MBK, Meritz to inject 200 bln won lifeline into Homeplus SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - Homeplus, the ailing South Korean supermarket chain teetering on the edge of liquidation, is poised to secure a last-minute rescue after its major shareholder and largest creditor tentatively agreed to provide 200 billion won ($134.5 million) in emergency operating funds. MBK Partners, the private equity firm that controls Homeplus, and Meritz Financial Group reached the provisional agreement on Wednesday, according to financial industry sources. The injection, if approve July 16, 2026

KOSPI climbs back above 7,000 as foreign investors snap up semiconductor shares SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - South Korean stocks led gains across Asia on Wednesday as softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data and ASML's stronger earnings, higher guidance and chipmaking capacity expansion plans fueled broad-based buying, with foreign investors piling into semiconductor shares. The benchmark KOSPI surged 6.24 percent or 427.58 points to close at 7,284.41, rebounding above 7,000 just two days after falling below the level earlier this week. Foreign investors bought a net 2.32 t July 15, 2026

Lee orders swift measures for single-stock leveraged ETFs amid market volatility SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday ordered financial authorities and the Korea Exchange to swiftly draw up measures for leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix amid concerns over heightened stock-market volatility. The matter is expected to be discussed Thursday at a meeting of South Korea's four main economic and financial authorities, commonly known as the F4, as regulators consider stronger protection for investors. The July 15, 2026

Samsung unveils Flex Titanium technology after Fold 8 leak sparks buzz SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Wednesday unveiled a new foldable display technology designed to improve durability while significantly reducing screen creases, days after an online video purportedly showing its next-generation Galaxy Fold smartphone drew widespread attention for its nearly invisible fold line. The company said its new Flex Titanium technology combines advanced display engineering, new materials and precision mechanical design to produce its thinnest foldable disp July 15, 2026

Seoul stocks soar as cooling U.S. inflation, chip optimism fuel broad rally SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) — South Korean stocks staged a powerful rebound Wednesday as softer-than-expected U.S. inflation and renewed optimism over the artificial intelligence semiconductor cycle triggered a broad-based buying spree led by SK hynix and Samsung Electronics. As of 9:57 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI surged 6.81 percent to 7,323.60, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ jumped 5.39 percent to 826.24, recovering sharply after recent market volatility. The rally tracked overnight gains on Wall July 15, 2026

KOSPI makes modest recovery after sharp plunge, but KOSDAQ stays volatile SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korean stocks rebounded Tuesday after the previous session's steep selloff, although another sell-side sidecar on the junior KOSDAQ showed continued volatility in the local market. The benchmark KOSPI rose 49.90 points or 0.73 percent to close at 6,856.83. The modest gain followed another volatile session. The index opened 0.56 percent lower at 6,769.06, climbed to an intraday high of 6,979.92 and later fell to 6,448.86 before recovering into the close, a swing July 14, 2026

Tycoons' stock wealth falls 6 trln won without Samsung, SK chiefs SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The combined stock wealth of South Korea’s major business group chiefs jumped by more than 29 trillion won ($19.6 billion) in the second quarter, but the headline increase masked losses across most of the group as gains were overwhelmingly concentrated in Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. Excluding Lee and Chey, the value of shares held by the remaining 44 group leaders fell by 5.97 trillion won, or 8.6 percent, between th July 14, 2026

Samsung wins eight Red Dot Design Awards, including two top honors SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said Monday it received eight awards, including two "Best of the Best" honors, in the Design Concept category at the Red Dot Design Award 2026, one of the world's major international design competitions. The company's top-winning entries were Samsung Home Appliances Accessories, a concept that uses color coding to help users identify how appliance consumables should be reused, recycled or disposed of, and Dremo & Minimo, an AI-pow July 14, 2026

Naver, Kakao, telecoms and startups line up for Korea's free AI project SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korea's biggest technology names are jostling to join the government's "AI for All" project, a state drive to build a homegrown artificial intelligence service that every citizen can use free of charge, as the contest for a slice of the initiative gathers pace. Kakao and LG Uplus have confirmed their bids, while Naver, SK Telecom and KT are weighing entry, industry sources said on Tuesday. AI startups and mid-sized firms are also sounding out cons July 14, 2026

Krafton studio Flyway Games launches action roguelike 'Ascend to Zero' SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Krafton's creative studio Flyway Games launched its new action roguelike "Ascend to Zero" worldwide, releasing the title simultaneously as an Xbox Game Pass day-one offering. The game went live at Monday 4 p.m. Korea time across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, the ROG Xbox Ally and Steam. Game Pass subscribers can play it at no additional cost. "Ascend to Zero" casts players as a fighter who wields the power to freeze time, battlin July 14, 2026