Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Pitcher Erick Fedde Agrees to One-Year Deal to Return to Chicago White Sox Former KBO MVP pitcher Erick Fedde is set to return to the Chicago White Sox. MLB.com, citing sources, reported on Monday that the White Sox have agreed to a one-year contract with the right-hander. The team has not announced the deal, but only a physical remains, the report said. Fedde starred for the NC Dinos in 2023, going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts to win the regular-season MVP and the pitching Golden Glove. He returned to the majors in 2024 after signing a two-year, $15 million deal with the White Sox. He made 31 appearances that season and went 9-9 with a 3.30 ERA. Last year, he struggled after stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers, going 4-12 with a 5.76 ERA in 32 games. After moving to the bullpen in Milwaukee, he rebounded with a 3.38 ERA over seven outings, pitching 16 innings. MLB.com said Fedde’s sweeper and changeup remain effective, noting opponents are hitting just .191 against his sweeper. 2026-02-10 10:18:00 -
Korean firms post strong sales growth in North America despite US tariffs SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Major South Korean companies recorded double-digit growth in North American sales last year despite higher U.S. tariffs, with technology and power equipment firms leading gains, according to corporate data released on Monday. North American revenue at 67 South Korean companies that separately disclose sales results in the region, along with 194 subsidiaries, reached 343.8 trillion won as of the third quarter of last year, up 14.1 percent from 301.2 trillion won a year earlier, according to corporate tracker Leaders Index. The increase outpaced overall revenue growth of 8 percent over the same period, with total sales rising to 1,110.5 trillion won. As a result, North America’s share of total revenue climbed to 31 percent from 29.3 percent a year earlier. Technology and electronics companies recorded the strongest expansion, with North American sales rising 20.7 percent to 157.9 trillion won. Memory chipmaker SK hynix posted a 65.5 percent jump in regional sales to 45.2 trillion won, lifting North America’s share of its total revenue to more than 70 percent. Samsung Electronics reported a 10.2 percent increase in North American sales to 93.3 trillion won, while LG Electronics recorded a slight 0.3 percent decline to 16.9 trillion won. Power equipment makers also benefited from rising electricity demand linked to artificial intelligence data centers and grid expansion. Hyosung Heavy Industries and LS Electric posted North American sales growth of 52.9 percent and 84.8 percent, respectively. In contrast, growth was muted in the automotive sector, where tariffs have weighed on trade flows. Combined North American sales rose marginally to 126.6 trillion won from 126.3 trillion won, while the region’s share of total auto revenue fell to 39.3 percent from 43.6 percent. Hyundai Motor’s North American sales increased to 62.2 trillion won from 57.4 trillion won, while Kia’s rose to 38.2 trillion won from 35.6 trillion won. The battery sector saw declining sales in the region. Samsung SDI’s North American revenue dropped more than 40 percent to 2.46 trillion won, while POSCO Future M recorded a 27.6 percent decline to 782.3 billion won. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-10 10:01:56 -
Innocean Highlights Purpose-Driven Travel Spots Featured in Global Ad Shoots Innocean said Tuesday it is recommending “purpose-driven travel” as a key trend ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday and is sharing global destinations it encountered while filming advertising campaigns. According to Innocean’s Data Insight Team, travel is shifting away from simply checking off famous attractions toward experience-based trips that reflect personal tastes and values. The team said travelers are increasingly looking for “great moments” that inspire them, rather than trips focused only on rest or escape. Innocean organized major destinations used in its global campaigns by travel purpose and introduced several locations chosen by advertising professionals. For travelers who want to experience local atmosphere and everyday life beyond major tourist sites, Innocean pointed to Bari and Matera in southern Italy, as well as Cheongnamdae in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Bari, a port city, and Matera, known for its cave dwellings, were filming locations for Trip.com’s “Trip Wherever, Worry-Free” campaign. Innocean said the settings preserve local daily life rather than showcasing flashy attractions, and the campaign emphasized that “the essence of travel is ultimately the experience between people.” Cheongnamdae, a key location for the Genesis GV70 “Luxe in Every Touch” campaign, was once a major national facility but has since been reborn as a space shaped by nature and time, Innocean said. Instead of man-made landmarks, forests and scenery formed over the years create its distinctive mood, and Genesis used the site to present a new meaning of luxury as “depth created by time.” For travelers seeking to sharpen their senses in nature, Innocean named Tromso, Norway. Located in the Arctic Circle, Tromso offers views of the aurora amid long darkness and severe cold, creating striking contrasts of light, it said. Innocean said its Genesis GV60 “Take Your Wonder Further” campaign filmed there conveyed that extreme conditions can produce powerful emotion. For those looking for a new experience created by contrasting elements, Innocean recommended Hyundai Motor Group’s Singapore Global Innovation Center, known as HMGICS, and Na Oh, a restaurant inside the center created in collaboration with Michelin three-star chef Corey Lee. Innocean described HMGICS as a space where an auto production facility, a large farm and a restaurant coexist, blending robotics and nature, industry and dining. It said the process of ingredients grown by robots becoming dishes shows a new lifestyle shaped by evolving technology. An Innocean official said the company often found greater inspiration at filming locations while searching for sites for ad production. The official encouraged people to visit the destinations introduced and “make 2026 even more diverse.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 09:54:00 -
