HD Hyundai Infracore secures deal to supply engines for K2 battle tanks SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Infracore has signed a 92.3 billion won (approximately $66.5 million) contract with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration to supply engines for the K2 main battle tank. The deal covers phased deliveries of DV27K engines through 2028. The DV27K is a domestically developed 1,500-horsepower powerplant capable of propelling the 56-ton K2 tank at speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour. It features a high-efficiency combustion system that compresses and recirculates exhaust gases, enhancing both fuel efficiency and engine performance. HD Hyundai Infracore emphasized the DV27K’s structural design, which reduces vibration and ensures stable power delivery under battlefield conditions — traits essential for the next generation of South Korean armored forces. The company has been the exclusive supplier of engines for the K2 since 2019, following a decade-long development program that led to full localization of the tank’s powertrain in 2014. The deal comes amid growing international interest in South Korea’s next-generation armored platforms. On July 2, Poland’s Ministry of National Defence announced it had concluded negotiations with Hyundai Rotem — a separate Hyundai affiliate and manufacturer of the K2 tank — for the second phase of a multibillion-dollar tank procurement deal. The agreement is expected to include additional K2 units. 2025-07-08 16:25:07

Insulin pump maker Sooil inks $21.6 million deal with Mediq SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Sooil Development, a South Korean medical device company known for portable insulin pumps, says it has signed a four-year, 30 billion won (approximately $21.6 million) supply agreement with Mediq, Europe’s largest medical device distributor. The deal marks a significant step in Sooil’s effort to expand its footprint in Europe’s diabetes care market. Under the agreement, Sooil will supply Mediq with its Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system — a next-generation diabetes management platform developed in partnership with the French health-tech firm Diabeloop. The AID system integrates Sooil’s insulin pump technology with Diabeloop’s artificial intelligence algorithm, which automatically adjusts insulin delivery in response to a patient’s glucose levels. The system, which is aimed at improving blood sugar control in people with diabetes, is widely seen as a step toward the development of a fully artificial pancreas. The first shipment under the contract — worth 2 billion won — was completed on June 25. The system is expected to be gradually introduced across six European countries, including the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom, Sooil said. 2025-07-08 14:08:57

Hyundai Glovis deploys autonomous drones for inventory management at Georgia SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Hyundai Glovis said Monday it has introduced two autonomous drones at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) Consolidation Center in Ellabell, Georgia. The drones are being used to perform inventory inspections on semi-knockdown automotive parts, cutting average inspection times by more than 90 percent. Inspection cycles have been reduced from 300 minutes to just 30 minutes. Unlike conventional drones that rely on GPS, the Glovis system operates without external positioning systems. It uses a combination of Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO), Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), fisheye and stereo cameras, and depth sensors to navigate complex indoor environments. Once assigned a task by HMGMA’s in-house Global Consolidation Center support System (GCS), each drone flies autonomously through the facility, scans storage bins, sends data to a base station, and transmits analysis results back to the system without human intervention. The vision-based navigation also allows drones to identify items stored in hard-to-reach areas, including blind spots and shelves over 3.5 meters high. With real-time, on-demand verification and automated battery charging and replacement, the system is designed to reduce physical strain on workers and improve operational efficiency. According to Hyundai Glovis, each drone uses a fisheye camera to extract visual "feature points" and stereo imaging to measure height. An onboard accelerometer and gyroscope track positioning with precision throughout each flight. The company plans to add two more drones to the site and expand the system to other logistics hubs worldwide. The drone integration is part of HMGMA's wider effort to build out its Software Defined Factory (SDF) model. Designed to maximize automation, the plant combines AI, robotics, and high-speed data infrastructure to handle every phase of production, from stamping to final inspection. Instead of traditional conveyor systems, the factory relies on more than 500 Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), 161 Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and 50 robotic parking units. These systems are coordinated with drone-collected data to ensure just-in-time delivery of parts and uninterrupted workflow. The plant also features digital twin simulations, 6,800-ton servo presses, robotic welding guided by machine vision, and AI-based quality control, including robot inspectors such as Boston Dynamics' Spot. A Hyundai Glovis official said, "We will continue to secure advanced technologies to proactively respond to the rapidly evolving logistics industry." 2025-07-07 15:57:25

