summer afternoon at Mangsang Beach, drivers returning from the shoreline may have expected little more than a crowded parking lot and sand-covered vehicles. Instead, many of them were greeted by a group of young Hankook Tire staff members asking a simple question: "Would you like a free tire inspection?" Within minutes, tire pressure was checked, tread wear measured and air topped up where needed. For many families preparing for the drive home, the five-minute inspection became an unexpected reminder that road safety often begins long before a vehicle reaches the highway. The scene is part of Hankook Tire’s "Tire Boy" campaign, a traveling road safety initiative designed to bring tire inspections directly to motorists instead of waiting for them to visit repair shops. Inspired by the "beer boys" who weave through baseball stadiums selling drinks to spectators, Tire Boy reverses the traditional service model by taking tire maintenance to places where drivers naturally gather. The campaign, launched in 2025, is part of the tiremaker’s core b

Aug 4, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Lee Min-hyung

Read more

HD Hyundai Oilbank supplies Korea's 1st engine oil for hydrogen cars

Kia's veteran dealer finds success in commercial vehicle niche

BMW, Mercedes-Benz turn to super luxury to fend off Tesla, Chinese EV challenge

Korean LCCs ditch 'low-cost' image in push for higher-value customers

Airports become unlikely summer refuge for older Koreans

Incheon airport aims at becoming Asian MRO hub

PHOTO Trinity Airways debuts with new uniform

Korea's China dilemma deepens as Chinese carmakers expand strategic influence

Korea to review joining CPTPP for export growth

Hankook Tire turns beach parking lots into safety checkpoints

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