Hanwha Aerospace, KAI to jointly develop weapons for South Korean aircraft Hanwha Aerospace and Korea Aerospace Industries, known as KAI, said they will work together to develop a domestically produced long-range air-to-air missile for installation on South Korean aircraft. The companies also plan joint marketing to expand exports of South Korean aircraft and air-launched weapons. Hanwha Aerospace said Tuesday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with KAI on Monday (local time) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the third World Defense Show. The agreement covers cooperation on aircraft-weapons business projects. Under the MOU, the companies will cooperate on systems integration of air-launched weapons for the KF-21 and FA-50 fighter platforms and pursue joint marketing aimed at exporting aircraft and aircraft weapons. They said they plan to carry out aircraft-weapons development projects led by the Agency for Defense Development to secure technology at a global top-tier level. Hanwha Aerospace said it is conducting preliminary research, overseen by the Agency for Defense Development, on advanced weapons including long-range air-to-air missiles and supersonic air-to-ground and air-to-ship missiles based on ducted solid-ramjet engines. KAI CEO Cha Jae Byung said that as confidence in South Korea’s defense technology has grown, overseas customers have recently been asking for Korean-made packages covering not only aircraft platforms but also broader operating systems. He said domestic defense companies will join forces through joint marketing to expand exports. Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae Il said he is confident the company can meet its goals for developing domestically produced aircraft weapons by combining Hanwha’s experience in missile development — including air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air programs — with KAI’s capabilities in fighter integration.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 09:45:00 -
LG Display accelerates shift to OLED with sale of LCD business in Nanjing, China SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - LG Display said on Monday it will sell its automotive liquid crystal display (LCD) module business in Nanjing, China, as the company accelerates its transition toward higher-margin organic light-emitting diode (OLED) segment. In a regulatory filing, the company said it signed a contract to sell the business to the Nanjing unit of Toprun Total Solution for 491.5 million yuan ($68 million), with the transaction scheduled to close on July 30. LG Display’s Nanjing subsidiary currently operates both IT and automotive LCD module operations, but only the automotive LCD business will be carved out and transferred under the agreement. Following the sale, automotive LCD module production will shift from in-house manufacturing to outsourced operations to improve efficiency and reduce fixed costs. The move forms part of LG Display’s broader restructuring aimed at strengthening a business portfolio centered on OLED displays, which command higher margins and are increasingly used in premium televisions, mobile devices and automotive applications. The company said streamlining LCD operations would allow more flexible production aligned with customer demand and market conditions while easing cost pressures and improving competitiveness. LG Display has been steadily exiting or downsizing LCD operations as it pivots to OLED. Last April, the company completed the sale of its Guangzhou LCD plant in China. An LG Display official described the latest transfer as a strategic move to concentrate resources on high value-added technologies. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-10 09:42:25 -
Seoul 2027 World Youth Day revamps official website with six-language support The organizing committee for Seoul 2027 World Youth Day said Monday it has fully revamped the event’s official website to support six official languages: Korean, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian. The update focused on improving accessibility and readability so young people and other stakeholders worldwide can find information more easily and consistently. The committee said the expanded language support strengthens the event’s standing as a global gathering. The website also applies newly updated brand guidelines across its pages, reflecting standards for the logo, color system and typography to deliver a unified design and message on every screen. The committee said it has recently refined the “Seoul 2027 World Youth Day Brand Guide” and is using it as an internal standard across official promotional channels. The guide is shared internally with those directly involved in operations and promotion, including the committee, dioceses and volunteers, and is not released publicly. Instead, the committee said it selectively provides only necessary logo files through the official website to prevent indiscriminate use and maintain a consistent visual identity across promotional materials. Choi Sang Hun, a priest in the organizing committee’s communications department, said the website revamp and brand-guide update are “the starting point for change” to take promotion of Seoul 2027 World Youth Day to the next level. “Based on an enhanced brand identity, we will deliver a consistent message to young people around the world and further strengthen international communication,” he said. The official website will continue to update news, key schedules and materials, the committee said, serving as a channel for communication with young people worldwide.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 09:33:00 -
