Taiwan Wire Service

Samsung Biologics Co. on Wednesday reported its first-quarter net profit of 179.4 billion won (US$131 million), up 26.5 percent from a year earlier. The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 221.3 billion won in operating profit for the quarter, compared with 191.7 billion won a year ago. Sales rose 31.3 percent to 946.9 billion won. The earnings exceeded market expectations. The average estimate of net profit by analysts stood at 177.4 billion won, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. Source: Yonhap News Agency

The delinquency ratio on loans extended by banks in South Korea inched up from a month earlier in February, data showed Wednesday. The delinquency ratio on banks' won-denominated loans came to 0.51 percent in February, up 0.06 percentage point from a month earlier, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service. From a year earlier, the reading marks a 0.15 percentage-point rise. The on-month increase marked a second consecutive month of increase, following a 0.07 percentage-point rise in January. The amount of newly overdue loans came to 2.9 trillion won (US$2.1 billion) in February, same as the previous month, while the amount of resolved loans also remained nearly unchanged over the cited period at 1.3 trillion won, according to the financial regulator. The delinquency ratio for corporate loans came to 0.59 percent as of end-February, up 0.09 percentage point from a month before. The ratio for household loans stood at 0.42 percent, up 0.04 percentage point. Source: Yonhap News Agency

Some fans of girl group NewJeans staged a protest outside the building of K-pop giant Hybe in Seoul on Wednesday, deploying a "protest truck" to voice their grievances against the chief of its sub-label in an escalating conflict with the parent company. "Min Hee-jin should no longer use NewJeans and its family," blared an electronic billboard mounted on the truck sent by the members of Bunnies, the group's fandom. Min is the CEO of ADOR. Other messages repeatedly flashed included, "Min immediately stop disparaging other artists" and "Bunnies support NewJeans under Hybe." Min has been locking horns with Hybe, claiming that ILLIT, a new girl group launched by another sub-label of Hybe last month, copied NewJeans, a product of her label's creativity. She raised the issue once again in a statement released Monday after Hybe launched an audit into her and her aides over their alleged attempt to seize management control of their company. She has denied the allegations. NewJeans is scheduled to drop a new sing le titled "How Sweet" on May 24. Source: Yonhap News Agency

South Korea's consumer sentiment remained unchanged in April amid high inflation and market rates, a central bank poll showed Wednesday. The composite consumer sentiment index stood at 100.7 this month, unchanged from the previous month, according to the survey conducted by the Bank of Korea (BOK). A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists. The central bank said consumer sentiment remained flat amid a rise in prices of agricultural goods and high interest rates. Inflation expectations fell this month. This month, ordinary people expect consumer prices to rise 3.1 percent for the year ahead, compared with the previous month's 3.2 percent. The figures are closely watched, as their upward move could cause businesses to raise prices and people to ask for pay raises, thereby resulting in more upward pressure on inflation going forward. South Korea's inflation stayed over 3 percent for the second consecutive month last month on record prices of fruit and rising global oil prices. Consumer pr ices, a key gauge of inflation, rose 3.1 percent on-year last month, following a 3.2 percent increase the previous month. The country's central bank froze its key rate for the 10th straight session at 3.5 percent early this month amid slower-than-expected inflation moderation. The rate freezes came after the BOK delivered seven consecutive rate hikes from April 2022 to January 2023. Source: Yonhap News Agency

