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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.

Google's request for map data sparks debate in Korea

Korea faces a growing dilemma over whether to accept Google’s renewed request for the transfer of high-precision local map data overseas, as the request could potentially serve as a bargaining chip in the country’s ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States. The U.S. search giant sought approval to transfer the 1:5,000-scale high-precision map data to its overseas data centers twice, in 2007 and 2016, but was rejected both times by the Korean government over concerns about potential leaks of national security information. The government, however, has come under stronger pressure this time amid escalating trade pressure from the Donald Trump administration. The U.S. Trade Representative is moving to bring the issue to the negotiating table with its upcoming tariff talks with Korea in Washington on Thursday (local time). Its latest report last month cited the map issue as one of the major trade barriers with Korea. The Korean government is refraining from taking a firm stance on the issue for now, seemingly due to concerns over trade risks with the U.S. Korea is taking a cautio

Apr 22, 2025By Lee Min-hyung
Google's request for map data sparks debate in Korea

SK Telecom reports hacking incident involving partial leak of user USIM data

SK Telecom, Korea's leading mobile carrier, said Tuesday it has reported a hacking incident involving the partial leakage of information related to customers' universal subscriber identity module (USIM) data. The company confirmed that it detected signs of unauthorized network access on Saturday, triggered by malicious code apparently inserted by an unidentified hacker. SK Telecom said it has launched a full investigation into the breach. No cases of misuse have been reported so far. Upon identifying the breach, the company said it immediately deleted the malicious code and isolated the network system in question. It also notified the Korea Internet & Security Agency and the Personal Information Protection Commission of the incident. The company has published a notice on its website informing customers of the breach while offering USIM protection services free of charge for customers who wish to take security measures. The Ministry of Science and ICT said it has formed an emergency response team to investigate the incident and review the company's measures over user data compromise, and t

Apr 22, 2025By Yonhap
SK Telecom reports hacking incident involving partial leak of user USIM data

LG Electronics to exit EV charger business amid global demand slowdown

LG Electronics said Tuesday it will exit the electric vehicle (EV) charger business, citing prolonged global demand stagnation in the EV market. The company's EV charger-manufacturing subsidiary, HiEV Charger, will be liquidated, and all employees involved in the business will be reassigned to other divisions within LG Electronics. The company added that it will continue to provide maintenance services to existing clients without disruption. LG entered the EV charging market in 2022 by acquiring HiEV Charger, formerly known as AppleMango, after initiating early research and development in the segment in 2018. Since then, the company had offered charging solutions in South Korea, including chargers at Emart retail stores, and expanded into the U.S. market last year, opening a production plant in Texas in January 2024. The decision to withdraw comes as LG Electronics has refocused its efforts to prioritize growth in its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) business. LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan had previously identified the EV charger business as a key growth driver in the comp

Apr 22, 2025By Yonhap
LG Electronics to exit EV charger business amid global demand slowdown

Local music streaming services struggle against dominant YouTube Music

With YouTube Music continuing to dominate the music streaming market in Korea, local music streaming platforms like Melon and Genie Music are scrambling to close the gap, making efforts to shift strategies to offer experiences beyond simple playlists. According to industry tracker Wiseapp’s retail analysis, YouTube Music saw the most monthly active users (MAU) last month, reaching about 9.53 million users. This is about a third higher than the second-highest platform Melon, which saw about 6.44 million users in the same month. Global music platform Spotify came in third with 3.28 million, while Genie Music was fourth with 2.59 million MAU. With YouTube Music firmly holding the lead, local streaming platforms are seeking ways to differentiate themselves to expand their share of the pie. Melon has carved out a niche by targeting K-pop fans, providing users with exclusive, artist-focused experiences. The platform offers original content, such as interview videos and behind-the-scenes photos of artists. Key features include Fan Meetup events, where artists personally introduce new releases

Apr 22, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee
Local music streaming services struggle against dominant YouTube Music

Why Lee Jae-myung's pledge to revitalize Busan rattles maritime sector

Controversy is mounting over liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential contender Rep. Lee Jae-myung's proposal to relocate the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries from Sejong to Busan. The strongest backlash came from the lawmaker's own constituency in Incheon. Two days after Lee announced the pledge Friday as part of his broader plan to revitalize Korea's southeastern industrial complex, civic groups and businesses in the western port city of Incheon urged him to reconsider, claiming that the plan could exacerbate regional tensions. Citing the distance between Busan and other major ports, they voiced concerns that relocating the ministry could lead to neglect of cities like Incheon and Gwangyang. "Korea has ports in Gwangyang, Incheon and various other cities, each playing important roles," the Incheon Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice said in a statement. "We don't understand why all maritime-related public institutions must be concentrated in Busan." Lee's promise to also attract the headquarters and R&D centers of large domestic and international shipping and logistics