Béjart Ballet Lausanne Returns to Seoul After 25 Years; Kim Ki-min Joins ‘Bolero’ Béjart Ballet Lausanne (BBL), a landmark company in contemporary ballet, will return to Seoul after 25 years. Founded by choreographer Maurice Béjart, BBL is known for an innovative, highly expressive style that has helped shape global dance. The company has continued to carry forward Béjart’s artistic legacy since his death in 2007 while maintaining top-level performance standards. The visit will be BBL’s first in South Korea in 15 years since a 2011 performance in Daejeon, and its first Seoul engagement since 2001. The program includes Béjart classics ‘Bolero’ and ‘The Firebird,’ along with Asia premieres of ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Bye Bye Baby Blackbird.’ A key highlight will be the participation of Kim Ki-min, a principal dancer with Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet and the first Asian to hold that rank at the company. He has won the Benois de la Danse award for best male dancer and will appear in two performances as the lead in Béjart’s ‘Bolero.’ The engagement will be Kim’s first domestic performance of the year and marks the first time a Korean dancer has taken the lead in ‘Bolero’ with BBL. “I’m grateful and excited to be on stage with Béjart Ballet Lausanne,” Kim said. “I will do my best to show the best performance to the audience who has been waiting.” The performances run April 23-26 at GS Arts Center in Seoul. Tickets go on sale at 2 p.m. Feb. 11 through NOL Ticket and GS Arts Center. 2026-02-10 09:27:00 -
Hyosung Heavy wins $538 million power equipment deal in US SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyosung Heavy Industries said on Monday it had secured its largest order to date in the United States. The company signed a contract worth about 787 billion won ($538 million) with a major U.S. transmission grid operator to supply 765-kilovolt ultra-high-voltage transformers, reactors and related equipment. It described the deal as the largest single U.S. project ever won by a South Korean power-equipment manufacturer. Hyosung Heavy said it was also the first South Korean company last year to secure a U.S. order covering a full package of ultra-high-voltage equipment, including 765-kV transformers and 800-kV circuit breakers. U.S. electricity demand is expected to grow roughly 25 percent over the next decade, driven by rapid construction of artificial intelligence data centers and increased adoption of electric vehicles, the company said. Utilities are accelerating investment in 765-kV transmission networks, which enable large volumes of electricity to be transmitted over long distances with lower losses compared with 345-kV and 500-kV systems. Hyosung Heavy said it has supplied about half of the 765-kV transformers installed across U.S. transmission networks and has held the top market share in that segment since the 2010s. Its capability to produce equipment including 800-kV circuit breakers positions the firm as a comprehensive supplier for U.S. ultra-high-voltage projects, it added. Hyosung Heavy established its U.S. subsidiary in 2001 and became the first South Korean company to export a 765-kV transformer to the United States in 2010. Since 2020, it has operated a transformer manufacturing plant in Memphis, Tennessee, which the company said is currently the only U.S. facility capable of designing and producing 765-kV transformers. “With the spread of AI and data centers, power infrastructure has become a core industry directly tied to national security,” Chairman Cho Hyun-joon said in a press release. “Based on our Memphis production base and ultra-high-voltage technology, we aim to become an indispensable partner in stabilizing the U.S. power grid.” In 2020, Hyosung Heavy decided to acquire a Tennessee-based ultra-high-voltage transformer facility and invest a total of $300 million to expand capacity. Once expansion is completed, the Memphis plant is expected to have the largest production capacity of its kind in the United States. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-10 09:25:40 -
Lim Young Woong’s 2025 Seoul Tour Concert VOD to Stream Exclusively on TVING Singer Lim Young Woong’s Seoul concert will be available to watch from home. A VOD of his 2025 national tour concert, “I’m Hero (IM HERO),” filmed at the Seoul stop, will be released exclusively on TVING starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13. The video captures the show held Nov. 30, 2025, at KSPO DOME. Lim opened with “Wonderful Life” and performed a set list spanning hit songs and tracks from his second full-length album. The concert also featured stage production and official light sticks that changed color by song, along with performances and moments available only at the live show. He also interacted with fans through “Hero Singing Contest,” a segment in which he took requests on the spot. Audience sing-alongs and responses helped drive the atmosphere. The VOD includes multi-angle camerawork and live sound, aiming to recreate the concert experience for viewers and bring back memories for those who attended. Lim is also set to hold “2026 I’m Hero Concert: The Stadium 2 (2026 IM HERO CONCERT : THE STADIUM 2)” in September.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-10 09:24:00 -
Explosion ignites fire at oil storage facility in Gyeongsan SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - An explosion at an oil storage facility in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, sparked a fire in the southeastern city on Tuesday. According to police authorities, the fire started around 8 a.m. when an explosion occurred at the outdoor facility of Daehan Oil Pipeline Corp. With only smoke currently visible, the flames have subsided. No casualties were immediately reported. 2026-02-10 09:20:13