Journalist

Jo Seong-jun
  • SK Hynix says it can build 100 trillion won in net cash while boosting shareholder returns
    SK Hynix says it can build 100 trillion won in net cash while boosting shareholder returns SK Hynix outlined its financial strategy and approach to supply agreements during its 2026 first-quarter earnings conference calls held on April 22 and 23. The company said that given its profit-generating capacity, which it described as having risen to a record-high level, it can pursue both stronger financial health and expanded shareholder returns. It said it aims to secure financial soundness with net cash of more than 100 trillion won while increasing shareholder payouts. SK Hynix said it will actively consider a range of shareholder-return measures, including dividends as well as share buybacks and cancellations, and will prepare a detailed execution plan within the year. It added that it will continue strengthening its financial position so it can sustain long-term, strategic investments under any market conditions. The company also pointed to changes in contract structures amid supply constraints. It said prolonged memory supply shortages have led to a sharp increase in customer requests to secure mid- to long-term volumes. It said it is reviewing long-term supply agreements, or LTAs, with more varied structures than in the past, but current supply limits make it difficult to meet all customer demand. SK Hynix said that if LTAs become firmly established, demand visibility would improve and investment efficiency based on profitability would also strengthen. It added that such agreements could help ease the memory industry’s recurring volatility and serve as a catalyst to lift market assessments to the next level.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:55:39
  • SK hynix says weak DRAM spot prices have limited impact, expects AI to lift demand
    SK hynix says weak DRAM spot prices have limited impact, expects AI to lift demand SK hynix said on April 23, during a two-day conference call on its 2026 first-quarter earnings, that recent weakness in DRAM spot prices is not a reliable gauge of broader market conditions. “The spot market accounts for a very small share of the overall DRAM market, and the types and scale of products traded differ from our business,” the company said. “In the current market environment, it is difficult to view spot price moves as reflecting overall market conditions.” SK hynix said memory demand from major customers is rising across products including high-bandwidth memory, server DRAM and enterprise SSDs, while suppliers face constraints on expanding output in the short term. “If this supply-demand imbalance persists, the memory price upcycle could last longer than in the past,” it said. The company also pointed to structural shifts in the artificial intelligence industry as a driver of demand. “As software and hardware optimization progress simultaneously in the AI industry, the way memory is used is changing,” SK hynix said. It added that memory-efficiency technologies may appear to reduce usage per device, but are evolving to maximize information processing per unit of memory. SK hynix said the changes could improve service economics, creating a virtuous cycle that expands the overall AI market and increases memory demand. 2026-04-23 09:42:06
  • SK hynix forecasts higher Q2 DRAM and NAND shipments; targets U.S. ADR listing this year
    SK hynix forecasts higher Q2 DRAM and NAND shipments; targets U.S. ADR listing this year SK hynix said on an earnings conference call held April 23 for its 2026 first-quarter results that it expects shipments of both DRAM and NAND to rise in the second quarter. The company said it anticipates DRAM shipments will increase by a high single-digit percentage from the previous quarter as it responds to demand for high-capacity server modules and mobile products. It added that NAND shipments are expected to rise by a mid-teens percentage quarter over quarter, driven by expanded sales of 321-layer-based products and enterprise SSDs. SK hynix also addressed its capital markets strategy, saying it confidentially submitted a registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to a public offering for an ADR listing and is pursuing a U.S. market listing within the year. It said details such as the offering size, structure and timing have not been finalized. The company said the final decision on whether to proceed with the listing will be made after considering the SEC’s review of the filing, market conditions, demand forecasting and other requirements. It added it will provide an update when specifics are confirmed. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:30:06
  • SK hynix says memory profitability remains strong, plans more HBM supply
