logo
Seoul Mobility Show 2025 to feature transportation beyond wheels

Seoul Mobility Show 2025 to feature transportation beyond wheels

Korea Herald19-03-2025
Record-setting 451 companies to participate in Korea's biggest mobility exhibition
The 2025 Seoul Mobility Show will push the boundaries of conventional motor exhibitions by showcasing transportation beyond cars, its organizers said Wednesday.
'The 2025 Seoul Mobility Show will present the most diverse range of products and services in the 30-year history of the exhibition,' said Kang Nam-hoon, CEO of the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association who also serves as the chief of the Seoul Mobility Show organizing committee, during a press conference in Seoul.
'We are looking to present a vision of future mobility through innovation that transcends the boundaries of technology and goes beyond the limitations of land, sea and air.'
The biennial mobility exhibition will bring a record-breaking 451 companies from 12 countries to Kintex, a large convention center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, from April 3 to 13. The previous event held in 2023 drew about 510,000 visitors.
Led by homegrown automakers Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis, a total of 12 auto brands are participating in this year's exhibition to showcase their lineups and unveil new cars. In particular, Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD and British luxury sports car maker Lotus will take part in the Seoul Mobility Show for the first time.
Vinssen, an eco-friendly shipbuilder, will display its electric-propelled leisure boat EV002 at the event, while Sambo Motors Group will present an urban air mobility aircraft -- a two-seat electric model designed for vertical takeoff and landing.
HD Hyundai, a shipbuilding and heavy industries conglomerate, plans to debut its new excavator in a world premiere at this year's Seoul Mobility Show. Lotte Innovate, an information technology affiliate of retail conglomerate Lotte Group, will offer test rides of its autonomous vehicle without a driver's seat. LG Group, meanwhile, will introduce its mobility-related businesses such as battery, charging infrastructure and delivery robots.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Golden time to invest': Shinhan FDI unit targets global investors
‘Golden time to invest': Shinhan FDI unit targets global investors

Korea Herald

timean hour ago

  • Korea Herald

‘Golden time to invest': Shinhan FDI unit targets global investors

From distressed assets to supply chain shifts, Korea gains appeal amid global uncertainty While South Korea faces headwinds from heightened uncertainty in the trade environment, Shinhan FDI partners, a specialized unit dedicated to providing support for foreign direct investment here, sees opportunities in challenges that lie ahead. 'Now is the golden time to invest in Korea,' said Jenny Hong, one member of the global investment support team of Shinhan FDI partners. Distinct from other forms of cross-border investment ― such as purchasing stocks and bonds ― foreign direct investment involves active asset management, including acquiring physical assets like factories or gaining management control of a company. 'The sluggish Korean economy is a favorable factor. With the local won weakening against the dollar, Korean assets are currently undervalued,' Hong explained. Foreign investors are also eyeing opportunities in distressed assets. For instance, overseas hedge funds are weighing to invest in the logistics sector through nonperforming loans, as the industry struggles with the fallout from collapsed project financing deals. Similar to its peers, Shinhan Bank plays a key role in facilitating inbound investment, as foreign investors have to report their investments to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency or foreign exchange banks under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. Previously, the specialized workforce supporting investments was scattered across various departments within the bank. The lender launched a centralized unit last month to streamline its services. 'With the rising complexity of deals, there was a clear need for a more coordinated approach. These days, we are seeing increasingly intricate stakeholder dynamics,' Hong said. 'Multiple parties are involved, ranging from private equity firms to joint ventures and other entities. Coordinating among all these stakeholders requires a more integrated approach." With the US, Japan and China being the three largest players in foreign direct investment for Korea, the team has regional experts dedicated to handling each market. Hong specializes in English-speaking firms, while Yang Zou and Ayako Yamoto focus on Chinese and Japanese firms, respectively. According to Yang, a growing number of Chinese companies are turning their attention to Korea as a potential detour around trade restrictions imposed by the US. 'With the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the introduction of 'reciprocal' tariffs, Chinese investors are looking to mitigate risks by importing raw materials from China and manufacturing in Korea. This trend is driving increased investment in factory construction here,' Yang said. Yamoto has been working with an increasing number of consumer-oriented Japanese firms, as consumer preferences between Japan and Korea continue to align. 'While earlier investments primarily targeted business-to-business transactions, recent trends indicate a shift toward business-to-consumer models. An increasing number of consumer-oriented Japanese firms ― particularly those in the food and entertainment sectors ― are now eyeing the Korean market,' she said. The three "foreign corporate client relationship managers" highlighted that navigating offshore investors through the differing trade environment is the key mission for Shinhan FDI partners. 'There is a difference in investment practices across countries. For instance, some countries do not use seal imprints, whereas in Korea, corporate transactions require an official seal,' Hong said. Account opening procedures vary by country as well. 'When establishing a company in China, the process typically involves setting up the company first and then making the capital contribution afterward. In contrast, in Korea, the capital must be deposited first before the company is officially put on paper,' Yang said. 'From a Chinese investor's perspective, Korea's approach can be unsettling since the funds have to be secured before a company is established. It is my job to explain the process sufficiently.' While Korea has experienced a dip in the amount of pledged foreign direct investments this year, largely due to political uncertainty from the end of last year, the team projects the pace to pick up with increased clarity following the recent presidential election. In the first half of this year, foreign direct investment pledges to Korea totaled $13.1 billion, a decrease of 14.6 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Trade Ministry. While actual FDI arrivals increased by 2.7 percent to $7.3 billion, the drop in pledged investments is still significant because it may signal reduced investor confidence and could impact future capital inflows. 'With the political uncertainty resolved, we anticipate increased interest from foreign investors. We are already receiving inquiries from potential investors,' Hong said. 'More foreign direct investment in Korea means more seed money for the country's economic growth. From a macroeconomic perspective, we find meaning in our work by financially supporting the nation's development. From another standpoint, we work to safeguard our clients by ensuring protection of their investments."

