U.S. tariffs on Chinese batteries open door for Korean battery firms SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - The United States plans to sharply raise tariffs on Chinese-made energy storage system batteries, a move that could reshape the fast-growing American clean energy market and give South Korea’s battery makers an opening to expand. The Commerce Department said tariffs on Chinese ESS batteries, already steep at 40.9 percent, will climb to 58.4 percent in 2026. The increase stems largely from Section 301 trade penalties, which will rise from 7.5 percent to 25 percent, layered on top of basic import duties, reciprocal tariffs and a 20 percent surcharge linked to fentanyl trafficking. The higher levies are expected to erase China’s long-standing price advantage. Industry analysts estimate that lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, battery cells shipped from China to the United States will cost about $87 per kilowatt-hour next year, up from roughly $73 last year. That would put them on par with the $85 to $90 charged by South Korean producers operating in the United States. Seoul’s battery makers are moving quickly to seize the opportunity. LG Energy Solution began mass production of LFP batteries for energy storage at its Michigan plant in June and reported a U.S. order backlog exceeding 50 gigawatt-hours. The company plans to nearly double its domestic ESS production capacity to 30 gigawatt-hours next year. Samsung SDI is preparing to start ESS battery production by year’s end and add LFP capacity in the second half of 2026. SK On, meanwhile, is retooling its Georgia plant, SK Battery America, to produce storage batteries while reserving its joint venture facilities for electric vehicle cells. The U.S. administration’s Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit, which provides tax breaks to U.S.-based clean energy manufacturers, further tilts the playing field toward Korean companies. Chinese producers have limited access to the subsidy. For South Korea’s big three battery makers, energy storage represents a critical hedge. Demand for EV batteries has slowed, and federal subsidies for electric vehicle purchases are scheduled to expire at the end of September under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a shift that could further weaken the market. 2025-09-01 15:14:09

KAIST develops AI that restores clear video through fog and distortion SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) has developed an artificial intelligence system capable of restoring sharp images from video footage that is blurred or distorted by fog, frosted glass, or other scattering effects. The research was carried out by Professor Jang Moo-seok of KAIST's Department of Bio and Brain Engineering and Professor Ye Jong-chul of the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI. Their team created what they describe as the world's first "video diffusion-based restoration technology," which uses time-based information to reconstruct video frames that have been degraded during filming. When light is scattered, such as in fog, smoke, or through frosted glass, camera sensors receive jumbled signals, producing blurred or unclear images. The new system learns how video frames change over time and uses that continuity to recover details hidden behind scattering media. Scattering media are materials that disrupt the path of light and distort visual information. Common examples include fog, smoke, translucent glass, and even biological tissues like skin. The KAIST team's technology can effectively "see through" such barriers, similar to peering past frosted glass. The potential areas of applications are very wide. The method could be used in medical imaging to examine blood vessels or skin tissue without invasive procedures. It could assist in search-and-rescue operations where smoke reduces visibility. It could also improve driver assistance systems on foggy roads, enable industrial inspections of plastics or glass, and provide clearer views underwater. Traditional AI restoration methods often work only within the narrow range of data they were trained on. To overcome this, the KAIST team combined physics-based optical modeling with video diffusion models, allowing the AI to adapt to many kinds of image damage. Unlike conventional still-image approaches, their system accounts for how scattering environments change over time, for instance, the shifting view behind a curtain moved by wind. By training the model to learn temporal correlations between video frames, the researchers achieved stable restoration across different distances, thicknesses, and noise levels. In one demonstration, they were able to observe the motion of sperm cells behind a moving scattering layer, a first in the field. The study also showed that the same framework could handle other restoration tasks without retraining, including fog removal, image quality enhancement, and blind deblurring of unfocused video. This suggests that the method could serve as a general-purpose platform for image and video restoration. Researcher Kwon Tae-sung said, "We confirmed that a diffusion model trained on temporal correlations can effectively solve optical inverse problems, restoring data hidden behind moving scattering layers. In the future, we plan to extend this research to more optical challenges, including those that require tracking how light changes over time." Doctoral students Kwon Tae-sung and Song Guk-ho of KAIST were co-first authors of the paper. The study was published on August 13 in IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence (TPAMI), one of the world's leading journals in artificial intelligence. The work was supported by South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, the National Research Foundation of Korea, Samsung's Future Technology Development Program, and the AI Star Fellowship program. 2025-09-01 14:28:55

