Journalist

Oh Joo-Seok
  • Stellantis Korea to Offer Voluntary Buyouts for First Time in Three Years
    Stellantis Korea to Offer Voluntary Buyouts for First Time in Three Years Stellantis Korea will offer voluntary buyouts for the first time in three years as weak domestic demand persists and its parent company’s performance worsens. According to the auto industry on Monday, Stellantis Korea has recently begun accepting applications from employees. The program covers about 70 workers in the national sales division, which handles sales and marketing for brands including Peugeot and Jeep. There are no age or tenure limits. The company said the process is based entirely on voluntary departures and will follow relevant laws and procedures. Stellantis last carried out restructuring in South Korea in 2023, about three years ago. The latest restructuring is being implemented across all global regions where Stellantis operates, including South Korea. Stellantis has said it would absorb losses of 22.2 billion euros (about 38.4 trillion won) incurred while reshaping its business amid slowing demand for electric vehicles. The move follows prolonged weakness in the EV market, including after the U.S. government tightened requirements for Inflation Reduction Act EV tax credits in October last year. Stellantis is a global automaker formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and PSA Group. It has 14 brands, including Jeep and Peugeot. Its South Korean results have also remained weak. Jeep sales in South Korea totaled 2,072 units last year, down 21% from 2,628 a year earlier. Peugeot sold 979 units, up 3% from 947. A Stellantis Korea official said the step is part of a global efficiency strategy and a restructuring program being pursued simultaneously in key regions, including South Korea. The official said the company’s domestic business operations will not be affected.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 17:03:00
  • Hanwha Aerospace posts record 3 trillion won operating profit in 2025
    Hanwha Aerospace posts record 3 trillion won operating profit in 2025 Hanwha Aerospace said in a regulatory filing on Monday that it posted 26.6078 trillion won ($26,607.8 billion) in revenue last year and 3.0345 trillion won ($3,034.5 billion) in operating profit. The figures were up 137% and 75%, respectively, from a year earlier, marking a third straight year of record results. The company attributed the gains to steady growth in its ground defense and aerospace businesses, as well as the full-year consolidation of Hanwha Ocean into its financial statements. In ground defense, Hanwha Aerospace reported 8.1331 trillion won ($8,133.1 billion) in revenue last year, about double the level of two years earlier. Operating profit rose to 2.0129 trillion won ($2,012.9 billion), topping 2 trillion won for the first time. Overseas, it secured exports including K9 self-propelled howitzers to Norway and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers with advanced guided missiles to Estonia. In South Korea, it won a 705.4 billion won ($705.4 million) mass-production contract for the Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile, or L-SAM, and a 225.4 billion won ($225.4 million) mass-production contract for the Cheongeom air-to-ground guided missile for light armed helicopters. As of the end of last year, its ground defense order backlog stood at about 37.2 trillion won ($37,200 billion). The aerospace unit posted 2.5131 trillion won ($2,513.1 billion) in revenue last year, extending its growth streak to three years, helped by a sharp rise in defense orders. Operating profit came to 2.3 billion won ($2.3 million), returning to the black. Subsidiary Hanwha Ocean was included in consolidated results for a full 12 months for the first time last year. Hanwha Ocean reported annual revenue of 12.6884 trillion won ($12,688.4 billion) and operating profit of 1.1091 trillion won ($1,109.1 billion). A Hanwha Aerospace official said last year marked the first year the company fully incorporated Hanwha Ocean’s performance, calling it a starting point for its push to become an integrated defense and shipbuilding group. The official said the company will seek sustainable growth this year through a diversified product portfolio, while working to expand in global markets and contribute to South Korea’s security.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 15:45:18
  • Boston Dynamics Releases New Video of Atlas Doing Cartwheel and Back Tumbles
    Boston Dynamics Releases New Video of Atlas Doing Cartwheel and Back Tumbles Hyundai Motor Group robotics unit Boston Dynamics said Monday that it posted a new video to its YouTube channel on Feb. 7 (local time) showing its humanoid robot Atlas performing a cartwheel followed by back tumbles. In the video, Atlas links the two moves smoothly, like a gymnast, and lands the final flip without wobbling. Boston Dynamics said the footage shows Atlas has reached a more stable stage of continuous full-body control, covering takeoff, midair posture control, impact absorption on landing and recovery. The company has also drawn attention for video of Atlas walking on icy ground without falling. YouTube users reacted with comments such as, “It’s the most humanlike walking motion I’ve seen,” and, “It’s really cool that they also show the failures.” A comment calling the video “amazingly impressive” received more than 2,000 likes. Boston