Journalist
Lee Hugh
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SK hynix says weak DRAM spot prices have limited impact, expects AI to lift demand SK hynix said on April 23, during a two-day conference call on its 2026 first-quarter earnings, that recent weakness in DRAM spot prices is not a reliable gauge of broader market conditions. “The spot market accounts for a very small share of the overall DRAM market, and the types and scale of products traded differ from our business,” the company said. “In the current market environment, it is difficult to view spot price moves as reflecting overall market conditions.” SK hynix said memory demand from major customers is rising across products including high-bandwidth memory, server DRAM and enterprise SSDs, while suppliers face constraints on expanding output in the short term. “If this supply-demand imbalance persists, the memory price upcycle could last longer than in the past,” it said. The company also pointed to structural shifts in the artificial intelligence industry as a driver of demand. “As software and hardware optimization progress simultaneously in the AI industry, the way memory is used is changing,” SK hynix said. It added that memory-efficiency technologies may appear to reduce usage per device, but are evolving to maximize information processing per unit of memory. SK hynix said the changes could improve service economics, creating a virtuous cycle that expands the overall AI market and increases memory demand. 2026-04-23 09:42:06 -
Finance Minister Koo, BOK Gov. Shin stress fiscal-monetary coordination amid Mideast uncertainty Deputy Prime Minister and Finance and Economy Minister Koo Yun-cheol met for breakfast with Bank of Korea Gov. Shin Hyun-song on April 23 and said “close consultations through policy coordination between fiscal and monetary policy are important.” The meeting came two days after Shin took office on April 21. It was arranged to congratulate him and strengthen cooperation between the government and the central bank. Ahead of the talks, Koo said the economy has faced difficulties since the second half of last year and that Shin’s arrival would be “a great help.” He said volatility remains high and stressed the need for close coordination with monetary policy. Shin said the situation in the Middle East is ongoing and uncertainty is high, adding that the BOK would respond actively on market stability and foreign exchange issues. He said he would also stay in frequent contact on longer-term structural issues and institutional improvements. The two sides shared views on recent economic conditions and exchanged opinions on policy responses. With uncertainty from the Middle East war persisting, they said risks have increased from high oil prices and supply-chain instability, raising downside pressure on growth and the risk of higher inflation. They agreed to run fiscal and monetary policy in a coordinated way. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in responding to financial and foreign exchange market instability, closely monitoring volatile conditions. They said they would push won internationalization through measures including a 24-hour foreign exchange market and building an offshore won settlement system, while working to improve market structure. On medium- and long-term tasks, they shared the view that structural reforms are important to boost growth potential and ease polarization. They also exchanged views on directions for key initiatives including artificial intelligence, the green transition and a “super-innovation economy.” Koo asked the BOK to use its research capacity to provide in-depth analysis and policy recommendations on structural reforms, and Shin said he would contribute actively. They agreed to keep close communication through existing channels, including market-monitoring meetings, and to meet as needed to reinforce cooperation between the government and the central bank. After the meeting, Shin told reporters that they discussed the exchange rate “broadly.” Asked about first-quarter gross domestic product growth of 1.7%, the highest in five years, he said it showed the resilience of the Korean economy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:41:13 -
Mexican Dining Brand Sugar Skull to Run Experiential Pop-Up at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil 멕시코 다이닝 브랜드 슈가스컬이 서울 잠실 롯데월드몰에서 체험형 팝업스토어를 연다. 슈가스컬은 4월 23일부터 5월 17일까지 서울 송파구 롯데월드몰 지하 1층에서 팝업스토어를 운영한다고 밝혔다. 이번 행사는 브랜드 콘셉트에 공간 체험 요소를 결합한 형태로, 외식업계에서 확산 중인 ‘경험형 매장’ 전략의 일환이라고 설명했다. 팝업은 ‘멕시칸 피크닉’을 주제로 꾸몄다. 멕시코 전통 축제에서 영감을 받은 색감과 장식으로 공간을 연출하고, 브랜드 캐릭터 ‘슈가’, ‘슈미’, ‘타코 트리오’를 활용한 포토존을 마련했다. 방문객은 동선에 따라 이동하며 브랜드 세계관을 체험하도록 구성됐다. 현장에는 2차원 그래픽과 입체 오브제를 결합한 촬영 공간도 조성됐다. 사진·영상 기록과 SNS 공유를 염두에 둔 ‘소셜 공유형 공간’ 설계를 반영했다고 회사는 밝혔다. 메뉴도 팝업에 맞춰 일부 조정했다. 기존 브리또볼과 빵타코 기반 메뉴에 더해 컵 형태의 ‘컵 브리또’, 대용량 ‘자이언트 브리또’, ‘쉐이크 콘립’ 등을 팝업 한정으로 운영한다. 일부 메뉴는 미국쌀협회와 협업해 개발됐다. 현장 이벤트도 진행한다. 랜덤 키링 굿즈에는 근거리무선통신(NFC) 기능을 적용해 매장 방문 시 사이드 메뉴를 제공하는 쿠폰으로 사용할 수 있도록 했다. 피크닉 박스 구매 고객에게는 추가 할인 혜택을 제공한다. 슈가스컬은 현재 종로, 센트럴시티, 서울역 등 서울 주요 상권에서 매장을 운영 중이다. 회사는 대형 복합쇼핑몰과 관광 수요가 결합된 송파구 일대에서 단기 팝업을 통해 브랜드 노출 효과를 기대하고 있다. 루미 호스피탈리티 측은 “공간 체험과 식음 콘텐츠를 결합해 브랜드가 추구하는 분위기를 전달하는 데 초점을 맞췄다”며 “일상에서 부담 없이 즐길 수 있는 형태의 체험형 다이닝을 선보일 계획”이라고 밝혔다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:40:19 -
