Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • South Korea’s Democrats Reject U.S. House GOP Letter Urging End to Coupang ‘Discrimination’
    South Korea’s Democrats Reject U.S. House GOP Letter Urging End to Coupang ‘Discrimination’ South Korea’s Democratic Party said U.S. House Republicans were wrong to urge Seoul to stop what they called discrimination against Coupang, arguing that investigating companies suspected of breaking Korean law is a sovereign right. Han Jeong-ae, the party’s policy chief, said at a party meeting at the National Assembly on April 28 that the letter’s argument effectively implies U.S. companies should face looser standards abroad than in the United States. “They invoke the rule of law and sovereignty, yet at the same time make demands that directly violate those principles. It is logically inconsistent,” Han said. She added that protecting citizens’ personal information and investigating and probing alleged legal violations are “the legitimate right of a sovereign state.” Rep. Lee Yong-woo said authorities are considering sanctions against Coupang over alleged violations of multiple Korean laws, including the Personal Information Protection Act, the Fair Trade Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. “If they argue Coupang should be exempt from legal sanctions simply because it is a U.S. company, that is not fair and amounts to demanding preferential treatment,” Lee said. He also said the group letter from Republican lawmakers “undermines mutual trust and respect between allies,” adding that he “strongly regrets” it. The Democratic Party said it plans to send its own protest letter to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, led by Rep. Park Hong-bae. “I don’t know what kind of falsehoods Coupang is telling in the United States that leads to interference in another country’s judicial matters,” Park said. “What happens in the Republic of Korea must be resolved under Korea’s laws and procedures.” He said lawmakers came together across factions and parties to defend the rule of law and sovereignty. Park warned that if U.S. political demands are accepted, it could set a precedent for multinational companies to use diplomatic pressure to intervene in domestic judicial procedures. “Korea’s judicial sovereignty is not a subject for negotiation,” he said, adding that he and 90 lawmakers “will not back down” from what he called an unjust demand.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:48:46
  • Hyundai Card Launches 3 New Check Cards, Including Apple Pay Rewards Option
    Hyundai Card Launches 3 New Check Cards, Including Apple Pay Rewards Option Hyundai Card said on 28일 it is rolling out three new “Hyundai Card Check” products: a points option, a cashback option and an Apple Pay rewards card. The Apple Pay rewards card is the company’s first product introduced since Apple Pay launched in 2023. It offers 10% cashback on purchases made via Apple Pay at merchants in South Korea and overseas. As a check card, it can also be issued to teenagers who want to use Apple Pay. Apple Pay can be used not only on iPhones but also on Apple Watch, Mac and iPad. T-money registered in Apple Pay can also be topped up using a Hyundai Card. The points option earns unlimited M Points worth 0.5% of spending at all merchants in South Korea and abroad. The earn rate rises to 5% at frequently used categories such as dining, delivery, convenience stores and public transportation, including restaurants, delivery apps such as Baedal Minjok, Coupang Eats and Yogiyo; convenience store chains including CU, GS25, 7-Eleven and Emart24; and city buses and subways. The cashback option provides unlimited cashback of 0.3% of spending, and 3% cashback in the same dining, delivery, convenience store and public transportation categories. Hyundai Card also introduced three “Hyundai Card Hybrid Card” products — points, cashback and Apple Pay rewards — combining check and credit functions. The card works like a check card, but automatically switches to credit when the linked account balance runs out. Annual fees and benefits are the same as the check cards.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:45:16
  • KG Mobility to Add Union Representative to Board Under New Participation Director System
    KG Mobility to Add Union Representative to Board Under New Participation Director System KG Mobility, or KGM, said on the 29th it will implement a “participation director system,” becoming the first automaker to have a labor union join the board as an employee representative. The system formalizes a role for the union in the board of directors — the company’s top decision-making body — allowing it to present views on major management issues and during decision-making. KGM said the move was pursued after Chairman Kwak Jae-seon proposed reviewing the idea at a year-end meeting last December with KG Group affiliate unions and an employee council. The company said it will begin full implementation after practical talks with the union on details, including who will attend board meetings. At the company’s third board meeting on the 24th, union chairman Noh Cheol attended as a “participation director.” “By joining the board, we can address information asymmetry between labor and management by gaining access to management information,” Noh said. He added that reflecting voices from the shop floor in management decisions is expected to help build trust and expand communication. KGM said it plans to develop the initiative beyond a traditional labor-management relationship into a shared management partnership. CEO Hwang Ki-young said the system is an advanced governance model that moves away from a management-centered decision structure and enables all employees to take part in management to achieve a shared goal. He said the company will strengthen communication with stakeholders and boost global competitiveness through transparent and responsible management. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:42:16