Dynamics said the video includes parts of its research process, including failed tumbling attempts. It said Atlas is building full-body mobility through repeated learning that allows continuous performance and repeated verification, and that it plans to systematically train Atlas in Hyundai Motor Group manufacturing environments. A Boston Dynamics official said, “Now that Atlas’ enterprise platform is up and running, performance testing of the research version is coming to an end,” adding, “With help from the RAI (Robotics and AI) Institute, our researchers conducted final tests to push the limits of full-body control and mobility.” Hyundai Motor Group previously said at CES that it plans to deploy a next-generation electric Atlas development model at production sites including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and to expand adoption step by step after process-level verification. Starting in 2028, the group plans to introduce Atlas at HMGMA first in processes with clearly verified safety and quality benefits, such as sequencing work for parts classification. From 2030, it plans to expand the scope to parts assembly. Atlas won CNET’s Best of CES 2026 award for best robot at CES 2026.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 13:24:40
  • Audi Korea Opens New Audi Namcheon Showroom in Busan
    Audi Korea Opens New Audi Namcheon Showroom in Busan Audi Korea said Sunday that its official dealer, Iron Auto, has opened a new Audi Namcheon showroom in Namcheon-dong, Busan. The showroom has a total floor area of 498.6 square meters and can display up to seven vehicles. It includes customer consultation areas and a layout designed to let visitors experience the brand identity in a more comfortable, immersive setting. The Audi Namcheon showroom is located at 449 Suyeong-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan, and operates from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. To mark the opening, it will hold various events for one month. "It is meaningful to newly introduce the Namcheon showroom, which will further expand our touchpoints with customers in Busan’s southeastern region," said Steve Clotty, president of Audi Korea. Kim Min Gyu, CEO of Iron Auto, said the showroom will serve as "an important hub" for closer communication with customers in Busan. He said the dealer will deliver Audi’s premium value through tailored services that reflect local customers’ lifestyles and needs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 10:09:00
  • Hyundai Rotem to Exhibit at Saudi Defense Show WDS 2026
    Hyundai Rotem to Exhibit at Saudi Defense Show WDS 2026 Hyundai Rotem said Sunday it will take part in the Saudi International Defense Exhibition, WDS 2026, as it steps up efforts to expand in the Middle East. The event, the region’s largest defense exhibition, is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” strategy to build a self-reliant defense industry, the company said. Hyundai Rotem said it will focus on promoting its ground weapons systems and technologies aimed at future battlefield needs. It plans to highlight mobile weapons systems, manned-unmanned teaming and hydrogen mobility technologies. At its exhibition hall, the company will display mock-ups of the K2 main battle tank, which it said has been well received in global markets, along with K2-based variants including an obstacle-clearing vehicle and an armored recovery vehicle. It will also show a 30-metric-ton wheeled armored vehicle developed for export, plus mock-ups of a command post vehicle and a medical evacuation vehicle based on its existing wheeled armored vehicle platform. Hyundai Rotem said it will debut a multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle, the HR-Sherpa, fitted with a counter-drone system. The company said the system uses radar to detect drones, establish defenses and support guard and surveillance missions. The HR-Sherpa is an unmanned platform designed to carry different equipment depending on the mission. The company said in-wheel motors are applied to all six wheels, a design that boosts propulsion and allows the vehicle to keep moving even if one wheel develops a problem. Also on display are a full-size reconnaissance drone and one-third-scale mock-ups equipped with a surface-to-air guided missile system and a surface-to-surface guided missile system. Hyundai Rotem said it will also show its hydrogen fuel cell-based unmanned mobility electrification platform, Black Veil, to overseas markets for the first time after debuting it last year at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, known as ADEX. “We plan to demonstrate the diverse operational capabilities of ground weapons systems based on advanced future technologies such as AI, unmanned systems and hydrogen, in line with the rapidly changing future battlefield environment,” a Hyundai Rotem official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 09:21:29
  • Hyundai Wia Debuts at Saudi Arabia’s WDS 2026 With Vehicle-Mounted Firepower Systems
