Journalist
Lee Hugh
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South Korea’s K2 Rifle Moves From Standard-Issue Weapon to Export Product In the military, the first weapon most recruits receive is a rifle — a soldier’s most closely guarded piece of equipment. Many carry it so constantly that they can recite its serial number on command, and it rarely changes before discharge. That closeness breeds plenty of barracks stories: seniors jokingly telling new recruits to buy a rifle at the PX, or a trainee getting reprimanded all day after losing a gas regulator at the range. The gas regulator is a small part that can come loose with a light touch, making it a common target for pranks. Rifles long seen as routine military gear are now being sold overseas. Weapons once described simply as “individual arms” have become part of the global defense market. Here is where South Korea’s rifle and ammunition industries stand — and where they may be headed. ◆ From familiar K2 to an export industry The K2 rifle, familiar to many South Koreans through reserve duty, is mainly produced by SNT Motiv. It is widely known as a South Korean adaptation of the U.S. M16. Weighing 3.26 kilograms, it can be fitted with a bayonet for close combat. In the late 2000s, bayonet drills were taught in basic training. Close-quarters fighting can be useful in mountainous terrain, a theme also depicted in the Korean War film “The Front Line.” The K2’s look has changed significantly. The K2C1, introduced in 2016, is an upgraded model designed for modern combat. Its handguard allows easier mounting of equipment such as optics, and its stock can be adjusted for different body sizes. An SNT Motiv official said the upgrade reflected the fact that soldiers have grown larger over the past 30 years since K2 production began. The official said detachable sights and the ability to add a forward grip improved ease of use and combat effectiveness. After the upgrade, the K2C1 became a main domestic weapon. SNT Motiv supplied 16,000 units to South Korea’s military for domestic use in 2024 and another 16,000 last year. Since it was fielded in 2016, cumulative domestic deliveries have reached about 190,000 units. Over the same period, about 40,000 units are reported to have been exported as markets opened in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. SNT Motiv posted operating profit of 102.6 billion won last year, up 4.5% from a year earlier. Dasan Machineries also added to the export trend, signing a contract early this year to export about 15,000 DSAR-15P 5.56 mm carbine rifles to the Philippines. A Dasan Machineries official said the company secured an edge with a clear bidding strategy in competition with defense firms from Brazil, Turkey and the Philippines. ◆ An evolving ammunition market Ammunition is so tightly controlled in the military that units typically have a dedicated noncommissioned officer overseeing it. Many reservists recall spending hours searching for missing shell casings after live-fire training. South Korea’s leading ammunition maker is Poongsan. Much of the 5.56 mm ammunition issued at firing ranges is produced there. According to filings with the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system, Poongsan posted 775.9 billion won in revenue last year through the third quarter from sales of military and sports ammunition. Over the same period, its U.S. subsidiary, PMC Ammunition, recorded US$99.7 million (1.435 trillion won) in results, reflecting sales of small-caliber rounds beyond South Korea and into the U.S. market. Ammunition has taken on greater importance as drones emerge as a key threat in modern warfare, spurring competition to develop rounds designed to intercept them. In the global defense industry, developing 30 mm airburst ammunition for counter-drone use has become a major task. Rheinmetall of Germany is widely cited as a leading developer of 30 mm airburst ammunition. U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman is developing 50 mm ammunition for drone interception based on experience from the war in Ukraine. Research and Markets forecasts the counter-drone ammunition market will grow at an average annual rate of 14.5%, from US$1.52 billion in 2025 to US$1.75 billion this year. Nam Myeong Ryeol, head of Korea University’s K-Defense Industry Research Center, said South Korean rifles are drawing attention in export markets because they perform reliably in harsh conditions, can be supplied in large quantities on time, and are price-competitive. <Editor’s note> Covering the defense industry. Aju Business Daily reporter Oh Ju Seok enlisted as an enlisted soldier at a unit in Incheon in 2009 and was discharged in 2013 with the rank of staff sergeant. He describes himself as a middle-aged military enthusiast who still cannot let go of the armed forces, and asks seniors and juniors for their support and guidance. 2026-02-12 18:06:48 -
