Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • SK hynix redefines chip profit with 72% margin on HBM supremacy
    SK hynix redefines chip profit with 72% margin on HBM supremacy SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) -Regardless of the headline figures, SK hynix reigns as the most profitable chipmaker in the world and will likely stay so through the year as it consolidates leadership in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) critical to the AI transition through aggressive spending from its enhanced firepower. The Korean pure-play memory maker will test upgraded HBM4E prototypes in the second half for potential rollout next year depending on client demand, according to executives during a conference call Thursday. “The base die for HBM4E is progressing smoothly, using optimal technology to meet customer performance requirements,” the company said. “The core die is being designed on a sixth-generation 10-nanometer-class (1c) process to address increasingly demanding performance needs.” The company added that its 1c process has already reached mature yield levels ahead of mass production starting later this year, enabling it to deliver HBM4E with “stable performance and supply capacity.” SK hynix, which pioneered HBM critical to Nvidia’s breakout AI chips, remains unrivaled in the premium segment, supported by overwhelming demand and long-term supply arrangements with hyperscale customers. Its record first-quarter results underscore its edge from a high concentration of HBM products. The company posted an operating margin of 72 percent, surpassing its previous high of 58 percent and outpacing TSMC’s roughly 58 percent and Samsung Electronics’ estimated 43 percent over the same period. The earnings surge reflects a structural shift in the memory market. DRAM supply growth is projected to slow to the mid-teens in 2026, well below the historical norm of 20–30 percent, while NAND supply growth is also moderating. At the same time, data center demand is rapidly absorbing supply, with its share of DRAM consumption expected to approach 70 percent this year, up sharply from about 35 percent in 2024. HBM’s revenue share is also expanding quickly, estimated to reach nearly 40 percent of total DRAM this year, underscoring its central role in profitability. The strong earnings were driven by surging demand for HBM — a key component in AI accelerators — alongside sharp price increases in conventional DRAM and NAND amid tight supply. Industry data show DRAM contract prices jumped more than 90 percent on quarter in the first three months of the year, reflecting a supplier-driven market that has significantly boosted profitability. The extraordinary dynamics in favor of the supply side will likely continue for some time, according to SK hynix. “This increase in memory prices is not the result of a temporary supply-demand imbalance, but rather a structural shift in the market,” the company said, noting that AI demand is fundamentally reshaping pricing dynamics. HBM accounted for around 30 percent of SK hynix’s DRAM shipments, with the remainder coming from conventional products such as DDR5 and LPDDR5X, which also benefited from the pricing upcycle. Samsung Electronics is also seeing strong gains from memory, with analysts estimating its memory division posted operating margins of 60 to 70 percent. However, its overall profitability remains lower due to weaker performance in other business segments, including foundry and consumer electronics. The shift is being reinforced by a rapid reallocation of manufacturing capacity toward AI infrastructure. Hyperscale cloud providers such as Meta, Google, Microsoft and Amazon have secured long-term supply agreements, effectively locking in production at premium prices. “Customers are prioritizing securing supply over price, and the growing importance of memory in AI computing is increasingly reflected in pricing,” the company said. As a result, even as overall memory output grows, supply available for consumer devices continues to shrink, contributing to a tightening cycle that is expected to persist. The scale of AI demand is further amplifying the imbalance. Nvidia’s latest AI systems consume hundreds of DRAM dies per unit, with a single rack requiring memory equivalent to that used in roughly 1,000 high-end smartphones. SK hynix said it is accelerating investment to meet demand but warned that supply expansion will take time. “Even under current strong demand conditions, there are clear limits to how quickly production capacity can be meaningfully expanded,” the company said, citing constraints from prior investment cuts and limited cleanroom availability. The company plans to expand capital expenditure this year, including ramping up its Cheongju M15X facility and advancing the Yongin semiconductor cluster, while securing critical equipment to support long-term capacity to maintain its comfortable lead in the premium HBM market. The red-hot earnings streak has bolstered its cashable assets by 19.4 trillion won from December to 54.3 trillion won as of March while debt was reduced to 19.3 trillion, translating into a net cash reserve of 35 trillion won. Despite geopolitical risks from the Gulf crisis, SK hynix said its production outlook remains largely unaffected. “We have already secured countermeasures against raw material and energy supply risks, and the impact on production is expected to be very limited,” the company said, citing diversified sourcing and long-term LNG contracts. Shares of SK hynix fell 1.27 percent to 1,207,000 won on profit-taking from recent rally as of 1:40 p.m. 2026-04-23 13:52:04