Comedian Omage Announces Marriage on Social Media Comedian Omage has announced she is getting married. On the 22nd, she posted photos on social media with the message, "Everyone, I'm getting married." She added, "There are many people I think of, but I hesitated to reach out because it has been a while and I worried it might feel like a burden." "I ask for your understanding from those I couldn't tell in advance, and if you contact me first at any time with an open heart, I'll be happy and grateful to share the news," she wrote. She closed by saying, "I won't forget the love and the precious feelings of those who congratulate me, and I'll repay you by living happily." In the released photos, Omage is shown in her fiancé's arms, smiling brightly at the camera. Omage debuted as part of MBC's 20th open recruitment class of comedians and became known through the "05 is back!" segment on the YouTube channel Psick Univ.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:39:48 -
Israel-Hezbollah Clashes Intensify as Lebanon Airstrikes Kill at Least 4 Ahead of Truce Deadline Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group in Lebanon, have stepped up clashes again. Tensions rose after Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least four people, days before a U.S.-brokered truce is set to expire. On April 22 (local time), Israel struck Tyre and Yohmor in southern Lebanon, killing at least four people, Reuters reported. The attacks came just days before planned truce talks in Washington. Hezbollah responded with a drone attack targeting Israeli forces, accusing Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement. The truce is a 10-day, time-limited deal brokered by the United States and is due to end Sunday. Lebanon’s government says it wants to discuss extending the truce, an Israeli withdrawal, the return of detainees and border demarcation. However, Hezbollah opposes direct talks with Israel, Reuters reported, highlighting divisions inside Lebanon. Also on April 22, Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed in an Israeli airstrike while reporting in southern Lebanon, and another journalist was wounded. Reuters said it was the deadliest day since the truce was announced. The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah-linked vehicle that entered a restricted area and denied deliberately targeting journalists.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:36:45 -
SK hynix posts Q1 earnings surge as analysts lift annual revenue outlook above 300 trillion won SK hynix posted a first-quarter earnings surge, reporting revenue of 52.5763 trillion won and operating profit of 37.6103 trillion won, results the company said set a new benchmark for the chip industry. Analysts said the performance suggests growth that could extend into the second half, rather than a brief upswing. In a regulatory filing Thursday, SK hynix said first-quarter operating profit rose 405.5% from a year earlier to 37.6103 trillion won. Revenue climbed 198.1% to 52.5763 trillion won. High-bandwidth memory, or HBM, was a key driver of profitability, the report said. With demand for AI server memory surging, fifth-generation HBM (HBM3E) and next-generation HBM have been in short supply. As a higher-value product than conventional DRAM, HBM helped lift overall operating profit, it said. Experts said SK hynix is widening its technology lead and raising barriers to entry. They cited close partnerships with customers and a customized production system that reduces inventory burdens while improving profitability. Ahn Ki-hyeon, executive director of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, said SK hynix’s customized strategy has built resilience despite external economic volatility. He called it a signal the company has moved away from a structure centered on commodity products to a model focused on higher-profit, qualitative growth. The report said concerns seen in past memory cycles — often described as a “winner’s curse” or a “chicken game” — have eased. It attributed that to explosive AI demand reinforcing a supplier-favorable market and to advanced process transitions, reshaping the industry toward profits supported by technology barriers. The company’s second-half results are expected to rise further as the industry enters a seasonally strong period, the report said. It pointed to mass production of sixth-generation HBM4 supplies for Nvidia, a recovery in the enterprise SSD (eSSD) market and demand tied to new IT products as potential tailwinds. With SK hynix’s Cheongju M15X set to begin full operations within the year, the report said expanded output could also lead to direct and indirect job creation and increased local spending. Brokerages raised their market consensus for SK hynix’s annual revenue to more than 300 trillion won and lifted operating profit expectations to a level exceeding 230 trillion won, the report said. Kim Rok-ho, an analyst at Hana Securities, said global big tech companies appear willing to accept some memory price increases despite cost pressures. He said that could give SK hynix an opportunity to use a rising-price environment to expand market share. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:32:19 -
