Journalist

김동영
Kim Dong-young, Lim Jaeho
  • Korean food giants pitch K-cuisine to Japanese fans at KCON 2026
    Korean food giants pitch K-cuisine to Japanese fans at KCON 2026 SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korea's two largest packaged-food exporters turned a K-pop convention in Japan's Chiba into a showcase for Korean cuisine over the weekend, as CJ CheilJedang and Samyang Foods drew long lines at branded experience booths during KCON Japan 2026. The three-day festival, held at Makuhari Messe from May 8 to 10, gave both companies a stage to court Japanese consumers, a market they have flagged as central to their global expansion plans, the companies said on Monday. CJ CheilJedang operated a Bibigo booth themed around K-pop boy group ZeroBaseOne under the slogan "Happy Bibigo day," anchored by an oversized cake display at the entrance. The company served about 20,000 servings of dumplings and its Micho vinegar drink from a food truck that drew queues throughout the festival. Samyang Foods, maker of the Buldak spicy noodle brand, recreated a Han River convenience store inside its "Buldak Mart" booth. The company pre-released "Sweecy Buldak," a milder sweet-and-spicy variant set to launch in Japan this summer, and sampled its four-cheese Buldak potato chips. The push comes as both firms double down on Japan. CJ CheilJedang completed a dumpling factory in Kisarazu, Chiba last September after investing about 100 billion won ($68 million), and its new Bibigo Mandu Gyoza product booked first-month sales of about 700 million won after a March launch. Bibigo dumplings crossed 10 percent market share in Japan in March for the first time, and CJ products are now sold at roughly 40,000 retail outlets including AEON, Costco, Amazon, Rakuten and Don Quijote, the company said. "KCON Japan is a flagship event where Japanese consumers can experience K-food alongside K-culture," said a Samyang Foods official, adding that the company would keep expanding consumer touchpoints through differentiated content and experiential marketing. 2026-05-11 11:33:27
  • Lotte Wellfood Q1 operating profit more than doubles on overseas growth
    Lotte Wellfood Q1 operating profit more than doubles on overseas growth SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - South Korean confectionery maker Lotte Wellfood announced that its first-quarter operating profit more than doubled from a year earlier, lifted by brisk sales in India and Kazakhstan that helped offset sluggish domestic demand. According to regulatory filings released Friday, operating profit jumped 118.4 percent to 35.8 billion won ($24.3 million) on a consolidated basis. Revenue rose 5.4 percent to 1.03 trillion won, while net profit slipped 26.6 percent to 16.7 billion won. Overseas subsidiaries logged 270.5 billion won in sales, up 18 percent year-on-year. The Indian unit benefited from broader distribution channels following a corporate merger and stronger sales of flagship products, while the Kazakh business rode a wave of resilient domestic consumption and exports. Exports climbed 8 percent to 66 billion won as the company expanded its customer base in the United States and China. Combined overseas revenue accounted for about 32 percent of total sales, deepening the maker of Pepero and World Cone's pivot beyond a saturated home market. Lotte Wellfood said it had also tightened cost discipline by streamlining low-margin products and sales channels and improving logistics and procurement efficiency. "We will accelerate the global expansion of our core brands and strengthen peak-season marketing to sustain the momentum in profitability," a company official said, flagging headwinds from raw material price swings and currency volatility tied to the Middle East war. Share of Lotte Wellfood closed at 127,300 won, 6.53 percent higher than the day before. 2026-05-08 16:00:12
  • Chinese robot cleaners sweep Korean homes as data worries linger
    Chinese robot cleaners sweep Korean homes as data worries linger SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - "Life is so different that I classify things before and after Roborock came into our lives," said 50-year-old Korean housewife Lee Young-joo. She is far from alone. Chinese robot vacuum maker Roborock has crossed the symbolic 50 percent threshold in South Korea's robot vacuum market, overturning a long-held assumption in one of the world's most brand-conscious appliance markets: that Chinese electronics brands would remain bargain-bin alternatives to Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. For a growing number of younger Korean consumers, that assumption has already disappeared. "I used Roborock even when I lived with my parents. It was already the best robot cleaner back then," said Heo Je-young, a 29-year-old semiconductor engineer preparing to move into a new home with his wife. "Even friends working at Samsung or LG recommended the Chinese version." Roborock ended 2025 with a market share above 50 percent in South Korea, reaching the majority mark for the first time since entering the country in 2019, according to figures