  • South Korea to Revamp Training for New Labor Inspectors as Workforce Expands
    South Korea to Revamp Training for New Labor Inspectors as Workforce Expands South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor said it will overhaul training for newly hired labor inspectors to focus on handling real cases, as it moves to sharply expand the inspector workforce through 2028. The ministry said the shift is aimed at strengthening on-the-job response skills, moving away from theory-heavy instruction. The ministry held a public briefing on Thursday at Seoul Community Masil to present its training reform plan and gather feedback, citing structural changes in the labor inspection system. The ministry is pursuing a plan to increase the combined central and regional inspector workforce to 8,000 by 2028, from 3,000. It said building inspectors’ capabilities is critical for new policies to work in the field. Training will be organized around field cases. The ministry said it launched a task force of veteran inspectors in February and analyzed 3.16 million complaint-case records from 2017 to 2025, along with representative cases handled by current inspectors. New inspectors will learn the redesigned curriculum in stages through a basic school and an investigation school. The basic course covers theory by case type and the workflow and processing structure. The investigation course uses scenario-based mock cases, repeatedly training inspectors to handle a case from start to finish on their own. Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said, “The success or failure of labor inspection innovation depends on the capabilities of each inspector, completed through training.” He added that the ministry will pursue capacity-building more fundamentally by establishing a specialized training institution for labor inspectors. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:51:22
  • U.S. Senate Again Blocks Bid to Limit Trump’s Authority for Military Action Against Iran
    U.S. Senate Again Blocks Bid to Limit Trump’s Authority for Military Action Against Iran The U.S. Senate again blocked an effort to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to take military action against Iran, rejecting a Democratic push to require congressional approval for any additional action. CBS and The Wall Street Journal reported that on April 22 (local time), the Senate voted down a motion to advance the war powers resolution to the floor, 51-46. The vote marked the fifth attempt in the Senate tied to limiting authority related to the Iran war. Republican Sen. Rand Paul voted in favor, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted against. Sen. Ed Markey’s office said in a statement the same day that Markey supported the resolution introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, but it failed on the 51-46 vote. Democrats argue that Trump is expanding the scope of the war without congressional approval and say Congress should strengthen oversight under the War Powers Act. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated he would keep forcing votes on the issue on a weekly basis. Republicans have maintained their opposition, citing self-defense and the president’s authority as commander in chief. Reuters previously reported that on April 15 the Senate blocked a similar effort, 52-47. With the April 22 vote, the pattern of the Senate repeatedly turning back attempts to curb Trump’s authority over the Iran war became clearer.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:48:16
  • LG Display Q1 Operating Profit Jumps 338%, Extends Profit Streak to Three Quarters
    LG Display Q1 Operating Profit Jumps 338%, Extends Profit Streak to Three Quarters LG Display said Thursday it posted first-quarter consolidated revenue of 5.534 trillion won and operating profit of 146.7 billion won. Operating profit surged 338% from a year earlier on cost-cutting technologies and improved operating efficiency, marking a third straight profitable quarter. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) came to 1.141 trillion won, with a margin of 20.6%. Despite the seasonal off-peak period, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) products accounted for 60% of revenue, up 5 percentage points from a year earlier. As a result, the average selling price per area rose 55% year over year. By revenue, the sales mix was 16% TV panels, 37% IT panels such as monitors and laptops, 37% mobile panels and other products, and 10% automotive panels. The company said it is strengthening competitiveness around OLED while accelerating cost innovation and operational efficiency to build a sustainable profit structure. In its small-panel business, LG Display said it plans to use its production infrastructure more efficiently, supported by technology leadership and stable supply capabilities, while continuing preparations for the future. For large panels, it said it will bolster its premium lineup based on what it called world-leading and first-to-market technologies, while expanding products with improved price competitiveness. It added that in monitors, where the shift to OLED is accelerating, it will broaden its gaming lineup using proprietary technologies to maximize opportunities and win customers. Kim Seong-hyeon LG Display CFO said the company is strengthening competitiveness in high-spec products where it has an advantage, raising technological barriers as well. “Through companywide efforts, we will reinforce technological differentiation to secure financial soundness and strive to deliver sustainable results that meet the expectations of the market and customers,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:36:16
