Journalist

김동영
Kim Dong Young
  • Samsung Biologics completes $353 mln Maryland, US plant acquisition
    Samsung Biologics completes $353 mln Maryland, US plant acquisition SEOUL, April 01 (AJP) -Samsung Biologics, South Korea’s leading contract drug manufacturer, has completed its acquisition of a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland, marking its first production base in the United States to better access the world’s largest drug market and mitigate tariff risks. The company said in a press release on Wednesday its wholly owned unit Samsung Biologics America acquired Human Genome Sciences from GSK for $353.1 million, including $280 million for the facility and equity and $73.1 million for inventories and raw materials. The Rockville site comprises two manufacturing plants with a combined 60,000-liter drug substance capacity, supporting both clinical and commercial biologics production. The addition lifts Samsung Biologics’ total global capacity to 845,000 liters. The deal comes as the company seeks to mitigate supply chain risks and expand its contract manufacturing presence beyond Korea, where all of its production facilities had previously been concentrated. Samsung Biologics said it will continue supplying products previously manufactured at the site to GSK while expanding contract manufacturing services. It also plans further investments to increase capacity and upgrade technologies at the facility. The acquisition secures more than 500 jobs at the site and strengthens the company’s ability to offer multi-site manufacturing options to global clients, particularly in North America. “This represents a meaningful step in expanding our U.S. manufacturing footprint,” CEO John Rim said, highlighting the role of the new facility in building a geographically diversified production network. “Today’s ribbon cutting is the realization of that meeting and our state’s momentum,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. “South Korea’s largest biotech company is opening its first U.S. manufacturing facility here in Maryland.” The deal’s closure came three months after Samsung Biologics announced the acquisition on Dec. 22 last year, as part of efforts to mitigate risks stemming from U.S. tariff policies on biopharmaceuticals. As of 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, KOSPI-listed Samsung Biologics were 5 percent up at 1,580,000 won ($1,047). 2026-04-01 14:13:58
  • Pulmuone vows AI-driven growth push at annual shareholder meeting
    Pulmuone vows AI-driven growth push at annual shareholder meeting SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - South Korean food company Pulmuone held its annual general meeting, pledging to accelerate its artificial intelligence transformation strategy and expand into new business segments as it eyes a deeper footprint in global markets. The meeting, held at the Korea Science and Technology Convention Center in Seoul's Gangnam district on Tuesday, drew shareholders and company executives under the theme "ONE" — a reference to the firm's corporate philosophy, its track record, and its strategic roadmap. General CEO Lee Woo-bong reported that Pulmuone posted consolidated revenue of 3.38 trillion won (about $2.2 billion) and operating profit of 93.2 billion won in fiscal 2025, calling the results a reaffirmation of the company's competitive resilience amid global economic headwinds. "We will leap forward to the next level as the global no.1 wholesome food and sustainable lifestyle company leading the K-food industry by creating sustainable growth momentum toward a new future through an organizational culture based on AX innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset," Lee said. Shareholders approved six agenda items, including the fiscal 2025 financial statements, amendments to the company's articles of incorporation, and the appointment of new directors. Under the charter revision, the mandatory ratio of independent outside directors was raised from one-quarter to one-third of the total board. Chun Young-hoon, CEO of Pulmuone Foods, was appointed as an inside director alongside two newly elected outside directors. On the growth front, the company said it is scaling up nascent businesses — including living care, pet products, food technology, and corporate food service — while pressing ahead with a company-wide AI transformation drive centered on a new future business division established earlier this year. Pulmuone said it plans to pursue both top-line growth and margin improvement across its domestic and overseas operations in 2026, with a particular focus on turning around its U.S., China, and Japan units and expanding into Europe and Canada. 2026-03-31 13:59:16
  • Ottogi joins hands with Gen.G Esports to chase global gaming audience
