Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • BNK Securities Raises LS Eco Energy Target Price on Record Quarterly Results
    BNK Securities Raises LS Eco Energy Target Price on Record Quarterly Results BNK Investment & Securities on April 22 raised its target price for LS Eco Energy to 80,000 won from 60,000 won, citing the company’s record quarterly revenue and expanding demand for power transmission lines. It maintained its “buy” rating. Kim Jang-won, an analyst at BNK Investment & Securities, said first-quarter revenue and operating profit both hit all-time highs, driven by orders for an extra-high-voltage power line project in Vietnam and strong performance in the materials business. He said the company has entered a period of structural growth as investment in power infrastructure expands. Kim added that LS Eco Energy is diversifying demand by exporting to the United States while producing in Vietnam, and that a higher share of high-voltage and extra-high-voltage power lines is improving profitability. Kim said demand for higher-margin products such as underground cables, extra-high-voltage power lines and subsea cables is expected to rise under Vietnam’s power development plan and urbanization policies, which he said should further widen profit growth over the medium to long term. He also said the company has significant room to expand its business, supported by affiliates that are competitive in the global power infrastructure market, and that a valuation re-rating is possible given its higher profitability than peers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:18:14
  • AhnLab Warns of Fake Claude Phishing Sites Spreading Info-Stealing Malware
    AhnLab Warns of Fake Claude Phishing Sites Spreading Info-Stealing Malware AhnLab said it has identified cases in which an information-stealing malware strain was distributed through phishing sites impersonating the generative AI service Claude, and urged users to be cautious. On 22, AhnLab said the phishing site displays the message “Bring Claude to your Desktop” and offers download buttons by operating system, including Windows and macOS, to lure users into installing it. When a user clicks the download button for their OS, a pop-up appears instead of an installer, providing installation instructions. The notice says the download will begin if the user copies a specific command and pastes it into their PC, but following those steps installs malware. Once installed, the malware steals files on the PC, browser-stored information and cryptocurrency wallet data, then sends it to an attacker-controlled server. AhnLab said this tactic — disguising instructions or error messages to get users to copy and paste a malicious command themselves — is known as the “ClickFix” technique and has recently been used in a range of malware distribution attacks. The company said the phishing site was found appearing near the top of Google search results for keywords such as “Claude app” and “Claude desktop.” It said attackers may have manipulated rankings by using search ads. AhnLab said such attacks continue to exploit users’ tendency to trust sites shown at the top of search results, and called for heightened vigilance. To reduce risk, it advised users to verify official domain addresses regardless of search rankings, apply the latest security updates for PCs, operating systems, software and browsers, and enable real-time monitoring in antivirus software such as V3. AhnLab said its V3 product line supports detection of the phishing site and blocks access, and that related threat information is available through its next-generation threat intelligence platform, AhnLab TIP.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:15:07
  • Hanwha signs MOU with Alberta to expand energy, defense and shipbuilding cooperation
    Hanwha signs MOU with Alberta to expand energy, defense and shipbuilding cooperation Hanwha Group said it will strengthen cooperation with the government of Alberta across key industries including energy, defense and shipbuilding. The group said April 22 it plans to systematically expand local industrial partnerships and broader economic cooperation, linked to Hanwha Ocean’s bid for Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, or CPSP. Hanwha signed the memorandum of understanding April 21 (local time) at the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton. Attendees included Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Joseph Schow, South Korean Ambassador to Canada Lim Ki-mo and Hanwha Energy CEO Lee Jae-gyu. The two sides agreed to pursue joint, mid- to long-term investment and industrial ecosystem development with Alberta as a base, beyond individual projects. Hanwha Energy, Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Power will take part, expanding cooperation in oil, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and defense and shipbuilding supply chains. Hanwha said the MOU focuses on a shift to low-carbon energy, industrial growth and stronger supply-chain stability. In the near term, the sides plan to expand trade in resources such as natural gas. Over the mid to long term, they aim to broaden cooperation to hydrogen- and ammonia-based clean energy and carbon-management infrastructure. Hanwha also said it will support efforts aligned with Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, including building independent industrial capabilities, strengthening maintenance and operations capacity, and developing a region-based defense industrial ecosystem. Alberta is attracting about $6.5 million in investment from the federal government as it grows into a defense manufacturing hub. Smith said, “Alberta is a global business hub, and this agreement with Hanwha Group shows our competitiveness as a destination for international investment.” Lee said, “This MOU has elevated our cooperative relationship with Alberta,” adding that the group will “bring together its capabilities to deliver tangible results across a range of fields.” Hanwha said it is mounting a groupwide effort to win the Canadian submarine project. Earlier, Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheol visited Halifax on April 14 and discussed defense and industrial cooperation with officials from Nova Scotia.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:12:10
