Journalist

Ryu Yuna, Lee Jung-woo, Kim Hee-su, and Joonha Yoo
  • Roses nod by Grammys fails to persuade investors of her Korean label YG
    Rose's nod by Grammys fails to persuade investors of her Korean label YG SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - BLACKPINK member Rose is leading a wave of female K-pop artists heading into the 2026 Grammy Awards — an unprecedented moment for Korean pop music — but the historic nominations has so far failed to lift investor sentiment toward her label. Shares of YG Entertainment tumbled more than 7 percent to 66,650 won ($46) on Monday, the first trading day after the Recording Academy shortlisted Rose’s “APT.” featuring Bruno Mars for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Despite the headline-making nominations, IBK Investment & Securities cut its target price on YG to 100,000 won from 120,000 won, citing weakness in third-quarter earnings. Operating profit surged 272 percent on year to 31.1 billion won ($21 million), but still fell short of the market consensus of 34 billion won. The brokerage trimmed its 2025 and 2026 operating profit estimates by 17 percent and 12 percent, respectively, while maintaining a buy rating. YG Entertainment shares have been sliding sharply in recent weeks after peaking at 109,800 won ($75) on August 21. The rally earlier in the summer was fueled by the breakout success of the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters — whose production roster included YG-linked creators — and optimism over a potential easing of Beijing’s unofficial ban on K-pop. Released on June 20, K-Pop Demon Hunters became an unexpected global hit and set new viewership records. Its original soundtrack, led by the single “Golden,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 on August 11, marking a major milestone for K-pop. The track was produced by The Black Label’s Teddy and 24, alongside U.S. collaborator Lijae. The OST album, distributed by Republic Records, is officially classified under the K-pop genre on the label’s website. Other producers at The Black Label — 24, Kush, and Vince — contributed additional songs including “Soda Pop” and “Your Idol.” Investor sentiment toward YG also strengthened in early July when BLACKPINK made a full-group comeback for the first time in 22 months. The quartet opened their “Deadline” world tour with two shows at Goyang Stadium on July 5–6, drawing a total of 78,000 attendees. By late August, the group had sold out major venues in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona and London, with only the Asian leg remaining. YG did not debut any new acts this year, but its affiliate label The Black Label enjoyed momentum with its rookie group All Day Project. The group debuted on June 23, rose to No. 1 on Melon’s Top 100 chart within three days, and entered the Billboard Global 200 eight days after debut. Despite these successes, YG’s momentum weakened amid questions over its long-term management strategy and concerns about the cooling of the short-term K-pop hype cycle. Founded in 1998 by former Seo Taiji and Boys member Yang Hyun-suk, YG is one of Korea’s “big four” entertainment companies and home to BIGBANG, BLACKPINK and BABYMONSTER. The company also holds a 14.55 percent stake in The Black Label, which manages rising groups MEOVV, izna and All Day Project. Analysts say YG’s outlook remains dependent on its flagship artists and the possibility of China easing restrictions on Korean entertainment. “BLACKPINK continues to anchor profitability, while BABYMONSTER and BIGBANG’s 20th anniversary comeback could support growth next year,” said Kim Hyun-yong at Hyundai Motor Securities. The brokerage expects BABYMONSTER to launch large-scale tours in the West and Japan, while BIGBANG is confirmed to headline Coachella in April 2026. Hana Securities analyst Lee Kihoon said the K-pop sector could see record earnings next year if both BIGBANG and BTS resume full-group activities. “If that happens, it would mark an unprecedented performance year for the entire industry,” he said. Yang Hyun-suk remains YG’s largest shareholder with a 19.3 percent stake, followed by Naver at 8.9 percent, the National Pension Service at 7.2 percent, and China’s Tencent at 4.3 percent. Despite Monday’s sharp decline, NH Investment’s Lee Hwa-jung maintained that YG’s fundamentals remain intact, predicting that structural growth and overseas reopening will support a recovery. 2025-11-10 17:36:43
  • KOSPI bounces back above 4,000 to lead Asian markets early Monday
