Journalist

Oh Joo-Seok
  • Volkswagen Group Korea CEO Till Scheer Reappointed as Importers Association Chair for Third Term
    Volkswagen Group Korea CEO Till Scheer Reappointed as Importers Association Chair for Third Term Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) said it held its general meeting on Feb. 26 at the Westin Josun Hotel and appointed Till Scheer, CEO and president of Volkswagen Group Korea, as its 17th chair. Scheer, who has led the association since 2022 after joining Volkswagen Group Korea as group president in 2021, will serve a third consecutive term following his 15th and 16th terms. During his tenure, KAIDA said Scheer focused on cooperation with the South Korean government and related organizations at home and abroad as the market shifts toward eco-friendly vehicles and future mobility. The association also said it expanded regular policy seminars, strengthened its English translation work on increasingly complex regulations tied to technological advances, and bolstered its role as an information provider by building an industry database. KAIDA said that last year, marking the association’s 30th anniversary, new registrations of imported passenger cars reached 300,000 units. Scheer said he will strengthen external cooperation and communication and, together with the newly appointed board, work to promote the development and innovation of South Korea’s auto industry and expand diversity. 2026-02-26 11:48:07
  • BMW Motorrad to Sell 15-Unit Limited R 12 S Special Edition in South Korea
    BMW Motorrad to Sell 15-Unit Limited R 12 S Special Edition in South Korea BMW Motorrad said it will sell just 15 units of the BMW R 12 S Special Edition in South Korea through the BMW Motorrad Shop online store starting at 2 p.m. on the 26th. The R 12 S was previously released in limited numbers in April last year to mark the 30th anniversary of BMW Group Korea. The entire allotment sold out within a week. BMW Motorrad decided to bring it back in a 15-unit run after continued purchase inquiries. The model reinterprets the heritage of the legendary 1973 BMW R 90 S sport motorcycle. The R 90 S was BMW’s first mass-produced motorcycle to exceed 200 kph (124 mph). BMW said the R 12 S revives signature R 90 S design cues, including a cockpit fairing mounted to the handlebar, a dark-tinted windscreen and a short seat highlighted by orange stitching. It also debuts “Lava Orange Metallic,” a modern take on the R 90 S signature Daytona Orange. Brushed aluminum on the fuel tank and seat hump, a red double coach line and a dedicated R 12 S badge on the side cover further emphasize the heritage styling. Power comes from an air/oil-cooled 1,170cc two-cylinder boxer engine rated at 109 horsepower and 11.7 kg·m (115 Nm) of torque. BMW said it reaches 100 kph (62 mph) from a standstill in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 200 kph (124 mph). The bike uses a lightweight trellis frame, with a 45mm inverted telescopic fork up front and a Paralever swingarm with spring strut in the rear. Front and rear suspension allow preload and damping adjustment. It also comes with BMW Motorrad ABS Pro for stable braking, the company said. Standard features include hill start control, Shift Assistant Pro, heated grips, cruise control and “Headlight Pro” with adaptive cornering. Other equipment includes dual round analog gauges, ConnectedRide Control, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPC) and an anti-theft alarm (DWA). The R 12 S is priced at 33.10 million won in South Korea, including value-added tax.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 11:15:51
  • Audi Korea Names KCC Auto Group as New Authorized Dealer
    Audi Korea Names KCC Auto Group as New Authorized Dealer Audi Korea said on Wednesday it has finalized the selection of KCC Auto Group as a new authorized dealer. Starting March 1, KCC Auto Group will operate showrooms in Songpa, Hanam and West Daegu, along with an Audi Approved Plus (AAP) certified used-car showroom in Gimpo. It will also run service centers in Gangdong, Songpa and West Daegu. Audi Korea said the showrooms and service centers will continue operating as they have, allowing customers to consult on purchases and receive after-sales service without any separate procedural changes or service interruptions. KCC Auto Group has operated showrooms and service centers in South Korea’s imported-car market and plans to run the sites in line with Audi’s brand standards. “Audi Korea will strengthen customer-focused service through cooperation with our nationwide dealer network and provide a stable, consistent brand experience,” the company said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 10:54:20
  • Hyundai Marks Chung Ju-yung’s 25th Anniversary With Tribute Concert in Seoul
    Hyundai Marks Chung Ju-yung’s 25th Anniversary With Tribute Concert in Seoul Hyundai Motor Group marked the 25th anniversary of the death of founder Chung Ju-yung with a memorial concert that highlighted his entrepreneurial spirit through music. The group said it held the “25th Anniversary Concert for the Late Asan Chung Ju-yung, Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Group” on Feb. 25 at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center. In a tribute, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun said the event was prepared to honor the lasting “resonance” left by his grandfather. “His convictions and every challenge began with people,” Chung said. “He believed in human potential and achieved innovation for people.” Chung said that while 25 years have passed, the message feels stronger as the group and society face “many difficulties and challenges at home and abroad.” He added, “I will continue to carry on my grandfather’s spirit to build a better