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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Uncertainty grows over HMM's relocation, new owner

Korean shipping company HMM has been facing multiple challenges since the beginning of this year. While it remains uncertain about who will become HMM's new owner and whether the firm will overcome a market downturn, the government has renewed its push to move the company's Seoul headquarters to Busan, Korea's second-largest city which is now home to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. During Tuesday's livestreamed Cabinet meeting, President Lee Jae Myung asked acting Oceans Minister Kim Sung-bum when HMM will move its head office to the southeastern port city. As Kim cited a prolonged backlash from its labor union, Lee then asked whether its management is also undecided about the relocation. "Two major privately owned shipping companies decided to relocate their headquarters" the president said. "I listed other shipping firms that could move to Busan if the government persuades them to do so." Lee added that it is not useful to locate shipping firms' head offices in the capital area, as Kim introduced the ministry's plan to establish a shipping industry cluster through a "big deal" wi

Jan 22, 2026By Park Jae-hyuk
Uncertainty grows over HMM's relocation, new owner

Fate of half million dogs unclear as dog meat ban nears

INCHEON — A declining number of dog meat farms in Korea, driven by government efforts to root out the centuries-old practice of dog meat consumption, has raised questions about what will happen to the dogs currently in the system between now and when the ban takes effect in February 2027. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed that at least 468,000 dogs are currently kept on farms in cages nationwide, or at some 5,900 related businesses, including slaughterhouses, distributors and restaurants. Following the ban, there are few clear plans about how the dogs will be cared for, raising the possibility of some being left to fend for themselves in the wild. State-run canine shelters across the country, often operated by local governments, are already at full capacity, according to Humane World for Animals Korea, a non-governmental organization dedicated to animal welfare. They say the country is far from prepared to provide a safe new life for the massive number of dogs expected to be freed. “The meat farm owners, facing the government ban, are willing to give

Jan 22, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Fate of half million dogs unclear as dog meat ban nears

HS Hyosung vice chair explores future of chemical industry at Davos Forum

HS Hyosung Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang attended the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to explore sustainable growth strategies for the global chemical industry, the company said Thursday. Cho was invited to the forum’s chemical governors’ meeting, where he met with leaders of the world’s top chemical firms, such as BASF and Dow. He discussed the impact of geopolitical risks on global supply chains and strategies to address the long-term effects from capacity expansion in the Middle East and China. Cho also shared the firm’s vision for environmentally friendly materials and its commitment to the transition to net-zero emissions. Cho met with Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and emphasized the strategic role of Korea and Korean firms in enhancing global supply chains. The meeting was held at the request of Champagne. The HS Hyosung vice chair also expressed gratitude for Canada’s cooperation with Korea — demonstrated at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Cho called for Canada’s contin

Jan 22, 2026By Lee Min-hyung
HS Hyosung vice chair explores future of chemical industry at Davos Forum

Musinsa emerges as dark horse in race for Hoka distribution rights

Musinsa, Korea’s leading fashion platform, has officially entered the competition to secure domestic distribution rights for Hoka, the premium running shoe brand that has taken the local market by storm. While major fashion conglomerates have long been vying for a deal with Hoka’s parent company, Deckers Outdoor Corp., Musinsa’s entry as a “dark horse” is shifting industry attention. Experts are closely watching whether the platform can leverage its marketing and branding strengths to outmaneuver traditional retail giants. According to industry sources on Wednesday, Musinsa recently initiated talks with Deckers regarding a potential partnership. Although the platform showed little movement late last year, it has reportedly pivoted to actively pursue the brand after reassessing Hoka’s rapid growth potential in Korea. “Internal evaluations of Hoka’s brand recognition and symbolism are highly positive,” a Musinsa official said. “We are seriously considering ways to maintain and evolve the brand’s identity and philosophy in the Korean market.” Industry observers see t

Jan 22, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Musinsa emerges as dark horse in race for Hoka distribution rights

PHOTO Toyota Motor Korea expands social responsibility

Toyota Motor Korea CEO Manabu Konyama, front row right, poses with Father Kim Ha-jong, front row center, an Italian-born priest, at Anna's House in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. The Japanese automaker donated 80 million won ($54,500) to the welfare organization as part of its annual corporate social responsibility program, which has been in place since 2005. Courtesy of Toyota Motor Korea

