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[News Article] LG Energy Solution's R&D investments top $760 mil. in 2023

LG Energy Solution's R&D investments top $760 mil. in 2023  The Korea Times - LG Energy Solution (LGES), Korea's leading battery maker, said Thursday its research and development (R&D) investments exceeded 1 trillion won ($760 million) for the first time last year despite faltering demand for electric vehicles. LGES' investments in R&D activities jumped 18.4 percent to 1.037 trillion won in 2023 from 876 billion won a year earlier, according to the company's 2023 business report. To secure "unrivaled competitiveness" in the battery sector, the company said it will continue to expand R&D investments this year. Separately from R&D spending, LGES injected 10.89 trillion won in production facilities last year, jumping 73 percent from 6.29 trillion won the previous year. LGES earlier expected the EV market will grow by a mid-range of 20 percent this year, slowing down from a previous average annual growth of 30 percent, amid a downturn in the global economy. To ride out unfriendly market conditions, it plans to strengthen its product portfolio by adding nickel-rich NCMA (nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum) lithium-ion batteries, as well as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. An LFP battery is a type of lithium-ion battery known for its enhanced safety features, high energy density and longer life span. In North America, LGES currently operates two plants in Ohio and Michigan, with six factories, including one in Canada, to be completed in coming years. In addition, the company operates one plant in Korea, one in Poland and one in China, while preparing to start operations at its Indonesian plant this year. (Yonhap) Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2024/03/419_370640.html ​

2024.03.15
[News Article] 이콜랩, `세계에서 가장 윤리적인 기업` 18년 연속 수상

이콜랩, `세계에서 가장 윤리적인 기업` 18년 연속 수상   디지털타임스 박한나 기자 - 이콜랩이 세계적인 기업윤리연구소 에티스피어가 주관하는 '세계에서 가장 윤리적인 기업'에 18년 연속 선정됐다고 13일 밝혔다. 이콜랩은 상이 처음 만들어진 2007년부터 한 해도 빠짐없이 매년 수상하는 영예를 안았다. 에티스피어는 기업의 윤리적 활동을 장려하기 위해 매년 세계에서 가장 윤리적인 기업을 선정하고 있다. 이콜랩은 지속가능성을 비즈니스 핵심으로 삼아 조직에 최고지속가능성책임자(CSO)를 두고 있다. 고객사에는 디지털 기반의 통합 솔루션을 제공해 ESG 목표 달성을 도왔다. 지난 2022년에는 연간 약 8290억리터의 물 절약으로 7억5800만명이 마실 수 있는 물을 확보했다. 연간 약 360만메트릭톤의 온실가스 배출량을 감축시켜 탄소중립에 기여했다. 이콜랩이 세계적인 기업윤리연구소 에티스피어가 주관하는 '세계에서 가장 윤리적인 기업'에 18년 연속 선정됐다고 13일 밝혔다. 이콜랩은 상이 처음 만들어진 2007년부터 한 해도 빠짐없이 매년 수상하는 영예를 안았다. 에티스피어는 기업의 윤리적 활동을 장려하기 위해 매년 세계에서 가장 윤리적인 기업을 선정하고 있다. 이콜랩은 지속가능성을 비즈니스 핵심으로 삼아 조직에 최고지속가능성책임자(CSO)를 두고 있다. 고객사에는 디지털 기반의 통합 솔루션을 제공해 ESG 목표 달성을 도왔다. 지난 2022년에는 연간 약 8290억리터의 물 절약으로 7억5800만명이 마실 수 있는 물을 확보했다. 연간 약 360만메트릭톤의 온실가스 배출량을 감축시켜 탄소중립에 기여했다. 출처: https://www.dt.co.kr/contents.html?article_no=2024031302109932049004&ref=naver 