    SK hynix says memory profitability remains strong, plans more HBM supply SK hynix said on a first-quarter earnings conference call on Wednesday that demand is showing signs of softening in the PC and mobile markets as higher memory prices raise cost burdens and prompt product portfolio adjustments. Even so, the company said strong server-memory demand is driving the overall market. The company highlighted structural shifts tied to the spread of artificial intelligence. “As AI expands, the importance of memory is rising and demand for high-performance memory is increasing rapidly,” SK hynix said, adding that a trend is becoming clearer in which customers prioritize securing supply over price. SK hynix also detailed its next-generation product strategy. “For HBM4, we are working closely with customers from the early stages and plan to expand volumes on an agreed schedule with products that meet the performance customers require,” it said. The company added that it is continuing to develop and supply new products across DRAM and NAND to meet increasingly diverse memory needs as AI technology evolves. 2026-04-23 09:24:04
  • KOTRA Offers Real-Time Logistics Updates, Expands Support as Middle East War Disrupts Shipping
    KOTRA Offers Real-Time Logistics Updates, Expands Support as Middle East War Disrupts Shipping As global logistics disruptions from the Middle East war drag on, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, known as KOTRA, said it is stepping up real-time information sharing and cost support for exporters. The agency said it is focusing on easing sharply higher shipping costs driven by port disruptions and longer detours, while helping companies restore blocked routes quickly. KOTRA said it is continuously monitoring logistics conditions through its 13 offices in the Middle East and providing companies with real-time updates on alternative ports and rerouted shipping options. With more cases of existing routes being cut off due to constraints in the Strait of Hormuz, KOTRA said it is working with local logistics firms to propose alternatives and is also handling urgent needs such as re-shipping cargo halted in transit and returning pharmaceuticals. Logistics-related difficulties are rising quickly. Of 502 consultations tied to the Middle East war received from early March through April 20, 156 — 31% — involved logistics issues. KOTRA cited port waiting times, higher costs from detours and cargo returns as key factors. KOTRA said it has expanded financial support, raising the cap for assistance through overseas joint logistics centers to as much as 24 million won and increasing the limit for international shipping vouchers to 75 million won. It also added eligible items including war-related surcharges, return costs and detour shipping expenses, and said it is coordinating transport support with EMS, DHL, Samsung SDS and Taewoong Logistics, among others. A KOTRA official said freight-rate management is critical because costs can vary widely when using alternative ports, adding that companies should work with major logistics providers to minimize delays.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 08:27:58
  • Korean Unions Press for More Pay and Job Security, Raising Labor Risk for Major Firms
    Korean Unions Press for More Pay and Job Security, Raising Labor Risk for Major Firms South Korea’s industrial sector is being shaken by growing labor risk, with unions stepping up pressure even as companies expand record bonuses and broaden conversions to regular employment aimed at job stability, industry officials said. According to the industry on the 22nd, the Samsung Electronics labor union’s joint struggle headquarters plans a large rally on the 23rd with about 37,000 participants, widely seen as a show of force ahead of any strike. The union’s key demand is to abolish the cap on performance bonuses. Samsung Electronics pays bonuses based on business-unit results but sets an upper limit; the union is seeking its full removal, effectively calling for unlimited, performance-linked compensation. With the semiconductor market highly volatile, the demand could increase the company’s burden by making the pay structure less flexible on the downside. Unions at Hyundai Motor Group are showing a similar pattern. Hyundai Motor paid about 500% of base pay in performance bonuses last year, along with encouragement payments in the tens of millions of won, marking its highest compensation level on record. Even so, the union has put a demand for a bonus equal to 30% of net profit on the wage and collective bargaining agenda. Industry watchers warn that tying bonuses to a fixed share of profit could reduce funds available for investment. Efforts to improve conditions across prime contractors and subcontractors are also facing complications. POSCO and HD Hyundai are strengthening measures such as converting partner-company workers to regular positions and improving treatment. But at worksites, additional demands from subcontractor unions and pushback from existing regular-worker unions are mixing, with signs of union-on-union conflict. Analysts say cooperation measures are expanding into broader calls to reshape employment structures, sowing new disputes. The trend is adding to pressure as external conditions remain uncertain, including energy-price instability tied to rising tensions