POSCO to Invest $200 Mil. for Stake in S. African Mine

POSCO to Invest $200 Mil. for Stake in S. African Mine

By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
POSCO, Asia's third-largest steel maker, said Friday that it will invest $200 million to buy a 13 percent stake in a manganese mine in South Africa for a stable supply of the essential ore for steel and iron production.
The investment will allow POSCO to annually secure at least 130,000 metric tons of manganese, starting in 2010. This is about one-fourth of its annual need for the material used to harden stainless steel.
The South Korean steel giant said the purchase of the Kalahari mine will be made by joining an international consortium led by Pallinghurst, which owns 49.9 percent of the mine.
This is the first time for POSCO to make a purchase through an alliance.
According to POSCO, the Pallinghurst consortium will accelerate its investment in global raw material development projects to $1.5 billion by 2010, up from the current $600 million.
The steel group said that it would seek further global investment opportunities with Pallinghurst, a London-based mining investment group.
The latest decision comes after POSCO agreed to pay Brazilian miner Vale 65 percent more for iron ore this year, starting April.
Soaring raw material costs have squeezed steel makers to push up prices and hunt for more diverse suppliers around the world.
Most recently, the Pohang-based company signed a deal with a major U.S. mineral developer to explore a central Nevada mine, considered to have one of the world's largest deposits of molybdenum, a key raw material for high-end steel products.

jhan@koreatimes.co.kr

Summary
POSCO, Korea's first-largest steel company, will invest $200 million to buy a 13 percent stake in a manganese mine in South Africa for a stable supply of the essential ore for steel and iron production.
This is the first time for POSCO to make a purchase through an alliance.
Most recently, the Pohang-based company signed a deal with a major U.S. mineral developer to explore a central Nevada mine, a key raw material for high-end steel products.

Opinion
POSCO is a major company representing Korea's iron industry. Because of this reason, POSCO should prepare many competitive advantages to live in survival, and POSCO needs to have the relationship with the other foreign companies. To do well these processes, POSCO must get essential marketing strategies and its strategies should be considered by POSCO managers to fit it into world market and to attract investors. So, what are competitive marketing strategies in world steel market? I think POSCO should not only improve the plans to earn profit, but also its Images. The image of steel companies is 3Ds(Difficult, Dangerous, Dirty), so people pretend steel companies are not in a eco-system that takes the values considering the environment where people live in. POSCO is trying to change company's existing images to company that loves environment. POSCO's titles in its web sites are 'Innovation and Growth for Future Generations' and 'Sustainable Step toward Future Generations'. This movement will be helpful to change investor mind thinking 'Steel company does not have the eco-characteristics' and will lead them to invest POSCO. Another marketing strategy is to distribute their profits into people in Pohang. Actually, POSCO has earned high profits and Pohang people are thinking POSCO is the rich company in a local city, but residents do not have good images about this company. Good images to people is the way to attract the investors to give the money for marketing.
Now, POSCO is trying to go the top of the steel industry, therefore POSCO needs more competitive strategies to fit world market.
6th entry, Lee, yong jae