    KOSPI bounces back above 4,000 to lead Asian markets early Monday SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s stock market rebounded sharply on Monday as foreign investors returned on signs of a breakthrough in the U.S. government shutdown. KOSPI jumped 2.8 percent, reclaiming the 4,000 mark, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ edged up a mere 0.5 percent to hover below 900. The early rally was driven by strong buying from foreign and institutional investors. Foreigners — who dumped more than 7 trillion won ($4.8 billion) worth of Korean shares last week — turned net buyers of 120.4 billion won in the main market. Institutions also net-purchased 216.9 billion won. Among blue chips, Samsung Electronics rose 1.6 percent to 99,500 won ($68), while SK hynix climbed 4.1 percent to 603,500 won. Financial stocks continued their strong run. KB Financial gained 4.4 percent to 129,100 won, BNK Financial Group added 3.5 percent to 15,210 won, Shinhan Financial Group rose 2.7 percent to 79,500 won, and iM Financial Group advanced 4.7 percent to 14,160 won. According to Hana Securities, bank stocks climbed 5 percent last week, sharply outperforming the KOSPI’s return of –3.7 percent. The sector’s momentum has been fueled by expectations of dividend tax cuts and rising government bond yields. The government and the ruling Democratic Party are reportedly fast-tracking a plan to lower the top rate on separately taxed dividend income from 35 percent to 25 percent, a move analysts say could shift investment away from real estate and toward dividend-paying equities. Investor sentiment also improved on optimism that the U.S. federal government shutdown may soon be resolved. On Friday, Wall Street ended mixed, with the Dow up 0.2 percent, the S&P 500 up 0.1 percent, and the Nasdaq down 0.2 percent. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.9 percent to 50,716.35. Fast Retailing, operator of Uniqlo, rose 0.7 percent to 57,630 yen ($375), while SoftBank advanced 2 percent to 22,130 yen. Auto stocks retreated, with Toyota down 0.8 percent to 3,094 yen and Honda sliding 4.8 percent to 1,509 yen. China’s Shanghai Composite edged up 0.2 percent to 4,005.57, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.6 percent to 26,395.23. 2025-11-10 11:35:52
  • HOT STOCK: Innotech rockets to the ceiling on KOSDAQ debut on chip-related hype
    HOT STOCK: Innotech rockets to the ceiling on KOSDAQ debut on chip-related hype SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - Innotech, a South Korean maker of environmental test equipment, quadrupled on its KOSDAQ debut Friday, underscoring the frenzied appetite for anything tied to chipmaking. The shares opened at 50,300 won — 242 percent above the initial public offering (IPO) price of 14,700 won — and immediately hit the daily permissible ceiling of 58,800 won ($40). The stock stayed locked at the upper limit throughout the session despite a sweeping rout that dragged both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ down around 2 percent. KB Securities was the sole underwriter. Founded in 2013, Innotech specializes in reliability and environmental testing systems that simulate extreme conditions — from minus 70 to plus 250 degrees Celsius — to verify durability against heat, humidity, and vibration. Such systems are essential across semiconductor, battery, display, and automotive manufacturing, where production stability and quality assurance hinge on precision testing. By developing proprietary technologies and offering integrated services from design and manufacturing to maintenance, the company has reduced reliance on imported equipment. This strategy helped Innotech secure major clients including Samsung Display, Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Division, and Samsung SDI between 2019 and 2023. The firm has also expanded overseas with a Vietnam subsidiary and around $5 million in exports. Financial performance has strengthened steadily. Revenue rose from 6.4 billion won in 2021 to 16.7 billion won ($11.46 million) last year, representing a compound annual growth rate of 27.1 percent over four years. Investor demand for the IPO was overwhelming. Institutional book-building drew a subscription ratio of 1,072 to 1, pushing the pricing to the top of the indicative range. Retail demand was even stronger, with 410,000 bids, a competitive ratio of 2,427 to 1, and deposits swelling to 7.85 trillion won. A KB Securities official said Innotech’s growth prospects in displays, semiconductors, and secondary batteries “drew strong interest from both institutional and individual investors.” Innotech plans to use the proceeds to develop next-generation testing systems for semiconductors and batteries, expand R&D, and strengthen its global customer network. CEO Jang Seok-jun said the firm aims to become “a leading global provider of complex reliability and environmental testing equipment through continued technological innovation.” 2025-11-07 16:25:34
