Journalist
Lee Hugh
=
-
SK Signs Two MOUs With Vietnam to Support AI Ecosystem and Infrastructure SK is moving to cooperate with Vietnam on building an AI industry ecosystem and core AI infrastructure. SK said April 24 that it signed two memorandums of understanding a day earlier in Hanoi at the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum — one with the government of Nghe An province and another with Vietnam’s National Innovation Center (NIC) — to support the creation of an AI ecosystem. The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Jung-kwan, South Korea’s minister of trade, industry and energy, and Ngo Van Tuan, Vietnam’s finance minister. SK participants included Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Choo Hyung-wook, CEO of SK Innovation; and Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom. Vietnamese attendees included Nguyen Khac Than, party secretary of Nghe An province; Vo Trong Hai, chairman of the Nghe An People’s Committee; and Vu Quoc Huy, director of the NIC. SK said the cooperation is intended to support Vietnam’s national AI strategy, with SK positioned as a key partner. The company said it expects the effort to lay groundwork for its first overseas expansion of a “Korean-style AI full-stack” model, linking AI data center construction and stable power supply to AI model development and testing and the spread of industry-specific AI services. SK Innovation and SK Telecom signed an MOU with the Nghe An provincial government to cooperate on building an AI data center and related infrastructure. SK said the plan is centered on linking the project to SK Innovation’s Quynh Lap LNG power project, including power supply and the development of dedicated generation sources. SK Telecom said it will review development, construction and operation of an AI data center based on that foundation and seek to secure global demand. The Quynh Lap LNG project is a large-scale energy infrastructure development that includes a 1,500-megawatt combined-cycle gas power plant, an LNG terminal and a dedicated port, with completion targeted for 2030. The companies also signed a separate MOU with the NIC to cooperate broadly on building an AI ecosystem, including AI data center construction, energy infrastructure development and establishing a policy foundation. SK Telecom will handle technology cooperation and attracting investment, while SK Innovation will provide energy solutions. SK described the effort as an overseas expansion of its “AI full-stack provider” strategy, integrating a value chain spanning semiconductors, data centers, power and energy, and AI services. Ahead of the forum, Chey said at a business meeting that “AI will play a key role in Vietnam’s sustained growth,” adding that SK has capabilities across the AI ecosystem — from energy and semiconductors to AI models and application services — and “will make a tangible contribution to the development of Vietnam’s AI industry.” An SK official said the group has maintained cooperation with Vietnam since the 1990s, starting with oil development under the late Chairman Chey Jong-hyun, and expanding into areas including energy, information and communications, investment and social contributions. The official said SK will use the AI cooperation to further strengthen ties as a key partner in Vietnam’s national AI strategy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:05:48 -
Korea Fair Trade Commission: 116 Multilevel Marketing Firms Registered in Q1; 2 New, 1 Closed In the first quarter of this year, two multilevel marketing companies newly registered and one shut down, according to the Fair Trade Commission. The commission said it released key information changes for multilevel marketing operators for the first quarter of 2026. It publishes quarterly updates to help prevent consumer harm linked to multilevel sales. As of the end of March, 116 multilevel marketing firms were registered. The commission reported 10 changes in total: two new registrations, one closure and seven changes of company name or address. Ibeotboda Korea signed a mutual-aid contract with the Direct Selling Mutual Aid Association, and SD Rang signed one with the Korea Special Sales Mutual Aid Association, then completed new registrations with their local provincial or metropolitan governments. SD Platform closed its business. As of the end of the quarter, two companies — Aora Partners and Goldtree Global — had changed their name or address at least five times over the past three years. Aora Partners changed its name three times and its address twice during that period. Goldtree Global changed its name twice and its address three times. The commission urged consumers and prospective sales representatives to check key information such as whether a company is properly registered and whether it has suspended operations or closed, to reduce the risk of losses during transactions. It warned that firms that frequently change their name or main business address may pose unexpected risks, including difficulty obtaining refunds. It also said multilevel marketing operators cannot conduct normal business if their consumer compensation insurance — such as mutual-aid contracts or debt payment guarantees — has been terminated, and called for extra caution. In the first quarter, Goldtree Global terminated its mutual-aid contract with the Korea Special Sales Mutual Aid Association, but had not yet suspended operations or closed, the commission said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:04:59 -
Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon says flexible work can jump-start shift in how Koreans work Kim Young-hoon, South Korea’s minister of employment and labor, said April 24 that as technology, demographic and climate changes accelerate at the same time, changing how people live and work is “not a choice but a necessity,” adding that flexible work “can be the starting point.” Kim made the remarks at a corporate roundtable on expanding flexible work, hosted by the Labor Ministry and the Metropolitan Transport Commission under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. He said the government is supporting the entire process of adopting and operating flexible work — including incentives, system support, consulting and manuals — to reduce companies’ burdens. With oil prices rising amid the Middle East crisis, companies have faced higher costs, prompting moves to expand flexible arrangements such as staggered commuting hours and working from home, and to join energy-saving campaigns. Small and midsize firms, however, have struggled to introduce and use flexible work because of staffing constraints, system-building costs and security concerns. The government said it will provide tailored support based on company conditions. Firms that adopt flexible work can receive incentives to ease initial costs, as well as subsidies for installation fees or usage charges for systems used to manage commuting and strengthen information and security. Companies with limited experience operating flexible work can also receive manuals and linked consulting, covering everything from program design to day-to-day operation. The government has also introduced the “10 a.m. start for parents” program, which supports small and midsize employers that allow workers with young children to cut their workday by one hour without a pay reduction. It has removed the requirement that workers must have been employed for six months and eased paperwork burdens by changing the submission of rules such as employment and HR regulations from mandatory to recommended. At the meeting, Kim and Kim Yong-seok, chair of the Metropolitan Transport Commission, joined representatives from six companies recognized as 2025 South Korea work-life balance best workplaces, which have high rates of flexible work use. Officials also explained government support programs for flexible work. Kim said he hopes the roundtable will help reflect workplace feedback, improve policies to better match reality and broaden voluntary participation by the private sector. He said the government will strengthen practical, tangible support so companies can join changes in work practices through greater use of flexible work. Kim Yong-seok said the commission is implementing the “Everyone’s Card” policy, which sets time windows for commuting and provides additional incentives. He added that an interagency task force is being formed to prepare measures to ease public transit congestion during commuting hours, including steps to promote flexible work.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:04:08 -
HD Hyundai Site Solutions Wins S-Mark Safety Certification for 17 Electric Forklifts HD Hyundai Site Solutions said it has strengthened safety standards for its electric forklifts. The company said April 24 it recently received the S-Mark safety certification from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency for 17 small electric forklift models rated at 3.5 tons or less, and plans to expand the number of certified models. The S-Mark is an official certification issued by the agency, a government-designated occupational safety body, after a comprehensive review of product safety and the manufacturer’s quality management capabilities. To qualify, companies must pass technical document reviews based on ISO and agency standards, on-site audits and product testing, requiring safety and reliability to be verified from design through production. Customers who buy certified models are eligible for government subsidies and policy financing support, and may receive purchase recommendations for domestic public institutions, the company said. With electric forklifts now accounting for about 60% of South Korea’s forklift market, demand for eco-friendly, low-noise equipment is rising, particularly at logistics centers and in urban work settings, driving electrification. HD Hyundai Site Solutions sells about 1,500 electric forklifts a year in South Korea and said it aims to raise market share by emphasizing safety and quality following the certification. “This safety certification recognizes both product safety and our quality management system,” a company official said. “We will continue to expand certified models to provide safer, more reliable products.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:03:16 -