McDonald's to start home-delivery service

McDonald's renowned golden arches are about to get even more famous. To expand its reach and improve accessibility, the world's largest hamburger restaurant chain will this year introduce delivery services in Korea, one of the few countries to offer such an advantage.
The decision is part of a strategy to be more convenient to consumers, said Ray Frawley, chief executive of McDonald's Korea.
"Convenience is the key word to strengthen our growth momentum in 2008 and beyond," he said at a news conference held this week to mark the chain's 20th anniversary in Korea on March 29.
The icon of globalization and American culture has managed to achieve steady growth in Korea, a market that has been touting low-fat Asian meals and more healthy choices amid the so-called well-being trend.
McDonald's Korea announced 16 percent growth in 2007, following 10 percent growth the previous year. The double-digit figures follow an expansion of 7 percent in 2005. The company declined to disclose exact figures, citing corporate policy.
According to Frawley, McDonald's Corporation, seeing growth potential in Korea, invested over 160 billion won ($160 million) in 2006, underscoring that the company has had and will continue to play a leading role in the local restaurant industry.
McDonald's Korea said it ranked No. 1 in growth in terms of customer numbers and operating income among the company's 37 markets in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. It ranked No. 3 in comparable sales among the corporation's 199 markets globally, the company said.
Stressing that "many more consumers" in Korea will be able to enjoy McDonald's, Frawley said: "Our delivery service to begin in 2008 is in line with our focus on convenience; we will capitalize on the needs of consumers."
Home-delivery services are currently available in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, including Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Egypt and Turkey. Delivery services are introduced based on the needs of each individual markets, Frawley said.
"We look at each market in isolation," he told The Korea Herald, in response to why the service is not available in the United States. "The U.S. market has a huge number of drive-thrus, which provide a level of convenience," he stressed, noting that each market has different growth drivers.
"The delivery service in Korea is ingrained in the culture," he added.
Since last October, the company has been conducting pilot tests for its delivery service at branches in southern Seoul and Suwon.
"Based on positive feedback and business performance, McDonald's Korea is confident that McDonald's delivery service serves a growing customer need," Frawley said.
The company will steadily expand the service, which will be available around the clock, this year.
Previous convenience-centered strategies introduced by the local unit are 24-hour operations and steady introduction of drive-thru stores, or the McDrive. To cater to a society growing more open to a Western lifestyle, McDonald's in 2006 introduced its McMorning menu, featuring original hotcakes, egg McMuffins and hash browns.
"Our McDrive and 24-hour services have been introduced to meet the busy lifestyles of today's working professionals," said Chun Jin-wook, development director of McDonald's Korea. "A lot of working people set out early in the morning, and some work into the night."
Taking on board the ongoing well-being trend, McDonald's introduced healthy choices like salads and the Okok shake, a Korean-style milkshake made of grains. It also offers a healthy kids' menu.
As perhaps the best-known restaurant chain in the world, the American cultural icon is often scrutinized for the quality of its food preparations, ingredients and business practices.
The U.S. food giant has therefore been sensitive to criticism and quick to respond to consumer needs worldwide.
"We are not a fast-food restaurant but a quick-service restaurant," Frawley emphasized.
He noted that McDonald's around the world practices the highest food-safety procedures and offers the highest quality.
"Our food safety starts at the farm," he said. "We're confident about our food safety, which exceeds the standards of the Korea Food and Drug Administration, and most countries' laws and regulations," he added.
Amid all the global controversy over trans-fatty acids, which are said to raise cholesterol levels, and fast-food companies using cooking oil containing animal fat, McDonald's Korea said it has replaced its cooking oil with pure vegetable oil and uses only pure beef.
In August 2007, it introduced French fries with zero percent trans-fatty acids. TFAs are commonly associated with vegetable shortening, margarine, and snack foods like crackers and cakes, as well as fried foods.
While it caters to children with the orange-haired clown Ronald McDonald, the company has also tapped mature consumers with healthy food options and its Lavazza coffee line.
McDonald's has caught on to the global trend for high-quality coffee and coffee joints. The Korean market is also enjoying a boom.
The introduction of the McCafe, a cafe-style accompaniment to the restaurants, in December 2005 here has been warmly received. The popularity of take-out gourmet coffee, triggered by Starbucks with its entry in 1997, has spawned a large population of coffee aficionados.
Frawley said McDonald's has been recording double-digit growth in this sector as well.
Unique to the Korean market, and underscoring the popular demand, are the McCafe walk-up kiosks.
"The walk-up window here is the first in the world; this is another important milestone for McDonald's Korea," Frawley said. "Our customers have responded very positively to our efforts since 2005. Our future in Korea is very strong, and the plans we have in place will continue to drive our business."
The local unit plans to add 10 new stores this year, taking its total number of restaurants to 240.
As part of its efforts to contribute to Korean society, the company has been supporting children's welfare and health needs since its entry in 1988. Some of its activities and programs include raising funds to support children's charities, and operating Ronald McDonald Soccer Clubs for local school students to promote a balance and active lifestyle. Last year, the Ronald McDonald House Charities, a nonprofit organization, was established in Korea, making it the 51st country to host a local chapter.
As part of the food giant's commitment to children, McDonald's Korea recently agreed to partner with the Korea Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The McDonald's Champion Kids' program will allow up to 20 Korean kids to take a four-day trip to the Beijing Olympics from Aug. 16 to 19.
"We will support future Olympic hopefuls by sending 20 kids to experience the 2008 Olympic Games," Frawley said.
By Yoo Soh-jung
(sohjung@heraldm.com)

2008.04.11


Summary>

McDonald’s will introduce delivery services in Korea this year. The decision is part of a strategy to be more convenient to consumers. Home-delivery services are currently available in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, including Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Egypt and Turkey. On the other hand, the U.S. market has a huge number of drive-thrus, which provide a level of convenience, so the service is not available in the U.S. Delivery services are introduced based on the needs of each individual markets and the culture.


