Busan subway to ban e-scooters, high-capacity lithium batteries over fire risk

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Busan plans to ban personal mobility devices and large-capacity backup batteries equipped with high-capacity lithium batteries from its subway system, citing growing fire safety concerns. The Busan Transportation Corporation said on Wednesday it is revising its passenger transport regulations to introduce the ban. The restrictions will apply to personal mobility devices that use lithium batteries and to backup batteries with capacities exceeding 160 wa

December 10, 2025

Samsung SDI secures $1.36 billion U.S. deal, marking foray into LFP battery market

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Samsung SDI announced Wednesday its U.S. subsidiary has clinched a deal worth more than 2 trillion won ($1.36 billion) to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to an American energy infrastructure company, Samsung SDI America signed the multi-year contract with an undisclosed U.S. energy infrastructure developer and operator to supply LFP batteries for energy storage systems over three years starting in 2027. The deal represents about 15 percent of

December 10, 2025

ChatGPT unrivalled 2025 app winner in Korea

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - OpenAI's generative artificial intelligence ChatGPT was the standout app winner in South Korea this year, expanding user base nearly threefold between January and November, according to analytics firm WiseApp/Retail Wednesday. The AI assistance recorded a 196.6-percent surge in users from January to November, far outpacing growth across Korea's most competitive sectors from ecommerce to beauty and fintech. Other fast risers included bargai

December 10, 2025

Peru to buy South Korea's K2 battle tanks, armored vehicles in $1.5 billion deal

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Peru has agreed to purchase South Korea’s domestically developed K2 main battle tanks, becoming the first Latin American country to acquire the platform, South Korea’s presidential office said on Wednesday. The contract, valued at about 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion), covers the supply of 54 K2 tanks and 141 armored vehicles, for a total of 195 units, and represents South Korea’s largest-ever defense export to Latin America. If im

December 10, 2025

Samsung unit enters humanoid robot market with investment in Norwegian robotics firm

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Samsung Electro-Mechanics said Wednesday it has made a strategic investment in Norwegian electric motor company Alva Industries, marking its entry into the humanoid robot components market. Alva Industries said on its website on Dec. 9 that it will work with Samsung Electro-Mechanics on the development of advanced motor drive solutions for robots, following a multi-million euro investment. Founded in 2017, Alva is known for its proprietary fiber-p

December 10, 2025

South Korea's government opens talks on nuclear expansion in drafting long-term power plan

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea is drafting a long-term energy roadmap that prioritizes renewable power while accelerating a phase-out of coal and reopening debate over the construction of new nuclear reactors. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Climate and Energy convened the first general committee meeting for electricity supply and demand at the government complex in Seoul, chaired by Minister Kim Sung-hwan. Updated every two years, the plan sets out national power demand f

December 10, 2025

South Korea to host 4th UN Ocean Conference in 2028

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea will host the 4th United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2028 after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution endorsing the bid in New York on Dec. 9, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. The UN Ocean Conference, held every three years, is the world’s largest high-level maritime meeting, focused on implementing Sustainable Development Goal 14, which seeks to conserve and sustainably

December 10, 2025

ADB raises South Korea's 2025 growth outlook to 0.9% on stimulus, chip demand

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised its 2025 economic growth forecast for South Korea to 0.9 percent from 0.8 percent, citing the impact of government stimulus measures and stronger global demand for semiconductors. In its latest regional outlook, the ADB also lifted its projection for 2026 growth to 1.7 percent from 1.6 percent. The ADB’s 0.9 percent growth estimate aligns with forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

December 10, 2025

Korean memory makers eye bumper year to extend into 2026

SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc., enjoying their best-yet bumper cycle, are set to reap more than $20 billion in combined operating income for the quarter ending December, according to upgrades by brokerage houses following stronger-than-expected price gains in memory chips from mass-market to high end. Kiwoom Securities on Monday projected SK hynix’s fourth-quarter operating profit at 16.2 trillion won ($11 billion), about 1.6 trillion won

December 9, 2025

3M turns to robotics to meet strict Korean standards for automated tapes

HWASUNG, December 09 (AJP) - A multi-axis industrial robot sweeps deliberately across a component panel, its joints pivoting with an almost animal-like fluidity. From a needle-fine nozzle, it extrudes a glossy black ribbon of liquid-form tape that catches the overhead lights before settling into a perfect line. As the machine arcs over curved ridges and dips into semi-circular edges — surfaces that typically force human technicians to slow their breathing and reset their

December 9, 2025