    Hyundai Wia Debuts at Saudi Arabia’s WDS 2026 With Vehicle-Mounted Firepower Systems Hyundai Wia is showcasing vehicle-mounted firepower systems at one of the Middle East’s largest defense exhibitions. The company said Sunday it is taking part in the World Defense Show (WDS) 2026, being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Feb. 8-12 local time. WDS is one of the region’s biggest defense industry exhibitions. This year’s event drew about 750 companies from 45 countries. Hyundai Wia is operating a standalone booth at the show for the first time. Hyundai Wia displayed full-scale vehicle-based firepower systems, led by a “lightweight 105mm self-propelled howitzer” that mounts an existing 105mm howitzer on a small tactical vehicle. The company said it is more than half the weight of a wheeled self-propelled howitzer currently deployed by South Korea’s military, improving mobility, and has a maximum range of 18 kilometers. For faster fire control and ammunition transport in the field, the system is designed to operate with a fire-control vehicle and an ammunition carrier. It can also be airlifted by helicopter to an operational area, the company said. Hyundai Wia also exhibited a mock-up of a vehicle-mounted 81mm mortar. Using an automatic emplacement method, it cuts setup time from five minutes to 10 seconds and reduces the crew from five to three, the company said. It is designed to be operated like a conventional 81mm mortar when vehicle use is restricted. The company also introduced a remote-controlled weapon station, or RCWS. It displayed a full-scale small RCWS fitted with a widely used 7.62mm machine gun, and a mock-up of a medium RCWS that can mount a 12.7mm machine gun and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Hyundai Wia said it has added an AI-based auto-tracking algorithm across its RCWS lineup to detect and identify targets more precisely and quickly. Also on display was a tactical-vehicle-based anti-drone integrated defense system, or ADS, combining “soft-kill” electronic jamming to disable drones and “hard-kill” engagement using an RCWS, the company said. Hyundai Wia said it plans to use the exhibition to expand exports of artillery systems to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern markets. “It is meaningful to open a standalone booth for the first time at WDS, the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East,” a company official said. “We will showcase Hyundai Wia’s defense technology across various regions, including the Middle East, and continue full-scale order-winning efforts in overseas markets.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 09:09:00
  • Hyundai Glovis Expands Into K-Beauty Logistics With New Fulfillment Service
    Hyundai Glovis Expands Into K-Beauty Logistics With New Fulfillment Service Hyundai Glovis is moving to capture the fast-growing K-beauty logistics market.  The company said Sunday it has signed a third-party logistics, or 3PL, contract with The Skin Factory, which operates the hair and body care brand KUNDAL, and has begun full-scale operations. Under the deal, Hyundai Glovis will handle the entire logistics process for The Skin Factory’s products, from receiving and storage to packing and shipping. The company said it is launching a fulfillment service that provides a one-stop, integrated solution covering storage, packaging and delivery.  Hyundai Glovis will provide fulfillment for domestic customers through an advanced automated logistics center in the Seoul metropolitan area. The center is equipped with the latest automation, including automated guided vehicles, enabling fast and accurate processing for e-commerce orders. It also supports safe storage and efficient shipping tailored to beauty products. Hyundai Glovis said it also plans to support The Skin Factory’s overseas expansion by providing end-to-end export logistics, including cross-border direct-to-consumer shipping, overseas customs clearance, and air and sea export services. The company is betting on growth in K-beauty logistics. U.S. market research firm Allied Market Research forecasts the global K-beauty market will reach $13.9 billion (about 20 trillion won) in 2027.   A Hyundai Glovis official said the company can provide flexible and stable logistics services even when volumes fluctuate, backed by advanced automation. The official said Hyundai Glovis aims to boost clients’ productivity and help cut logistics costs, while serving as a partner responsible for both domestic distribution and export logistics.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 08:51:00
  • Hyundai Mobis Pledges One Team Partnership With Suppliers at 2026 Partners Day
    Hyundai Mobis Pledges 'One Team' Partnership With Suppliers at 2026 Partners Day Hyundai Mobis said it held its “2026 Partners Day” event on Feb. 6 at the Haevichi Hotel in Jeju, inviting about 230 executives from major partner companies. The company said the event was designed to strengthen communication and cooperation with key suppliers as it seeks to expand globally in the future mobility market. “Whether we have independent innovative technologies is the key standard that will determine the survival of all of us,” Hyundai Mobis President Lee Gyu Seok said. He added that suppliers, as well as Hyundai Mobis, need bold investment and early technology proposals. Lee said the company would provide broad support and would practice horizontal communication and relationship-building as a “one team” working to open new markets. Hyundai Mobis said it presented awards to 17 suppliers across 10 categories, including a grand prize, for areas such as quality, safety, new-vehicle development, purchasing and shared growth. The company said the event also focused on sharing strategy and vision and reviewing priorities such as quality management and industrial