Apr 21, 2025By Park Jae-hyuk
Why Lee Jae-myung's pledge to revitalize Busan rattles maritime sector

Samsung Biologics celebrates 14th anniv. as world’s top CDMO

Samsung Biologics celebrated the 14th anniversary of its founding on Monday, marking its rise to become the world’s largest contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). After surpassing 4 trillion won ($2.82 billion) in annual sales last year, the biotech is aiming for the 5 trillion won mark this year, boosted by a 2 trillion won order secured in January. Samsung Biologics was founded in 2011 as a result of Samsung Group’s efforts to diversify its portfolio by entering the biopharmaceutical industry. Despite the late entry, the company quickly rose in the CDMO industry for its competitiveness in quality and by securing large-scale production capacity. During the past 14 years, the company has secured a total production capacity of 784,000 liters, the largest in the global CDMO industry. The biotech has secured over 350 manufacturing approvals from regulatory authorities around the world so far, and the number of its employees has grown to over 5,000 from 110 in 2011. As of last year, the company has clinched 99 contract manufacturing deals and 133 contract development

Apr 21, 2025By Nam Hyun-woo
Samsung Biologics celebrates 14th anniv. as world’s top CDMO

Hyundai Motor’s Elec City buses on Japan’s Yakushima Island

Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon, center, poses with Iwasaki Group CEO Yoshitaro Iwasaki, fourth from right, after supplying its Elec City electric buses on Yakushima Island, a tropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu, Japan, Monday. The region is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The carmaker said it hopes to set an exemplary case for eco-friendly mobility for the island. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Apr 21, 2025By Lee Min-hyung
Hyundai Motor’s Elec City buses on Japan’s Yakushima Island

Korea pushing to export largest amount of rice to Japan in 35 years

Korea plans to export 22 tons of rice to Japan, the largest volume in 35 years, following a surge in rice prices in the neighboring country, a trade company said Monday. The Japan office of Korea's NH Trading Co. imported 2 tons of Korean rice products last month, according to company officials. NH Trading is a subsidiary of Seoul's National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, better known as Nonghyup. The company plans to import an additional 10 tons of rice next month and another 10 tons in the future, the officials said. It marks the first time the Japanese office of NH Trading has purchased rice from Korea. It will also mark the largest amount of Korean rice at 22 tons exported to Japan since 1990, when the government began keeping a record of such data. The two countries' rice trade plan comes amid surging grain prices in Japan over the past year sparked by poor harvests and other reasons.

Apr 21, 2025By Yonhap
Korea pushing to export largest amount of rice to Japan in 35 years

POSCO, Hyundai Motor groups form partnership in steel amid US tariff threats

POSCO Group and Hyundai Motor Group marked an unusual alliance, with the former investing in a U.S. plant construction for the latter's steelmaking subsidiary, Hyundai Steel. The agreement between Korea's two largest steelmakers comes amid the Donald Trump administration's 25 percent tariff on steel imports. Although both companies have been cautious about linking the investment directly to the U.S. tariffs, they cited the rapidly changing global trade environment as the main reason behind the partnership. The steelmaking group said Monday it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the automotive group to cooperate in the steel and rechargeable battery sectors. Under the MOU, the two groups will jointly invest in the construction of an electric arc furnace-based integrated steel mill, set to be built in Louisiana by 2029. The facility is expected to begin operations the same year, supplying 2.7 million tons of steel plates annually to global carmakers. They did not disclose how much POSCO will contribute to the $5.8 billion project. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun

Apr 21, 2025By Park Jae-hyuk
POSCO, Hyundai Motor groups form partnership in steel amid US tariff threats

Kia’s top salesman focuses on compact sedans, SUVs for sales milestone

Kim Yoo-hyun, a sales "great master" at Kia, has adopted a strategy of maximizing sales for compact sedans and SUVs for his target customers, the elderly, who often have less purchasing power than other age groups. He became the carmaker’s 12th "great master" by achieving accumulated sales of more than 5,000 cars over the course of 32 years. The title is the company's highest honor, given to those who attain high sales figures. Kim is based in Yeongdo District in the southern port city of Busan. The elderly population is higher Busan than in Seoul or any other metropolitan area in Korea. “I focused on selling compact vehicles, such as the Morning, K3 small sedans and the Sportage compact SUV,” he said during a telephone interview. “Demand for such low-priced vehicles remains high in the region.” He joined Kia in 1993, and by February 2025, he had sold 5,016 cars, which is approximately 156 vehicles a year. Kim keeps in contact with his customers even after the sale is complete by helping them with their auto maintenance. “When I get a phone call from customers complaining about

Apr 21, 2025By Lee Min-hyung
Kia’s top salesman focuses on compact sedans, SUVs for sales milestone
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