2024.03.15
[News Article] 포스코홀딩스, 글로벌 ESG 평가 우수 기업 선정

포스코홀딩스, 글로벌 ESG 평가 우수 기업 선정   조선비즈 윤예원 기자 - 포스코홀딩스가 글로벌 환경·사회·지배구조(ESG) 평가기관으로부터 ESG 경영성과 우수 기업으로 선정됐다고 14일 밝혔다. 포스코홀딩스는 지난 2월 세계 최대 의결권 자문기구인 ISS(Institutional Shareholder Services)의 퀄리티스코어(Quality Score) 평가에서 ESG 전 영역에서 1등급 평가를 받았다. ISS의 퀄리티스코어는 매월 전 세계 모든 기업의 ESG 정책, 거버넌스, 정보공시 내역 등을 평가해 상위 10%에게 ESG 영역별 1등급 배지를 부여한다. ESG 채권 심사기관인 서스테이널리틱스(Sustainalytics) ESG리스크 평가에서도 포스코홀딩스는 2022년 말 37.5점(High Risk)에서 2023년 말 24.4점(Medium Risk)으로 리스크 점수가 크게 개선돼, ‘2024 Industry Top Rated’ 배지를 받았다. ‘Industry Top Rated’ 배지는 업종별 글로벌 상위 5% 이내 기업에만 수여된다. 환경(E) 측면에서는 전기로 도입, HyREX(하이렉스) 투자 등 저탄소 생산체제로의 전환에 대한 선제 노력을 높게 평가받았다. 사회(S) 측면에서는 2022년부터 운영하는 그룹안전협의회, 그룹 인간존중 협의회와 그룹 공급망 관리 협의회 신설 등 활동이 주목받았다. 지배구조(G) 부문에서는 이사회 내 관련 기구를 신설한 점이 높은 평가를 받았다. 포스코그룹은 2022년 3월 지주회사 출범을 기점으로 이사회 내 ‘ESG세션’과 그룹 최고경영진 회의체인 ‘그룹 ESG협의회’, 실무자 중심의 ‘그룹ESG실무협의회’를 신설·운영했다. 분기마다 지주회사 이사회에서 그룹 ESG 경영실적과 이슈를 점검했다. 출처: https://biz.chosun.com/industry/company/2024/03/14/MYRKOEFQ5FHOBE4EP27WGIQEUM/ 

2024.03.15
[News Article] 구글코리아 디지털책임위 출범…유튜브·AI 포럼 운영

구글코리아 디지털책임위 출범…유튜브·AI 포럼 운영   조선비즈 김송이 기자 - 구글코리아는 책임감 있는 디지털 생태계 조성을 위해 디지털책임위원회를 발족했다고 14일 밝혔다. 정보기술(IT), 법률, 미디어·콘텐츠, 소비자 보호 등의 업계 전문가로 구성된 위원회는 국내 디지털 생태계 발전을 이끌 건설적인 소통의 장을 마련해 책임감 있는 디지털 생태계를 모색할 계획이다. 특히 2020년 11월 출범해 올해로 4기째 운영 중인 ‘앱 생태계 포럼’ 외에 올해부터 ‘유튜브 오픈 포럼’과 ‘책임감 있는 인공지능(AI) 포럼’을 추가로 개최한다. 새로 추가된 각 포럼에서는 유튜브 플랫폼을 비롯한 콘텐츠 산업의 주요 이슈와 변화, AI 기술 발전에 따른 정책 및 규제 이슈가 논의될 예정이다. 구글코리아는 세 포럼을 연계한 종합포럼을 개최해 ‘책임감 있는 디지털 생태계’를 위한 방향성을 함께 모색한다는 구상이다. 전날 국회 의원회관에서 열린 위원회 출범식에는 김진표 국회의장과 이상헌 국회 문화체육관광위원장 등이 참석했다. 김경훈 구글코리아 사장은 “국회를 비롯해 각계 전문가들의 고견을 적극적으로 경청하면서 건강한 디지털 생태계를 위한 더 많은 역할과 책임을 함께 고민할 것”이라고 말했다. 출처:https://biz.chosun.com/it-science/ict/2024/03/14/AI5P2MEL5VE4XGXLVDZWAU5ORQ/​

2024.03.15
[News Article] Will Disney+ have another 'Moving' this year?