  • Lee Jae-myung to Attend Korea-Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi With Top CEOs
    Lee Jae-myung to Attend Korea-Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi With Top CEOs President Lee Jae-myung on April 23 (local time) is set to attend the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation between the two countries. The event, held on the occasion of Lee’s state visit to Vietnam, is expected to draw about 500 participants from both countries, including government officials, public institutions and business leaders. South Korea’s economic delegation includes 109 companies. In a keynote address, Lee is expected to underscore the close Korea-Vietnam partnership built on trade and investment. He is also expected to mention cooperation in responding to recent global uncertainty linked to the war in the Middle East. From South Korea, about 250 business leaders are to attend, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong; SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo; Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin; POSCO Holdings Chairman Chang In-hwa; HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun; GS Chairman Huh Tae-soo; CJ Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, who also heads the Korea Employers Federation; Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon; and Doosan Enerbility Chairman Park Jie-won. Vietnamese business leaders listed as attending include PVN Chairman Le Ngoc Son; EVN Chairman Dang Hoang An; Sun Group Chairman Dang Minh Truong; THACO Group Chairman Tran Ba Duong; and FPT Group Chairman Truong Gia Binh. At the forum, Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, and the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy are to present on the parts industry, building ecosystems for the power and AI industries, and training talent for science, technology and advanced industries. More than 70 memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed between companies from the two countries across sectors including advanced technology, consumer goods, infrastructure, energy and finance. Earlier on April 23, Lee met with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Vietnam’s No. 2 official, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. A day earlier, Lee met with To Lam, Vietnam’s top official and Communist Party general secretary and state president, and discussed cooperation in supply chains and infrastructure, including energy such as nuclear power plants. Lee is also scheduled to meet with Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. Separately, a poll showed Lee’s job approval held at 69% for a third consecutive week. In the National Barometer Survey released April 23, 69% of respondents said Lee was doing a good job, while 21% gave a negative assessment, down 1 percentage point from the previous survey. The poll was conducted April 20-22 among 1,005 adults ages 18 and older by Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research and Hankook Research. The survey was conducted through telephone interviews using a 100% mobile phone virtual number sample. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, and the response rate was 17.7%. More details are available on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:34:09
  • South Korea, Oman LNG Discuss LNG and Helium Cooperation as Mideast Risks Rise
    South Korea, Oman LNG Discuss LNG and Helium Cooperation as Mideast Risks Rise The South Korean government is moving to strengthen energy cooperation with Oman as geopolitical risks in the Middle East grow. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak met April 23 with a delegation from Oman LNG at the Westin Josun Seoul hotel in central Seoul to discuss ways to expand cooperation. Hamed Al Namani, CEO of Oman LNG, attended. The meeting followed a visit to Oman on April 9 by a strategic economic cooperation delegation led by Kang Hoon-sik, the president’s chief of staff, serving as a special envoy. During that trip, the delegation met with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Energy and Minerals Minister Salim Al Aufi and others to discuss cooperation on energy resources such as crude oil and naphtha in response to deepening geopolitical risks in the region. Oman LNG also agreed at the time to hold additional talks with the ministry in April to strengthen cooperation in the gas sector. At the Seoul meeting, the two sides focused on potential liquefied natural gas cooperation, citing Oman’s geographic advantage outside the Strait of Hormuz and its relative insulation from regional geopolitical risks. They also held in-depth talks on possible cooperation tied to Oman’s new helium project, aimed at ensuring stable supplies of helium gas, a key resource for South Korea’s semiconductor industry. Moon said that as uncertainty in global energy supply chains increases, Oman’s strategic location outside the Strait of Hormuz offers a key opportunity for South Korea to diversify its energy supply lines. He said the government plans to review its energy supply chain in the wake of the current Middle East war and maintain a policy of diversifying suppliers to reduce geopolitical risks. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:33:05