Ulsan signs deal to build hydrogen plant SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - Ulsan City said Monday that it had signed an agreement with Deokyang Energen, a fuel gas and pipeline company, to build a hydrogen production and distribution center, as the city seeks to cement its role as a leader in the nation’s hydrogen economy. Under the memorandum of understanding, Deokyang Energen will invest 22 billion won, or about $15.9 million, to construct the facility by October 2026 in Hwangseong-dong, within the Ulsan Mipo National Industrial Complex. The project will include a production plant capable of generating 2,400 cubic meters of hydrogen an hour — enough, officials said, to simultaneously refuel about 10 hydrogen-powered buses. At a signing ceremony, Mayor Kim Du-gyeom pledged to support the project with streamlined permits and other administrative assistance. “This agreement represents an opportunity for Ulsan to advance further as a leading city in the hydrogen economy,” he said, adding that the city would expand its supply infrastructure to foster growth and create jobs. The announcement follows a separate deal in May with Korea Southern Power, which plans to spend 600 billion won, or $432 million, to build a 135-megawatt clean hydrogen power plant in the city. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029, with completion expected in 2031. 2025-09-01 09:37:39

South Korea's SNT Group to establish US production base in Louisiana SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - South Korea's SNT Group said Friday that it had purchased an 82-acre site in Louisiana for a new manufacturing complex. The facility, covering roughly 330,000 square meters, will be developed in phases and is intended to serve as SNT’s integrated North American production base. The project will be led by SNT Motiv, the group’s automotive components arm, and will also involve SNT Energy, its energy equipment unit. Louisiana was chosen for its logistical advantages, company officials said. The state offers direct access to the Mississippi River, major highway corridors and proximity to auto manufacturing centers in Alabama and Georgia. It is also a hub for liquefied natural gas exports and home to some of the country’s most energy-intensive petrochemical and refining operations. At the plant, SNT Motiv plans to manufacture automotive components, including electric motors, for U.S. customers. SNT Energy will localize production of air coolers for liquefied natural gas projects as well as parts for combined-cycle power plants. “This investment will significantly enhance our production and supply capabilities in North America,” the group said in a press release. “By meeting U.S. standards, we will be able to respond more quickly to local demand and strengthen our position in a rapidly shifting global market.” 2025-08-29 15:01:47

Samsung gains ground in Japan's iPhone-dominated market SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Samsung, after years of lagging behind, is starting to carve out a bigger foothold in Japan, where Apple has long towered over the smartphone market. Samsung's Galaxy S25 series — introduced earlier this year with a slate of artificial intelligence features — has helped lift its fortunes in Japan. Samsung’s shipments surged 60 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, according to new data from Counterpoint Research released Friday. For Samsung, the gains represent a rare advance in a market where Apple’s dominance has been virtually unshakable. The question now is whether Japan’s consumers — long loyal to the iPhone — are ready to make more space for a rival. That second-quarter growth vaulted Samsung to third place in shipment-based market share at 10 percent, trailing Apple at 49 percent and Google at 11 percent. The company rose from fifth place a year ago, while Sharp, Japan’s top domestic player, slipped to fourth as its shipments fell 28 percent and its market share dropped to 6 percent. Samsung, which held just 6 percent of the market last year, is now on track to hit double digits for the full year, analysts say. The rise reflects growing consumer appetite in Japan for AI-equipped phones, boosting demand not only for the premium Galaxy S25 but also for Samsung’s more affordable Galaxy A line. The momentum has also been visible in the rollout of Samsung’s foldable devices. Its new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7, launched in Japan on Aug. 1, took the top two sales spots at NTT Docomo’s online store in their debut week. 2025-08-29 14:02:33