Canada Submarine Bid Raises Pressure for Private Investment Packages "If they ordered submarines, shouldn’t you just deliver submarines — why give more?" That has been a common reaction to reports that Canada is pressing South Korea and Germany, both competing for a 60 trillion won patrol submarine project known as CPSO, to present a “private investment package.” Public sentiment cooled further after reports said Canada is seeking an auto manufacturing plant — a project tied to advanced technology, large-scale investment and major job creation. Critics say it is hard to accept an arms tender in which submarine performance counts for 20% of the evaluation while expected economic spillover accounts for 80%. Many observers argue that a package deal that effectively hands over industrial infrastructure would become a burden future generations must repay. Much of the public support has instead gone to Hyundai Motor Group, which has been drawn into the submarine bid, with calls not to load excessive responsibility onto a private company. For Hyundai, Canada also revives the painful memory of the “Bromont nightmare” from 30 years ago. The company once built a plant in Bromont, Quebec, hoping to establish a North American foothold, but withdrew early in 1996, just four years after opening. The exit followed weak Sonata sales, parts procurement problems, productivity averaging 30% to 40%, and repeated labor disputes. Hyundai suffered a major loss, failing to recover an investment of 320 million Canadian dollars (3.5 billion won at the time). It was Hyundai’s first failed overseas investment. Hyundai Chairman Chung Euisun said last year at the completion of a plant in Ellabell, Georgia, that the company would “put down roots” there. Once a factory is built, it ties a company’s fate to that place. Closing a plant is more than dismantling equipment; it means unwinding jobs, supplier networks and brand trust — a long, costly process. That is why being asked to plant a flag again in a place associated with withdrawal can be a burden beyond the numbers. With electrification reshaping the industry, a misstep can affect decades of planning. Canada offers attractive cards in batteries and green policies, but it also sits on a complicated North American supply-chain chessboard where a single move can be decisive. The dilemma for an owner begins with the fact that governments and companies speak different languages. For a government, submarine exports can be leverage to strengthen alliances, and it cannot ignore what an auto plant might deliver in bargaining power. A company’s calculus is different. As the industry hits an inflection point in electrification, global automakers are locked in massive investment competition in batteries, software and autonomous driving. For Hyundai, which already has a dense North American production network centered on the U.S. South and Mexico, building a new plant in Canada would require weighing countless variables, including how to divide roles with existing sites, logistics costs, labor conditions and tax incentives. An auto plant is also a message from an owner: where to put down roots is a declaration of where to bet on the future. The key is the terms. If a government wants to talk about being “one team” with business, it must offer an industrial foundation that companies can accept, not appeals to patriotism. That means a comprehensive plan — tax support, power-price agreements, infrastructure, labor flexibility and management of diplomatic risk. A factory does not run on slogans. Companies move when “investment under pressure” becomes “expansion through a deal.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 18:03:24 -
India Emerges as Next EV Battleground as Hyundai, Mahindra Step Up Investment India is rapidly emerging as the next major battleground for electric vehicles, driven by rising incomes and government-led policies to accelerate the shift to EVs. Global automakers are moving in, and Hyundai Motor is speeding up plans to expand its EV lineup as Indian companies prepare large investments to defend their home market. According to foreign media reports on Wednesday, Indian automaker Mahindra said it will invest US$1.65 billion (about 2.3 trillion won) over the next 10 years in Maharashtra state to expand manufacturing. A new plant set to begin production in 2028 will build internal-combustion vehicles as well as EVs and next-generation platforms. Mahindra is a leading Indian brand competing with Hyundai and Tata Motors for the No. 2 spot in the market. It sold 625,603 vehicles last year, up 18.4% from a year earlier, ranking second. In EVs, its sales surged 481% to 61,172 vehicles, narrowing the gap with market leader Tata, which sold 78,672. India’s total EV sales reached 198,881 last year, up 85.9% from the previous year. The Indian government aims to make EVs 30% of total vehicle sales by 2030 and is expanding charging infrastructure, with a plan to increase public chargers from 12,000 as of last year to more than 30,000 by 2027. As the market grows around domestic brands, global companies including Tesla are also joining the competition. Hyundai and Kia are seeking to expand share with SUV- and small-car-based EVs. Their EV sales in India were 786 and 292 vehicles, respectively, in 2024, but rose sharply last year to 8,291 and 4,111. Hyundai, which pursued a push to become an “Indian national brand” through a 2024 initial public offering, has said it will further strengthen transparency at its Indian unit and invest in new products, future advanced technologies and research and development, while developing India as a strategic export hub. Hyundai plans to invest 450 billion rupees (about 7.3 trillion won) in India by 2030 and is expected to launch six EV models by 2028. Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz has said, “India is a strategic priority in Hyundai’s global growth vision,” adding it will become Hyundai’s second-largest market by 2030. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung visited Hyundai and Kia plants last month and reaffirmed a strategy to strengthen the group’s position through a 1.5 million-vehicle production system, a flexible product lineup tailored to the market and building an electrification ecosystem. India’s overall vehicle sales totaled 4,565,098 last year, up 5.7% from the previous year. Over that period, Hyundai’s sales fell 5.5% to 571,878, dropping to fourth place. Kia sold 280,286 vehicles, up 14.4%, for a market share in the 6% range.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 18:03:00 -
Rookie Band AxMxP Win Two Awards at the 2nd D Awards Rookie boy band AxMxP won two honors at its first awards show since debut. The group attended the second D Awards (D AWARDS with upick) on Feb. 11 at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul’s Seongbuk District, taking home the D Awards Discovery of the Year and the D Awards Remark awards. In their acceptance speech, the members said, “Thank you for giving us this meaningful award,” adding, “We sincerely thank our fandom, DX, for always being our engine. Starting with this award, we’ll work even harder as AxMxP.” AxMxP also performed “PASS,” the title track from its recently released first mini album, delivering a specially rearranged version with a hard rock sound, live band playing and a headbanging performance. The group later teamed up with Choi Rip Woo for a special collaboration stage of “SEE YOU LATER,” an original soundtrack song from the drama “Spring of the Four Seasons.” AxMxP debuted in September last year and have continued promotions with their first mini album, “Amplify My Way.” The album topped 80,000 copies in first-week sales, a personal best, and ranked No. 1 on Hanteo Chart’s weekly album chart for the fifth week of January (Jan. 26-Feb. 1). The music videos for double title tracks “PASS” and “Thereafter” placed No. 4 and No. 15, respectively, on YouTube Music’s weekly trending music video chart (Jan. 30-Feb. 5). AxMxP are scheduled to appear on Feb. 21 at the 2026 JOY Concert - Voice of Spring and to hold a Rolling Hall 31st anniversary show, “DO IT MY WAY,” on March 7. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 17:51:00 -
Semiconductor-themed expo underway in southern Seoul with nearly 2,500 booths SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Nearly 2,500 booths are displaying various semiconductor materials and related equipment at an expo which kicked off at COEX in southern Seoul earlier this week. Organized by the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), the three-day expo, dubbed SEMICON Korea runs until Friday, providing an opportunity to share the latest technologies and market trends. This year's expo is the largest ever, bringing about 550 domestic and global companies including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, NVIDIA, and Intel. 2026-02-12 17:48:15 -
My Friend Seoul gallery opens at City Hall SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Seoul's City Hall underground space, which underwent renovation last year, has completed its full transformation and reopened as a space showcasing Seoul's charm and identity to the world. Seoul city opened the Seoul Gallery, a complex cultural space where visitors can explore the city's competitiveness, future vision, and major policies, on Feb. 5.The Seoul Gallery features a city promotion exhibition hall utilizing cutting-edge media technology (My Friend Seoul Halls 1 & 2) and spaces where visitors can experience major city policies and relax. My Friend Seoul Hall 1 was designed to embody Seoul's urban space philosophy, allowing visitors to see and experience the changing future of Seoul and its core projects firsthand. It offers various attractions including Play Hangang, an interactive media installation that responds to visitors' movements, the Multimedia Future Seoul Show screening different themes every 15 minutes, and city models. Hall 2 features a large 2-meter spherical media display in the shape of Earth, presenting diverse information about today's planet and global landscapes. 2026-02-12 17:42:08 -