S. Korea's convenience stores bet on private brands to fight stagnation SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - By the end of 2024, South Korea had 54,852 convenience stores nationwide. That breaks down to roughly one store for every 1,000 people. In urban areas, it is not unusual to see three or four different franchises on the same block, a clear sign of how dense and competitive the market has become. With growth slowing, the country's biggest chains, CU, GS25, 7-Eleven Korea, and Emart24, are turning to private brands (PBs) to stay relevant and improve margins. What began as budget-friendly alternatives have since evolved into full-scale product lines that help define each retailer's identity. Each chain now promotes its own brand. CU recently replaced its former label, Heyroo, with a new flagship line called PBICK. GS25 operates YouUs and Real Price. 7-Eleven Korea sells under the Seven Select label. Emart24 features No Brand and Peacock, both tied to its parent retail group. CU, run by BGF Retail, said on Jul. 6 that PBICK sales rose 33.7 percent in its first month. The line launched in May with snacks like melon gummies, chocolate churros, and affogato cookies. So far, CU has released more than ten products under the PBICK brand. The impact is already visible in performance metrics. Over the past month, PB snacks accounted for 16 percent of CU's total snack sales, up from 12 percent. PB snack sales at CU grew 36.6 percent in 2022, 27 percent in 2023, and 15.5 percent in 2024. CU sees PBICK not only as a branding move but as a way to boost store-level revenue. Upcoming items include black sesame latte snacks, double shrimp chips, and crème brûlée-inspired crackers. "Convenience store PBs are uniquely positioned to respond to rapid market shifts," said Shin Eun-ji, CU snack foods MD. "We aim to create differentiated offerings that deliver new value and experience." GS25 is also expanding its private brand strategy through cross-border collaboration. On Jul. 8, it will open a month-long pop-up shop at The Hyundai Seoul with Japan’s leading discount store, Don Quijote. This will mark Don Quijote’s first physical presence in South Korea. The pop-up will showcase over 30 of Don Quijote’s private label items alongside 10 from GS25’s lineup, including snacks and lifestyle goods. Some of the featured products will later be released nationwide at GS25 locations. This partnership follows GS25’s move in May to supply YouUs-branded products to Don Quijote stores in Japan. The Seoul pop-up reflects a growing collaboration between the two companies. Other players are pushing similar strategies. Emart24 is preparing to introduce its No Brand products to overseas stores, starting in India this August. 7-Eleven Korea has expanded its Seven Select label into lifestyle items, offering Supima T-shirts and socks in a trial to test customer response. 2025-07-07 14:31:20

S. Korean game companies jump on Squid Game season 3 buzz SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - With "Squid Game" back for a third season, the global hit is once again making waves, and South Korea's gaming industry is moving fast to ride the momentum. According to Netflix’s Top 10 chart as of July 6, "Squid Game: Season 3" ranked first among non-English TV series, pulling in more than 60.1 million views in its first week. That popularity has translated into new game content from major South Korean developers, giving fans a chance to step into the show's intense, high-stakes world. Kakao, one of the country’s leading tech firms, released an interactive online game titled "Chunsik Game: The Final Game." Based on a hide-and-seek scene from the new season, it uses KakaoTalk’s Open Chat feature to guide players through a series of escape room-style puzzles. Since launching, it has gone viral on social media, with over 23,000 people joining as of July 1. Kakao has also launched exclusive Squid Game merchandise under the collaboration. Items like a Chunsik x Squid Game choco pie set and a Season 3-themed keyring are available in the dedicated product category, marking a shift from promotional tie-ins to full-scale monetization. Nexon, a major South Korean gaming company, added Squid Game-themed content to its popular online shooter "Sudden Attack." A new map replicates the show’s maze-like staircase set, and players are divided into "managers" and "contestants" in team deathmatch mode. Participants earn in-game rewards and can enter to win event prizes. In "Fortnite," Epic Games added content inspired by Season 1 of Squid Game, including Red Light, Green Light, and marbles. The underground maze setting and game mechanics have been praised by fans for their attention to detail. After Squid Game’s first season premiered in 2021, South Korea’s content exports rose sharply. The Korea Creative Content Agency reported a 13.1 percent increase over six months, led by video and game-related content. One industry source said, "Squid Game is no longer just a drama. It’s become a platform. We’ll continue collaborating with global IPs so users can enjoy content in new ways." 2025-07-07 11:02:50