  • SK Hynix Hits Record High Above 1.32 Million Won Despite Rating Cut
    SK Hynix Hits Record High Above 1.32 Million Won Despite Rating Cut SK Hynix climbed above 1.32 million won in intraday trading, setting another record high as expectations for stronger demand tied to artificial intelligence chips continued to lift the stock. According to the Korea Exchange, SK Hynix was trading at 1,325,000 won as of 10:27 a.m. on April 28, up 33,000 won, or 2.55%, from the previous session. The shares pushed past the 1.32 million-won level during the session, marking a fresh all-time high. Analysts cite rising expectations for higher demand for high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, driven by increased investment in AI servers. With global big tech companies led by Nvidia continuing to expand AI infrastructure spending, investors have been pricing in potential gains for SK Hynix in the HBM market. A recovery in the memory market has also supported sentiment, with rebounds in DRAM and NAND prices and a growing share of higher value-added products fueling expectations for improved results. Still, some warn the sharp run-up may be stretching valuations. BNK Investment & Securities on the previous day cut its rating on SK Hynix to “hold” from “buy” while keeping its target price at 1.3 million won, citing valuation pressure after the recent surge and the possibility that earnings momentum could slow in the second half. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:39:28
  • White House Unveils Beehive Shaped Like Its Mansion as King Charles III Visits Washington
    White House Unveils Beehive Shaped Like Its Mansion as King Charles III Visits Washington As Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington on April 27 (local time) for a state visit, the U.S. and British governments rolled out a series of soft-power gestures highlighting the closeness of the two allies, despite friction over issues including the Iran war. One of the most eye-catching moves came from the White House, which last week installed a new beehive built as a miniature of the White House mansion. In a social media post on April 24, the White House said the hive was made by a local artisan and that two additional colonies would be added to the two already on site. Beekeeping at the White House began during President Barack Obama’s administration. The New York Times reported that the Obama White House kept up to 70,000 bees in summer and produced 225 pounds (102 kilograms) of honey a year. The new White House-shaped hive, led by first lady Melania Trump, is expected to produce even more honey. The White House-themed hive also reflects the British royal family’s long-standing interest in beekeeping. Charles operates four apiaries at Buckingham Palace and at his residence, Clarence House. Honey produced there is sold, with proceeds used for charity. Camilla is a patron of “Bees for Development,” a civic group that supports bee ecosystems worldwide. Catherine, Princess of Wales, is also known to keep bees and harvest honey. Luxury magazine Town & Country reported that during President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain in September last year, Catherine brought sandwiches to an event encouraging local Scouts ages 4 to 5, and her honey was used. Meghan Markle, an actress and Charles’ second daughter-in-law, also has a private apiary in California, though she is no longer connected to the royal family. Britain also prepared symbolic touches. Upon arrival, Camilla wore a pink Dior coat dress and a brooch on her left chest showing the U.S. and British flags together. The brooch was a gift from then-New York City Mayor Robert Wagner to Queen Elizabeth II during her 1957 state visit to the United States. Fashion magazine Marie Claire reported it is set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds on a platinum base. The U.S. side also installed large numbers of British flags around the White House. After a White House welcome ceremony, photos and tea, the two leaders attended a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington later that afternoon. CNN reported the embassy served traditional British foods including Scottish smoked salmon, British roast beef, cucumber sandwiches and scones. In an interview with The Guardian, former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said, “Many Americans are proud of their roots and relationship” with Britain, adding that Americans have long felt affection for the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth, King Charles and Diana, the late Princess of Wales. Charles is scheduled to address members of the U.S. House and Senate on April 28. The New York Times reported he is expected to argue that Britain and the United States have differed at times but have always found a path to unity, emphasizing “reconciliation and a new start.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:37:12
  • Hansung Motor Adds Customer Experience Managers at 19 New-Car Showrooms