KOSPI lands above another 5,500 milestone SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) —South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI towered over regional peers on Thursday, setting a fresh record above the 5,500 mark on strong foreign and institutional buying. The benchmark index rose 3.1 percent to close at 5,522.3, up 167.8 points on the session. Foreign investors bought a net 3.0013 trillion won ($2.08 billion), while institutions added 1.3668 trillion won. Retail investors sold 4.4474 trillion won, locking in gains after the recent rally. Large-cap technology shares led the advance. Samsung Electronics jumped 6.4 percent to 178,600 won after announcing shipments of its HBM4 memory chips, with performance said to exceed industry standards. Woori Technology rose 10.3 percent to 13,620 won, while POSCO DX gained 9.4 percent to 41,150 won amid renewed attention on automation and robotics themes ahead of the “AW 2026” smart factory and automation exhibition, which will feature major Chinese technology brands. Hyundai ADM Bio surged 30 percent to 5,680 won following research updates related to drug-delivery mechanisms in cancer treatment. Among decliners, Hyundai Motor fell 0.6 percent to 506,000 won, LG Electronics dropped 5.1 percent to 121,400 won after the previous session’s sharp gains, and Kakao edged down 0.2 percent to 58,800 won. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ rose 3.5 percent to 816.3, up 27.5 points. On the secondary board, foreigners sold a net 105 billion won, while institutions and retail investors bought 69.1 billion won and 85.6 billion won, respectively. The Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar, closing at 1,441.4 per dollar, up 6.6 won, or 0.5 percent. The dollar index stood at 96.94, reflecting broader dollar softness. In the region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.02 percent to 57,639.8 after gaining a cumulative 3,832.5 points between Feb. 6 and Feb. 10 ahead of the general election. China’s Shanghai Composite closed at 4,134.02, extending its advance, with the index up 68.4 points over the past four sessions since Feb. 9. 2026-02-12 17:36:54 -
ZEROBASEONE to Continue as 5-Member Group; Four Members to Pursue Solo Activities ZEROBASEONE, the group formed through Mnet’s audition show “Boys Planet,” will continue team activities as a five-member act. Agency WakeOne said Feb. 12 that members Sung Han Bin, Kim Ji Woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae Rae and Park Gun Wook “decided to begin a new season as ZEROBASEONE” based on mutual trust. WakeOne said the decision followed sufficient discussions between the members and their respective agencies. Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyu Vin and Han Yu Jin, who are with YH Entertainment, will wrap up the group’s set project period and move into independent activities. The group will perform as nine members through a concert next month at KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Olympic Park before the four go their separate ways. WakeOne said it will fully support the five-member lineup and continue communicating so all members can keep growing as partners. ZEROBASEONE debuted in 2023 as a nine-member project group and have logged six consecutive million-seller releases. The group were originally set for a 2 1/2-year run, with their activities scheduled to end in January next year, drawing attention to whether contracts would be extended. In December, all nine members agreed to extend activities for about two months, including a new release in February and a Seoul encore concert in March. Under the new plan, ZEROBASEONE will continue as five after the March concert. WakeOne said all nine members will still take the stage together for the previously announced “2026 ZEROBASEONE WORLD TOUR ENCORE” shows.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 17:33:26 -
Practice makes perfect ahead of Seollal SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Bowing to elders and tossing wooden sticks across a board game mat, children are rehearsing the rituals of Seollal before the holiday even begins. Across South Korea, traditional Lunar New Year experience programs are underway ahead of Seollal, offering young participants the chance to prelearn customs that once passed naturally from one generation to the next. With the nation’s biggest holiday set for next week, cultural centers and heritage venues in cities including Seoul are hosting hands-on sessions focused on etiquette, attire and play. Dressed in hanbok, Korea’s traditional clothing, children practice sebae — the formal New Year’s bow offered to elders. Instructors guide them through posture and phrasing, explaining that the gesture symbolizes respect and the wish for blessings in the year ahead. They also gather around boards to play yutnori, a folk game traditionally enjoyed during Seollal. Throwing the four wooden sticks and moving their markers across the board, participants experience the festive atmosphere that typically fills family homes during the holiday. Seollal, observed on the first day of the lunar calendar, marks the symbolic start of the year. Families reunite, perform ancestral rites, share traditional meals and exchange well-wishes for health and prosperity. For many children, these workshops serve as a quiet rehearsal — ensuring that when the real holiday arrives, the bow feels natural, the game familiar and the meaning understood. 2026-02-12 17:28:56 -