    Ottogi joins hands with Gen.G Esports to chase global gaming audience SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - South Korean food company Ottogi has signed a strategic partnership with global esports organization Gen.G Esports, targeting millennial and Gen Z gamers across key international markets, the company said Tuesday. The two companies plan to weave gaming culture into everyday consumer experiences by building an integrated marketing model spanning content, physical spaces, and commerce. Brand exposure will be carried through player uniforms and digital content centered on titles including League of Legends and Valorant. Joint campaigns tied to marquee global tournaments — including the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational and World Championship — are also in the works, giving Ottogi visibility at some of esports' most-watched events. The two sides will also pursue co-branded content drawing on each company's intellectual property, with expansion plans targeting North America, Southeast Asia, and the Chinese-speaking market as part of a broader K-food and esports crossover strategy. "This partnership lays the groundwork for deepening our connection with the global younger generation and delivering a fresh brand experience," an Ottogi spokesperson said, adding the company would continue to expand its presence in international markets. 2026-03-31 09:17:02
  • HMM pushes ahead with move to Busan despite union protest
    HMM pushes ahead with move to Busan despite union protest SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - South Korea's largest container shipping line HMM reportedly said its board of directors approved a charter amendment to relocate the company's headquarters from Seoul to the southeastern port city of Busan, setting the stage for a shareholder vote on May 8 that is all but certain to pass. The board convened an extraordinary session to endorse the revision to Article 3 of HMM's articles of incorporation, which currently designates Seoul as the registered seat. An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders will follow on May 8, where approval requires a special resolution backed by two-thirds of attending shareholders. With state-affiliated entities holding more than 70 percent of HMM shares — Korea Development Bank at 35.42 percent, Korea Ocean Business Corporation at 35.08 percent and the National Pension Service at 5.62 percent — passage is widely considered a foregone conclusion. The move is a centerpiece of President Lee Jae Myung's drive to transform Busan into a maritime capital, consolidating shipping administration, judicial functions and corporate headquarters in a city that already hosts the world's second-largest container transshipment port. Industry officials expect HMM to begin scouting office sites near Busan New Port in the second half of the year and to unveil relocation support packages for Seoul-based staff shortly after the vote. HMM's onshore labor union, however, struck a defiant tone. The union declared bargaining with management collapsed after the board acted without prior consultation and said it would move to secure the right to stage industrial action, raising the specter of a general strike before the May meeting. The union has argued the transfer could hollow out operational efficiency and trigger an exodus of seasoned employees whose work is embedded in Seoul's financial and logistics networks. Analysts say the Busan relocation could also accelerate the long-delayed privatization of HMM, as KDB seeks to shore up its capital adequacy by divesting its stake in the carrier. The headquarters shift follows the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' own relocation from the administrative capital of Sejong to Busan in December 2025, a move that prompted mid-sized bulk carriers SK Shipping and H-Line Shipping — both controlled by private equity firm Hahn & Company — to begin relocating to the port city earlier this year. 2026-03-30 17:08:02
  • Union-proof Samsung faces twin labor flare-ups as Biologics joins chip unit unrest
    Union-proof Samsung faces twin labor flare-ups as Biologics joins chip unit unrest SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) -Samsung Group, long seen as union-proof, is facing back-to-back labor unrest as its biopharmaceutical arm Samsung Biologics moved toward its first-ever strike, joining a parallel standoff at Samsung Electronics. The union at Samsung Biologics secured strike authorization with overwhelming support, marking the first such move since the company’s founding in 2011. About 95.5 percent of 3,678 eligible voters backed industrial action after months of stalled wage negotiations, the union said Sunday. The union represents roughly 3,689 workers, or about 75 percent of the company’s workforce. Labor and management have held 13 rounds of talks without narrowing differences. The union is demanding an average 14 percent wage increase, a 30 million won ($19,846) one-time incentive per employee, performance bonuses equivalent to 20 percent of operating profit, and stock grants over three years. Management has offered a 6.2 percent pay raise, citing alignment with compensation standards across major Samsung affiliates, including Samsung Electronics. “We are willing to talk at any time if management brings an improved proposal — there is clearly room for compromise at a reasonable level,” union chairman Park Jae-sung said. The standoff has raised concerns among industry observers, who warn that prolonged disruption could derail Samsung Biologics’ 15 trillion won ($10.8 billion) capacity expansion plan through 2034 and delay plant commissioning, at a time when global rivals Lonza and Fujifilm Diosynth are aggressively courting clients. The union plans to begin informal talks once CEO John Rim returns from an overseas trip. Failing progress, workers are set to launch a full-scale general strike on May 1. Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor workforce is locked in a parallel dispute. Its union — representing about 90,000 members — secured legal strike rights last month after 73.5 percent backed a walkout, and has warned of an 18-day general strike from May 21 to June 7 if negotiations over bonus reforms break down. The prospect of simultaneous industrial action across two of Samsung’s most critical units is raising concerns over operational disruptions at a time when the group is navigating intensifying global competition and supply chain uncertainty. At 1:30 p.m. Shares of Samsung Biologics were trading 4.05 percent down at 1,540,000 won ($1,018). 2026-03-30 13:30:57