Topband Vietnam Facility Sets New Benchmark
Topband Vietnam Facility Sets New Benchmark

Korea Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

Topband Vietnam Facility Sets New Benchmark

BIEN HOA CITY, Vietnam, July 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2024, Topband's Vietnam facility reached an impressive daily output of approximately USD 518,000, with peak daily production capacity hitting 100,000 units—ranking first among all Topband's manufacturing sites (outside China). As a core pillar of our global manufacturing system, the Vietnam facility is emerging as a powerful engine for Topband's transition to the global operations stage. Strategically located in Southeast Asia with proximity to China and access to major trade agreements like RCEP and CPTPP, Vietnam offers a compelling combination of export convenience, skilled labor, and cost advantages. Within this environment, our Vietnam facility plays a critical role in expanding capacity and enhancing global delivery capabilities. Based on Chinese mature manufacturing systems and local operational advantages, the Vietnam facility has established a modern, highly automated, and digitalized production system. With 20 automated lines and MES deployed across nearly 30 lines, the facility enables full-process traceability, real-time material tracking, and rapid exception alerts. Smart production standards ensure seamless alignment with Topband's China operations. To guarantee quality, the facility is equipped with advanced systems such as 3D AOI, vacuum reflow soldering, selective wave soldering, and automated optical screening. Quality data is uploaded in real time to form a closed-loop system, keeping defect rates below 0.2%. Two standardized labs and full-spectrum inspection processes (IQC, IPQC, FQC, OQC) reinforce our commitment to consistent, high-standard output—regardless of production location. Flexible manufacturing is another key differentiator of Topband Vietnam facility. Modular, compact, and diversified production lines enable small-scale trial runs and rapid new product introductions to meet global customer demands. For standard orders, the Vietnam facility enables full-process order fulfillment within 30 days. It also features a mature production transfer mechanism, enabling seamless transitions from other plants to Vietnam facility. Topband believes lean mindset supports long-term efficiency. The Vietnam facility has established a lean production team to continuously identify efficiency improvement opportunities, and a rapid response team to ensure closed-loop management of customer feedback and complaints. Recognized for its consistent performance, the facility has been awarded "Top Supplier" status by major global clients for five consecutive years. Looking ahead, a 75,000㎡ expansion will be operational by March 2026, targeting an annual output of approximately USD 556 million. The goal of the Topband Vietnam facility is to become a regional benchmark factory that integrates cost advantage, high-quality output, and global delivery capability—steadfastly positioning itself as a trusted intelligent manufacturing partner for customers worldwide through reliable and high-standard production capacity.