future,” pledging to keep pursuing people-centered innovation. About 2,500 people attended, including members of the extended Hyundai family as well as figures from business, politics and culture, the group said. Among those arriving before the program began were HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun, Hyundai Commercial President Chung Myung-yi and Hyundai Card Vice Chairman Chung Tae-young. Chung Mong-joon, chairman of the Asan Foundation, briefly told reporters, “Thank you for coming today. My father would also be grateful that you came.” Attendees also included Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin; Hong Ra-hee, former director of the Leeum Museum of Art; National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik; Kim Jong-in, former interim leader of the People Power Party; and lawmaker Na Kyung-won. Actor Yoo Hae-jin and other figures from the arts and entertainment world were also seen. Chung Ju-yung is widely regarded as a leading business figure who helped open new ground in South Korea’s industrial development through bold vision, determination and innovation focused on people. Born the eldest son of a poor farmer, he built his business from nothing, repeatedly taking on challenges that seemed impossible, the group said. The name “Hyundai,” meaning “modern,” reflects Chung’s entrepreneurial drive in the 1940s, when Korea was poor, to pursue modernization so people could live better, the group said. The concert was held under the theme “Continuing Resonance.” Pianists Kim Sunwook, Sunwoo Yekwon, Cho Seong-jin and Lim Yunchan performed, with the program intended to express in music Chung Ju-yung’s achievements in challenging the impossible and the hope those efforts offer to today’s generation. Park Min-seon, 31, of Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, said it was “even more meaningful” because it is rare for four pianists to share one stage. “The repertoire also felt meaningful,” she said. Hyundai Motor Group said it planned the concert to share the founder’s life and philosophy of forging new paths for a better life. To keep the focus on the event’s purpose, tickets were not sold; admission was limited to invited guests, including public-service workers, future talent, key figures from various fields and Hyundai employees, the group said. Attendees received a gift set that included Chung’s autobiography, “Born in This Land,” and an event booklet. A Hyundai Motor Group official said the group’s vision of “Progress for Humanity” is rooted in the founder’s people-centered management philosophy, adding that the company will continue efforts for a more prosperous life and a sustainable future through ongoing innovation. 2026-02-26 10:15:29
  • Hyundai Glovis Wins South Korea Labor Minister’s Award for Safety Cooperation
    Hyundai Glovis Wins South Korea Labor Minister’s Award for Safety Cooperation Hyundai Glovis said it has received a South Korean labor minister’s award in recognition of its work to prevent accidents at industrial sites. The company said Thursday it was named an outstanding participant in a large company-small business workplace safety cooperation program at a signing ceremony held Wednesday at the Peace & Park Convention in Seoul’s Yongsan district. Attendees included the minister of employment and labor, the head of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Hyundai Glovis Safety and Environment Center chief Kim Il-hwan and about 250 government and corporate officials, the company said. The program is hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and administered by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. It supports parent companies and partner firms in voluntarily carrying out workplace safety and health improvements. Hyundai Glovis said it was recognized for continuing field-focused safety and health support tailored to logistics worksites and for actively reflecting feedback from partner companies and workers. It said it has recorded zero serious industrial accidents from 2021 to the present. Since 2021, the company has provided partner firms with free side safety supports for vehicle carriers to help prevent falls during loading and unloading. It later developed a second-generation support designed to improve both convenience and safety and expanded distribution, it said. Hyundai Glovis also said it developed and distributed a customized lightweight safety helmet for truck drivers. The new helmet weighs 250 grams, with volume reduced by 16% and weight by 14% compared with conventional industrial helmets, it said. The helmet passed safety certification screening by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, the company said. The company said it also runs virtual reality-based hands-on safety training and selects and rewards a monthly safety excellence employee to help embed a workplace safety culture. “Under the belief that our partners’ safety is Hyundai Glovis’ safety, we have continued a shared-growth approach to safety management,” a company official said. “We will continue expanding safety and health programs with our partners to raise safety standards across industrial sites.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 09:06:28
  • Kia Named One of South Korea’s 100 Best Companies to Work For