  • Asian markets fall, KRW breaches crisis-linked 1,450 per USD
    Asian markets fall, KRW breaches crisis-linked 1,450 per USD SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - Asian shares fell sharply in early Friday trading as investors reacted to overnight losses on Wall Street, sending South Korea’s benchmark indices below key thresholds and pushing the Korean won past a psychologically critical level historically associated with periods of upheavals. The won weakened rapidly in morning trade, with the dollar rising to 1,454.8 won as of 10:20 a.m. in Seoul. The breaches of the 1,450 level have typically coincided with extraordinary events — including the presidential impeachment in April, the martial law crisis in December, and stress periods following the 2009 global financial crisis. The currency’s slide came alongside a broad selloff in equities. The KOSPI dropped 2 percent, falling back below the 4,000 mark, while the KOSDAQ slipped under 900, reflecting deteriorating sentiment across risk assets. The downturn followed steep losses in the United States, where all three major indices declined on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8 percent, the S&P 500 dropped 1.12 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite tumbled 1.9 percent to 23,053.99, weighed down by a pullback in semiconductor and AI-linked names. Nvidia lost 3.7 percent, AMD slumped 7.3 percent and Palantir shed 6.8 percent. Qualcomm retreated 3.6 percent despite reporting stronger-than-expected earnings, amid speculation that Apple could reduce future chip orders. Investor nerves were further rattled after David Sacks, the White House’s AI policy chief and colloquially known as the administration’s “AI czar,” posted on X that there would be “no federal bailout for AI.” His comment fueled worries that the sector may not receive government support if market volatility deepens. Adding to the unease, new labor data pointed to rising job losses tied to restructuring across the tech sector. According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, U.S. employers cut 153,074 positions in October, marking the largest October layoffs since 2003. So far this year, 218 technology companies have eliminated more than 112,000 jobs, including staff reductions at Intel, Microsoft and Amazon. Nearly 300,000 public-sector workers have also been laid off. Tesla, which closed down 3.5 percent at $445.91 on Thursday, rose more than 2 percent in after-hours trading after shareholders approved CEO Elon Musk’s long-debated compensation package. The plan could award Musk stock options worth up to $1 trillion if Tesla meets a set of market-value and operational milestones totaling $8.5 trillion. Still, the relief did not extend to Korean battery suppliers with exposure to Tesla. Samsung SDI slid 4.2 percent to 308,500 won, Ecopro dropped 2.9 percent, Ecopro BM declined 3.3 percent and LG Energy Solution shed 1.3 percent. Analysts said lingering fears over an AI-driven bubble overshadowed any optimism from Tesla’s governance developments. Markets elsewhere in Asia also retreated. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.5 percent to 50,117.88, with Toyota down 0.9 percent and Sony 1.6 percent lower. AI- and chip-equipment names bore the heaviest losses, with Advantest tumbling 5.9 percent and SoftBank dropping 7.9 percent. SoftBank briefly plunged more than 8 percent in morning trade, erasing most of Thursday’s rebound after a volatile week in which shares fell 10 percent on Wednesday, rose 3 percent Thursday and then reversed sharply again. In Greater China, the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.2 percent to 4,000.62, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 0.7 percent to 26,314.37, extending weakness from the previous session. 2025-11-07 11:33:26
  • HOT STOCK: Hyosung Heavy flies to rank as most expensive KOSPI stock