    Hansung Motor Adds Customer Experience Managers at 19 New-Car Showrooms Hansung Motor said April 28 it will introduce a new “Customer eXperience Manager,” or CXM, at its 19 new-car showrooms. Hansung Motor, an official Mercedes-Benz partner, said the move comes as Mercedes-Benz shifts to its new sales model, “Retail of the Future,” or RoF. The CXM will serve as each showroom’s top customer-experience lead, overseeing operations tied to customer service. The role will manage the full customer journey — from showroom visits and consultations to test drives, contracts and vehicle delivery. Hansung Motor said it is accelerating a shift in customer management from “sales-focused” to “experience-focused” under RoF. The company said it will more systematically manage customer touchpoints and raise the overall quality of the experience from consultation through delivery. To help ensure a consistently high level of service across all showrooms, Hansung Motor said it will manage sales processes to reduce delays and confusion and to improve consultation quality, response speed and process consistency. Along with the CXM role, the company said it will run an employee training program, the “STAR Guardian Program,” to strengthen customer-experience capabilities. The program is built around customer experience, brand value and process, and focuses on practical, on-site training to develop customer-experience specialists and set standardized execution guidelines to minimize service gaps among showrooms. Hansung Motor also said it will introduce a “Customer eXperience Assistant,” or CXA, to support customer service and showroom operations. The CXA will work with the CXM to maintain quality across the customer journey and strengthen on-the-ground execution. Kim Marco, CEO of Hansung Motor, said the new CXM and CXA roles are “a starting point for advancing the customer experience to a perfect level,” adding, “We will create a new standard for Hansung Motor’s customer journey.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:36:22
  • ABL Bio Shares Slide After Bile Duct Cancer Drug Misses Overall Survival Endpoint
    ABL Bio Shares Slide After Bile Duct Cancer Drug Misses Overall Survival Endpoint Shares of ABL Bio fell sharply early Tuesday after news that its subsidiary’s bile duct cancer drug candidate “tovecimig” failed to meet the overall survival (OS) endpoint in a Phase 2/3 trial. According to the Korea Exchange, ABL Bio was trading at 137,400 won as of 10:20 a.m., down 35,300 won, or 20.44%, from the previous session. The move followed an announcement by ABL Bio’s U.S. unit, Compass Therapeutics, which said on April 27 local time that it released trial results comparing a combination of tovecimig and the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel with monotherapy. Compass said the treatment group’s OS did not achieve statistical significance. The company said the outcome was affected because more than half of patients in the control group, 54%, switched to the study drug during treatment. Kim Min-jung, an analyst at DS Investment &u0026 Securities, wrote in a report Tuesday that when objective response rate (ORR) data were previously disclosed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked Compass Therapeutics to provide final median overall survival (mOS) data from the Phase 2/3 trial. “Because the requested mOS data failed to achieve statistical superiority, it will not be easy to obtain U.S. FDA approval,” Kim said. Kim added, however, that the impact on ABL Bio’s corporate value would be “very limited,” citing the small number of patients in the bile duct cancer market and a short median progression-free survival (mPFS) of about 4.7 months, which limits treatment duration and commercial potential. Meritz Securities analyst Kim Jun-young said that if the drug does not receive a review designation, the company’s projected possibility of a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) decision in the second half of 2027 would diminish, with a potential delay to the first half of 2028. He also said there is a possibility regulators could require additional confirmatory trials. Kim said tovecimig’s new-drug value is estimated at 178.9 billion won, limiting the overall impact, and added that key investment points remain intact, including the scalability of the BBB shuttle-based Grabody B platform and the potential for technology transfer of ABL111, which he said is producing positive clinical results. He said investors should watch for additional technology-transfer opportunities and momentum from ABL111 trials.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:35:35
  • Kolon Industries shares jump 15% on hopes of demand shift after SABIC outage
    Kolon Industries shares jump 15% on hopes of demand shift after SABIC outage Kolon Industries surged after reports that a competitor’s production facilities for modified polyphenylene oxide, or mPPO, had halted operations.  According to the Korea Exchange, Kolon Industries was trading at 103,500 won as of 10:23 a.m. on the 28th, up 13,500 won, or 15.00%, from the previous session. The stock rose as high as 104,900 won early in the session, setting a new one-year high. Foreign media reported the previous day that a polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin plant operated by Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC has been shut since early April following Iranian airstrikes. PPE resin is the key feedstock for modified PPE, or mPPO. SABIC is a major supplier, accounting for about 70% of global PPO resin production. With supply disrupted, prices for related materials have also jumped. PCB prices in April were reported to have risen by as much as 40% from the previous month. The outage has raised expectations that substitute demand could shift to Kolon Industries’ mPPO, a competing product. Cho Hyun-ryeol, an analyst at Samsung Securities, said the situation could push Kolon Industries’ new plant utilization higher than expected. He said SABIC’s share had been dominant in the mPPO market for artificial intelligence copper-clad laminate, or CCL, resins, and that multiple CCL makers may seek additional capacity as part of efforts to diversify supply chains. Kolon Industries’ mPPO capacity was equivalent to 80 billion won in annual sales as of last year, and is expected to rise to 160 billion won once its new Gimcheon Plant No. 2 is completed. The company expects mechanical completion of the Gimcheon facility by the end of the second quarter this year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:34:49
