AJU PRESS - ASIA NEWS HUB

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Candice Kim, Lim Jaeho candicekim1121@ajupress.com, ajupresswogh@ajupress.com

[[K-Tech]] Samsung to launch XR headset and tri-fold phone in second half SEOUL, August 01 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will release extended reality headsets and tri-fold smartphones in the second half of 2025 as part of an aggressive expansion of its Galaxy ecosystem, the tech giant said Friday. The company also plans additional mergers and acquisitions to strengthen new business areas including artificial intelligence, medical technology, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Samsung's Mobile Experience division reported second-quarter revenue of 29.2 trillion won and operating profit of 3.1 trillion won. Revenue increased 6.6 percent and operating profit rose 39 percent from the same period last year, driven by strong sales of premium Galaxy S25 series smartphones and Galaxy Tab 10 series tablets. The company plans to boost third-quarter performance through increased sales of Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 foldable devices launched in July, while strengthening marketing for the Galaxy S25 series. Daniel Araujo, executive vice president of the MX division, said the XR headset will incorporate AI functions based on an ecosystem built through collaboration with Google. The XR headset market has shown strong growth momentum, with the global extended reality market projected to reach 253.5 billion dollars in 2025 and grow at a compound annual growth rated of 30.4 percent through 2032, according to Fortun Business Insights. Meta currently dominates the market with a 74.6 percent share, while Apple’s Vision Pro captured 5.2 percent despite its premium 3,500 dollar price point, according to IDC data. Samsung’s entry comes as the industry landscape shifts following Microsoft’s exit from hardware development after discounting its HoloLens 2 headset in 2024. Apple’s Vision Pro launch accelerated market interest despite initial sales momentum slowing in the second half of 2024, creating opportunities for new players like Samsung to establish positions in the expanding XR ecosystem. Samsung acquired German HVAC company Plekt Group for 2.4 trillion won in May to expand its climate control business, targeting data center and commercial markets. The company has reactivated its M&A activities this year with three acquisitions including Plekt Group, US audio company Masimo's audio division, and US digital healthcare firm Zels. CFO Park Soon-chul indicated more acquisitions are under consideration across various new growth areas including AI, air conditioning systems, medical technology, robotics, automotive components, fintech and semiconductors. Samsung also plans to expand sales of AI-enabled TVs and home appliances while developing HVAC operations through partnerships with US joint venture Lennox and the newly acquired Plekt Group. 2025-08-01 15:19:34
Musinsa partners with government agency to boost K-fashion exports SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - Korean fashion platform Musinsa signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seoul Regional Small and Medium Business Administration on Wednesday to support Seoul-based fashion brands' overseas expansion. The partnership aims to enhance export activities and provide practical support for small and medium-sized fashion companies seeking global market entry. Under the agreement, Musinsa will leverage its platform operations experience and global network to identify promising Seoul-area fashion brands with growth potential. The company will create dedicated promotional sections on its global store platform and provide discount coupon promotions to increase international customer exposure to participating brands. The collaboration will connect with the Seoul SMBA's existing "Legend 50+ Project," which focuses on strengthening global competitiveness of Seoul's fashion small and medium enterprises. Both organizations plan to develop synergies through coordinated support programs targeting regional fashion companies with export ambitions. Starting in the second half of 2025, participating brands will receive mentoring programs and customized education services designed to strengthen brand management capabilities. Musinsa will also implement sales and marketing enhancement initiatives through its global store infrastructure to facilitate international market penetration. Lee Byung-kwon, head of Seoul SMBA, said the partnership represents an exemplary case of combining Korea's leading fashion platform capabilities with government policy resources. The agreement comes amid heightened global interest in K-fashion, with both parties aiming to expand export opportunities for competitive Seoul fashion brands in international markets. 2025-07-31 16:09:56
[[K-Tech]] LG AI model EXAONE 4.0 ranks 11th globally in intelligence index SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - LG AI Research's artificial intelligence model EXAONE 4.0 secured 11th place globally in the Intelligence Index evaluation by AI performance analysis firm Artificial Analysis, according to results announced Wednesday. The model ranked first among Korean AI models and fourth among publicly available open-weight models. The ranking was based on seven high-difficulty performance metrics including reasoning and knowledge capabilities, expert-level scientific problem solving, coding abilities, and mathematical problem resolution. EXAONE 4.0 achieved seventh place in coding and 10th place in mathematics, earning an overall score of 64 points alongside Anthropic's Claude 4 Opus. The model achieved these rankings despite being significantly smaller than many competing frontier AI models from global companies. LG AI Research ranked eighth among AI model development companies in the evaluation, which measures models against tasks such as MMLU-Pro, GPQA Diamond, LiveCodeBench, and AIME 2024. EXAONE 4.0, released on the Hugging Face platform on July 15 for research and educational purposes, reached 500,000 downloads within two weeks of its public release. The 32B parameter model has since exceeded 550,000 downloads, setting a record for Korean AI models in terms of fastest adoption rate. Both EXAONE Deep, released in March as Korea's first reasoning AI model, and EXAONE 4.0 have been included in Epoch AI's Notable AI Models list. This designation is used by Stanford University's annual AI report for comparing national and corporate AI competitiveness globally. 2025-07-31 16:09:42