Hyosung Heavy Industries signs Vietnam power grid MOU, plans $50 million motor plant Hyosung Heavy Industries is moving to expand its business in Vietnam by pursuing both power grid cooperation and a new production base. The company said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam Electricity on April 23 at the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum at the JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi. The MOU covers power asset management, grid stabilization and strengthening technical capabilities. Vietnam’s power demand is rising quickly amid economic growth, industrialization and the spread of data centers and advanced industries. Ensuring grid stability has also emerged as a key task as renewable energy expands. Under its eighth Power Development Plan, or PDP8, the Vietnamese government plans to raise power generation capacity to 221 gigawatts by 2030 and invest about $136 billion. Hyosung Heavy Industries said cooperation will focus on three areas: a pilot application of its AI-based power asset management solution, ARMOUR+; expanded adoption of STATCOM systems, or static synchronous compensators; and support for education and training to strengthen the design and manufacturing capabilities of EVN subsidiary Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Co., or EEMC. Also on April 23, Hyosung Heavy Industries signed an MOU with an investment promotion center under Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance to build a high-voltage motor plant. Under the agreement, the company plans to invest about $50 million to build a production base on the site of its Vina Electric plant in Dong Nai province, targeting annual revenue of $100 million. It aims to begin mass production in February 2027 and install facilities to produce 25,000-kilowatt-class high-voltage motors. High-voltage motors operate at more than 1,000 volts and are used in large industrial facilities such as power plants and industrial complexes. Demand has been expanding for uses including data center cooling systems and equipment linked to renewable energy. Market research firm Omdia forecasts the global high-voltage motor market will grow more than 5% annually to about $6.5 billion by 2028. Hyosung Heavy Industries said that after establishing a low-voltage motor production base in 2015, the new high-voltage motor plant will broaden its motor business portfolio. It plans to become the first foreign company to carry out the entire high-voltage motor production process in Vietnam. Hyosung has invested about $4 billion in Vietnam since entering the country in 2008, building six production bases and employing more than 10,000 local workers. The company said sales by its local units account for about 1% of Vietnam’s total exports, contributing to the country’s economic growth and the expansion of global supply chains. Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon said, “This agreement is meaningful in that it expands our business foundation in Vietnam into the heavy industries sector,” adding, “We will grow together with Vietnam as a global partner.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:01:10 -
Samsung Heavy Industries Signs U.S. MOUs to Enter Global Data Infrastructure Market Samsung Heavy Industries said it has laid the groundwork to enter the global data infrastructure market with a floating data center, or FDC. The company said it attended Data Center World (DCW 2026), held April 20-23 (local time) in Washington, and secured a foothold for global market entry for its in-house developed FDC. An FDC is a model that builds data centers at sea as demand surges with the spread of artificial intelligence. It is drawing attention as an alternative that can address land acquisition, power supply and cooling efficiency constraints. At the event, Samsung Heavy said it obtained approval in principle for a 50-megawatt FDC concept design from U.S. classification society ABS and U.K.-based Lloyd’s Register. The certified design is based on a standardized shipyard construction process that integrates design, fabrication and equipment installation, which the company said can shorten delivery times compared with land-based data centers. It can also be fitted with an in-house power generation system, reducing reliance on onshore electricity, it said. Samsung Heavy said it also expanded cooperation with global companies during the event. It is pursuing collaboration with electrification and automation firm ABB to develop an FDC power system, and signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. data center developer Musterian to develop an FDC in the United States. The company said it plans to use the certifications as a starting point to push commercialization by linking power-system development with U.S. permitting and partnerships for local operations. Choi Won-young, chairman of Samsung Heavy’s workers’ council, attended the event, highlighting labor-management participation. “The council will actively take part in the growth of new businesses such as the FDC,” Choi said. Ahn, the technology development chief, called the FDC “a new business model that expands shipbuilding technology into the digital infrastructure industry.” He said it would “set a new standard in the global data market” when combined with eco-friendly energy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:00:19 -