U.S.-Listed Memory ETF Tops $1 Billion in Two Weeks, Heavy in Samsung and SK hynix A U.S.-listed exchange-traded fund that puts more than half its assets into Samsung Electronics and SK hynix has drawn Wall Street attention after pulling in more than $1 billion in less than a month. As of April 21, the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) had recorded $1.11 billion in net inflows, according to FactSet. The memory-themed ETF trades on the New York Stock Exchange. The fund was launched April 2 by Roundhill, a small U.S. asset manager. With inflows and rising holdings, assets under management jumped from $250,000 at listing to $1.22 billion as of April 21. Roundhill describes the product as a thematic ETF investing in global memory chipmakers and says it is the world’s first memory-stock ETF. The 11-stock portfolio is led by SK hynix at 26.9% and Samsung Electronics at 23.4%, together accounting for more than half. Micron Technology follows at 20.9%. Market watchers have called it unusual for a niche, thematic ETF from a small manager to attract large sums so quickly without major promotion. ETF.com said the fund has had a “surprising run” as a niche product and called it “one of the smartest products” launched this year by a small or midsize manager. It also said inflows were helped by limited access to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in U.S. semiconductor funds. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Eric Balchunas wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the new fund had “crazy trading volume” and called it the most undervalued “AI play.” The Wall Street Journal said the surge is rare for any ETF and unprecedented for a small asset manager. It added that thematic ETFs concentrated in a few stocks are often launched when a theme is near its peak, raising the risk of weaker performance ahead.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:31:33 -
The Trail Adds GPX Downloads and Real-Time Location Sharing to Boost Hiker Safety The outdoor platform The Trail has strengthened tracking-record management and safety features for hikers and trekkers. The company said it recently introduced GPX downloads and real-time location sharing, both offered at no additional cost. Users can download data recorded during a hike — including route, distance and elevation — as a GPX file for use on other devices or platforms. GPX is a standardized file format for GPS-based route data and is compatible with many fitness apps and map services. Demand among outdoor users has been rising for more than simple storage of activity logs, with more people seeking to sync records across devices or share them on outside platforms. Use cases such as analyzing activity data and managing personalized workouts in running and trekking have also been increasing. The new real-time location sharing feature lets group hikers see companions’ current locations on a map, helping them track the route and respond if someone strays. In mountainous areas, where terrain and communications conditions can contribute to people getting lost or separated, the feature can serve as a safety tool. According to the Korea National Park Service and other organizations, a significant share of mountain accidents is linked to delays in determining a person’s location, including cases involving getting lost or slipping. The Trail said it already offers official course searches, map-based navigation, workout tracking and user feed-sharing, and that the update strengthens record management and support for group activities. “We focused our update on features users need in real-world conditions,” a company official said. “We plan to continue expanding functions that improve both safety and convenience.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:30:46 -
SK hynix forecasts higher Q2 DRAM and NAND shipments; targets U.S. ADR listing this year SK hynix said on an earnings conference call held April 23 for its 2026 first-quarter results that it expects shipments of both DRAM and NAND to rise in the second quarter. The company said it anticipates DRAM shipments will increase by a high single-digit percentage from the previous quarter as it responds to demand for high-capacity server modules and mobile products. It added that NAND shipments are expected to rise by a mid-teens percentage quarter over quarter, driven by expanded sales of 321-layer-based products and enterprise SSDs. SK hynix also addressed its capital markets strategy, saying it confidentially submitted a registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to a public offering for an ADR listing and is pursuing a U.S. market listing within the year. It said details such as the offering size, structure and timing have not been finalized. The company said the final decision on whether to proceed with the listing will be made after considering the SEC’s review of the filing, market conditions, demand forecasting and other requirements. It added it will provide an update when specifics are confirmed. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:30:06 -
Samsung Electronics Jumps More Than 4%, Sets Record High Samsung Electronics hit a record high on the 23rd. According to the Korea Exchange, shares were trading at 224,000 won as of 9:18 a.m., up 7,000 won (3.22%) from the previous session. The stock rose to an intraday record of 227,000 won shortly after the open, then pared gains to hover near 220,000 won. At the same time, SK hynix was up 20,000 won (1.64%) at 1,243,000 won. Overnight, all three major U.S. indexes closed higher. On the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 340.65 points (0.69%) at 49,490.03. The S&P 500 gained 73.89 points (1.05%) to 7,137.90, and the Nasdaq rose 397.603 points (1.64%) to 24,657.567. Markets were buoyed after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would extend a ceasefire, citing divisions inside Iran. Optimism also grew after the New York Post reported that Trump said there could be “good news” as early as the 24th regarding a second round of talks on ending the war with Iran.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:27:15