disclosed earlier this year. The milestone marks one of the clearest signs yet of China's rapid ascent in premium consumer electronics — not through low-cost manufacturing, but through technological refinement, software integration and speed in categories where Korean firms once led. Premium robot vacuums have rapidly become staple purchases among newlyweds in apartment-dense South Korea, where long working hours and growing demand for automated home care have fueled explosive market growth. Roborock's Korean revenue has roughly doubled every year since 2020, climbing from 29.1 billion won ($19.8 million) that year to more than 300 billion won by 2024, while the overall Korean robot vacuum market has expanded into a roughly 1 trillion won segment. Globally, the Beijing-based company shipped 5.8 million robot cleaners in 2025 for a 17.7 percent market share, according to IDC, retaining its position as the world's top-selling robot vacuum brand for a third consecutive year. IDC also ranked Roborock first in the United States, Germany and South Korea. "Thanks to active investment in research and development and the expansion of our product portfolio, we have maintained the No. 1 position in the global robot vacuum market," a Roborock spokesperson said. The irony for Korean manufacturers is that robot vacuums were once their category to dominate. LG Electronics led the domestic market between 2017 and 2018, while Samsung maintained a smaller but steady presence. That advantage began to erode between 2022 and 2024 as Chinese manufacturers aggressively rolled out all-in-one docking systems capable of vacuuming, mopping, self-cleaning and self-emptying simultaneously. Korean companies hesitated over integrated mopping systems amid concerns about odor and maintenance problems. The delay proved costly. Roborock seized the premium segment with flagship models such as the S8 MaxV Ultra and this year's Saros 20, featuring upgraded obstacle-recognition software and powerful suction systems. Its share of Korea's premium robot vacuum segment briefly exceeded 60 percent in 2024 before stabilizing in the mid-50 percent range this year. Still, the rapid rise of Chinese appliances inside Korean homes has also triggered unease. "Despite the convenience, I still can't completely shake the feeling of a Chinese big brother looking into our living room," Lee said. Security concerns intensified after a joint probe by the Korea Consumer Agency and the Korea Internet and Security Agency in late 2025 uncovered serious vulnerabilities in several Chinese-made robot vacuums. The investigation found flaws allowing unauthorized access to cameras and stored household images in products from brands including Dreame, Narwal and Ecovacs. Samsung and LG products ranked highest overall in the review. Roborock drew fewer direct warnings in the study but was separately called before a National Assembly committee over concerns that its user data policies could permit transfers of Korean consumer information to China. The company later launched an online "Trust Center" and updated parts of its security policy. Questions have also surfaced over performance marketing by some Chinese appliance makers. A separate Korea Consumer Agency review found that cordless vacuum cleaners advertised with suction power figures ranging from 18,000 to 48,000 pascals delivered significantly lower real-world performance than implied in advertisements. After-sales service remains another weak point. Consumers have complained about lengthy repair delays and limited local service infrastructure relative to Roborock's rapidly growing market share. For some consumers, skepticism toward Chinese products still persists despite their technological edge. Kim Jong-chul, 54, said he purchased a cheaper Ecovacs model rather than a premium Roborock unit because of lingering distrust toward Chinese brands. "The mapping had issues, and it constantly bumped into furniture," Kim said. "Eventually it became more troublesome than simply vacuuming myself." Others were frustrated after smaller Chinese brands withdrew from the Korean market entirely. "We eventually threw ours away," said Lee Jae-hyung, who purchased a non-Roborock Chinese vacuum cleaner. "The product itself worked fine, but once the company pulled out of Korea, the app disappeared from the market too. It didn't last long." Samsung and LG are now scrambling to reclaim lost ground. Samsung Electronics unveiled its 2026 Bespoke AI Steam robot vacuum earlier this year, emphasizing on-device encryption and upgraded obstacle-recognition technology. LG Electronics is also preparing a successor to its RoboKing AI All-in-One lineup. For Heo, however, the next purchase decision remains straightforward. His interest in Roborock's newest model depends on whether its upgraded robotic arm can finally solve the one household obstacle earlier versions failed to overcome: pet waste. "It used to smear everything across the floor," he recalled. "But the new version now has robotic arms attached, so I'm willing to give it another try." 2026-05-08 15:10:04
  • Kakao posts record first-quarter earnings as AI fuels Koreas platform giants