Hyundai Steel and AWS forge strategic alliance to accelerate digital transformation SEOUL, July 04 (AJP) - Hyundai Steel has signed a Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to drive digital transformation and expand its presence as a global digital steelmaker. The agreement was formalized on July 1 (local time) at AWS headquarters in Seattle, inside The Spheres. The two companies plan to cooperate in two main areas: introducing AWS’s cloud infrastructure to Hyundai Steel’s domestic production sites to accelerate digital transformation, and exploring the application of Hyundai Steel’s low-carbon steel products in AWS’s global data center construction projects. The signing ceremony was attended by key executives from both companies, including Martyn Mallick, Vice President of Corporate Business at AWS; Kerry Person, Vice President of AWS Data Centers; Kim Hu‑gon, Executive Director in charge of steel supply at Hyundai Steel, and Kim Seung‑hoe, Head of Hyundai Steel’s DX Strategy Division. Ozgur Tohumcu, AWS’s Head of Automotive and Manufacturing, emphasized the shared vision of the partnership, saying: “AWS and Hyundai Steel share a mutual commitment to innovation for both customers and the broader industry. We are proud to partner with Hyundai Steel on its journey to accelerate digital transformation through cloud and AI technologies.” As part of the agreement, Hyundai Steel is exploring plans to migrate its production management systems and data analytics operations to AWS Cloud. This transition would enable the company to build an AI-powered, real-time data integration and analysis environment across its domestic manufacturing facilities. In addition, Hyundai Steel sees the collaboration as a key opportunity to supply its low-carbon steel products to AWS’s ongoing global data center projects, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The move aligns with Hyundai Steel’s efforts to expand its footprint in the eco-friendly construction materials market. “This agreement marks a significant starting point to maximize synergy between the two companies,” said Kim Seung-hoe, Head of DX Strategy at Hyundai Steel. “It’s especially meaningful as it supports Hyundai Steel’s push to pioneer the global low-carbon steel market and strengthen its digital competitiveness. Through this partnership with AWS, we aim to propose a new vision for the steel industry.” In recent months, AWS has been deepening its footprint in Korea through strategic partnerships across key sectors. It established a generative AI launch center with LG CNS, began co-developing sovereign cloud services with LG U+, and partnered with Samsung on AI-powered telecom solutions. AWS is also building a hyperscale AI data center in Ulsan with SK Group. Now, Hyundai Steel joins this broader wave—bringing advanced manufacturing and low-carbon steel into AWS’s infrastructure. 2025-07-04 11:11:17

LG Electronics sharpens focus on AI, robotics under CEO William Cho SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - LG Electronics is undergoing one of the most ambitious transformations in its corporate history, shifting its focus away from traditional consumer hardware toward emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and business-to-business solutions. Now in his fourth year at the helm, CEO William Cho — also known by his Korean name, Cho Joo-wan — is steering LG with a long-term vision centered on “structural competitiveness,” rather than chasing the cyclical ups and downs of consumer electronics. The pivot is already reshaping the company’s operations, financial profile, and identity in the global tech landscape. Since Cho’s appointment in 2021, LG has significantly expanded its research and development operations. As of 2024, the company employed more than 21,600 full-time R&D professionals — a 9.5 percent increase from 2021. The share of R&D staff among LG’s regular workforce rose from 27.2 percent to 29.4 percent during the same period. Backed by rising investment, LG’s R&D spending surged 32.1 percent over three years, reaching 4.76 trillion won (approximately $3.45 billion) in 2024. The company allocated more than 1.1 trillion won to R&D in the first quarter of 2025 alone. LG operates a two-tier innovation model: business-unit laboratories focus on product-level improvements, while the CTO division oversees long-term research in fundamental technologies. This global R&D network includes facilities across South Korea, as well as in the United States, Europe, Japan, India, and China. To fuel its AI ambitions, LG is aggressively recruiting top-tier talent, hosting tech conferences across North America to showcase its innovation roadmap and attract skilled engineers and researchers. At the heart of Cho’s strategy is a decisive pivot beyond hardware. The company is embedding AI and robotics into its core offerings, and expanding into autonomous service robots for logistics and food delivery. In his keynote at CES 2025, Cho teased developments in humanoid household robots, positioning LG at the forefront of domestic robotics. The company is also deepening ties with global tech giants. In March, Cho met with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to discuss expanding cooperation in AI agents and advanced data center cooling systems, an area where LG’s expertise in ventilation and air conditioning plays a key role. 2025-07-03 15:44:19

