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[Photo News] Tough housing rules to tame debt surge

[Photo News] Tough housing rules to tame debt surge

Korea Heralda day ago

Apartments in Jung-gu, central Seoul, are seen from Namsan Park on Sunday. The South Korean government on Friday unveiled its first housing regulation under the Lee Jae Myung administration, introducing a new mortgage cap of 600 million won ($440,000) for homes in the Seoul metropolitan area and other regulated zones. The measure aims to rein in household debt amid soaring apartment prices across the capital, extending well beyond the affluent Gangnam district in southern Seoul. (Yonhap)

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Posco pursues ‘direct lithium extraction' in North America for 1st time
Posco pursues ‘direct lithium extraction' in North America for 1st time

Korea Herald

time2 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

Posco pursues ‘direct lithium extraction' in North America for 1st time

Posco Holdings announced on Monday plans to test the viability of directly extracting lithium — a key material for electric vehicle batteries — highlighting the significance of establishing a supply chain in North America amid the ongoing pressure of decoupling from China. In partnership with Anson Resources, Australia's natural resource developer, Posco will start the construction of a demonstration plant next year in Green River City, Utah. The facility will evaluate whether Posco's Direct Lithium Extraction technology is feasible for large-scale commercial production. Unlike traditional lithium extraction methods that depend on the natural evaporation of brine in large ponds, DLE is a cost-effective, innovative process designed to selectively extract lithium from low-concentration brine lakes. The project marks the first time a South Korean company has taken steps toward directly producing lithium in North America. In contrast, Posco's domestic rivals, including LG Chem, have primarily secured supply agreements with US-based lithium producers rather than pursuing local production. Earlier Monday, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding under which Anson Resources will provide the raw materials for lithium and the construction site, where it holds mining rights for lithium brine. While the additional details of the project, including its timeline and investment volume, remain undisclosed, Posco stated: 'By successfully operating the demonstration plant in the US, we aim to commercialize the DLE technology we have developed since 2016. The company intends to leverage this technology for investment and commercialization of undeveloped lithium brine lakes across North America.' According to World Population Review, the US ranked third in the world for lithium deposits in 2023, behind Bolivia and Argentina. This initiative is in line with the company's focus to secure additional lithium resources outside China, which dominates the global lithium hydroxide market, under Posco Holdings CEO Chang In-hwa's '2 Core + New Engine' strategy, referring to focusing on its core steel and battery materials businesses, while also developing new growth engines. Meanwhile, Posco Holdings has secured an annual production capacity of 68,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide, enough to manufacture batteries for approximately 1.6 million EVs. This includes 25,000 tons from its brine lithium plant in Argentina and 43,000 tons from its ore lithium plant in the Yulchon Industrial Complex in South Jeolla Province.

Saudi developer taps S. Korea as top partner for futuristic project
Saudi developer taps S. Korea as top partner for futuristic project

Korea Herald

time7 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

Saudi developer taps S. Korea as top partner for futuristic project

The head of New Murabba Development Company, the developer behind Saudi Arabia's futuristic urban development project, said Monday that South Korea has been chosen as the company's top partner for its advanced infrastructure and information technology capabilities, as well as its long history of collaboration with the Middle Eastern nation. "There is a long and strong history between the two nations of collaborating," said Michael Dyke, chief executive officer of the company, in an interview with Yonhap News Agency. "Working with countries and people we already know and share good alignment with is always a good start." New Murabba Development Company is set to hold the New Murabba Seoul Forum in Seoul on Tuesday and Wednesday to showcase its vision for building a new downtown in Riyadh. The event is expected to draw 500 participants, including company officials, government representatives and investors. As part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, the New Murabba project aims to develop more than 25 million square meters of floor area, including residential units, hotels, retail spaces, leisure facilities and community infrastructure. Dyke said the familiarity and history of successful collaboration led the company to choose South Korea as the first Asian stop for its global promotional campaign. He noted the legacy of South Korean construction firms in Saudi Arabia during the economic booms of the 1970s and 1980s, when they contributed to building key infrastructure, such as highways and port facilities, supporting the kingdom's petroleum-based economic growth. As its first partnership in South Korea, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Naver Cloud Corp., a cloud services affiliate of IT giant Naver Corp., to collaborate on advanced technologies, such as robotics, autonomous driving and smart city platforms, over the next three years. Naver is already active in Saudi Arabia's digital transformation efforts, including the development of digital twin platforms for major cities like Mecca. "We have been in dialogue with a number of South Korean companies," Dyke said, adding that more opportunities will be available for Korean firms to join the megacity project through consortiums and partnerships in other sectors. On the topic of regional geopolitical tensions, Dyke stressed that the situation in the Middle East has stabilized in recent weeks. "We are not seeing any slowdown in terms of interest, economic activity or long-term planning," he said. The first phase of the New Murabba project -- including the construction of the city center and the iconic Mukaab structure -- is scheduled for completion by 2030. The entire city is expected to open by 2040, he added. (Yonhap)

LG signs deal to acquire Norway's OSO, expanding HVAC footprint in Europe
LG signs deal to acquire Norway's OSO, expanding HVAC footprint in Europe

Korea Herald

time8 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

LG signs deal to acquire Norway's OSO, expanding HVAC footprint in Europe

LG Electronics said Monday it has signed a deal to acquire Norwegian hot water solutions firm OSO Hotwater, as part of its expansion into Europe's fast-growing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning market. Under the agreement, the South Korean tech giant will acquire 100 percent of OSO's shares. Industry sources estimate the deal is worth hundreds of billions of won, though the company declined to disclose the exact amount. Lee Jae-sung, president of LG Electronics' Eco Solutions division, said OSO's water heating solutions are a 'strategic catalyst for LG's HVAC expansion." 'Together we will deliver highly efficient, integrated solutions that strengthen our market leadership and support global electrification for a more sustainable future,' he said. The transaction is expected to be completed in September, according to an LG official. The acquisition is anticipated to allow LG to bring OSO's hot water storage technology in-house and integrate it with its advanced heat pump systems. This will enable LG to provide tailored heating and hot water packages to meet customer needs and expand its footprint in Europe's HVAC market, LG said. Founded in 1932, OSO is Europe's leading manufacturer of stainless steel water heaters, which serve as storage units for hot water and can be paired with heat pumps, boilers and other heating systems. OSO's technology is essential for heat pump systems, which have seen significant growth recently across Europe as an efficient, eco-friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based heating and cooling systems. OSO reported annual revenue of 942 million Norwegian kroner ($93.52 million) last year and employs around 260 people. Following the acquisition, OSO will continue to operate independently in its hot water solutions business. It will retain its existing OEM partnership and expand business opportunities. 'LG's deep know-how in heat pump water heaters in combination with OSO stainless steel tank leadership will ensure sustainable, high-quality product solutions for our customers,' said Sigurd Braathen, owner of OSO Hotwater, in a statement.

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