SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- More than 3.7 million used cars were traded in South Korea last year, hitting a record high, data showed Sunday.The number of used cars newly registered with the authorities during the year totaled 3.78 million, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transpo

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- The Finance Ministry said Thursday it will soon appoint a civilian financial expert as an external financial cooperation ambassador amid growing uncertainties over rising protectionism, a trade row with China and expected U.S rate hikes."We are currently verifying those r

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will make all-out efforts to boost its exports this year, partly by helping local firms develop global leading products and win large overseas construction projects, the government said Thursday.Under the joint government plan, the trade ministry said it will w

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's top chemicals firm, said Thursday that its net profit increased 11.5 percent last year from a year earlier on steady demand for its key products, particularly basic materials.Net profit reached 1.28 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) last year on

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- A corporate name change usually meant to raise brand image tends to bear little fruit when it comes to share prices, data showed Thursday.A growing number of listed firms here have chosen a title shift in recent years.Ninety-nine companies -- 19 on the main bourse KOSPI an

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean manufacturers' business sentiment for next month improved, as they expect an increase in domestic demand and exports, central bank data showed Thursday.The business survey index (BSI) of manufacturing firms came to 76 in February, up from 71 in January, ac

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- New home permits issued in South Korea dropped 5.1 percent from a year earlier last year, the government said Wednesday, amid ongoing government efforts to limit the supply of new homes.Construction permits issued for new homes came to 726,048 in 2016, compared with 765,32

SEJONG, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- The volume of cargo processed at South Korea's seaports reached a record high last year despite a global economic slump and the collapse of the country's leading shipper, the government said Wednesday.Cargo handled at seaports across the nation totaled 1.5 billion

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co.'s smartwatch authentication for online services has been certified by a major international certification alliance to help reduce reliance on passwords, the company announced Wednesday.The new system certified by Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) allows online

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economy grew at a slower pace in the fourth quarter than three months earlier on decreased demand and construction investments, central bank data showed Wednesday.In the October-December period, the country's gross domestic product rose 0.4 percent fr

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- Retailers whose sales of gift sets for the Lunar New Year holiday dropped this year said Wednesday that the top-end presents, priced well over 1 million won (US$857), remained highly popular, a sign economists say attests to the economic gap in the country.Lotte Department

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will host an annual meeting of economic and trade ministers from Asian and European Union nations in September, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Wednesday.The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) economic ministers' meeting will be held on Sept. 21-22

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. plans to unveil two smartwatches featuring Google's new watch version of its operating system next month, an industry source said Wednesday.Co-developed with Google, the two smartwatches with the Android Wear 2.0 operating system will be released at

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's leading conglomerates are estimated to have increased their cash holdings last year, raising hopes for ample dividends, investment officials said Wednesday with supportive data.Samsung Electronics, the head of the pack, on Tuesday announced last year'

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economy grew at a slower pace in the fourth quarter than three months earlier on decreased demand and construction investments, central bank data showed Wednesday.In the October-December period, the country's gross domestic product rose 0.4 percent fr

SEJONG, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade ministry on Wednesday held a meeting with U.S. business people to seek ways to bolster bilateral economic cooperation under the new Trump administration.In a breakfast meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) in Seoul, Vice T

SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's terms of trade improved in December from a year earlier as a slight rise in import prices was offset by a hike in export prices, central bank data showed Tuesday.The terms of trade index for products came to 102.63 last month, up 1.9 percent from a year e

SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- Woori Bank, a major South Korean lender, said Tuesday that it has won approval from the Polish financial regulatory authority to set up a representative office in the eastern European country.Woori Bank said it will open its representative office in the southwestern city o

SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co. said Tuesday it has signed a contract with Vietnam's second biggest mobile carrier for the establishment of a long-term evolution (LTE) network throughout the Southeast Asian country.The LTE service helps smartphone users access and stream data faster th

SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday ordered Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Inc., and Renault Samsung Motors Co. to recall their diesel models with gas emissions that exceed legal limits in recent tests.The Ministry of Environment ordered the recall of Hyundai's Tucson 2.0, Kia's