    Kia Named One of South Korea’s 100 Best Companies to Work For Kia said Wednesday it was named one of South Korea’s 100 Best Companies to Work For at the “GPTW Management Innovation Conference” held Tuesday at the Conrad Seoul in Yeouido. Great Place to Work, or GPTW, is a U.S.-based global evaluator that diagnoses and assesses workplace culture at about 30,000 companies in 170 countries each year. Its certification process has three stages following domestic and international verification. Kia earned the first-stage certification after recording a 79% positive response rate in an online employee survey. The company was also rated highly in its workplace-culture submission, leading to its selection for the top-100 list. More than 5,000 employees in South Korea across all job categories took part in the survey, which included 60 questions. Respondents reported high satisfaction in areas including ethical management, pride in the company, trust in leaders, engagement and a participatory culture. In the workplace-culture submission, evaluators gave favorable marks to Kia’s stated direction of being “customer-centered, people-centered.” Kia said it runs programs to strengthen internal communication, including “CEO Live,” an online town hall with senior management that includes global employees, and monthly Kia value meetings held by each division. Programs that cross workplace and job boundaries also drew attention, the company said. In 2024, marking its 80th anniversary, Kia held a “Kia, Let’s Run Together” marathon event for employees across all job groups in South Korea. Last year, it also rolled out companywide a “Happy New Kia” program in which division and office leaders encourage new employees on their first day. A Kia official said the company’s domestic and overseas units will work together to build an agile and flexible culture under its customer- and people-centered direction, adding that Kia will seek certification as one of the world’s best places to work based on the latest recognition.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 08:54:16
  • Autonomous A2Z Exports Self-Driving System to UAE
    Autonomous A2Z Exports Self-Driving System to UAE Autonomous A2Z will export its autonomous driving system to the United Arab Emirates. The company said Thursday that it delivered an export approval certificate on Feb. 25 (local time) in Abu Dhabi to its local joint venture. Autonomous driving is designated by the South Korean government as a national core technology, requiring prior approval from relevant authorities for overseas exports on technology security grounds. After a review by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Autonomous A2Z became the first in the autonomous driving sector to receive export approval, the company said. Attendees included Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI Future Planning; Choi Young-jun, minister-counselor at the South Korean Embassy in the UAE; and Kim Sang-jin, director at the National AI Strategy Committee, as part of a South Korean special delegation. Autonomous A2Z Chief Strategy Officer Yoo Min-sang shared the joint venture’s business roadmap and discussed plans for testing and commercialization. Munira Al Marzouki, a managing director at Space42, the joint venture partner, also attended and confirmed the approval certificate. With the approval, the company plans to deploy in the UAE its self-developed Level 4 autonomous vehicle, ROii, along with various modified vehicles. It aims to win $7.6 million (about 11 billion won) in contracts by the end of this year and generate $78 million (about 110 billion won) in local revenue by 2035. The company said the figures reflect UAE government policy goals, including shifting 25% of Dubai public transportation to autonomous operation by 2030 and a full transition to autonomous driving in Abu Dhabi by 2040. Chief Executive Han Ji-hyung said autonomous driving is a national strategic industry combining AI, semiconductors, communications, software and urban infrastructure. “This export approval goes beyond one company’s overseas expansion,” Han said. “It shows autonomous driving has entered the global stage as a core technology that will help lead South Korea’s push to become one of the world’s top three AI powers.” 2026-02-26 08:39:18
  • Hyundai Founder Chung Ju-yung Remembered at 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert in Seoul
    Hyundai Founder Chung Ju-yung Remembered at 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert in Seoul "My father in heaven will also be grateful." (Chung Mong-joon, chairman of the Asan Foundation) Members of the wider Hyundai founding family, along with figures from business, politics and culture, gathered in Seoul on Feb. 25 for a memorial concert marking the 25th anniversary of the death of Chung Ju-yung, honorary chairman of Hyundai Group. Around 6 p.m., the lobby of the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall in Seocho-gu was already crowded ahead of the program. Hyundai family members began arriving about an hour before the concert. Chung Mong-joon, chairman of the Asan Foundation, arrived at the venue’s above-ground parking lot at about 6:36 p.m. and briefly greeted reporters. "Thank you for coming today," he said. "My father will also be grateful that you came." Direct family members also appeared in succession, including Chung Ki-sun, chairman of HD Hyundai; Chung Myung-yi, president of Hyundai Commercial; and Chung Tae-young, vice chairman of Hyundai Card. Other attendees included Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin; Hong Ra-hee, former director of the Leeum Museum of Art; National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik; Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party; and lawmaker Na Kyung-won. Actor Yoo Hae-jin was among those from the entertainment and cultural sector. Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun arrived about two hours before the concert to check the rehearsal and review preparations. Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz, Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon, Hyundai Motor R&D chief Manfred Harrer and Hyundai Motor President Sung Kim also arrived early to welcome guests. The memorial concert featured performances by internationally known pianists Kim Sunwook, Sunwoo Yekwon, Cho Seong-jin and Lim Yunchan. Tickets were not sold; they were provided only to invited guests, including public-service workers, future talent, key figures from various fields and Hyundai Motor employees, organizers said, to preserve the event’s purpose. Attendees received a gift set that included Chung’s autobiography, "Born on This Land," and an event booklet. Organizers said the concert was held to reflect on the meaning of Chung’s entrepreneurial spirit for society and future generations. Chung is widely regarded as a symbol of Korean entrepreneurship, credited with helping lead the country’s industrialization through a bold vision and determination to maintain hope in the face of hardship. 2026-02-25 21:12:21