Ulsan breaks ground on AI data center with SK Telecom, Amazon SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - The industrial city of Ulsan is positioning itself as a national hub for artificial intelligence, breaking ground Friday on a large-scale AI data center in partnership with SK Telecom and Amazon Web Services. The ceremony, held at the Mipo National Industrial Complex, was attended by Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom, SK Telecom’s chief executive, Yoo Young-sang, officials from SK and AWS, lawmakers, and representatives from academia and local industries. The project follows a June investment agreement between SK Telecom and AWS, the world’s largest cloud services provider, to build a 103-megawatt facility in the coastal city. Unlike traditional data centers, the facility is designed to support large-scale AI training and analysis, industry-specific cloud applications, and high-speed data processing. Officials described it as a step toward embedding AI into Ulsan’s major industries, which include shipbuilding, petrochemicals, and automotive manufacturing. “Starting construction on one of the world’s biggest AI data centers isn’t just about infrastructure,” Mayor Kim said in remarks at the event. “It’s the first step toward bringing AI into Ulsan’s key industries and speeding up innovation.” 2025-08-29 09:51:54

Korean businesses cite finance, taxes, labor rules as major growth hurdles SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - Despite government efforts to streamline regulations, South Korean companies continue to struggle with financing, tax burdens and labor rules, according to a new report. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) said Thursday that nearly 71 percent of firms surveyed in the World Bank Enterprise Survey identified those three areas as their biggest obstacles. Limited access to finance was cited by 34 percent of companies, followed by taxation at 21 percent and labor regulations at 16 percent. The report found that businesses facing financing difficulties or heavy tax obligations invested as much as 21 percentage points less in facilities and intangible assets. By contrast, firms constrained by labor rules tended to increase investment in technology and automation, suggesting a shift away from expanding headcount. On the regulatory front, Korea has made some progress. The country scored below the OECD average on the 2023–24 Product Market Regulation index in assessing regulatory impacts. But it still lags in cutting red tape: licensing procedures in Korea take an average of 193 days, more than 10 times the OECD average of 18. Access to capital remains a pressing challenge. Korean companies are heavily dependent on bank loans, and the survey gave the country a score of 76.7 out of 100 for financial access difficulties — higher than the OECD average of 68.1. Tax incentives have also proved insufficient. Programs such as investment credits and R&D deductions are limited in scope and undermined by frequent short-term extensions, leaving companies with little predictability. Korea’s R&D tax support rose only 11 percent over the past five years, the report noted, compared with a 26 percent increase in China. To address these issues, the chamber proposed a series of reforms: easing rules that separate banking from commerce to bolster strategic industries, offering direct tax rebates modeled on the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and allowing greater flexibility in the 52-hour workweek, particularly in fast-moving sectors like technology. “In a regressive system where regulations increase and support decreases as companies grow, it’s impossible to strengthen the incentives for growth,” said Park Yang-soo from the KCCI. “We need to restructure the incentive system to reward and encourage companies that are scaling up.” 2025-08-28 15:49:55