Jan 22, 2026By Lee Min-hyungphoto
[PHOTO] Toyota Motor Korea expands social responsibility

SK bioscience to speed up Ebola virus vaccine development with CEPI funding

SK bioscience, a biopharmaceutical arm of Korea's SK Group, said Thursday it will accelerate the development of a Zaire Ebola virus vaccine with funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The announcement follows a funding agreement between CEPI and U.S. pharmaceutical company MSD to support continued development of the vaccine. Under the agreement, CEPI will provide $30 million to MSD, which will allocate the funds to its development partners, including SK bioscience and Hilleman Laboratories, the company said in a press release. "Addressing deadly infectious diseases, such as Ebola, requires strong global collaboration," SK bioscience Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ahn Jae-yong said. "Through this CEPI-supported partnership, SK bioscience will continue to play a critical role in improving Zaire Ebola virus vaccine manufacturing and supply, contributing to global health preparedness." Hilleman Laboratories is a joint venture between MSD and Wellcome, a global charitable foundation focused on health research. Hilleman will lead clinical development of an updat

Jan 22, 2026By Yonhap
SK bioscience to speed up Ebola virus vaccine development with CEPI funding

President signals for incentives for companies to move $680 bil. chip cluster southward

President Lee Jae Myung indicated Wednesday that the government intends to offer incentives to companies if they relocate their semiconductor plants from sites near the capital to southern parts of the country. His remarks come amid calls from the ruling party for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to move their chip clusters currently under construction in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The calls, made ahead of local elections scheduled for June 3, aim to disperse the industry across regions to promote more balanced regional development. While Lee has previously said the companies would not move their facilities even if the government tried to force them, his comments are considered to be signaling the administration's continued desire for the relocation. However, the related companies declined to comment. During a nationally televised New Year’s press conference, he said the government would encourage companies to build their semiconductor facilities in southern regions, where the electricity supply is sufficient. While acknowledging the difficulty of reversing decisions made under previou

Jan 21, 2026By Park Jae-hyuk
President signals for incentives for companies to move $680 bil. chip cluster southward

Gwangju becomes Korea's 1st test bed for self-driving cars

Gwangju Metropolitan City has been selected as the country’s first test bed for autonomous vehicles, the government announced Wednesday. The southwestern city expects the designation to accelerate the collection and analysis of large-scale data, laying the groundwork for the development of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for future vehicles. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Gwangju’s entire road network will be opened as testing sites for autonomous cars. The government said it chose Gwangju after determining that the city best met key criteria for the project, including a population of more than 1 million and a distinctive mix of urban and rural environments. The Lee Jae Myung administration’s New Government Economic Growth Strategy, announced in August, and the Measures to Strengthen Competitiveness in the Autonomous Vehicle Industry, unveiled in November, also identified the country’s southwestern region, led by Gwangju, as a national hub for the industry, according to an official from the automated driving policy divi

Jan 21, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Gwangju becomes Korea's 1st test bed for self-driving cars

PHOTO Donation to share hope

S-Oil CEO Anwar Al-Hejazi, second from left, and S-Oil President Ryu Yul, left, pose with officials from the Community Chest of Korea at the charity organization's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday, after the company's donation of 2 billion won ($1.36 million) for the 2026 Hope Sharing campaign. The donation will be used to support the underprivileged and programs to assist social welfare facilities. Courtesy of S-Oil

Jan 21, 2026By Park Jae-hyukphoto
[PHOTO] Donation to share hope

PHOTO Oriental Brewery supports Team Korea

From left, judoka Kim Min-jong, modern pentathlete Jun Woong-tae and archer Kim Woo-jin pose at the “Cass 0.0” booth at the Jincheon National Training Center in North Chungcheong Province, Tuesday. Oriental Brewery, best known for Cass, the country’s top-selling beer brand, held the event to encourage Korean national athletes ahead of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, set to open on Feb. 6. Cass is an official partner of the Winter Games and Cass 0.0 is a non-alcoholic beer. Courtesy of Oriental Brewery

Jan 21, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
[PHOTO] Oriental Brewery supports Team Korea
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