  • Imported EV Price War Intensifies in South Korea as Models Near 30 Million Won
    Imported EV Price War Intensifies in South Korea as Models Near 30 Million Won Imported electric-vehicle makers are accelerating their push in South Korea with price cuts and subsidy-focused strategies, aiming to bring more models into the 30 million won range that many consumers view as a key psychological threshold. Industry officials said Feb. 25 that Volvo Car Korea will cut the price of its electric SUV, the EX30, by as much as 7.61 million won starting next month. The base trim will fall to 39.91 million won from 47.52 million won. The discounting has spread among imported brands after Tesla opened the latest round of price cuts earlier this year. Tesla lowered the Model 3 Standard RWD to 41.99 million won. With a 1.68 million won national subsidy and local government subsidies, the purchase price could drop to the high 30 million won range, the report said. BMW, the top-selling imported-car brand in South Korea, is emphasizing a strategy tied to larger EV subsidies. By building more than 3,000 EV chargers nationwide, BMW raised its incentive used in the Transport Ministry’s EV subsidy calculation by 37% from a year earlier, the report said. As a result, the BMW Mini Aceman E, priced at 49.80 million won, can fall to 40.30 million won when combining a 4.00 million won national subsidy and a 5.50 million won local subsidy, based on Haenam in South Jeolla Province. Prices for imported EVs that had largely been in the 40 million to 50 million won range are now moving closer to the 30 million won level seen as a practical buying range for many consumers. The report attributed the aggressive push by imported brands to South Korea’s subsidy policy. As the United States and Europe slow the pace of EV adoption and brands face uncertainty in China, EV supply is shifting toward South Korea, it said. South Korea this year is offering EV subsidies and an additional 1 million won for switching from an internal-combustion vehicle to an EV. The structure of the imported-car market is also changing quickly. Of 307,377 imported vehicles sold last year, 91,253 were battery-electric vehicles, or 29.6%, the report said. Over the same period, sales of internal-combustion vehicles totaled 41,906. EV sales were more than double internal-combustion sales, underscoring a reshaping of the imported-car market. Kim Pil-su, a professor in the Department of Future Automobiles at Daelim University, said the trend toward lower prices is clear. “It’s evident that the trend is to lower prices so consumers can access them more easily,” Kim said. He added that shifting batteries — a major share of EV costs — to Chinese-made LFP batteries appears to have created some room for price cuts. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-25 18:04:50
  • GM Korea Union Appeals Court Rejection of Bid to Block Service Center Closures
    GM Korea Union Appeals Court Rejection of Bid to Block Service Center Closures GM Korea’s labor union said Tuesday it will appeal a court decision rejecting its request for an injunction to block the shutdown of the automaker’s company-run service centers. The GM Korea branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union said it submitted an appeal to the Incheon District Court. The Incheon court on Feb. 13 dismissed the union’s injunction request seeking to prohibit the closure of the direct-run service operations. The court said matters related to organizational restructuring generally fall within management rights and are afforded broad discretion. It also found that ending service center operations was conditioned on labor-management “consultation,” not “agreement.” The union argued that management itself formed bodies such as a task force to revitalize direct-run service centers and a special committee on job security on the premise that closures would require agreement between labor and management or, at minimum, substantial discussions. It said the court misread the collective bargaining agreement by focusing on wording while overlooking how the agreement was reached. The union also said a full shutdown would raise concerns about vehicle safety, consumer rights and damage to brand trust, and that the business need was unclear given GM Korea’s solid financial structure. It said the court broadly accepted management discretion while effectively avoiding a judgment on the legality of what it called an expected large-scale forced reassignment of service workers. A union official said that after the first meeting of a special labor-management consultative body last month to seek withdrawal of the closure plan, the union delivered a proposal following internal discussions. The official said management has repeated for more than a month that it is still reviewing the proposal, calling it closer to delaying a decision than holding talks to resolve the issue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-25 15:51:16