Will Disney+ have another 'Moving' this year?   By Lee Gyu-lee, The Korea Times - When Disney+ landed in Korea in November 2021, many expected it to instantly become a key player in the heated streaming market already dominated by Netflix. But much to their disappointment, the streaming service had a rocky start, failing to win the local streaming consumers’ hearts with issues such as poor quality of subtitles, lack of customer service communication and user-unfriendly interface. However, the global streaming service managed to come around last year with veteran actor Choi Min-sik’s crime original series “Big Bet,” followed by a massive, unexpected hit with “Moving,” which offered the company a positive outlook on continuing its business in the country. “Moving,” a supernatural action series highlighting families with superpowered parents and children in divided Korea, became the most-watched Korean original on Disney+ globally following its release last August. Riding the tide of its success, the streaming platform shared its goals to keep the momentum going through Korean content. “It was only in 2021 that Disney ventured into local content production in APAC and so we're still at a very early stage of our creative journey. That said, we're extremely encouraged by the tremendous critical and commercial success of our Korean originals last year … Among the top 15 best-performing international original titles, nine of the top 15 came from Korea,” Carol Choi, executive vice president for Original Content Strategy at The Walt Disney Company APAC, said during Disney+ Korea's media event at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in central Seoul, Tuesday. “So this is a significant and impressive outcome and important data points. It reinforces the global resonance of Korean storytelling and how stories produced in Korea are world-class and captivating audiences worldwide.” Kim So-yeon, the CEO of Disney+ Korea, emphasized that the company’s main goal this year is to strengthen profitability of its streaming business, adding it will focus on the quality of its content in order to do so. “(In Korea,) we aim to take a leap forward as a sustainably growing industry. And for Disney+ to establish itself as a content service that more people engage with in their daily lives, we believe the most crucial factor is excellent content,” Kim said. “We prioritize quality over overall volume, focusing on providing high-quality content … Through careful selection and decision-making, we are looking to continue our growth momentum this year with the foundation on high-quality content.” The streaming service is set for a string of local titles, which includes “Uncle Samsik,” the small-screen debut of "Parasite" actor Song Kang-ho. The "Star Wars" spin-off "The Acolyte," garnering buzz in Korea for starring actor Lee Jung-jae, is also scheduled to premiere this year. At the event, an exclusive trailer of the series was unveiled, featuring Lee in the role of a Jedi master, delivering lines in English and wielding an iconic lightsaber. Kim So-yeon, the CEO of Disney+ Korea, emphasized that the company’s main goal this year is to strengthen profitability of its streaming business, adding it will focus on the quality of its content in order to do so. “(In Korea,) we aim to take a leap forward as a sustainably growing industry. And for Disney+ to establish itself as a content service that more people engage with in their daily lives, we believe the most crucial factor is excellent content,” Kim said. “We prioritize quality over overall volume, focusing on providing high-quality content … Through careful selection and decision-making, we are looking to continue our growth momentum this year with the foundation on high-quality content.” The streaming service is set for a string of local titles, which includes “Uncle Samsik,” the small-screen debut of "Parasite" actor Song Kang-ho. The "Star Wars" spin-off "The Acolyte," garnering buzz in Korea for starring actor Lee Jung-jae, is also scheduled to premiere this year. At the event, an exclusive trailer of the series was unveiled, featuring Lee in the role of a Jedi master, delivering lines in English and wielding an iconic lightsaber. Source: https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/03/688_370556.html?utm_source=nans 

2024.03.15
[News Article] U.S. operations of Hyundai, Kia turn profitable in 2023