Opinion>
No matter McDonald’s makes itself easy to access, comfortable, fast and available at cheap price, it will be limited to growth. Now, the difficulty it has is the customers’ thoughts that McDonald’s is bad for health. Although McDonald’s has several advantages, customers hesitate to go and to eat there because they think its hamburgers are bad for health. Especially, Koreans, who are much interested in their health, hesitate much more than others. So, McDonald’s started to sell Okok shake made of grains and salads. But, it seems that they couldn’t help McDonald’s to improve their unhealthy image. Because customers go McDonald’s to eat hamburger, not shake or salads.
Then, how can McDonald’s improve their image? One way is advertising that McDonald’s uses pure beef in its hamburgers. Before I watched the commercial, I felt that Big Mac is tasteless because its beef. And now, it is good. But if McDonald’s just advertises, it is obviously swindling. They have to try to improve their product’s quality.
If McDonald’s makes itself easy to access, it will be hard to success in the market. Improving the quality of hamburgers and advertising it will accelerate the rate of growth.

20600613 Jeon, Hyejin

Korean Food to Be Served in Space

Korean Food to Be Served in Space

Korean astronaut Yi So-yeon enters the International Space Station in this image from NASA TV, Thursday. Yi is scheduled to return to Earth on April 19 with Expedition 16 crew members ― commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko. / Reuters-Yonhap
By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
Space food history will be rewritten this weekend, when South Korea's first astronaut, Yi So-yeon, treats her colleagues to kimchi, steamed rice and red pepper paste on the International Space Station (ISS) today, her fifth day in space.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Friday that Yi and two Russian cosmonauts aboard the space station will dine on 10 different foods and beverages prepared for the space mission on Saturday, the anniversary of the first-ever space flight, manned by Yuri Gagarin.
Doenjang (fermented bean) soup, instant noodles and sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch) are among the selections brought by Yi. The 29-year-old will continue to enjoy Korean food ― all bacteria-free ― during her remaining mission, which will end April 19.
Yi boarded the ISS two days after lifting off from the Baikonur launch pad in Kazakhstan Tuesday night. As of Friday 4 p.m., the space station was cruising over the western coast of Australia at 27,720 kilometers per hour, 340 kilometers above the earth.
The real-time location of the ISS can be checked online via the NASA Web site.
The space station will be visible from South Korea with the naked eye twice this weekend (from 9:11 p.m. to 9:14 p.m. Saturday and 7:57 p.m. to 8:03 p.m. Sunday), according to the Korea Astronomy & Space Science institute. Information is available at www.kasi.re.kr.
``The view Sunday evening is expected to be clear,'' said KARI official Lee Dong-joo. ``It will be exciting to see our first astronaut flying above us.''
Yi, a bioengineer who is the second Asian female in space, is set out to complete 18 assigned experiments while orbiting before returning to earth next Saturday.
NASA said Thursday that astronauts aboard the ISS will participate in a 30-minute news conference from orbit on April 15.
Summary
Korean astronaut Yi So-yeon enters the International Space Station in this image from NASA TV, Thursday.
South Korea's first astronaut, Yi So-yeon, treats her colleagues to kimchi, steamed rice and red pepper paste on the International Space Station (ISS) today.

Opinion
I think Korea has good location in competitive world by sending her, Yi, to the space because that means South Korea can be one of the dominant countries in astrology. We should consider our attitude toward world trend, which eventually means that marketing of our country will be more important than before. Actually, 2002 world cup is considered Japan world cup by foreigners. This result is from the weakness of marketing of our country. So, we can use our traditional food, culture, clothes, and so on as Kimchi in the space.
5th entry 20600517 Lee, yong jae

KT to Make Profit From Green Business in 2012

KT to Make Profit From Green Business in 2012

By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter



Telecom giant KT plans to groom ``green business'' as one of its new growth engines in the next four years.

The firm said that developing IT solutions for public and private environment projects and recycling network equipment will be the most plausible business models. Furthermore, it can possibly start renewable energy businesses using its vast real estate all over the country, officials said.

``We have a social responsibility of adopting environment-friendly policies. But we are also preparing for it as a business opportunity.'' Lee Woo-moon, director of KT's assets planning department, said in an interview with The Korea Times on Monday.

``We are considering selling energy saving products and services, and recycling network equipment. We can also use our properties for the power generation business,'' said Shon Yil-kweon, manager of the department.