  • DL E&C Showcases AI-Driven Construction Data Platform at Palantir APAC Summit Korea 2026
    DL E&C Showcases AI-Driven Construction Data Platform at Palantir APAC Summit Korea 2026 DL E&C said it has presented an AI-based, data-driven model for improving the full construction process on a global stage, highlighting its technology capabilities. The company said it was the only South Korean builder invited to speak at Palantir Technologies’ “APAC Summit Korea 2026,” held April 23 at Paradise City in Incheon, where it shared cases of AI-based operational innovation in construction. The summit drew about 300 executives from major Asia-Pacific industries. DL E&C, the only presenter from the construction sector, outlined operational results using Palantir’s AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform). Palantir said DL E&C is “creating tangible results by combining data and AI” in an industry where digital transformation is difficult. DL E&C introduced Palantir’s data platform in 2022, the first among South Korean construction companies, and has since integrated data across planning, design, construction and maintenance, it said. Based on that foundation, it built 46 applications used in field operations and established companywide processes for using data. The company said it also structured extensive construction terminology and work knowledge, moving beyond data storage to a decision-focused platform. DL E&C described its core strength as a “flywheel” structure in which AI continuously improves: data generated at sites sharpens AI analysis, and the results are fed back into operations. Work-order data accumulated during construction is linked to planning and decision systems to share risks in similar projects in advance and reduce recurring problems, it said. The company said it is expanding these AI and data capabilities across cost, quality, safety and design, and speeding adoption in new projects using data gathered from about 200 sites. It said the technology is also expected to support key decisions in major redevelopment projects, including Apgujeong District 5 and Mokdong Complex 6, such as comparing design alternatives, predicting risks, and optimizing schedules and costs. Industry observers said the presentation suggests DL E&C’s AI-driven push is extending beyond internal efficiency toward global competitiveness, as long-accumulated construction data is being tied to business performance in a sector long shaped by experience and intuition. A DL E&C official said the combination of years of data and AI technology has pushed the flywheel into a phase of full acceleration starting this year, adding that the company aims to position itself as a leader in changing how the construction industry operates. Separately, the Korea Construction Industry Research Institute said DL E&C is using AI in areas including BIM design packages and drone-based crack detection systems. While South Korean builders are expanding the use of drones, image analysis and robots to improve site safety and quality, the institute noted concerns that the domestic industry still lacks sufficient data infrastructure for AI to learn and make judgments.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:34:12
  • Samsung to Add AI Graphics Tech ENSS to Exynos 2600 Mobile Chip
    Samsung to Add AI Graphics Tech ENSS to Exynos 2600 Mobile Chip Samsung Electronics said it will add an AI-based graphics optimization technology called ENSS (Exynos Neural Super Sampling) to its next-generation mobile application processor, the Exynos 2600, aiming to boost performance and power efficiency. The company said on the 28th that ENSS is software being applied to the Exynos 2600 for the first time, developed to meet increasingly demanding mobile graphics needs. It consists of NSS (Neural Super Sampling), which uses AI to reconstruct low-resolution images into higher-quality output, and NFG (Neural Frame Generation), which predicts and generates frames. Samsung said ENSS reduces the computing load needed for screen processing, improving power efficiency while delivering clear visuals without stutter even in complex scenes. Support will be rolled out sequentially depending on product and software conditions, it said. Samsung also said the Exynos 2600 is posting strong results on key performance indicators versus rivals. In Steel Nomad Lite, a 3D graphics benchmark measured by tech YouTubers, it showed about 15% higher performance than a competitor, the company said. In ray tracing, a lighting technique used for more realistic visuals, Samsung said the chip recorded standout results. It ranked No. 1 on Basemark Power Board, a platform that aggregates GPU benchmark results. In one benchmark test, it scored 2,064 points, about 59% ahead of a competitor, Samsung said. Samsung also outlined process innovation plans for the follow-up Exynos 2700. It said the Exynos 2700 will move away from a PoP (Package on Package) structure, which stacks DRAM on top of the mobile AP, and instead place the mobile AP and DRAM side by side on the same substrate. The company said the change is intended to further improve heat management, a key challenge for mobile devices.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 10:33:25