Samsung Electronics posts 4.7 trillion won operating profit in second quarter SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics reported final second-quarter operating profit of 4.7 trillion won on Thursday, slightly above preliminary guidance as the world's largest memory chipmaker navigated persistent industry challenges and China sanctions. Revenue reached 74.6 trillion won, up marginally from the 74 trillion won preliminary estimate released earlier this month. The final results confirmed a 55.2 percent decline in operating profit from the same period last year, when the company earned 10.4 trillion won. Quarter-on-quarter, operating profit fell 30.1 percent from the first quarter's 6.7 trillion won, while revenue declined 5.7 percent from 79.1 trillion won in the previous three months. The Device Solutions division, which includes memory chips and foundry services, posted revenue of 27.9 trillion won and operating profit of 400 billion won. Despite an 11 percent quarterly increase in sales driven by high-value server memory products and expanded foundry client base, operating profit dropped 800 billion won due to inventory provisions in the memory business and sanctions-related costs affecting advanced AI chip production. Samsung's memory business expanded shipments of HBM3E and high-capacity DDR5 products to meet surging AI server demand, while data center SSD sales also grew. However, one-time inventory asset provisions and China sanctions on advanced semiconductors weighed heavily on profitability, underscoring the complex operating environment facing chipmakers. The Device Experience division reported revenue of 43.6 trillion won and operating profit of 3.3 trillion won. Mobile sales declined from the peak first quarter when flagship models launched, but solid smartphone performance drove year-on-year growth in both revenue and operating profit while maintaining double-digit margins through resource optimization. Looking ahead, Samsung expects continued global uncertainty from trade tensions and geopolitical risks but anticipates gradual IT market improvement driven by AI and robotics expansion. The company plans to accelerate its 8th-generation V-NAND transition and strengthen its foundry business with 2-nanometer GAA process technology for mobile applications. 2025-07-31 14:32:40
[[K-Trade]] South Korean deputy PM meets US commerce chief on tariff talks SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol held two hours of trade discussions with the United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday (local time), South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance said. The meeting took place immediately after Koo arrived in Washington, D.C., with Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan and chief trade negotiator Yeo Han-koo. The talks come as South Korea faces a 25 percent U.S. tariff on its exports starting August 1, part of President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariff policy affecting multiple countries, including Japan. Trump's 90-day pause on global reciprocal tariffs is set to expire, potentially exposing South Korean products, including automobiles and semiconductors, to steep duties. Upon arrival at Washington's Dulles International Airport, Koo said he came to meet Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who makes key decisions in Korea-U.S. trade negotiations. He pledged to conduct "national interest-centered negotiations" while explaining Korea-U.S. economic cooperation projects such as shipbuilding. Koo is scheduled to meet with Bessent on August 1 for what could be crucial talks ahead of the tariff deadline. The urgency has intensified after Japan secured a deal to cap US tariffs at 15 percent, raising concerns in Seoul that it could be left behind in the global round of negotiations. 2025-07-30 16:35:47
[[K-Biotech]] Celltrion to acquire US factory to counter potential drug tariffs SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said Tuesday it will invest up to 1.4 trillion won to acquire and expand a US manufacturing facility as a preemptive response to potential drug tariffs threatened by the Trump administration. The company plans to complete the factory acquisition this year and begin local production of drugs sold in the US from the fourth quarter of 2026. Celltrion announced it was selected as the preferred bidder for a US drug substance production facility owned by a global pharmaceutical company. The factory, located in a major pharmaceutical industry cluster, has been producing cancer and autoimmune disease treatments for several years. Contract details will be disclosed in October when the final agreement is signed. Chairman Seo Jung-jin said the acquisition and operation of the production facility will require about 700 billion won, with additional expansion costing between 300 billion and 700 billion won. The expanded facility could reach up to 1.5 times the production capacity of Celltrion's Songdo plant in Incheon, which has a 90,000-liter capacity. The acquisition includes a multi-billion won contract manufacturing agreement that will allow Celltrion to generate immediate revenue. Under the five-year deal, Celltrion will exclusively produce biopharmaceuticals for the selling company using half of the facility, while the other half will manufacture Celltrion's own products starting in the fourth quarter of 2026. Celltrion currently sells 11 biosimilar products in the US market, with plans to expand to 41 products by 2033. Seo said the company had stockpiled two years' worth of inventory in the US to provide time for setting up local production, while non-US sales will continue to be manufactured in South Korea. 2025-07-30 13:48:57
Samsung chief heads to Washington as tariff talks deadline with US looms SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong left for the U.S. on Tuesday to lend a hand in ongoing tariff negotiations between Seoul and Washington, according to industry sources. Lee's trip comes just a couple of days before the tariff deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump looms later this week. Industry watchers expect Lee may offer Samsung's commitment to expanding investment in the semiconductor sector, as well as deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence-related technologies with the U.S. It also coincided with Samsung's signing of a record 23 trillion won contract for foundry supply with American electric vehicle giant Tesla the previous day. Under the deal, Samsung will produce Tesla's next-generation AI6 autonomous driving chips using 2-nanometer manufacturing processes at its facility in Taylor, Texas starting next year. Calling it a "key milestone for Samsung’s foundry business amid fierce market competition," Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his expectations on X, praising the partnership as a way to help Tesla maximize manufacturing efficiency. He added he would personally inspect production lines to accelerate progress in the partnership between the two companies. Market analysts believe the deal will create a favorable atmosphere for the tariff negotiations. Samsung is currently expanding its American operations with a mega factory under construction in Taylor, in addition to its existing foundry facility in Austin, also in Texas. 2025-07-29 18:10:15