  • HD Hyundai Heavy Wins First Overseas Icebreaker Order, Eyes Arctic Shipping
    HD Hyundai Heavy Wins First Overseas Icebreaker Order, Eyes Arctic Shipping HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said it has won its first overseas order for a dedicated icebreaker, a milestone it described as establishing a foothold for entering Arctic shipping routes. The company said it signed a contract with the Swedish Maritime Administration to build one icebreaker for $348.9 million (about 514.8 billion won). HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said it was highly rated on price competitiveness, delivery schedule and technology. The vessel is to be delivered in 2029 and will operate in the Baltic Sea, providing icebreaking support as well as fleet operations, towing and ice management. The company said the deal was secured amid competition with major icebreaker-building countries including Finland and Norway, marking the Korean shipbuilding industry’s entry into the global icebreaker market. It also cited public-private cooperation supported by the South Korean Embassy in Sweden and KOTRA’s Stockholm office. Icebreakers are specialized ships designed to open routes through ice-covered waters by crushing and pushing aside sea ice, using reinforced hulls, powerful propulsion and dedicated hull designs. The ordered vessel will be 126 meters long with a displacement of 15,000 tons and will have PC (Polar Class) 4 icebreaking capability, the company said. With an electric propulsion system, it can continuously break through ice about 1 to 1.2 meters thick. Industry officials say commercializing Arctic routes will require not only icebreakers but also merchant ships with icebreaking capability, including LNG carriers and bulk carriers, and they view the order as a foundation for entering related markets. Competition to secure icebreakers is also intensifying globally. The United States passed legislation last year to expand its icebreaker budget by about $9 billion, and together with Canada and Finland formed the “ICE Pact” to pursue construction of 70 to 90 vessels over the next decade. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said it plans to expand its special-purpose ship business based on its icebreaking technology and will also push to enter global markets for naval vessels and other special-purpose ships that require icebreaking capability. “This icebreaker order shows our business capabilities have been recognized in the global market,” CEO Ju Won-ho said. “Based on our technology and integrated business capabilities, we will expand export markets in the special-purpose ship sector.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:09:56
  • Eastar Jet Expands Cargo Service to 10 International Routes
    Eastar Jet Expands Cargo Service to 10 International Routes 이스타항공은 22일 화물 운송 사업을 일본, 중화권, 동남아 등 10개 국제 노선으로 확대했다고 밝혔다. 이스타항공은 지난해 1월 인천-방콕 노선에서 화물 운송을 처음 시작한 뒤 도쿄, 오사카, 타이베이, 상하이, 옌타이, 다낭 등으로 노선을 단계적으로 늘려왔다. 지난달 기준 순 화물 수송량은 전년 동기 대비 약 870% 증가했다. 이달에는 홍콩, 정저우, 알마티 노선을 새로 구축했다. 연내 삿포로와 후쿠오카 노선에서도 화물 운송을 이어갈 계획이다. 이스타항공은 여객기 하부 수하물 칸을 활용하는 이른바 ‘벨리 카고’ 방식으로 화물을 운송하고 있다. 이커머스 상품을 비롯해 전자제품, 자동차 부품, 화장품, 의류, 과일 등을 실어 나른다. 또 시장 분석부터 예약, 추적 조회, 품질 평가까지 전 과정을 관리하는 토탈 카고 매니지먼트(TCM) 솔루션을 운영 중이라고 밝혔다. 이스타항공 관계자는 “꾸준히 증가하는 글로벌 항공 화물 수요에 대응해 사업 노선을 적극적으로 확대하고 있다”고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:09:14
  • SK Securities Raises Seobu T&D Target Price 54% on Hotel Strength, Development Outlook
    SK Securities Raises Seobu T&D Target Price 54% on Hotel Strength, Development Outlook SK Securities on Tuesday raised its target price for Seobu T&D to 20,000 won from 13,000 won, a 54% increase, citing a strong hotel business and accelerating real estate development momentum. It maintained its “buy” rating. Na Seung-du, a researcher at SK Securities, said hotel occupancy has “effectively recovered to near-full levels,” while average daily room rates still have room to rise. He added that profits from unit sales should become more visible as site development ramps up starting this year. Seobu T&D’s hotel business has shown a clear rebound since the pandemic-era downturn, supported by an increase in foreign tourists. The Yongsan Dragon City hotel is posting high occupancy on both weekdays and weekends, staying at levels close to full capacity. Because hotel room supply is difficult to expand quickly, SK Securities said higher room rates are likely to be a key driver of earnings improvement. It said the property’s location, hotel grade and facility quality suggest ample pricing power, and that steady demand should continue in line with stronger interest among foreign visitors to South Korea. In real estate development, growth drivers are also coming into focus as projects at the Yongsan Najin Shopping Center site and the Seobu Truck Terminal site in Sinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, move into full swing, lifting expectations for higher asset values and sales profits. The Yongsan Najin site is aiming to break ground in October, with office facilities and high-end officetels planned, and some presales expected to begin from year-end. The truck terminal site is being pursued as a mixed-use complex combining an urban fulfillment facility with commercial, office and residential space. SK Securities said that in similar past cases, share prices tended to respond when sales profits began to materialize, suggesting the projects could become a catalyst. It added that Seobu T&D’s current valuation can be explained by hotel growth alone, and that the investment case could strengthen further if development gains are reflected.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:05:05