HYBE posts record 2025 revenue of 2.65 trillion won, eyes boost from BTS return HYBE posted its highest annual revenue since its founding, with sales up about 18% from a year earlier. The company said its “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy aimed at global markets and strong growth in concert revenue drove the expansion. Operating profit fell year over year as HYBE reflected costs tied to upfront investment for mid- to long-term growth and changes to its profit structure. On a consolidated basis, HYBE’s 2025 revenue totaled 2.6499 trillion won, led by performance results. HYBE held 279 global events last year — 250 concerts and 29 fan meetings — generating 763.9 billion won in performance revenue, up about 69% from the prior year. HYBE said the momentum helped it climb five spots to No. 4 worldwide in Billboard’s “Top Promoter” category in the “2025 Boxscore Year-End Report,” placing it among the “big four.” Of the four K-pop acts listed in Billboard’s “2025 Top Tours,” three — j-hope, Seventeen and Enhypen — were HYBE Music Group artists, the company said. Despite a broader adjustment in the album market, HYBE said it maintained its influence in 2025. On the annual Circle Chart, cumulative sales were about 19.6 million albums, with an estimated market share of about 30%. HYBE Music Group artists logged a combined 3.7 billion streams, and their share on the “Global Spotify 200” was 3%. Digital music accounted for about 37% of HYBE’s total recorded-music revenue in 2025. Weverse, HYBE’s global superfans platform, turned profitable for the year after restructuring its revenue model and improving operating efficiency. HYBE said results were supported by adding more artists, upgrading e-commerce operations and expanding digital businesses. The company expects further improvement this year as BTS resume group activities and as e-commerce and digital businesses grow. HYBE’s 2025 consolidated operating profit was 49.9 billion won, down about 73% from a year earlier. The decline reflected early-stage investment tied to new artist debuts and one-time costs from business restructuring. HYBE cited debuts by multiple artists, including Japan’s aoen, South Korea’s CORTIS and Latin act SANTOS BRAVOS, which concentrated initial costs. HYBE said aoen’s debut single “The Blue Sun_” topped Oricon’s daily chart, CORTIS became a million-seller in its first year, and SANTOS BRAVOS sold out a 10,000-seat debut concert, with 70,000 people watching online. HYBE also reflected one-time costs tied to operational efficiency efforts. In North America, it is reorganizing to reduce volatility from a management-centered structure and shift toward a label-centered IP business model. After a conservative review of asset values aligned with the new structure, HYBE recognized about 200 billion won in impairment losses in nonoperating profit and loss in the fourth quarter, including in its management business. The company said the loss is an accounting item with no cash outflow. HYBE said the move was intended to improve accounting transparency and predictability, and that given HYBE America’s strengthened fundamentals, the risk of additional large write-downs appears limited. HYBE expects the effects of these steps to translate into a meaningful rise in profitability starting this year. HYBE pointed to the global impact of its label-centered model through the example of KATSEYE. As of the fourth quarter of last year, KATSEYE surpassed 36 million monthly listeners on Spotify, HYBE said, the highest figure among girl groups worldwide. The title track “Gabriela” has charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for 28 consecutive weeks, and the group recently placed two songs in the top 30 at the same time — a first for a girl group since Destiny’s Child, HYBE said. Its first solo tour, “The Beautiful Chaos Tour,” sold out all dates, and per-capita spending on tour merchandise exceeded that of existing pop artists, the company said. HYBE said it plans to expand its influence in the global music market this year. BTS are set to release their fifth full-length album, “Arirang,” on March 20. The group’s first full-member album in about four years will be followed by HYBE’s largest world tour to date, the company said. A schedule has been confirmed for 82 shows in 34 cities worldwide — the largest ever for a single K-pop artist tour — with additional dates in Japan and the Middle East to be announced later. In South Korea, a new girl group is scheduled to debut this year. In North America, HYBE plans to launch a follow-up global girl group based on KATSEYE’s formula. It is also accelerating preparations for a local boy group project in collaboration with multi-platinum producer Ryan Tedder, a four-time Grammy Award winner. HYBE said it will also introduce new IP combining storytelling and music through the Alan’s Universe project, which has 100 million YouTube subscribers, and plans to run projects tailored to local culture in India. HYBE also unveiled a new three-year shareholder return plan. It said it will introduce a “minimum dividend” guaranteeing at least 500 won per share, which it described as a first for a K-content company. HYBE will also change its dividend benchmark from net profit to consolidated free cash flow to better reflect cash generation and reduce volatility from noncash gains and losses. Under the new standard, HYBE plans to use up to 30% of free cash flow as return resources from 2025 through 2027.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-12 17:27:46