Samsung Electronics Union Vows Strike Despite Court Ruling, Raising Output Concerns South Korea’s industrial sector is again facing intensifying labor-management conflict, with concerns growing over production disruptions and weaker investment as some unions press ahead with strikes despite court action questioning the legality of the dispute. Labor disputes are an inevitable part of a democratic society, but confrontations that disregard legal judgments risk undermining industrial competitiveness. The Samsung Electronics union recently held a large rally at the company’s Pyeongtaek complex and reaffirmed plans to launch a general strike next month. The union is seeking changes to the performance-bonus system and a broader sharing of excess profits, and it has raised the possibility of halting semiconductor production lines. The company said that under Supreme Court precedent, demands to share excess profits are not a lawful basis for a strike, adding that it will continue efforts to reach an agreement through talks. Workers’ demands for fair compensation and the right to collective action are protected by the Constitution. But not every demand automatically justifies a strike. Legal standards apply, including whether the issue directly concerns wages and working conditions, whether collective bargaining procedures were properly followed, and whether social harm was minimized. If a court has ruled and imposed limits, respecting that decision is a starting point for the rule of law. The stakes are heightened by the industry involved. The expected clash centers on semiconductors and other advanced manufacturing, a core pillar of the South Korean economy. With global supply chains being reshaped and technology competition intensifying among the United States and China, and with Taiwan and Japan investing aggressively, South Korean companies face mounting pressure. Repeatedly using the prospect of production stoppages as leverage effectively gives competitors time to catch up. Semiconductor operations also differ from typical manufacturing. Restarting after a shutdown can require significant time and cost, and delivery delays can lead customers to switch suppliers. Restoring trust after disruptions can take far longer. The more both sides focus on short-term wins, the greater the long-term losses can become. Companies, however, are not free of responsibility. If performance compensation is opaque or communication is rigid, the roots of conflict lie inside the organization. If employees do not feel they share in results even during record performance, dissatisfaction is likely to build. Claims of excessive union demands do not excuse management’s lack of responsiveness. The path forward is structured negotiation, not escalation. Issues addressed by court rulings should be respected, while detailed compensation systems can be revisited at the bargaining table. Companies should disclose bonus calculation standards and future investment plans more transparently to rebuild trust. Unions should move away from tactics that hold production disruptions as leverage and instead engage as responsible partners on expertise and sustainability. The government should strengthen mediation in disputes affecting key industries and provide predictable guidelines. Protecting labor rights and maintaining industrial competitiveness are not mutually exclusive. Stable jobs ultimately depend on competitive companies, and companies that do not respect workers are not sustainable. Strikes pushed ahead despite court limits are unlikely to win broad public support, and companies should not hide behind legal arguments while allowing conflicts to fester. Global competition is driven by technology and speed, and South Korea cannot afford to be slowed by internal confrontation. 2026-04-24 09:58:28 -
PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok Slams Democrats’ Proposed Special Counsel as ‘Prejudged’ Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party on April 24 for pushing what it calls a special counsel probe into “fabricated indictments” under the Yoon Suk Yeol government, calling it “another prejudged special counsel” following what he described as a prejudged parliamentary investigation. Speaking at a party meeting at the National Assembly on Friday morning, Song said, “It looks like the next step has begun to withdraw President Lee Jae-myung’s indictments.” Song said the biggest issue was what he called a move to give the special counsel authority to withdraw indictments. He claimed it was intended to have the special counsel, not Lee and Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho, “get blood on their hands” by carrying out the withdrawals. He also accused those who dismantled the prosecution service after warning that combining investigative and charging powers was dangerous of now seeking to give the special counsel not only both powers but also the authority to withdraw indictments. Song said the ruling party was “mobilizing all state power” to eliminate what he called