U.S. operations of Hyundai, Kia turn profitable in 2023   By Kan Hyeong-woo, The Korea Herald - Major global offices of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia turned into the black last year as the South Korean automakers logged record-high earnings on surging sales across the world, according to their audit and business reports on Wednesday. According to the audit report of Hyundai Motor Company, the automaker’s manufacturing plant in Alabama posted 236.3 billion won ($180 million) in net income in 2023, a drastic turnaround from the net loss of 808 billion in 2022. Named Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, the facility is the automaker’s first and only US manufacturing plant. The company announced a plan to invest $290 million into the US plant to expand the assembly lines of popular models. Hyundai Motor has so far invested about $3.4 billion into the Alabama plant. The business report of Kia showed that its US manufacturing plant in Georgia logged 2.32 trillion won in net income in 2023 after it recorded 737.6 billion won in net loss in the previous year. The two automakers’ dramatic turnaround came as their US offices both reported record-breaking annual sales last year. Hyundai Motor America sold 801,195 vehicles, an 11 percent increase compared with 2022 and the highest total sales ever for the Hyundai brand. Kia America sold 782,451 units, up 13 percent on year and 12 percent higher than the previous record set in 2021. Coping with the rising demand in the US and expanding local manufacturing, Hyundai Motor Group is building what it calls its $5.54 billion Metaplant electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility in Georgia with the goal to start production in the fourth quarter of this year. Hyundai Motor’s audit report also showed that its Indonesian manufacturing plant in West Java turned into the black last year with 81.7 billion won in net income while it posted 36.5 billion won in net loss in 2022. The automaker quickly ramped up the operation rate of the Indonesian plant as it looked to expand its presence in the local market. According to the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association, Hyundai was the sixth-biggest auto brand in Indonesia last year as it logged 35,500 units sold. Source: https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240313050634 

2024.03.15
[News Article] 롯데글로벌로지스, 취약계층 무료 급식 봉사

롯데글로벌로지스, 취약계층 무료 급식 봉사   파이낸셜뉴스 장유하 기자 - 롯데글로벌로지스가 서울 동대문구 '밥퍼나눔운동본부' 무료급식소에서 급식 봉사활동을 진행했다고 12일 밝혔다. 롯데글로벌로지스 직원들은 이날 무료급식소를 방문한 500여명에게 준비한 식사를 제공했으며, 무료급식소의 원활한 운영을 위해 소정의 기부금도 밥퍼나눔운동본부에 전달했다. 이날 롯데글로벌로지스 봉사단 20여명은 식자재를 손질한 후 요리, 배식, 설거지 등 급식 봉사를 실시했다. 이번 봉사활동은 취약계층에 따뜻한 식사를 제공하고 마음의 온정을 나누고자 마련됐다. 롯데글로벌로지스 관계자는 "정성을 담아 준비한 음식을 어르신들에게 제공해 드릴 수 있어서 더욱 뜻깊고 마음이 뿌듯했다"며 "소외계층을 위해 조금이나마 도움이 될 수 있도록 다양한 상생 나눔 활동을 적극적으로 펼쳐나갈 것"이라고 말했다. 출처: https://www.fnnews.com/news/202403120849580859 

2024.03.12
[Interview Article] [Herald Interview] Crypto.com eyes expansion into Korea