safety. Hyundai Mobis said it has worked to build a cooperative system with suppliers since announcing its “seven beautiful promises” alongside a shared-growth master plan in 2010. The company said it runs financial support programs, including a shared-growth fund and co-prosperity loans, and supports the full process from parts development to completion to help suppliers build technology capabilities. Over the past three years, Hyundai Mobis said it provided a total of 180 billion won to support new products and new technology development by domestic suppliers, and the number of patents jointly filed with suppliers has surpassed 850. Last year, the company launched the “Mobius Bootcamp” to train software talent and connect participants to hiring by partner companies. Hyundai Mobis said the first cohort selected 300 people — 200 job seekers and 100 employees at partner companies — who are receiving specialized training in mobility software. Hyundai Mobis said it paid about 150 trillion won in purchase payments to suppliers over the past three years through 2024. Based on those results, it was named a “top” company for seven consecutive years in the shared-growth index evaluation announced last year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 08:42:00
  • Seoul Metro Railcar Bid for Lines 6 and 7 Renews Debate Over Lowest-Price Contracting
    Seoul Metro Railcar Bid for Lines 6 and 7 Renews Debate Over Lowest-Price Contracting Dawonsys’ delivery delays are fueling renewed debate over how Seoul subway railcars are procured. With Seoul Metro expected to keep a lowest-price structure for its Lines 6 and 7 railcar purchase, critics are calling for a broader review of the bidding system. According to the rail industry on Saturday, Seoul Metro will hold a project briefing on Feb. 11 in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, for a plan to buy 376 railcars for Lines 6 and 7. The project would replace some aging trains, with an order value of about 950 billion won. Seoul Metro is expected to disclose details such as the bidding method and evaluation criteria at the briefing. The leading option under review is the existing lowest-price bidding approach. Seoul Metro is reported to have posted a notice last month indicating it would pursue the project through lowest-price bidding. Under the system, bidders are screened in a first stage based on factors such as quality, capacity and delivery track record, then the contract is awarded in a second stage to the company offering the lowest price. Buyers favor the method because it can reduce upfront costs. But the lowest-price focus has long been blamed for delivery delays. Industry officials say aggressive price competition can lead to the use of low-cost Chinese parts, more breakdowns and service disruptions. The Public Procurement Service is reported to have sent an official letter to the Seoul city government asking it to consider switching to a “contract by negotiation” model. Dawonsys delivered Line 4 railcars 597 days late, completing delivery last year after originally agreeing to deliver by May 2024. A separate order for 298 railcars for Lines 5 and 8 is past its deadline and has not yet been delivered. Industry officials warn similar problems could recur if the lowest-price structure remains, arguing it does not adequately reflect long-term maintenance costs even if it lowers the initial purchase price. “Railcars are long-term equipment with a service life of up to 30 years,” a rail industry official said. “Maintenance costs are far larger than the initial purchase cost, but lowest-price bidding is structured to judge only the vehicle price.” Competition is expected between Woojin Industrial Systems, which has recently won a series of urban railcar projects, and Hyundai Rotem, which is seeking to expand its domestic railcar business. Some in the industry say a lowest-price format could disadvantage Hyundai Rotem because it has a higher share of domestic production. In the National Assembly, discussions on reforming the procurement market are continuing, including the introduction of a set of bills aimed at preventing repeat delivery delays, dubbed the “Dawonsys ban law.” The proposed revisions would generally cap advance payments for construction, manufacturing and service contracts above a certain amount at 20%, allowing up to 50% only when unavoidable. They would also designate companies with habitual delivery delays or misuse of advance payments as “unfair contractors,” restricting them from public bids. 2026-02-08 18:03:00
  • KAI Signs 101.4 Billion Won FA-50PH Performance-Based Logistics Deal With Philippines
    KAI Signs 101.4 Billion Won FA-50PH Performance-Based Logistics Deal With Philippines 한국항공우주산업(KAI)는 6일 필리핀 국방부와 전투기 FA-50PH에 대한 성과기반군수지원(PBL) 계약을 체결했다고 밝혔다. 계약 규모는 약 1,014억원이며 계약 기간은 2028년까지다. KAI는 이번 PBL이 항공기 가동률과 정비 신뢰도 등 운용 성과를 기준으로 군수 지원을 제공하는 방식이라고 설명했다. KAI는 이를 항공기 수명주기인 30~40년 동안 안정적인 지원 체계를 구축하는 선진 군수지원 방식으로 소개했다. KAI는 2024년 12월 필리핀과 약 270억원 규모의 1년 단기 PBL 시범 계약을 체결한 바 있다. KAI는 이후 기술력을 인정받아 이번 3년 장기 계약으로 이어졌다고 밝혔다. KAI는 항공기 후속지원이 항공기 획득비의 2~5배에 달하는 핵심 사업이라고 덧붙였다. 필리핀은 KAI의 대표적인 FA-50 운용국으로 분류된다. 필리핀은 2014년 FA-50PH 12대를 처음 도입한 이후 약 10년간 후속지원과 군수지원을 받아 왔다고 KAI는 밝혔다. KAI는 이러한 신뢰를 바탕으로 필리핀이 지난해 FA-50PH 12대를 추가 도입했고, 2014년에 수출된 기존 FA-50PH에 대한 성능 개량 사업도 연이어 계약했다고 전했다. 박경은 KAI CS본부장(전무)은 "국산 항공기를 운용 중이거나 운용을 예정하고 있는 모든 국가들 대상으로 국가별 운용 환경과 요구에 최적화된 맞춤형 후속지원 체계를 구축해 나갈 것"이라고 말했다. 2026-02-06 17:18:00