Lee’s five criminal trials, and that it was also willing to nominate candidates with criminal histories. “This Democratic Party nomination is, in effect, the return of criminal old boys,” he said. He said the party again nominated Kim Kyoung-soo, who lost the governorship over the “Druking” online-comment manipulation case, as its candidate for South Gyeongsang governor. He also said Rep. Jeon Jae-soo became the party’s candidate for Busan mayor after the statute of limitations expired in a case involving alleged bribes including a Cartier watch from the Unification Church, which he blamed on what he called a lenient and delayed investigation by a special counsel and a joint probe team. Song said Song Young-gil, whom he described as having avoided punishment due to legal issues over admissibility of evidence in a party convention cash-envelope case, received a strategic nomination in Incheon’s Yeonsu A district. He also said former lawmaker Lee Kwang-jae was to receive a strategic nomination, citing a political funds law violation case in which Lee was convicted on appeal and lost the governorship about six months after taking office for receiving $95,000 from Park Yeon-cha and Jeong Dae-geun. Song said that as these figures return, Kim Yong, whom he described as having been found guilty through the second trial, was also pressing to receive a nomination. “This is not an era of popular sovereignty, but an era of criminals’ sovereignty,” he said. He added, “In the Democratic Party, are criminal records medals and criminal investigations a sin?” and asked whether the party intended to create “a paradise for crime and a hell for law-abiding citizens.” 2026-04-24 09:57:19 -
Korail Signs Rail Electrification Cooperation Deal With France’s SYSTRA, MESEA Korea Railroad Corp., known as Korail, said April 24 it signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding with French rail companies SYSTRA and MESEA at its headquarters in Daejeon and held a technical exchange meeting. The April 23 event drew about 20 rail officials from South Korea and France, including Korail Electricity Headquarters Director Lee Seong-hyeong, SYSTRA Vice President Sarah Madjedi and MESEA Technical Headquarters Director Olivier Gouin, Korail said. At the meeting, Korail presented operating cases of condition-based maintenance, which analyzes current asset condition data to set optimal maintenance cycles, and predictive maintenance, which forecasts warning signs before failures to enable preemptive repairs. Korail also shared its mid- to long-term plan to upgrade maintenance. Under the agreement, the three organizations will strengthen cooperation through sharing best practices and information related to maintenance of rail electrical facilities and through mutual benchmarking. They also plan to promote a “data-driven, scientific maintenance system” by actively introducing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve equipment reliability and prevent failures in advance. “By advancing an AI-based maintenance system for rail electrification, we will enhance the safety and reliability of electrical facilities and continue expanding the foundation for entering the global rail market,” Lee said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 09:51:15 -
South Korea's foreign patient arrivals top 2 million for first time SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - South Korea welcomed more than 2 million foreign patients last year, the first time the figure has breached that threshold since record-keeping began in 2009. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Friday 2,011,822 patients from 201 countries sought treatment in 2025, capping a three-year streak of record highs after arrivals cratered to about 110,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese nationals accounted for 30.8 percent of the total, overtaking Japanese patients for the first time to claim the top spot, followed by Taiwan, the United States and Thailand. Dermatology drove the surge, drawing 1.31 million patients — 62.9 percent of the total — while plastic surgery trailed at 11.2 percent, underscoring a pronounced tilt toward cosmetic procedures. Clinic-level facilities handled 87.7 percent of all visits, and dental clinics, though accounting for just 1.6 percent, posted the steepest year-on-year growth at 128.9 percent. Seoul absorbed 87.2 percent of the traffic, a concentration the ministry attributed to the capital's dense cluster of transport, tourism and medical infrastructure. Some 2,555 registered medical institutions — 62.5 percent of the national total — are based in the city. The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade estimated that the 2 million patients and their companions generated about 12.5 trillion won ($8.4 billion) in medical tourism spending, producing more than 10 trillion won in added economic value. "Now that more than one million patients a year are visiting from across Asia, we will build a sustainable industrial ecosystem," said Jung Eun-young, director-general of the ministry's mental health policy bureau. "We intend to pursue qualitative growth in foreign patient recruitment." 2026-04-24 09:49:21