    HOT STOCK: Hyosung Heavy flies to rank as most expensive KOSPI stock SEOUL, November 06 (AJP) - The most expensive stock on Korea’s main bourse is no longer Samsung Electronics or Hyundai Motor, but Hyosung Heavy Industries — trading at 2.3 million won ($1,591) per share and cementing its position as the priciest KOSPI-listed company. The stock has surged 462.6 percent this year as of Tuesday, making it the top performer on a KOSPI that itself has jumped 72 percent year-to-date. Hyosung Heavy manufactures core power-grid equipment such as extra-high-voltage transformers. Its share-price explosion is fueled by soaring global investment in electricity transmission infrastructure amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, which is driving unprecedented demand for stable, high-capacity power systems. A major subsidiary of Hyosung Group, the company sits within a conglomerate founded by Cho Hong-jai, who once partnered with Samsung’s founder Lee Byung-chul. The group’s historical ties place Hyosung within Korea’s wider Samsung-origin family network. Investors are increasingly betting on a stock split to make the seven-digit share price more accessible to retail traders. A split reduces the face value and multiplies the number of outstanding shares, lowering the trading price per share while preserving market capitalization. Samsung Electronics undertook a 50-for-1 split in 2018 when its shares exceeded 2.5 million won. Hyosung Heavy has received inquiries from shareholders but says no specific plan is under review. Last Friday, Hyosung Heavy reported a preliminary consolidated operating profit of 219.8 billion won ($152 million) for the July–September quarter, up 97.3 percent from a year earlier. Eleven securities firms subsequently raised their target prices. NH Investment & Securities and Hana Securities both set their targets at 3 million won per share. Based on current outstanding shares, this implies a market capitalization of about 27.97 trillion won. NH Investment & Securities cited the company’s strong position in U.S. utility upgrades and tight supplier dominance, projecting improved profitability from rising North American and European demand. The firm raised its target from 1.5 million won to 3 million won. Shinhan Investment & Securities offered a similar view, expecting the stock to reach 3 million won in the mid- to long-term. Researcher Lee Dongheon noted that despite U.S. tariffs, power-equipment margins widened sharply, and stabilization in the construction division supported record earnings. With North America’s backlog-to-sales ratio at high levels, profit momentum is expected to continue for years. Hyosung Heavy’s meteoric rise reflects mounting confidence in grid-equipment suppliers as AI data centers, renewable energy transitions and power-intensive industrial clusters reshape global electricity demand. 2025-11-06 17:57:06
  • Asian markets recover early Thursday from AI rout
    Asian markets recover early Thursday from AI rout SEOUL, November 06 (AJP) - Asian stocks rebounded Thursday as investors shrugged off a brief scare over stretched valuations in the AI boom. Seoul’s KOSPI gained 1.3 percent to 4,054.56 after a near 3-percent plunge the previous day, while the KOSDAQ edged up 0.25 percent to stay above 900. Retail investors led the recovery, while foreign and domestic institutions continued to take profits after weeks of heavy buying. Hyosung Heavy Industries rose 4.1 percent to 2.3 million won ($1,591). The stock has surged 462.6 percent year-to-date through Tuesday, far outpacing the KOSPI’s 71.8 percent rise over the same period. Analysts downplayed the fears of an AI bubble. "KOSPI has sufficient grounds to attract global investors over the long term," said Kim Dong-won, head of research at KB Securities. "We see the current rally as the beginning of the third bullish era in five decades of the Korean stock market," he added, reaffirming the brokerage's target of 5,000 points in 2026. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 1.3 percent to 50,850.12, rebounding from Wednesday’s 2.5 percent drop driven by U.S. tech volatility and concerns about an extended federal government shutdown. Japanese and Korean shares have been sensitive to sentiment around artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and power infrastructure, sectors that form the backbone of regional supply chains. SoftBank Group, involved in the U.S. AI infrastructure project “Stargate” with OpenAI, inched up 0.2 percent to 216.4 yen ($1.4), recovering from a double-digit decline the day before. China also posted modest gains. The Shanghai Composite added 0.3 percent to 3,982.56, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.7 percent to 26,109.72. Newly listed autonomous-vehicle stocks underperformed in Hong Kong. WeRide dropped more than 12 percent and Pony.ai fell nearly 8 percent in their trading debut. Pony.ai, which is also listed in the United States, raised HK$6.7 billion ($862 million) through its IPO, according to regulatory filings. 2025-11-06 13:24:16