    Kakao posts record first-quarter earnings as AI fuels Korea's platform giants SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - South Korea's platform giants are converting an artificial intelligence investment cycle into top-line momentum, with Kakao joining rival Naver in delivering AI-revved first-quarter earnings. According to regulatory filings on Thursday, Kakao's consolidated operating profit jumped around 65.9 percent from a year earlier to 211.4 billion won ($145.7 million) on an adjusted basis, while revenue climbed 11.1 percent to 1.94 trillion won — both first-quarter records. The figures reclassify Kakao Games as a discontinued operation following its planned divestiture. Platform revenue, the company's core engine, rose 16 percent to 1.18 trillion won. Talk Biz advertising sales advanced 16 percent to 338.4 billion won, helped by a 27 percent surge in business-messaging revenue as financial-sector advertisers ramped up spending and Kakao diversified its message products. Mobility and payments, grouped under "platform others," climbed 30 percent to 506.5 billion won. Kakao Mobility logged a third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth across taxi, parking and last-mile logistics, while Kakao Pay topped 300 billion won in quarterly revenue for the first time. "The first quarter was encouraging in that we achieved qualitative growth by reinforcing our fundamental competitiveness," Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a said, adding that Kakao would now pivot from a messenger used by 50 million Koreans into "an agentic AI platform." Shares of Kakao edged down 0.70 percent to 45,959 won as of 10:30 Thursday amid broad KOSPI profit-taking. The company, running a chat platform that most Koreans use, has been racing to embed generative AI across its services, including a high-profile tie-up with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT-based features into KakaoTalk, alongside infrastructure and model partnerships aimed at accelerating its agentic AI roadmap. The tailwind echoes that of larger rival Naver, which reported earlier a 16.3 percent jump in first-quarter revenue to 3.24 trillion won and a 7.2 percent rise in operating profit to 541.8 billion won, as AI-integrated advertising and consumer-to-consumer commerce drove growth. Naver said AI now accounts for more than half of its advertising revenue growth through sharper targeting, while its global ventures arm — anchored by Spain's Wallapop, Poshmark and Kream — saw sales climb 18.4 percent. The company has also signed memorandums with AMD and Tata Consultancy Services to build out AI infrastructure and cloud services 2026-05-07 10:33:58
  • CJ CheilJedang to promote Korean liquor at PGA Tour event
    CJ CheilJedang to promote Korean liquor at PGA Tour event SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang announced it will use this year's "The CJ Cup Byron Nelson," a PGA Tour event, as a platform to introduce Korean traditional liquor to global consumers, part of a broader push to position Korean distilled spirits alongside Japanese sake and Chinese baijiu. The South Korean food giant said cocktails made with Munbae-ju and Gamuchi soju will be served to players and spectators at the tournament, which the company has sponsored through its Bibigo brand. Last year's edition featured four "K-Liquor cocktails" based on Munbae-ju, marking the spirit's debut in Texas. Munbaeju is a grain-based distilled liquor made from millet and sorghum without additives, known for its distinctive wild pear aroma. The drink has gained a following across generations in South Korea. "Thanks to the partnership with CJ CheilJedang, we have been able to introduce Munbaeju to consumers in the United States and beyond for a second consecutive year," said Lee Seung-yong, CEO of Munbae Distillery. "The strong response on the ground confirms the competitiveness of our spirits and bodes well for future sales." The company has signed supply agreements with liquor makers Munbae Distillery and Danong Bio, and is aging the spirits at a facility in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. The first products, aimed at the U.S. market, are scheduled for launch in the second half of this year. CJ CheilJedang has also been selected for the government's "Global Next K-Food Project," which supports overseas expansion of traditional Korean liquor producers through programs such as a "K-restaurant week" tied to local dining venues. 2026-05-07 09:36:50
  • Hyundai Motor Group revamps labor command at Mobis