Coupang enters cloud services market with AI-focused platform SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - E-commerce platform Coupang has entered the competitive cloud services arena with the launch of Coupang Intelligent Cloud, or CIC, a rebranded version of the company’s internal artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. The move signals Coupang’s ambitions to expand beyond retail and logistics by positioning itself as a serious player in South Korea’s rapidly growing cloud service sector — a space long dominated by global heavyweights like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, along with local firms such as Naver Cloud. CIC builds on years of proprietary infrastructure development that has supported Coupang’s core operations, including AI-driven logistics, recommendation engines and back-end systems. With the rebranding, Coupang is now offering its high-performance computing resources to outside clients — targeting startups, small and mid-sized businesses, and research organizations. “Based on cutting-edge GPU servers and robust infrastructure, we aim to provide Korea’s highest-quality AI cloud service,” a CIC spokesperson said. “We look forward to growing the AI ecosystem through deep partnerships with startups and research institutions.” CIC’s facilities are located in Seoul and the surrounding capital region, allowing for low-latency services crucial to AI model training and real-time inference. The data centers are equipped with high-performance GPU servers, advanced cooling and power redundancy systems, and physical security infrastructure. Coupang has indicated it will update its hardware frequently to keep pace with advances in GPU technology. In addition to its commercial offerings, Coupang is seeking to align CIC with national AI development efforts. The company has applied to join a government-led initiative aimed at expanding access to AI computing power and has expressed its intent to collaborate with public-sector agencies. 2025-07-03 15:28:11

Hanwha Ocean to build Korea's next-generation icebreaking research vessel SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - South Korea has taken a significant step in expanding its polar research capabilities with the selection of Hanwha Ocean as the preferred bidder to construct the country’s next-generation icebreaking research vessel. The vessel, to be built under the supervision of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, is scheduled for delivery by December 2029. The new ship will more than double the capacity of the country’s first and only existing icebreaker, the Araon, launched in 2009. At 16,560 gross tons, the vessel will feature a Polar Class 3 hull capable of breaking through 1.5 meters of ice while operating in temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius. It is designed to function both forward and backward in heavy ice, allowing for greater flexibility in extreme conditions. Equipped with a dual-fuel LNG-electric propulsion system, the vessel will also adhere to tightening global emissions regulations. Its onboard amenities — including upgraded living quarters, lounges, and dining areas — are being designed to near cruise-ship standards to accommodate researchers during prolonged deployments in remote polar regions. “This next-generation platform is a complete departure from Araon,” a Hanwha Ocean spokesperson said. “It is designed as an entirely new scientific base at sea, optimized for future challenges in polar research and climate studies.” Hanwha Ocean, formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, brings extensive experience to the project. Since 2008, the company has focused on developing icebreaking capabilities, anticipating the future strategic importance of Arctic shipping lanes. It holds the global record for icebreaking LNG carriers built — 21 in total — with major construction peaks in 2014 and 2020. 2025-07-02 15:50:00

HD Hyundai to merge key construction units SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - HD Hyundai has unveiled plans to merge two of its major subsidiaries — HD Hyundai Construction Equipment and HD Hyundai Infracore — into a single, unified entity tentatively named HD Construction Equipment. The boards of both companies approved the merger plan in meetings held on July 1. The new company is expected to be officially launched on Jan. 1, 2026, pending regulatory approvals and a shareholder vote. Once combined, the company is projected to generate annual revenues of around 8 trillion won, or approximately $5.8 billion, positioning it as a formidable player in the global construction equipment market. The move comes as manufacturers worldwide face growing economic headwinds and fierce competition in the heavy machinery sector. HD Hyundai said the restructuring is intended to sharpen the company's response to shifting market dynamics, accelerate innovation, and enhance operational efficiency through greater scale. 2025-07-02 13:37:15