[Herald Interview] Crypto.com eyes expansion into Korea   Im Eun-byel, The Korea Herald -​ Cryptocurrency exchange operator Crypto.com hopes to expand its footing here by launching an exchange app for Korea in the first half of this year, said Eric Anziani, president and chief operating officer at the Singapore-based crypto trading platform. After more than two and a half years of working to build a foundation in Korea, Crypto.com is ready for full competition on the market. The company operates in 90 countries around the world and has more than 80 million global users. “We are in the final stages of working with the different regulators here to be approved to launch our product. We are very excited to get to that final stage to bring easy access to digital assets here in the market with the safest and most regulated platform in the world,” Anziani said in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul last week. The app will leverage some of the infrastructure and the licensing setup of OK-Bit, a Seoul-based coin market exchange that Crypto.com acquired in August 2022. OK-Bit is one of the 26 exchanges here that are licensed as a virtual asset service provider. The big break will be on whether the operator can earn the authority to trade Korean won into virtual assets. A VASP has to partner with a local bank for real-name accounts and be approved for the modification report. If proceeds, Crypto.com will become the first foreign player here to gain approval. “The app will feature a little bit more of 150 token projects, extremely simple UI to buy and sell those assets, along with a couple of additional features. We want to bring something very easy, safe and trusted to the market, and then progressively build on this offering with new products,” Anziani said. While the commission rivalry is fierce here -- major players Upbit and Bithumb each charge 0.05 percent and 0.04 percent fee for transactions -- Anziani said Crypto.com’s strategy will be different, though the details have not been set yet. “We will, of course, be very competitive,” he said. “But our value proposition is around safety, convenience and access to exciting projects and bringing those global benefits that are unique to us to Korean consumers.” Under the vision "Cryptocurrency in Every Wallet," the brand has been taking on a "crypto is more than trading" approach, working to expand cooperation with intellectual property content to enhance its portfolio. Crypto.com has been pushing to grow its user base through connections with sports events such as Formula 1 and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It also has an edge in allowing users to spend their crypto in the real world without liquidation, Anziani explained. “We will also work with our partners to drive awareness and distribute the offering to more users. That differentiates us (with other market players) because we have built deep roots in the market,” he said. While the bitcoin price has been renewing records backed by the global rally in recent weeks, Anziani sees a more promising future in its business expansion both globally and in Korea. “Korea is a very exciting market. There are a lot of tech-savvy consumers and a lot of interest from global players to enter (the local market). Hopefully, we will be the first ones to do it properly,” he said. Source: https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240311050591 

2024.03.12
[News Article] LGES, Qualcomm to jointly develop battery management system

LGES, Qualcomm to jointly develop battery management system  By Baek Byung-yeul, The Korea Times - LG Energy Solution joined hands with the U.S. chip company Qualcomm to develop software for an advanced battery management system (BMS) to optimally manage the performance and life span of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), the battery arm of LG Group said Sunday. The battery company said it will combine its BMS diagnostic software with some features of Qualcomm's Snapdragon Digital Chassis — a set of hardware and software solutions for connected vehicles — to develop an advanced BMS solution. BMS is an essential system in EV batteries that utilizes battery data such as current, voltage and temperature to help the product perform optimally and detect and respond to problems in advance. The system is becoming increasingly important as more EVs hit the road. The Snapdragon Digital Chassis is an integrated hardware and software platform that brings together smart features that can be applied across multiple vehicles. The companies said the product made through their collaboration will provide more than 80 times the computing power to run more sophisticated battery diagnostic algorithms than traditional BMS software and will function without communicating with servers. "This collaboration will enable the development of various solutions that are directly linked to the vehicle's driving information as well as real-time battery status diagnosis, creating a differentiated customer experience," an LG Energy Solution spokesperson said. LG Energy Solution said the cooperation is based on its BMS data analysis technology. Given most existing battery diagnostic algorithms were developed by predicting hypothetical conditions rather than data extracted from actual batteries, the battery company secured its own battery analysis algorithm technology based on the performance of more than 10,000 batteries. "As the electric vehicle market grows, the importance of safe and healthy battery management is also growing," Chung Hyuk-sung, vice president of LG Energy Solution, said. "Through cooperation with Qualcomm, we expect to deliver differentiated customer value to our customers." Source:https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www2/common/viewpage.asp?newsIdx=370347&categoryCode=129 

2024.03.12

American Chamber of Commerce in Korea

Address: 15Fl., Two IFC, 10, Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07326, Korea

Name of Representative: James Kim

Business Registration No: 771-82-00210

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