    Hyundai Motor Group revamps labor command at Mobis SEOUL, May 06 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group has reportedly created a vice president-level post dedicated to labor affairs at parts affiliate Hyundai Mobis and tapped Jeong Sang-bin, head of Hyundai Motor's policy development office, to fill it, as the country's largest automaker tightens its grip on union risk across the supply chain. The group also elevated oversight of labor relations to the president level, naming Kia President Choi Jun-young as the new chief of the policy development office, the group's top labor post, according to industry sources on Wednesday. The reshuffle follows the March enactment of the so-called Yellow Envelope Law, a revision to articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act that broadens the scope of lawful industrial action and has heightened the threat of walkouts at Hyundai's affiliates. The Korea Metal Workers' Union has since demanded direct bargaining with Hyundai Motor, Mobis and three other affiliates over the wages and conditions of subcontractor staff, a push that analysts warn could feed into parts costs and chip away at the group's global cost competitiveness. Sending Jeong, a policy development veteran, to Mobis may reflect the group's drive to contain labor flare-ups at parts units before they ripple into assembly-line stoppages at the carmaker, sources said. "The personnel order has not been formally issued, so we are not in a position to confirm the matter at this time," said a Hyundai Mobis spokesperson when asked for confirmation. 2026-05-06 14:08:01
  • Celltrion posts record Q1 as new biosimilars drive earnings surge
    Celltrion posts record Q1 as new biosimilars drive earnings surge SEOUL, May 06 (AJP) - South Korean biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion reported its strongest first-quarter results on record, as a wave of newly launched biosimilars accelerated overseas sales and pushed operating profit more than twofold higher. According to regulatory filings released Wednesday, the company logged consolidated revenue of 1.14 trillion won ($779.43 million) and operating profit of 321.9 billion won for the three months ended March 31, up 36 percent and 115.5 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. The operating margin widened to about 28.1 percent. Sales of five high-margin biosimilars launched last year jumped 67 percent on year to 581.2 billion won, accounting for 60 percent of total product revenue for the first time. Omlyclo, rolled out across Europe in September, has captured market shares of 98 percent in Denmark, 80 percent in Spain and 70 percent in the Netherlands within roughly four months of launch. Momentum has carried into the United States, where Zymfentra, the world's only subcutaneous infliximab, is logging its highest-ever monthly prescription volumes, more than triple year-earlier levels. SteQeyma held an IQVIA-tracked share above 10 percent as of March, supported by reimbursement coverage secured through major pharmacy benefit managers. "Achieving sharp growth in the seasonally weak first quarter reflects the full-fledged market entry of our high-margin product lineup," said a Celltrion spokesperson, adding that the results mark a successful start toward exceeding annual targets of 5.3 trillion won in revenue and 1.8 trillion won in operating profit. Celltrion's board on Wednesday also approved cancelling about 100 billion won of recently bought treasury shares, following last month's retirement of 9.11 million shares worth roughly 1.8 trillion won. The company plans to expand its biosimilar portfolio to 18 products by 2030 and 41 by 2038, while broadening its novel drug pipeline to 20 candidates by 2027. Shares of Celltrion traded at 197,000 won per stock on 9:30 a.m., 0.4 percent lower than the previous session. 2026-05-06 09:35:41
  • Korea University, UNIST team up to build Korean version of Harvard-MIT HST
    Korea University, UNIST team up to build Korean version of Harvard-MIT HST SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Korea University College of Medicine and the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have been picked for the government's flagship program to nurture physician-scientists, marking a fresh push to close the gap between Korean medical research and global leaders such as Harvard-MIT and Stanford. The two institutions were selected as a new consortium under the 2026 K-MediST (Korea Medical Science & Technology) program, supervised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and administered by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. The five-year project runs from April 2026 through December 2030. Kim Tae-hoon, professor at Korea University College of Medicine and head of research at Korea University Anam Hospital, will serve as principal investigator, while Baek Seung-jae, dean of UNIST's Graduate School of Health Sciences and Technology, takes on the role of co-principal investigator. At the heart of the partnership lies what the schools call the "KUNIST" platform, a joint framework offering a joint MD-PhD degree, a shared research institute, and direct support for technology commercialization. A roughly 502-square-meter research hub will be set up at Korea University's Chung Mong-koo Hall in northern Seoul, linked to UNIST's high-performance computing and analytical infrastructure in Ulsan. The curriculum revolves around four pillars — medical AI, precision medicine, smart hospitals and extreme medicine — and will be built on the ADDIE instructional design model to tailor coursework to each student's research focus. A so-called 'Data Living Lab' is to feed real-time clinical data into research, allowing trainees to move between bedside and bench without friction. The program was modelled on Harvard-MIT's Health Sciences and Technology and Stanford University's BioX, both regarded as global benchmarks for physician-scientist training. The Korean partners say they intend to pursue joint research and exchange ties with those institutions. "Physician-scientists are the core talent in the bio-health field who can solve problems encountered in clinical settings through laboratory research," said Jung Eun-young, director-general for health industry policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in a separate briefing on the broader program. 2026-05-04 14:09:56