  • Hyundai Glovis Q1 2026 Operating Profit Rises 3.9% to 521.5 Billion Won
    Hyundai Glovis Q1 2026 Operating Profit Rises 3.9% to 521.5 Billion Won Hyundai Glovis said Wednesday that its first-quarter 2026 operating profit rose 3.9% from a year earlier to 521.5 billion won on a consolidated basis. Revenue increased 8.2% to 7.8127 trillion won, and the operating margin was 6.7%. By business, the logistics segment posted revenue of 2.4902 trillion won and operating profit of 164.0 billion won. Revenue rose 1.3% as domestic shipments of electric vehicles and large models increased, but operating profit fell 17.3% as weaker container freight rates weighed on global logistics growth. In shipping, revenue climbed 15.5% to 1.4522 trillion won and operating profit jumped 40.5% to 192.6 billion won. The company cited an increase in high-freight, non-affiliate volumes, including from Chinese local automakers, and continued cost improvements from more efficient fleet operations. The company said concerns tied to Middle East risks, including potential volume declines and one-off costs from a strait closure, were tempered by growth in non-affiliate volumes such as Chinese vehicle export shipments. Hyundai Glovis said it expects worries over car-carrier volumes from Middle East risks to remain limited given the trend in China-led export growth. In distribution, revenue rose 10.3% to 3.8703 trillion won, while operating profit slipped 1.0% to 164.9 billion won. The company attributed growth to expanded supply volumes of completely knocked down, or CKD, kits to technical-support assembly plants in emerging markets. A Hyundai Glovis official said uncertainty in the global trade environment persisted in the first quarter, but stable operations helped the company post results that exceeded market concerns across all business segments.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:15:44
  • Samsung SDS Q1 Operating Profit Falls 70.8% on One-Time Severance Charge
    Samsung SDS Q1 Operating Profit Falls 70.8% on One-Time Severance Charge Samsung SDS said its first-quarter operating profit fell sharply from a year earlier after it booked a one-time severance-related expense. In a regulatory filing on the 23rd, the company reported preliminary consolidated operating profit of 78.3 billion won, down 70.8% year over year. Revenue slipped 3.9% to 3.3529 trillion won. Samsung SDS said the results reflected a one-off 112 billion won retirement benefit expense tied to a change in severance calculation standards. By business, IT services revenue edged up to 1.6105 trillion won. Within that, cloud revenue rose 5.8% to 690.9 billion won, making it the largest share of IT services revenue, ahead of ITO (IT outsourcing). In cloud, the CSP business based on the Samsung Cloud Platform (SCP) grew 12% from a year earlier, supported by rising demand for public-sector AX projects, increased GPU-as-a-service (GPUaaS) use and expanded cloud network services. The managed services (MSP) business increased 4% on higher sales in finance and the public sector and stronger global partnerships. Logistics revenue fell 7.8% to 1.7424 trillion won. Sales from its digital logistics platform, Cello Square, rose more than 30%, but overall cargo volumes declined and freight rates fell, the company said. Samsung SDS forecast a recovery starting in the second quarter, citing growing public-sector demand for GPUaaS, expanding sales in financial services and wider adoption of intelligent AI services across government, which it expects to support cloud growth. Over the mid-to-long term, the company said it will accelerate a shift to an AI-centered business structure under an “AI full-stack” strategy spanning AI infrastructure, AX and AI services, and AI platforms and solutions. It plans to invest a total of 10 trillion won through 2031. Specifically, it will invest 5 trillion won in AI infrastructure to expand new facilities including the Gumi AI data center and the National AI Computing Center, and 1 trillion won to strengthen competitiveness in AX and AI services and platforms. The remaining 4 trillion won will be used for strategic mergers and acquisitions to secure new growth engines and expand globally. Separately, Samsung SDS said its data center build-and-operate (DBO) business is gaining momentum after winning a conceptual design contract for a data center project led by a major domestic asset manager.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:10:07
  • Lotte Fine Chemical Says It Commercialized Ammonia Marine Fuel in World First