  • Open Network System picked for Gyeonggi AI challenge to curb illegal truck parking
    Open Network System picked for Gyeonggi AI challenge to curb illegal truck parking 오픈네트웍시스템이 경기도경제과학진흥원이 주관한 ‘2026년 경기도 AI 챌린지 프로그램’에 선정돼, 화물자동차 불법 주정차 단속을 위한 인공지능 기반 플랫폼 구축에 나선다. The company said it was selected for the “2026 Gyeonggi-do AI Challenge Program,” hosted by the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator, and will build an AI-based platform to crack down on illegal parking and stopping by cargo trucks. The program aims to identify public services that address local problems and brings together local governments, public agencies and private AI companies. Projects were evaluated for practical use in real administrative settings, the company said. Open Network System proposed a platform called “CargoClick” through a consortium with Ansan City and Korea University’s Convergence Research Institute. It was ultimately selected in the AI administration category after document screening and a presentation review, the company said. The project is based on an administrative innovation cooperation framework previously signed by Ansan City with KT and Korea University. CargoClick aims to automate the entire enforcement process for illegal parking and stopping by large trucks — from an initial warning to a second-stage crackdown and issuance of administrative fines — to reduce the workload for public officials and speed up processing, the company said. Illegal parking has been cited as a major cause of disrupted traffic flow and threats to pedestrian safety. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and local governments have said long-term illegal parking by large vehicles remains a management target because it can raise accident risks on narrow side streets. The platform will also include a chatbot for drivers, providing guidance on enforcement standards and nearby parking locations and availability to encourage compliance in advance. Collected data will be visualized to analyze regional patterns of illegal parking and stopping and to help set enforcement zones or develop parking policies, the company said. AI-driven administrative automation has been expanding in the public sector, with decision-support systems applied in areas such as civil complaint response, traffic management and urban safety to improve efficiency and policy accuracy, the company said. Open Network System said it plans to develop the platform by November and apply it in Ansan City. The company said it expects the system to shorten administrative processing time, encourage voluntary compliance by drivers and support data-based policy operations. Chief Executive Park Bong-gyun said the goal is “to achieve both improved administrative efficiency and tangible benefits that residents can feel,” adding that the company plans to expand its AI platform business in the public sector starting with the Ansan rollout.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:03:57
  • South Korea Selects 100 Tourism Startups Using AI and K-Culture in 17th Venture Contest
    South Korea Selects 100 Tourism Startups Using AI and K-Culture in 17th Venture Contest The Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization have selected 100 tourism startups they say could reshape South Korea’s tourism industry, highlighting business models built around artificial intelligence and K-culture. The ministry and the organization said April 22 they had announced the final results of the 17th Tourism Venture Business Contest. The contest drew about 1,500 applications, up 35.2% from a year earlier, for a competition rate of 15 to 1. The organization selected 20 pre-startup teams, 40 early-stage ventures and 40 growth-stage ventures, for a total of 100. ◆ AI, deep tech drive customized travel services AI-based tourism services stood out among this year’s picks. Selected companies included Hanora Kids Trip, which optimizes itineraries for travelers with children; Ripplemate, a multilingual customer management platform for tourism operators; Zerobata, a hotel AI concierge service operating in 30 languages; and KEEPER, an automation platform for managing lodging spaces. Officials said the companies are expected to help accelerate digital transformation across the tourism sector. ◆ K-culture products target inbound visitors Reflecting the global K-culture boom, several selected offerings focus on foreign visitors to South Korea. They included Celetrip, which offers fan-tailored tours using K-pop artist voice guides; Fanwork, which links K-culture fans’ interest in visiting South Korea to experiential products; Handybus, a mobility platform tailored to K-pop concerts; and Gotaek Live Dining, an arts-focused tourism program combining hanok stays with live performances and food for foreign visitors. ◆ Local and wellness trends also featured The lineup also included experience-based services built around local culture and