  • Kraftons Unknown Worlds sets May 15 early access launch for Subnautica 2
    Krafton's Unknown Worlds sets May 15 early access launch for Subnautica 2 SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the creative studio under South Korean gaming giant Krafton, confirmed that its underwater survival sequel Subnautica 2 will enter early access on May 15 for PC and Xbox Series X|S, priced at $30. The title has held the top spot on Steam's global wishlist ranking for about nine consecutive months since September 2025, amassing an estimated 3.8 million wishlists and cementing its status as one of the most anticipated games of 2026. A new cinematic trailer released alongside the announcement showcased the game's alien ocean ecosystem and its survival mechanics. Built on Unreal Engine 5, Subnautica 2 transports players to an uncharted alien planet and introduces four-player cooperative gameplay for the first time in the franchise's history. The series' predecessor, released in 2018, has sold more than 18.5 million copies worldwide and is widely regarded as a benchmark in the survival genre. "We will actively engage with players throughout the early access period and refine the game together," said Ted Gill, chief executive of Unknown Worlds. The launch comes after a turbulent chapter in the game's development. Krafton ousted Gill and studio co-founders in July 2025 and delayed the release from its original 2025 window, triggering lawsuits and a court order that reinstated Gill as CEO earlier this year. The former developers alleged the shakeup was aimed at avoiding a $250 million earnout payment tied to the game's delivery. Industry observers say the early access performance of Subnautica 2 will serve as a critical test of Krafton's push to diversify beyond its flagship PUBG franchise, particularly in Western markets where the Subnautica brand commands a loyal following. 2026-05-01 17:16:38
  • South Koreas exports top $80 billion for second straight month
    South Korea's exports top $80 billion for second straight month SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - South Korea's exports surged 48 percent year-on-year in April to $85.89 billion, breaching the $80 billion threshold for a second consecutive month as a semiconductor supercycle powered by global artificial intelligence investment continued to underpin the trade-dependent economy. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reported Friday that the April figure trailed only the all-time high of $86.6 billion set in March, making it the second-largest monthly tally on record. Imports rose 16.7 percent to $62.11 billion, yielding a trade surplus of $23.77 billion and extending the country's streak of monthly surpluses to 15. Chip shipments drove the bulk of the gains. Semiconductor exports soared 173.5 percent to $31.9 billion, eclipsing the $30 billion mark for a second month in a row on surging demand for high-bandwidth memory, DDR5 and NAND flash used in AI server infrastructure. Computer exports also rocketed 515.8 percent to $4.08 billion, propelled by brisk enterprise demand for solid-state drives. Rising crude oil prices stemming from the prolonged Middle East conflict lifted petroleum product exports by 39.9 percent to $5.11 billion, though analysts noted the increase was driven largely by unit-price gains rather than higher volumes. Automobile shipments, by contrast, slipped 5.5 percent amid logistics disruptions in the Middle East and the overhang of U.S. tariff measures. By destination, exports to China jumped 62.5 percent on robust appetite for semiconductors and IT products, while shipments to the United States climbed 54 percent on the strength of chips and computers. Exports to the Middle East, however, tumbled 25.1 percent as the war disrupted trade routes. "South Korea saw its monthly exports surpass the $80 billion mark, along with a trade surplus of over $20 billion, for the second straight month for the first time in history in April even amid the persisting conflict in the Middle East," said Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources. Analysts cautioned that the export boom remains heavily tethered to semiconductors and elevated oil prices, leaving it vulnerable to additional U.S. tariffs, a protracted Middle East war and a broader global slowdown in the second half of the year. 2026-05-01 12:59:59