The number of babies born in South Korea fell below the 20,000 level for the first time for any February this year, data showed Wednesday, amid deepening woes about the country's demographics amid rapid aging and the ultra-low birthrate. A total of 19,362 babies were born in February 2024, sliding 3.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest figure for any February since the statistics agency began compiling related data in 1981. In terms of February readings, the number of newborns fell below 30,000 for the first time in 2018 and had stayed around the 20,000 level until last year. The number of deaths advanced 9.6 percent on-year to 29,977 in February this year, the largest figure for any February. The population, accordingly, declined by 10,614, the sharpest fall for any February ever. The number of deaths has outpaced that of newborns since November 2019. "The deaths among those aged 85 and older logged growth in February amid population a ging," an agency official said. "The increase was also due to a leap year and the extra day was added at the end of February this year." The number of couples getting married fell 5 percent on-year to 16,949 in February, following an 11.6 percent increase the previous month. The decline came as this year's Lunar New Year holiday fell in February. There is a superstition that couples tying the knot during a leap year will end in divorce, but it seems unlikely to largely affect the number of marriages in February, the official said. The number of couples getting divorced went up 1.8 percent on-year to 7,354, according to the data. South Korea is experiencing grim demographic changes, as many young people opt to postpone or give up on getting married or having babies in line with changing social norms and lifestyles amid high home prices, a tough job market and an economic slowdown. Last year, the number of babies born in the country dropped 7.7 percent on-year to an all-time low of 229,970. The total fer tility rate, which means the average number of expected births from a woman in her lifetime, also hit a record yearly low of 0.72, which came far below the 2.1 births per woman needed to maintain a stable population without immigration. In the fourth quarter of last year alone, the rate came to 0.65, the lowest ever quarterly figure. South Korea is expected to be a highly aged country by 2072 as the median age will increase from 44.9 in 2022 to 63.4 in 2072, and the population will tumble to around 36.22 million in 2072 from last year's 51 million. Source: Yonhap News Agency

Thai-Myanmar border situation. In Mae Sot District, Tak Province, there are beginning to be signs of improvement. The fighting in Myawaddy temporarily calmed down. After negotiations between opposition groups and Myanmar authorities As a result, the last batch of Myanmar people who fled from the fighting have returned home. Source: Thai News Agency

North Korea on Wednesday called a U.S. aid package to war-torn Ukraine awaiting final approval a "hallucinogen," saying that such support cannot put a brake on Kiev's war with Russia. The statement by North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Im Chon-il came amid Pyongyang's deepening military cooperation with Moscow that has spawned speculation over their arms deal for Russia's use in the war. "The U.S. bill on additional military aid... is merely a hallucinogen that temporarily eases the fears of the Zelenski cabal that is driven to a corner day by day," Im said in the statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. Im claimed any military aid from the United States will not be able to halt the Russian military's fight to defend its sovereignty and safety. Late Tuesday (local time), the U.S. Senate passed the US$61 billion aid package for Kiev that now only awaits U.S. President Joe Biden's signature. Source: Yonhap News Agency

Chachoengsao, A pickup truck ran a red light and crashed into a 12-year-old boy's motorcycle, dragging the car along the road for nearly 1 kilometer. Good citizens helped to surround the vehicle and stop it. Closed circuit in front of the tire shop, along Road 304, in front of the 11th Infantry Division, Bang Tin Ped Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chachoengsao Province. Revealed image of a pickup truck pulling a motorcycle. Red signs came along the road until fire sparked along the way. before the driver parks the car on the side of the road A tire shop technician who witnessed the incident Go in and ask what happened. The short-haired driver opened the door and came out of the car in a dazed state. He only said that he didn't hear the sound of the car being pulled over. It was the same moment when Nong Mark, 12 years old, riding the back of a motorcycle, a good citizen followed him. and asked why he ran a red light and hit his own car. And how will you be responsible? Because the car had only been out for 1 0 days, this incident happened around 10:30 p.m. on the night of April 23. Most recently today (24 April 2024) reporters traveled to the scene of the incident. There were also long white scratch marks on the road. Ask Mr. Ronnakorn, 25 years old, who witnessed the incident. He said that a pickup truck dragged Nong Mark's car from the red light intersection all the way to the shop, a distance of almost 1 kilometer. There were flashing lights along the way. They rushed to surround the car and park it. Then the driver got out of the car. Looks like a policeman or soldier And the driver said he couldn't brake in time. He also said that he was lucky that Nong Mark was not stuck in the front of the car. Then the reporter went to see Nong Mark. The victim was shown abrasions on both arms and a scraped knee. There was pain all over my body because I fell off the bus and rolled along the road. Along with telling you that He himself rode the car to go home. When the light turns green, turn on the right turn signal. A t that time, a pickup truck ran a red light and came straight ahead. opposite to their car crash into each other He asked for responsibility. But the parties claim that Will take the car for repairs and transfer only 500 baht to the relative to pay the fine. on charges of careless driving causing damage to other people's property and others were injured. But he wants a new car. It's not a repair car. Because of fear that it will not be used as before. But until now, we still haven't been able to contact the other party. Source: Thai News Agency