Korean shipbuilders gain market share as US sanctions target China SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - South Korean shipbuilders saw their global market share recover to over 20 percent in the first half of 2025, benefiting from the United States sanctions on Chinese maritime industries, according to data released Tuesday by the Korea Development Bank's overseas economic research institute. South Korea's order share reached 25.1 percent in the January-June period based on compensated gross tonnage, up 8 percentage points from 17.2 percent a year earlier. The gap with top-ranked China narrowed from 51.0 percentage points to 26.7 percentage points as Korean yards capitalized on container ship orders shifting away from Chinese competitors. The rebound was driven by the US Trade Representative's decision to impose port fees on Chinese shipping companies and operators of Chinese-built vessels entering US ports. Container ships accounted for 53.3 percent of Korea's 4.87 million CGT in orders during the first half, compared to just two medium and large container ships ordered in the same period last year. However, the overall global shipbuilding market contracted sharply amid economic uncertainties. Global orders fell 54.5 percent to 19.39 million CGT in the first six months, with liquefied natural gas vessel orders - a Korean specialty - plunging 82.9 percent to 1.05 million CGT. The research institute warned that South Korean shipbuilders should use this temporary advantage to strengthen fundamental competitiveness rather than becoming complacent. The report noted that the market share recovery represents "fisherman's profit" from US-China tensions and urged companies to focus on widening quality gaps with Chinese rivals while the government provides active support given the industry's national security importance. 2025-07-29 16:06:43
[[K-Tech]] Older DDR4 chip prices rebound after Samsung, SK hynix raise contract rates SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - Spot prices for older-generation DDR4 memory chips have staged a modest recovery after a lull earlier this month, driven by price hikes from major South Korean suppliers amid continued supply shortages, according to market research firm TrendForce. In its latest report, TrendForce said DDR4 prices climbed across several key models during the week of July 16–22, reversing a brief cooling trend that began in early July. The gains follow upward revisions to fixed contract prices by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, two of the world’s largest memory chipmakers, as constrained supply continues to ripple through the consumer electronics market. “The rebound is primarily driven by supplier-side pricing actions, not a fundamental shift in demand,” TrendForce noted in a July 23 commentary. The firm cited significant hikes in fixed contract rates by both Samsung and SK hynix as contributing to renewed upward momentum in the spot market. 2025-07-28 15:11:09
S. Korea scrambles to avert tariffs as US seals trade deals with Japan, EU SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - With the United States locking in trade agreements with Japan and the European Union, South Korea is making a last-ditch effort to avoid steep tariffs that could further strain its slowing economy. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol will travel to Washington this week for a face-to-face meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday, officials said Monday. The talks will take place on the final day of a temporary tariff grace period, and are widely seen as Seoul’s last opportunity to stave off a potential 25 percent levy on its exports. The urgency of the mission has intensified in recent days. On July 22, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough agreement with Japan that sets a 15 percent tariff rate on Japanese exports to the United States and includes a $550 billion investment pledge from Tokyo. Five days later, a similar deal was reached with the European Union, establishing matching tariff terms and $600 billion in new European investments. South Korea, by contrast, remains on the outside looking in. Talks between Seoul and Washington have dragged on for months, and a previously planned “2+2” trade consultation was abruptly canceled earlier this month. Minister Koo was already en route to the U.S. when he was ordered to turn back at Incheon International Airport. Friday’s meeting is now expected to serve as final coordination before the tariff decision deadline. Korean officials warn that the imposition of mutual 25 percent tariffs would deal a heavy blow to Korea’s key manufacturing exporters, already reeling from U.S. steel and auto tariffs. The finance ministry has flagged a risk of “snowballing economic damage,” with additional levies potentially pushing South Korea’s growth trajectory deeper into stagnation. To break the impasse, Seoul is preparing a fresh set of negotiating offers. These include expanded industrial cooperation in shipbuilding — a sector that Trump has cited as strategically important — as well as a possible revision of South Korea’s “$100 billion” investment plan in the U.S. market. The move comes after Tokyo’s $550 billion commitment raised expectations for other allies to follow suit. Notably, South Korean officials have also confirmed that agricultural products are now on the negotiating table, raising speculation that the government may consider concessions on politically sensitive imports such as rice and beef — long regarded as untouchable due to strong domestic opposition. Trade experts caution that while Seoul faces pressure to align with the U.S. amid shifting global trade alignments, any deal must also protect core domestic industries already weakened by sluggish exports and thinning profit margins. 2025-07-28 14:11:52