    Lotte Fine Chemical Says It Commercialized Ammonia Marine Fuel in World First Lotte Fine Chemical said April 23 it has become the first company to commercialize ammonia marine fuel, marking the first commercial case of a supply chain using hydrogen and ammonia produced with renewable energy as ship fuel. The company said it bunkered green ammonia that day into the world’s first ammonia-powered vessel built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. While demonstrations have been conducted for research, it said this was the first commercial supply. To support the project, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and its Ulsan Regional Office, the Ulsan Port Authority and the Korean Register helped establish and back related systems, including an eco-friendly marine fuel supply demonstration program, registration of ammonia marine fuel suppliers and guidelines for approving self-safety management plans. Lotte Fine Chemical said it completed South Korea’s first registration as an ammonia marine fuel supplier last year, leveraging what it described as Asia’s largest ammonia terminal infrastructure near Ulsan Port. It said it then imported green ammonia made with 100% renewable energy — wind and solar — through what it called the world’s first cross-border trade of such fuel in March, and used that green ammonia for bunkering into the ammonia-powered ship. The company said it is working with global companies and institutions in multiple regions on cooperation and demonstrations to build a global clean ammonia supply chain. It said it plans to build a multi-channel sales platform and grow into “Asia’s No. 1 clean ammonia hub.” Ammonia (NH3), a carbon-free fuel, can be stored in low-temperature tanks at minus 33 degrees Celsius when liquefied and already has a global distribution network, the company said. It added that ammonia has 1.7 times the storage density of liquid hydrogen, drawing attention as a carrier for large-scale, long-distance transport and storage of hydrogen (H2). Because it can be burned directly, the company said demand is expected to expand for use as an eco-friendly marine fuel and a carbon-free fuel for power generation. Chief Executive Jeong Seung-won said, “The world’s first commercialization of ammonia marine fuel has historic significance for humanity in that it replaces fossil fuels in the era of climate crisis and makes a global carbon-free energy supply chain a reality.” He added, “This is an achievement made together by the government, institutions and companies, and I hope it becomes a hopeful precedent not only for the emerging marine fuel market but for the entire hydrogen economy.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:09:17
  • South Korea Labor Ministry Steps Up Regional-Industry Workforce Training Coordination
    South Korea Labor Ministry Steps Up Regional-Industry Workforce Training Coordination The government is moving to better link regional and industry workforce training systems to respond to artificial intelligence and digital transformation, as well as regional population decline. The plan is to connect region-specific labor demand with needs from worksites to reduce mismatches and build a more effective vocational training system. The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea said they are holding a two-day “2026 Integrated Human Resources Development Workshop” in Gyeongju starting on the 23rd to strengthen cooperation between regional and industry human resources development councils. In its third year, the event brought together about 240 staff members from 17 regional skills councils (RSCs) and 21 industry skills councils (ISCs). Participants shared best practices from last year, identified new joint projects between regions and industries, and took part in programs aimed at strengthening expertise in training and employment. With broader cooperation emphasized under the government’s “five hubs and three special zones” balanced growth drive, the workshop also discussed developing cross-regional projects that go beyond individual provinces and single industries by linking multiple related regions and sectors. The Gyeonggi regional council, for example, said it will form a working-level consultative body with the electronics, textile and materials industry councils to identify demand for AI convergence by sector. They plan a joint survey of AI technology needs and related training demand in each field. The Daejeon and North Gyeongsang regional councils will work with the environmental industry council to develop AI-use training courses for environmental industry workers. They also plan to pursue ways to reflect “environment-AI convergence” jobs in the National Competency Standards, based on skills needed at worksites. The North Chungcheong and Gangwon regional councils said they will analyze core competencies and technology demand in the bio industry with the chemical and bio industry councils and build regional training-demand data based on the findings. Pyeon Do-in, director general for vocational skills policy at the ministry, said industrial sites are changing faster than ever amid the “huge wave” of AI and digital transformation, making it necessary for RSCs and ISCs to work together to drive fundamental improvements in education and training systems. He urged participants to develop practical human resources development measures so that young people “do not lose their dreams” in a rapidly changing technology environment. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 13:03:16