KT is the dominant telephone and broadband Internet service provider in Korea. Though the telecom or Internet firms may look cleaner than traditional manufacturing and chemical industries, they do consume increasing amounts of electricity and other resources, which means more green house gas emissions and more pollution from power plants.

Everyday offices, data centers and other facilities of KT consume about 0.5 percent of electricity and more than 0.3 percent of piped water that Korea produces. The electricity bill comes to around 140 billion won a year.

Formerly a public company, KT also possesses numerous buildings and other real estate all over the country, of which the book value amounts to 7 trillion won. The lands and buildings can be utilized in saving or even producing renewable energy, Sohn said.

As a first step, the firm has been operating a cogeneration plant in its R& D center in southern Seoul since 2005, which produces electricity and heat used there. New buildings are now constructed with energy-efficient lighting and air-conditioning equipment, and some of them have solar panels though its capacity is far less than what the company's 37,000 employees use.

Such activities gave the firm 1 billion won in tax rebate from the government, which returns 10 percent of investment made in purchasing eco-friendly or energy-saving equipment.

``Korea will be included in the Kyoto Protocol in 2009, so if we are not ready for it, we will be in a very difficult situation,'' Lee said.

Experts agree that Korean firms should take a more active attitude in dealing with environmental issues.

``While the green movement has existed for several decades, corporate mindsets have evolved over time, from obligation toward opportunity,'' said Shanton Wilcox, director of consulting firm Archstone, in last week's conference in Seoul. ``It is important to stay ahead of energy and climate change legislation and regulations.''

KT's role model is GE, the U.S. industrial giant, which has successfully positioned itself as one of greenest companies over the past few years under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt.

``Ecomagination'' has been GE's corporate slogan since 2005. The U.S. firm expects $20 billion in sales of energy-efficient and environment-friendly machinery and services in power generation, desalination and other manufacturing sectors.

GE's case was brought up in KT's Environmental Management Committee meeting last Friday. Nine executive members of the committee agreed to make the green business one of KT's growth engines by 2012.

As a short-term goal, the firm is now trying to be included in Dow Jones Sustainability Index this year. Launched in 1999, the index tracks leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. An inclusion in it will be considered as a certificate of being a green company and will thus have a positive effect on the firm's stock price, KT's Lee says.

``We have conducted internal research last year, and we are working to join the index this year,'' he said.

indizio@koreatimes.co.kr

My opinion

Kyoto Protocol is a global agreement about greenhouse gas emission. Nowadays, world is getting hot. This effect makes an iceberg melting, and generates abnomal weather. These problems spoil the world. Kyoto Protocol is the world saving project.
Following the Kyoto Protocol, most of the companies prepare a plan for protection of natural environment. Especially, KT will start ‘KT’s Green Management Roadmap’. It’s about protecitng earth from the global warming. KT prepare a budget and specific plan like a power saving and campaigns.
This project will increase common benefits. It has a meaning that KT gives an effort for improving civilizions’ life. It is a good for the firm’s image. Consumers consider a company image. It contributes their sales. Esepcially, service firms like KT is more influenced by the company image.
This movement is used for advertisement. For example, Posco always emphasize their clean management, and insert it to video advertisement. The relationship with Pohang citizens is very important to Posco, and this advertisement and campaign improve this relationship. Like a Posco, the most important one for KT is Korean people’s thinking. Because clean image will change the people’s idea that service quility is better. If they start an advertisement inserting the grean movement, it would make that KT is getting closer with a whole Korean people.
I read a text about promotion in last chapter. The promotion is very important. This kind of promotion will improve the firm’s service value physicologically. In the conclusion, this project is win-win strategy. KT makes a better image, and improves common weal.


20300174 Nah Kilwoong - entry 5

Acxiom Web-based Segmentation System Adds Scarborough Research Local Market Insights

Press Release Source: Acxiom Corporation
Acxiom Web-based Segmentation System Adds Scarborough Research Local Market Insights
Thursday April 3, 3:59 pm ET