  • CJ CheilJedang to supply PHA bioplastic to Indias Konspec as global green materials push gains pace
    CJ CheilJedang to supply PHA bioplastic to India's Konspec as global green materials push gains pace SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang said Monday it will supply polyhydroxyalkanoate, or PHA, to Konspec, one of India's leading bioplastic compound manufacturers, marking the latest step in the South Korean food and biotechnology giant's push to commercialise its biodegradable materials business globally. Under the arrangement, CJ CheilJedang will deliver PHA to Konspec, which will use the material to produce compounds optimised for cutlery products such as forks and knives. The partnership comes as tightening environmental regulations — including the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, or PPWR — and mounting pressure to move away from conventional plastics are driving demand for bio-based alternatives. PHA-based cutlery is biodegradable in both soil and seawater, while offering durability and a feel comparable to conventional plastic products. Cutlery firms across India, Thailand, and Malaysia are already evaluating PHA adoption, with further expansion into the United States and other major markets expected to follow. The Konspec deal adds to a string of recent commercial milestones for CJ CheilJedang's PHA business. PHA straws, piloted at select Paul Bassett cafes earlier this year, are set to roll out across all of the chain's domestic outlets. Last month, the company partnered with Yuhan-Kimberly and Eugene Hanil Synthetic Fiber to launch a biodegradable household wipe under the Kleenex brand — billed as the world's first commercial application of PHA in hygiene products. Since launching its dedicated biodegradable materials brand PHACT in 2022, CJ CheilJedang's bio materials division has steadily extended PHA's reach into cosmetic containers, disposable packaging, toothbrushes, and artificial turf infill. The material is drawing fresh attention as volatility in crude oil prices destabilizes the supply of naphtha and other petroleum-based inputs, prompting global packaging and vinyl film companies to seek alternatives. "As the shift away from plastics accelerates, the market for eco-friendly materials such as PHA is expected to grow rapidly," a CJ CheilJedang spokesperson said. "We will continue to strengthen our differentiated technological competitiveness and deliver PHA products that meet the highest standards of safety and convenience." 2026-03-30 10:12:23
  • Pulmuone inks MOU with Konkuk University animal hospital to promote canine blood donation culture
    Pulmuone inks MOU with Konkuk University animal hospital to promote canine blood donation culture SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - Pulmuone's pet food division has signed a memorandum of understanding with the blood donation center at Konkuk University's veterinary hospital to promote a culture of canine blood donation in South Korea, the food company said Monday. Under the agreement, Pulmuone's pet business unit will provide cash and in-kind support to the KU I'M DOgNOR Blood Donation Center at Konkuk University Animal Hospital over the next three years, backing public awareness campaigns around dog blood donation. The partnership will encompass joint outreach programs, a rewards scheme for blood-donor dogs, and regular donations drawn from product revenues under Pulmuone's pet food brand Pulmuone Amio. "We hope this agreement will help establish a sound canine blood donation culture in Korea and raise public awareness through various campaigns," a Pulmuone spokesperson said, adding the company aims to build "a virtuous cycle where healthy eating and blood donation go hand in hand." Konkuk University opened the KU I'M DOgNOR center in 2022 as Asia's first dedicated companion animal blood donation facility. Pulmuone said it has also been donating to animal welfare organizations and stray animal shelters across the country. 2026-03-30 09:50:09
  • Pro-Palestinian, pro-U.S. rallies converge in Seoul on Land Day eve
    Pro-Palestinian, pro-U.S. rallies converge in Seoul on Land Day eve SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - Rival demonstrations filled the streets of central Seoul on Sunday, as pro-Palestinian activists and Iranian expatriates backing the United States held back-to-back rallies that briefly brought opposing crowds face-to-face without incident. The larger of the two gatherings, organised by the group dubbed "People in Solidarity with Palestinians," drew about 200 participants to Jongno-district before marching toward the U.S. and Israeli embassies. South Koreans, resident Palestinians, and resident Americans joined the march, calling for an end to U.S. strikes on Iran and Israel's offensive in Gaza. The rally was timed to mark the 50th anniversary of Land Day, commemorated each March 30 in memory of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in 1976 during protests against land seizures. Participants laid out photographs