in the Middle East and ongoing pressure from global supply-chain restructuring. The industry is increasingly wary that labor risk could go beyond higher costs and weaken fundamental competitiveness. A business group official said, “Even when companies accept demands such as bigger bonuses or conversions to regular employment, a structure is taking hold in which additional demands are repeated,” adding that it is “turning into an upward competition to keep raising demands, rather than labor-management negotiations.” Experts say repeated, short-term demands in an environment of weak trust between labor and management could undermine sustainability across industry. They also warn that if internal conflict drags on as global competition intensifies, both companies and workers could end up losing. Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University, said, “Considering that major industries have been sustained in part through national support, it will be difficult to gain broad public sympathy for excessive expansion of performance bonuses demanded by unions in semiconductors or autos.” He added, “Because jobs can be maintained only if companies keep investing, balance between bonuses and future investment is important.” Kim said, “Employment and wages can be maintained only if companies continue to grow,” and added that he hopes recent wage-bargaining conflicts at multiple companies will conclude in a mutually beneficial direction. 2026-04-22 18:04:43
  • FuriosaAI Names Ex-Nvidia Executive Charlie Foo as Principal Advisor
    FuriosaAI Names Ex-Nvidia Executive Charlie Foo as Principal Advisor FuriosaAI, an artificial intelligence semiconductor company, is stepping up its push into the AI infrastructure market by hiring a senior executive with experience at major global technology firms. FuriosaAI said April 22 that it has appointed Charlie Foo, who helped expand AI infrastructure and enterprise ecosystems at Nvidia and Mellanox, as principal advisor. The hire comes as FuriosaAI moves to commercialize its AI chip, RNGD (Renegade), globally. The company recently established a subsidiary in Portugal and said it is accelerating its expansion into overseas markets by bringing in top-tier talent. Foo is an AI computing specialist with about 35 years of experience at IBM, Brocade, Mellanox and Nvidia. He previously led Mellanox operations across Asia-Pacific and Japan and worked on expanding Nvidia’s enterprise and partner ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region, the company said. FuriosaAI said Foo will advise its overall global growth strategy, focusing on expanding strategic partnerships, building an enterprise customer base and developing an AI infrastructure ecosystem. “The next phase of AI depends not just on model performance, but on how efficiently it can be deployed at scale,” Foo said. He added that FuriosaAI “has strong competitiveness in the global AI infrastructure market” because it combines a differentiated architecture with mass-production capability. Chief Executive Baek Jun-ho said the company has entered “a full-fledged growth phase” based on mass production of RNGD and that more talent with global experience is joining. “This hire will further accelerate strategic expansion and partnership building in global markets,” Baek said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 11:29:57
  • SK Intellix wins two Red Dot Design Awards for 2026 product design
    SK Intellix wins two Red Dot Design Awards for 2026 product design SK Intellix has won two top prizes at the Red Dot Design Award 2026, one of the world’s three major design awards, the company said. SK Intellix said it received two Winner awards in the product design category at the Red Dot Design Award 2026 ceremony held in Germany on the 22nd. The Red Dot Design Award is widely regarded as one of the world’s top three design competitions, along with Germany’s iF and the United States’ IDEA. The wins came in both kitchen appliances and robotics. In the kitchen appliance category, the SK Magic TwoWater water purifier was recognized for combining functionality — providing both mineral water and pure water — with a minimalist exterior design. The company said the product had also received the top “Grand Gold” grade at a water-taste evaluation, and the Red Dot award further validated both its technology and design. In the robotics category, the wellness robot NAMUHX A1 won a Winner award. The company said the product combines autonomous air purification with voice conversation, based on agentic AI technology. Its rounded, soft design, inspired by the traditional Korean moon jar, was praised for emphasizing an emotional appeal as a “daily companion,” rather than a conventional appliance. An SK Intellix official said the awards showed global recognition of the company’s design capabilities across both its health platform brand SK Magic and its wellness robotics brand NAMUHX. “We will combine AI technology and design to move forward as a ‘global AI wellness platform’ company,” the official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 11:20:54