  • Koreas platform giant Naver reaps best quarterly revenue with AI help
    Korea's platform giant Naver reaps best quarterly revenue with AI help SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korea’s internet platform leader Naver Corp. posted its highest-ever quarterly revenue for the July–September period, powered by broad adoption of artificial intelligence across its businesses. According to the company’s regulatory filing Wednesday, operating profit rose 8.6 percent from a year earlier to 570.6 billion won ($394 million), while revenue jumped 15.6 percent to 3.138 trillion won ($2.17 billion). It is the first time in the company’s 26-year history that quarterly revenue has exceeded 3 trillion won. Naver said AI-driven ad optimization and its ADVoost Shopping tool sharply strengthened performance in commerce advertising. ADVoost Shopping automatically adjusts and improves ad results for Naver’s shopping products in real time using AI, a feature the company credited as central to the quarter’s growth. Commerce—anchored by Naver Shopping—led the earnings momentum. Sales increased 35.9 percent year-over-year to 985.5 billion won, up 14.4 percent from the previous quarter. Transaction volume at its Smart Store marketplace rose 12.3 percent on-year, supported by enhanced personalization in product discovery as well as expanded delivery and membership benefits. “Under our ‘On-Service AI’ strategy, we have focused on enhancing AI capabilities across all services and businesses, which translated into broader business opportunities and profit growth,” said Chief Executive Choi Soo-yeon in a conference call. “We will continue to extend AI integration into more areas, strengthen core competitiveness, and secure new growth engines for global expansion.” The broader market fell sharply, with the KOSPI down 2.9 percent on Wednesday, but Naver shares bucked the trend, closing 3.8 percent higher at 277,000 won. 2025-11-05 16:55:08
  • Bear returns to the Asian market on AI bubble concerns
    Bear returns to the Asian market on AI bubble concerns SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Asian stocks slumped Wednesday as a wave of bearish sentiment swept through regional markets. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index plunged 4.1 percent to 3,950.96, falling back below the 4,000 mark just seven trading days after breaking it for the first time in history. The small-cap KOSDAQ tumbled even further, down 4.4 percent to 886.00. The downturn was led by heavyweight chipmakers. Samsung Electronics dropped 5.5 percent to 99,100 won ($68), while SK Hynix sank 7 percent to 545,000 won. Foreign investors sold a net 212.1 billion won worth of shares, while retail investors — who had bought more than 2 trillion won the previous session — continued to purchase stocks, adding 102 billion won, offering only limited support to the market. Analysts attributed the rout to overnight weakness on Wall Street, where concerns about stretched valuations in artificial intelligence stocks triggered a broad sell-off. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all retreated on Tuesday, while AI beneficiary Palantir plunged 7.9 percent amid warnings it had become overvalued. Adding to the pressure, reports emerged that Michael Burry — the investor famed for profiting from the 2008 subprime mortgage collapse — had placed bets against Palantir and Nvidia, two of the most high-profile names in the AI rally. Lee Kyung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities, said that while the long-term outlook for Korea’s leading growth stocks remains strong, short-term corrections are becoming increasingly likely. “The market may test lower levels around 3,700 on the KOSPI, corresponding to a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 10.3 times,” he noted. Japan’s Nikkei 225 also declined, falling 2.4 percent to 50,238.38, tracking losses in Seoul. CNBC reported that the slump in Asian equities followed warnings from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley urging investors to brace for a market pullback over the next two years. “It’s likely there’ll be a 10 to 20 percent drawdown in equity markets sometime in the next 12 to 24 months,” Goldman Sachs chief executive David Solomon said at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in Hong Kong. “Such pullbacks happen even in positive market cycles — they don’t rewrite fundamental convictions about capital allocation.” Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick, speaking on the same panel, echoed the view. “We should welcome the possibility of 10 to 15 percent drawdowns that are not driven by a macro cliff effect,” he said, calling them “healthy developments rather than signs of crisis.” The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.6 percent to 3,936.53, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 1.2 percent to 25,655.06. Taiwan’s TAIEX also declined 1.9 percent to 27,592.06. 2025-11-05 11:32:45
