BYD Rises From China’s Auto Backwater to Global EV Leader, Expands in South Korea BYD has become a symbol of China’s rapid rise in electric vehicles. The company sold about 4.55 million vehicles globally last year, taking roughly 20% of the overall EV market and ranking No. 1. China, once a minor player in autos through the late 1990s, has moved to the front of the global EV race in about three decades, controlling more than 70% of the global EV market. Dozens of EV brands launch in China each year, and more than 80% eventually disappear. BYD has survived that shake March 16, 2026

Korean Shipbuilders Warn Ethylene Shortage Could Disrupt Production if It Lasts Past March The war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are jolting South Korea’s shipbuilding industry, which has been running at near full capacity on a recent boom in orders. The immediate concern is an unstable supply of ethylene, an essential gas used in ship construction, raising the risk of production disruptions if the shortage persists. Multiple shipbuilding industry officials told Aju Business on the 16th that yards are holding out on inventories for now, but prolonge March 16, 2026

Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae named to South Korea squad for March friendlies South Korea will take a full-strength squad on a European trip for two March A-match friendlies, its final tune-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. Coach Hong Myung-bo announced the call-ups on March 16 at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. No. 22 South Korea will play No. 37 Ivory Coast at 11 p.m. March 28 (Korea time) at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England. It will then face No. 24 Austria at 3:45 a.m. April 1 at Ernst Happel Stadi March 16, 2026

Hanwha Group Buys Additional 4.99% Stake in Korea Aerospace Industries Hanwha Group has increased its stake in rival Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Hanwha Aerospace said in an audit report on the 16th that it bought 4,864,000 KAI common shares, equal to 4.99%. The company purchased 3,236,635 shares last year and added 1,627,365 shares in the first quarter this year. Hanwha Systems previously said in a business report filed on the 13th that it bought 566,635 KAI common shares — 0.58% of the company’s total shares — for 59.9 billion won in November last yea March 16, 2026

Cameron Young Wins PGA Tour Players Championship Cameron Young of the United States won the PGA Tour Players Championship, often called the “fifth major,” with a total purse of $25 million. Young shot a 4-under 68 in the final round Monday (Korean time) at TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course (par 72) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, making five birdies and one bogey. He finished at 13-under 275, edging Matt Fitzpatrick of England by one stroke. Young, the 2021-2022 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, earned his second tour title seven months after his March 16, 2026

South Korean Biotechs to Showcase Alzheimer’s Advances at AD/PD 2026 South Korean biotech companies are heading to a major global meeting with updates on an oral Alzheimer’s drug candidate and artificial intelligence-based brain imaging tools. They aim to accelerate talks with big pharmaceutical companies as they target an Alzheimer’s drug market expected to grow to about 26 trillion won. According to the industry on March 17, the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases International Conference (AD/PD 2026) will be held March 17-21 (local time) in Copenhagen, March 16, 2026

Frequent Nosebleeds in Spring May Signal Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, Not Stress "My child suddenly gets nosebleeds a lot." That is a common concern among parents who visit clinics in March. With the new school year starting, repeated nosebleeds can prompt worries that a child is struggling at school or keeping problems to themselves. But the most common cause this time of year is often not psychological stress. It is frequently seasonal allergic rhinitis, as the nasal lining dries out and becomes irritated. In many cases, the issue is physical rather than March 16, 2026

Short track: Kim Gil-li, Lim Jong-eon win first career world championship doubles Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall) and Lim Jong-eon (Goyang City Hall) each captured their first career two-gold haul at the 2026 International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Championships. Kim won the women’s 1,500 meters final on March 16 (Korean time) at Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, finishing in 2:31.003. She beat Sandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands (2:31.298) and Corinne Stoddard of the United States (2:31.386). After taking gold in the 1,000 meters a day earlier, Kim comple March 16, 2026

New Books: “Tips from the Top” Collects Advice From 70 Leading Architects Tips from the Top=By Ken Yang and others, translated by Jeong Ji-hyeon, Dplot. A new book gathers advice from 70 internationally known architects — figures the industry might liken to master chefs — organized into seven themes: getting started, inspiration, values, focus, process, self-development and decision-making. The project began when Raghdah Alhayal, an architect in her 20s in the United Arab Emirates, asked senior architects for guidance on success. What started as personal outrea March 16, 2026

KB Kookmin Bank Rebrands Family Office Service, Targets 2 Trillion Won in Assets KB Kookmin Bank said on the 16th it has rebranded its “KB Wise Family Office” service as “KB The First Family Office” to strengthen comprehensive, long-term wealth management for client families. To support the expanded offering, the bank created a dedicated family office unit, the “Solution Team (F/O Solution Team),” bringing together specialists in investment strategy, tax, law, accounting and real estate. The bank said it will provide on-site, end-to-end services including restructuri March 16, 2026