  • LG Electronics Expands B2B Advanced Materials Business With PuroTec
    LG Electronics Expands B2B Advanced Materials Business With PuroTec LG Electronics is expanding its B2B business with its functional advanced material, LG PuroTec, aiming to broaden its footprint beyond a home-appliance-centered portfolio into the industrial materials market. The company said it is showcasing LG PuroTec at Chinaplas 2026, an industrial materials exhibition being held in Shanghai for four days starting April 21. Chinaplas is one of the world’s three major industrial materials trade shows, drawing about 4,000 companies from roughly 150 countries. LG Electronics set up its largest booth ever and highlighted applications of PuroTec across industries. The company said use cases now extend from appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners to building materials, functional apparel, hygiene products and food packaging. PuroTec is a powder made by crushing glass blended with functional ingredients. When added in small amounts to plastics, paint or rubber, it provides antibacterial and anti-mold effects that help curb odors, contamination and discoloration caused by microorganisms. LG Electronics said the material is designed for high compatibility, minimizing interference with various base materials and additives, making it suitable for a wide range of industries. The company also operated a dedicated consultation area for B2B customers, offering tailored proposals. LG Electronics said visitors showed strong interest in its ability to maintain existing material properties even in products such as transparent and flame-retardant plastics. LG Electronics is increasing investment in advanced materials as a new growth engine. Since ramping up the business in 2023, revenue has more than doubled each year, the company said. It is also expanding production capacity. LG Electronics operates a facility at its Changwon Smart Park in South Gyeongsang Province with annual capacity of 4,500 tons, and is building a second glass-powder production base in Hai Phong, Vietnam, targeting operations within this year. The company said it has secured about 420 patents related to glass powder and has passed antibacterial-agent regulations needed to enter European and U.S. markets. It is also working with international testing and certification bodies to obtain global certifications for antibacterial performance. Beyond PuroTec, LG Electronics said it is developing additional glass-powder-based materials, including “Marine Glass,” used for marine ecosystem restoration, and “Mineral Wash,” which enables washing without detergent. “Based on functional materials including PuroTec, we will rapidly expand our advanced materials business to meet customer needs across industries,” an LG Electronics official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 11:09:59
  • LS-VINA to Supply Extra-High-Voltage Cables for Vingroup’s Hai Phong New City Project
    LS-VINA to Supply Extra-High-Voltage Cables for Vingroup’s Hai Phong New City Project LS Eco Energy said Tuesday that its Vietnam manufacturing unit, LS-VINA, has supplied extra-high-voltage cables for Vingroup’s new city development project in Hai Phong. LS-VINA is the top player in Vietnam’s extra-high-voltage cable market, with about an 80% share, the company said. It said the order strengthens LS-VINA’s position as a key supplier for local power infrastructure. Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private company with businesses spanning real estate, retail, automobiles and energy, is developing a mixed-use new city in Hai Phong that combines residential, commercial and tourism functions under the Vinhomes Vu Yen project. The company said Vietnam’s accelerating urbanization is supporting demand. The government aims to raise the urbanization rate to 50% by 2030 and, under the national power development plan known as PDP8, is pursuing about 200 trillion won in generation and transmission investment. LS-VINA is the only company producing extra-high-voltage cables in Vietnam, LS Eco Energy said, positioning it to benefit directly from the investment cycle and to sustain mid- to long-term revenue growth. LS Eco Energy said the trend is reflected in results: first-quarter revenue and operating profit rose about 30% from a year earlier, and revenue hit a quarterly record. Extra-high-voltage cable sales jumped 177%, driven by grid investment and rising demand tied to AI data centers. “Urbanization and expanding power investment are combining to rapidly broaden LS-VINA’s mid- to long-term growth base,” a company official said. The official added that LS-VINA recently obtained quality certification for 230-kilovolt extra-high-voltage cables from a global certification body, laying groundwork to enter the North American market. LS-VINA entered Vietnam’s domestic market in 1994 as LG-VINA and has since grown into ASEAN’s largest wire and cable company, with annual revenue of about 1 trillion won, and Vietnam’s top cable exporter, LS Eco Energy said. 2026-04-22 10:57:47