lifestyle travel. Examples included Temple Run, which combines temple culture with running; Chungcheongdo Saecham Hansang, which blends the region’s bobusang merchant culture with local food; Meongkok, an immersive pet tourism platform based on user-generated content data; and Dear Cabin, a high-end nature stay using luxury cabins. The 100 selected companies will receive up to 100 million won each in commercialization funding on a differentiated basis. They will also be offered stage-specific support programs, including company assessments, mentoring, consulting, help with attracting investment, and assistance in developing domestic and overseas sales channels. The ministry said it also plans to pursue supplementary budget support to strengthen competitiveness across the tourism industry. Min Jeong-hui, head of the tourism business startup team at the Korea Tourism Organization, said innovative ideas that combine AI technology with the appeal of Korean culture stood out this year. “Having discovered more than 1,800 companies and created more than 5,300 jobs so far, we will help promising companies grow steadily in the market,” Min said. 2026-04-22 09:03:00
  • Hanwha Ocean Teams With Leidos’ Gibbs & Cox to Speed U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Push
    Hanwha Ocean Teams With Leidos’ Gibbs & Cox to Speed U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Push Hanwha Ocean is partnering with a U.S. defense contractor long associated with U.S. Navy ship design standards as it accelerates its push into the American naval shipbuilding market. Hanwha Ocean said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Leidos’ Gibbs & Cox on April 21 local time at SAS 2026 (Sea-Air-Space 2026) in Maryland. The company announced the agreement on April 22. Under the MOU, the two sides agreed to work on: designs tailored to U.S. Navy specifications; joint development of next-generation vessels; building a supply chain using production bases in the United States and South Korea; and advancing ship designs aimed at efficient production and long-term maintenance. Hanwha Ocean said the agreement creates a practical joint front with Gibbs & Cox to strengthen competitiveness in U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs and in global naval vessel projects. Gibbs & Cox, a key Leidos affiliate, has a leading position in naval design and has designed more than 70% of U.S. Navy surface combatants since World War II, Hanwha Ocean said. The company said Gibbs & Cox is regarded as a top partner because it understands and implements U.S. Navy operational requirements and technical specifications. Hanwha Ocean said it aims to build a success story in the United States that surpasses the example of Italy’s Fincantieri establishing itself in the market. Gibbs & Cox is known to have played a key role as a partner when Fincantieri entered the U.S. naval ship market. Hanwha Ocean said Fincantieri successfully settled into the market through cooperation with Gibbs & Cox while carrying out the Constellation-class frigate and Freedom-class littoral combat ship programs. Eo Seong-cheol, head of Hanwha Ocean’s special ship business division, said the agreement would help the company secure a firm technological advantage not only in the U.S. market but also worldwide. “Through cooperation with Leidos, a leading U.S. defense company, we will accelerate our entry into the global maritime defense market and deliver visible results,” Eo said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:00:56
  • OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT Image 2.0 With Stronger Text Handling and Editing
    OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT Image 2.0 With Stronger Text Handling and Editing OpenAI has released “ChatGPT Image 2.0,” a major upgrade to its image-generation tools that the company says better handles long text, complex layouts, multilingual content and detailed editing instructions. The update is aimed at practical uses such as advertising, marketing and content production. OpenAI said on the 21st (local time) that ChatGPT now includes the new image feature, “ChatGPT Image 2.0.” For developers, its application programming interface will also offer the “GPT Image 2” model. OpenAI described it as its latest flagship model, with broadly improved image generation and editing. The company said it supports high-quality image inputs and can produce outputs in multiple sizes. A key focus is stronger text rendering. OpenAI said the tool can more reliably place long sentences and complex visual elements inside images and follow user instructions more accurately. That could make it more useful for posters, ad banners, brochures and presentation visuals where text and design must work together. OpenAI also said it improved multilingual performance, including for Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, Bengali and English. Editing has been refined as well, the company said, allowing users to change specific elements while keeping backgrounds and overall composition intact. “Instruction-following and fine detail have improved overall,” OpenAI said. OpenAI also highlighted examples of generating sequential scenes while keeping a consistent style and character, a capability it said could help with advertising, promotional materials and series-style image production. OpenAI said basic image generation is available to ChatGPT users, while more advanced features are centered on paid subscribers. The model is also being applied to the developer API, which is expected to expand integration with outside services.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:00:13