SK Telecom slapped record fine over data breach affecting 23 million users SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - South Korea’s privacy watchdog has imposed a record fine on SK Telecom after a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of more than 23 million mobile subscribers. The Personal Information Protection Commission said on Thursday that it decided to levy a fine of 134.8 billion won, or about $97 million, on the country’s largest wireless carrier. The breach compromised sensitive information from all 23.2 million users of SK Telecom’s LTE and 5G networks, including customers of its budget mobile affiliates. Data leaked included phone numbers, International Mobile Subscriber Identity codes and authentication keys used in SIM cards, according to the commission. Investigators said the intrusion began in August 2021, when a hacker infiltrated SK Telecom’s internal network and planted malware on multiple servers. Nearly a year later, in June 2022, the attacker installed additional malicious software in the company’s Integrated Customer Authentication System, securing deeper access. On April 18 of this year, the hacker extracted 9.8 gigabytes of user data from the company’s subscriber database and leaked it online. The commission concluded that the breach stemmed from SK Telecom’s failure to enforce basic security practices and negligence in data management. It also faulted the company for delaying notification to affected users. Under South Korean law, companies must alert customers to leaks within 72 hours of discovery, a requirement SK Telecom did not meet. 2025-08-28 14:43:08

OpenAI to launch Seoul office in September SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - OpenAI, the San Francisco company behind ChatGPT, will open a branch office in Seoul next month, underscoring its push to cement a foothold in Asia’s artificial intelligence market. The new office, OpenAI Korea, will be located on Teheran-ro in Gangnam, Seoul’s financial and technology corridor. The company is scheduled to hold a press conference on Sept. 10 to mark the opening, according to industry officials. Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, is expected to outline the company’s regional roadmap and introduce the local office head, who has yet to be named. OpenAI has been recruiting for its Korean operation since May, advertising six roles and building a staff of about 10. The Seoul branch will be the company’s 12th worldwide and its third in Asia, following Japan and Singapore. OpenAI also maintains offices in Britain, France and Germany. The expansion reflects the company’s rapid adoption in South Korea, where ChatGPT has become one of the country’s most widely used digital services. South Korea ranks second only to the United States in paid ChatGPT subscriptions, and more than 10 million people used the service in May, according to Mobile Index, an app analytics firm. On Aug. 18, OpenAI recorded its highest daily active user count in Korea: 3.33 million. 2025-08-28 09:52:32

Regulators raid MBK Partners in expanding Homeplus probe SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korean financial regulators raided the Seoul headquarters of MBK Partners on Wednesday, intensifying a long-running inquiry into the private equity firm’s role in the financial troubles of Homeplus, one of the country’s largest discount retailers. Dozens of inspectors from the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service were dispatched to MBK’s Gwanghwamun office, officials said, as part of a joint probe into whether the firm engaged in unfair trading practices during and after its 2015 acquisition of Homeplus. The move comes amid mounting political scrutiny and labor unrest. Homeplus announced earlier this month that it would shutter 15 of its 68 leased stores, sparking renewed criticism from employees and lawmakers, who argue that MBK’s debt-fueled takeover saddled the retailer with unsustainable costs. “The massive financial expenses incurred during the M&A, including loan interest payments, fell on Homeplus, significantly deteriorating the company’s operation,” the Homeplus labor union said in a statement in March. Regulators have been examining whether MBK concealed financial distress at Homeplus while issuing short-term bonds, and whether it had already anticipated a credit downgrade and a potential corporate rehabilitation filing. Officials said Wednesday they had secured evidence that preparations for such a filing were underway even as the bonds were sold. Some individuals tied to the case have already been referred to prosecutors, according to the authorities. The latest phase of the investigation is expected to widen the focus to MBK’s fundraising process for the Homeplus buyout, including how it recruited limited partners and whether the deal’s leveraged structure imposed excessive strain on the retailer’s balance sheet. Sanctions for unfair trading and internal control violations are reportedly under consideration. The case has also become a political flashpoint. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party, which controls the National Assembly, have called for a hearing into MBK’s role. Lee Chan-jin, the new head of the Financial Supervisory Service, has long been a critic of the firm. Last year, as a civic activist, he warned that public investment in MBK would amount to “a breach of duty” for the National Pension Service. Kim Byoung-hwan, chairman of the Financial Services Commission, told lawmakers on Aug. 21 that regulators would “review whether there are areas where supervisory authorities can take appropriate action against MBK Partners.” 2025-08-27 16:58:33