PersonicX VisionScape offers marketers real-time analytical and mapping tools with a wealth of consumer behavior and attitude information
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comprehensive consumer shopping insights from Scarborough Research are now available in Acxiom® Corporation’s new PersonicX VisionScape™. The Scarborough data, along with consumer data provided by Acxiom, allows marketers to dive deep into the consumer mindset with specifics on behaviors and location characteristics for U.S. markets as measured by Scarborough.
PersonicX VisionScape’s Web-based mapping and segmentation system is Acxiom’s latest innovation in the Personicx® family of household-level segmentation tools. PersonicX is a household-level segmentation system that places U.S. households into one of 70 distinctive segments and 21 life-stage groups based on specific consumer behavior and demographic characteristics.
Using PersonicX’s industry-leading customer-coded system, VisionScape accesses a comprehensive library of consumer behaviors and attitudes using Scarborough Research to build in-depth views of specific markets. Information on consumer markets includes traffic, consumer expenditures, population demographics, channel and media preferences, and more.
“Adding Scarborough’s industry-leading data to PersonicX VisionScape allows marketers to more precisely target their messages based on specific consumer behavior,” said Louis Rolleigh, Acxiom’s consumer segmentation and analysis product leader. “Now, companies can access online their PersonicX-coded data, along with Scarborough data, to make decisions regarding all of their marketing campaigns. With the Scarborough data, marketers can examine consumer behavior unique to a particular city or analyze similarities across markets.”
Marketers can use PersonicX VisionScape to analyze questions such as, “Which consumers are most likely to be attracted to my new product offering?” and “Where is the best location for my new store?” VisionScape allows the easy creation of custom target groups based on PersonicX-coded customer or third-party survey data. In addition, its easy-to-use report generator allows businesses to share critical marketing data with all stakeholders across an enterprise, providing businesses a consistent framework from which to view and respond to the consumer landscape.
“PersonicX VisionScape gives businesses hands-on access to tools that generate immediate, precise and actionable results,” Rolleigh said. “In today’s customer-centric marketplace, it’s a given that understanding your customers will make the difference in whether or not you make the sale.”
About Acxiom Corporation
Acxiom Corporation (Nasdaq: ACXM - News) integrates data, services and technology to create and deliver customer and information management solutions for many of the largest, most respected companies in the world. The core components of Acxiom's innovative solutions are Customer Data Integration (CDI) technology, data, database services, IT outsourcing, risk mitigation, consulting and analytics, and privacy leadership. Founded in 1969, Acxiom is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, with locations throughout the United States and Europe, and in Australia, China and Canada. For more information, visit www.acxiom.com.
About Scarborough Research
Scarborough Research (www.scarborough.com, info@scarborough.com) measures the lifestyle and shopping patterns, media behaviors, and demographics of American consumers. Products and services include the Media Rating Council (MRC) accredited consumer insight studies in 81 Top-Tier Markets, and a Multi-Market Study. Scarborough Research also has Scarborough USA+ (a national database), Hispanic studies, and custom research solutions among its service portfolio. With more than 30 years of experience, Scarborough measures 2,000 consumer categories and serves a broad client base that includes marketers, advertising agencies, print and electronic media (broadcast and cable television, radio stations) sports teams and leagues, and out-of-home media companies. Surveying more than 220,000 adults annually, Scarborough is a joint venture between Arbitron Inc. (www.arbitron.com) and The Nielsen Company (www.nielsen.com).
Acxiom is a registered trademark of Acxiom Corporation.

Contact:
Acxiom Corporation
Stacey M. Jones, APR, Public Relations, 501-252-2249
GACXM
________________________________________
Source: Acxiom Corporation

My opinion
I studied about segmentation last class. So I found something related with segmantation. This article introduces new analysitic tools. It is a great tool for segmentation.
Nowadays, internet is full of data. I can find many things that I want. However, if we don’t have searching sight like a google and yahoo, it is very hard to find. We need information, not wide data. Generally I spend lots of time to arrange the data, not to find data. I think VisionScape help businessman to arrange the data.
Businessmans want making a profit. For this profit, they make 4P strategy. If they sale a new beef cooking machine in India, they must be failed. Profit cannot be earned by not only the new evoluated products, but also strategy. Therefore, businessman should have a strategy. One of the basic of this strategy is market segmentation. It is a first level of making a strategy.
Different people live in the world. They think different way, and they eat diverse things. In the childhood, they like toys, but not in the adults. They want different things, and it’s up to place and time. Therefore, People never buy a product, if they don’t need. Before making a profit, more important one is the offering a value.
As every people has a diverse priority. So their value is not same. If businessman sale a new product, they should find a place where the people like their new product. People consider a price, too. If someone wants to sale a diamond, he would find a place where the rich live.
VisionScrape is a great tool to find place saling a new product. This new tool gives a great help to market segmentation. It easily creates information about segmentaion. In a conclusion, businessmans making a more profit.
Addintionally, VisionScrape is not only good for businessmans’ profit, but also the economical efficiency. Because, it helps that a proper people get a proper goods.

20300174 Nah, Kilwoong - entry 4