of Iranian children killed in airstrikes alongside small backpacks in a silent tribute. A separate cycling contingent from the "BDS Korea" group rode from Jongno-district to the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-district, their bicycles bearing Palestinian flags and banners demanding a halt to what they described as a massacre in Gaza. On the opposing side, the "Iranian Network in Korea" held a pro-U.S., anti-regime rally near Uijeongbu Station in the afternoon. About 20 Iranian residents waved the flags of Iran, the United States, and Israel, chanting slogans including "We are the revolution" and "No justice, no peace." Tensions briefly spiked when the pro-Palestinian march passed the Iranian rally in progress, prompting the counter-demonstrators to raise their voices. Police, who had maintained control of the march route throughout the afternoon, prevented any physical confrontation between the two groups. 2026-03-29 18:00:05
  • S.Korea sets 2030 target for 6G rollout, unveils digital blueprint to become top-three AI power
    S.Korea sets 2030 target for 6G rollout, unveils digital blueprint to become top-three AI power SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - South Korea's government has finalized a sweeping digital strategy aimed at propelling the country into the ranks of the world's three leading artificial intelligence powers by 2028, anchored by a push to commercialize 6G networks by 2030. The plan, approved at the 18th Information Communications Strategy Committee meeting on March 27 and announced Sunday, lays out a three-year roadmap covering network upgrades, cybersecurity, data infrastructure and talent development from 2026 through 2028. Under the blueprint, the government will convert the nationwide 5G network to standalone mode and fast-track next-generation 6G technology development. It will also overhaul its information security management framework and build a national integrated data platform to cultivate a high-quality data ecosystem. To shore up its digital workforce, Seoul plans to channel resources into core technologies including AI, semiconductors and quantum computing, with a structured support pipeline stretching from high school students through doctoral candidates. The government will also embed AI across manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and disaster response systems. On the consumer side, authorities will introduce a "data relief option" guaranteeing access to basic services such as messaging even after users exhaust their mobile data allowances, a move designed to ensure universal connectivity. The strategy committee, chaired by the prime minister, comprises 25 members including cabinet ministers and civilian experts. The session marked the first meeting for the sixth cohort of civilian members, appointed on March 10. 2026-03-29 14:07:21
  • South Korea may impose mandatory civilian car rationing if oil hits $120-$130 a barrel
    South Korea may impose mandatory civilian car rationing if oil hits $120-$130 a barrel SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - South Korea's finance chief said the government could impose mandatory vehicle rationing on civilians if international oil prices climb to $120-$130 per barrel, signaling a potential escalation in the country's crisis response to the Middle East conflict's economic fallout. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun-cheol said Sunday the government would elevate its energy crisis alert to Stage 3 if prices breach that threshold. The country currently asks civilians to voluntarily observe an odd-even license plate driving system, but Koo indicated that compliance could become compulsory. "If the situation deteriorates further, we will need to move to Stage 3, and at that point we may have to ask the public to cooperate with a mandatory vehicle rationing system," Koo said. Oil prices currently hover between $100 and $110 per barrel. Koo said the government would assess a range of factors beyond crude prices alone before raising the alert level, adding that further fuel tax cuts remain on the table to cushion the burden on households. To address a naphtha shortage disrupting petrochemical and consumer goods production, Koo said Seoul is securing alternative supply sources and prioritizing allocation across industries. The government is also accelerating its shift toward nuclear and renewable energy to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. On the fiscal front, Koo outlined a supplementary budget of about 25 trillion won ($16.5 billion) targeting four areas: high oil price countermeasures, support for small business owners and young workers, industrial relief, and supply chain stabilization. He stressed the spending would be financed by projected surplus tax revenue rather than new debt. Koo also sought to calm nerves over the won's slide past the 1,500-per-dollar mark, citing South Korea's foreign reserves of more than $420 billion and net external assets of about $900 billion. He pointed to the country's upcoming inclusion in the World Government Bond Index in April, which is expected to attract $50 billion to $60 billion in foreign capital inflows. The deputy prime minister additionally previewed a "new deal" package for youth due in April to tackle rising youth unemployment, and said the government's first investment project in the United States under a recent bilateral investment law would likely focus on the energy sector. 2026-03-29 11:41:01