  • HOT STOCK: Samsung SDI shares jump on report of Tesla battery deal
    HOT STOCK: Samsung SDI shares jump on report of Tesla battery deal SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Shares of Samsung SDI climbed more than 4 percent in afternoon trading on Tuesday following a news report that the South Korean battery maker may supply more than 3 trillion won ($2.08 billion) worth of energy-storage system batteries to Tesla over the next three years. As of 2:20 p.m. in Seoul, Samsung SDI’s stock was up 4.1 percent at 340,500 won, extending gains after the report circulated in local media. The company, a unit of Samsung Group, develops rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, energy-storage systems and IT devices, as well as electronic materials for semiconductors and displays. The report said Tesla’s demand for energy-storage systems, or ESS, has grown rapidly amid heavy investment in artificial intelligence data centers — prompting the U.S. electric vehicle maker to seek additional battery suppliers. If finalized, the deal could involve batteries produced at Samsung SDI’s factory under construction with Stellantis in Kokomo, Indiana, according to the report. When the Indiana project was announced in October 2023, CNBC reported that the two companies planned to invest about $3.2 billion in the facility. Industry analysts estimate that the potential Tesla supply agreement could reach an annual capacity of roughly 10 gigawatt-hours. Samsung SDI, however, denied that a deal had been concluded. “Reports suggesting that a deal between the two companies had been finalized are not true,” a company spokesperson said. “Negotiations are still underway, and the company has issued a regulatory filing to clarify the matter.” The market reaction also lifted sentiment toward Samsung SDI’s suppliers, including EcoPro BM, which produces cathode materials used in the company’s batteries. EcoPro BM reported an operating profit of 50.7 billion won ($36.6 million) for the third quarter, marking its third consecutive quarterly profit, driven by higher sales of energy-storage materials and investments in nickel refining projects in Indonesia. EcoPro BM, which also supplies SK On, said its 10 percent stake in an Indonesian nickel smelting project has helped stabilize raw material sourcing and improve profitability. The company expects further growth once its new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, begins operations. 2025-11-04 14:36:28
  • Asian markets mostly subdued amid mixed economic signs
    Asian markets mostly subdued amid mixed economic signs SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Asian markets were broadly muted on Tuesday as South Korea and Japan paused after nearly a week of uninterrupted gains, while Chinese equities traded flat amid conflicting economic signals. South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.7 percent to 4,192.20 in early trading as investors locked in profits following a sharp rally in large-cap semiconductor stocks. Foreign investors sold 701.2 billion won, while domestic institutions offloaded 207.9 billion won. Tech bellwethers weakened, with Samsung Electronics down 1.6 percent at 109,300 won ($76) and SK hynix falling 3.2 percent to 600,000 won. Hyundai Motor, Asia’s second-largest automaker, also declined 3.4 percent to 281,500 won. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 edged down 0.2 percent to 52,305.91, as the index’s first move above the 52,000 threshold prompted profit-taking. A softer tone on Wall Street—despite gains in the Nasdaq and Philadelphia Semiconductor Index—also weighed on sentiment. China’s markets were largely unchanged. The Shanghai Composite Index inched up 0.01 percent to 3,977.10, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.02 percent to 26,162.96. Investors digested mixed macroeconomic signals: manufacturing activity in China weakened more than expected in October, clouding the demand outlook, while easing U.S.–China trade tensions—after Beijing suspended select export controls and Washington paused some tariffs following the recent high-level summit—provided a measure of support. 2025-11-04 11:26:24