‘Golden time to invest': Shinhan targets global investors with support unit
‘Golden time to invest': Shinhan targets global investors with support unit

Korea Herald

time4 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

‘Golden time to invest': Shinhan targets global investors with support unit

From distressed assets to supply chain shifts, Korea gains appeal amid global uncertainty While South Korea faces headwinds from heightened uncertainty in the trade environment, Shinhan FDI partners, a specialized unit dedicated to providing support for foreign direct investment here, sees opportunities in challenges that lie ahead. 'Now is the golden time to invest in Korea,' said Jenny Hong, one member of the global investment support team of Shinhan FDI partners. Distinct from other forms of cross-border investment ― such as purchasing stocks and bonds ― foreign direct investment involves active asset management, including acquiring physical assets like factories or gaining management control of a company. 'The sluggish Korean economy is a favorable factor. With the local won weakening against the dollar, Korean assets are currently undervalued,' Hong explained. Foreign investors are also eyeing opportunities in distressed assets. For instance, overseas hedge funds are weighing to invest in the logistics sector through nonperforming loans, as the industry struggles with the fallout from collapsed project financing deals. Similar to its peers, Shinhan Bank plays a key role in facilitating inbound investment, as foreign investors have to report their investments to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency or foreign exchange banks under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. Previously, the specialized workforce supporting investments was scattered across various departments within the bank. The lender launched a centralized unit last month to streamline its services. 'With the rising complexity of deals, there was a clear need for a more coordinated approach. These days, we are seeing increasingly intricate stakeholder dynamics,' Hong said. 'Multiple parties are involved, ranging from private equity firms to joint ventures and other entities. Coordinating among all these stakeholders requires a more integrated approach." With the US, Japan and China being the three largest players in foreign direct investment for Korea, the team has regional experts dedicated to handling each market. Hong specializes in English-speaking firms, while Yang Zou and Ayako Yamoto focus on Chinese and Japanese firms, respectively. According to Yang, a growing number of Chinese companies are turning their attention to Korea as a potential detour around trade restrictions imposed by the US. 'With the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the introduction of 'reciprocal' tariffs, Chinese investors are looking to mitigate risks by importing raw materials from China and manufacturing in Korea. This trend is driving increased investment in factory construction here,' Yang said. Yamoto has been working with an increasing number of consumer-oriented Japanese firms, as consumer preferences between Japan and Korea continue to align. 'While earlier investments primarily targeted business-to-business transactions, recent trends indicate a shift toward business-to-consumer models. An increasing number of consumer-oriented Japanese firms ― particularly those in the food and entertainment sectors ― are now eyeing the Korean market,' she said. The three "foreign corporate client relationship managers" highlighted that navigating offshore investors through the differing trade environment is the key mission for Shinhan FDI partners. 'There is a difference in investment practices across countries. For instance, some countries do not use seal imprints, whereas in Korea, corporate transactions require an official seal,' Hong said. Account opening procedures vary by country as well. 'When establishing a company in China, the process typically involves setting up the company first and then making the capital contribution afterward. In contrast, in Korea, the capital must be deposited first before the company is officially put on paper,' Yang said. 'From a Chinese investor's perspective, Korea's approach can be unsettling since the funds have to be secured before a company is established. It is my job to explain the process sufficiently.' While Korea has experienced a dip in the amount of pledged foreign direct investments this year, largely due to political uncertainty from the end of last year, the team projects the pace to pick up with increased clarity following the recent presidential election. In the first half of this year, foreign direct investment pledges to Korea totaled $13.1 billion, a decrease of 14.6 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Trade Ministry. While actual FDI arrivals increased by 2.7 percent to $7.3 billion, the drop in pledged investments is still significant because it may signal reduced investor confidence and could impact future capital inflows. 'With the political uncertainty resolved, we anticipate increased interest from foreign investors. We are already receiving inquiries from potential investors,' Hong said. 'More foreign direct investment in Korea means more seed money for the country's economic growth. From a macroeconomic perspective, we find meaning in our work by financially supporting the nation's development. From another standpoint, we work to safeguard our clients by ensuring protection of their investments." silverstar@

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store