Journalist

Oh Joo-Seok
  • KATECH Named Korea’s Accredited Testing Body for Low-Speed Autonomous Driving
    KATECH Named Korea’s Accredited Testing Body for Low-Speed Autonomous Driving Korea Automobile Technology Institute said Sunday it has built a nationally accredited testing system to verify the safety and performance of low-speed autonomous driving systems in South Korea. KATECH’s Cooperative Driving Automation Research Center said it received approval from the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme to expand its scope of accreditation based on the KS X ISO 22737 international standard. ISO 22737 sets out performance evaluation standards for low-speed autonomous driving (LSAD) vehicles operating on designated routes such as urban parks, university campuses and industrial complexes. It specifies minimum requirements for autonomous systems traveling at 32 kph (20 mph) or less, including collision avoidance, route compliance and emergency stopping functions. KATECH said it has established a real-road testing framework that reflects scenarios likely to occur in actual traffic, moving beyond evaluations centered on in-lab simulations. It said the tests incorporate a range of scenarios, including situations involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. By verifying the full process of perception, decision-making and control under conditions equivalent to real driving, KATECH said it has improved the reliability of evaluations. KATECH said its designation as a nationally accredited testing body is significant because domestic autonomous driving companies have struggled with a lack of accredited testing systems, making it difficult to objectively demonstrate their technology in global markets. KOLAS-accredited test reports issued by KATECH are recognized with the same effect in more than 100 member countries under the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation’s mutual recognition arrangement, it said. KATECH said it plans to begin providing nationally accredited testing services in earnest from the second quarter of this year, targeting leading autonomous driving companies in South Korea and abroad. KATECH said, “This achievement is meaningful in that it links private-sector autonomous driving capabilities with nationally accredited, reliable data, laying the groundwork for a standardized evaluation ecosystem,” adding, “We will actively support domestic autonomous driving companies so they can respond proactively to international technical regulations and enter global markets.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-16 08:18:14
  • Hanwha System Buys 0.58% Stake in KAI, Citing Space and Defense Cooperation
    Hanwha System Buys 0.58% Stake in KAI, Citing Space and Defense Cooperation Hanwha Group has bought shares in rival Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, for the first time in more than seven years. A business report filed Friday and cited Sunday by South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service said Hanwha System, the group’s defense affiliate, bought 566,635 KAI common shares in November for 59.9 billion won. The stake equals 0.58% of KAI’s outstanding shares. Hanwha last held KAI shares in 2018, when Hanwha Aerospace sold its entire 5.99% stake.  Defense industry officials said closer cooperation between Hanwha and KAI could strengthen South Korea’s competitiveness in defense and aerospace. The two companies, however, have also competed in bids tied to a space project involving a small-satellite system. On the purchase, Hanwha System said the purpose of acquiring the stake was to strengthen cooperation in aerospace and defense businesses, adding that no additional acquisition plan has been decided. 2026-03-15 18:33:15
  • Hanwha Aerospace Signs Long-Term U.S. LNG Purchase Deal With Venture Global
    Hanwha Aerospace Signs Long-Term U.S. LNG Purchase Deal With Venture Global Hanwha Aerospace said March 15 it held a ceremony for a long-term liquefied natural gas purchase agreement with global LNG producer Venture Global. The event in Tokyo was attended by Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il and Venture Global CEO Michael Sabel, along with senior government officials from both countries including South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan and U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the company said. The United States held the Indo-Pacific Energy and Minerals Ministerial and Business Forum, or IPEM, in Tokyo on March 14-15, inviting 12 countries from the Indo-Pacific region, including South Korea. Hanwha Aerospace previously signed a deal with Venture Global last month to receive 1.5 million tons of LNG a year for 20 years starting in 2030. “This energy cooperation will once again demonstrate the firm partnership between South Korea and the United States to strengthen energy security,” Son said. “Based on our capabilities in energy and defense, we will continue to play our role as a global security partner.” Hanwha Aerospace said it is working with affiliates to build a global LNG value chain spanning production, distribution and use. Hanwha Ocean has capabilities in building LNG carriers and offshore infrastructure such as floating LNG production facilities, or FLNG. Hanwha Energy operates LNG power generation, and Hanwha Shipping is responsible for stable maritime transport of LNG.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-15 18:21:15
  • Automakers Rework EV Plans as Demand Cools, Hybrids Regain Focus
    Automakers Rework EV Plans as Demand Cools, Hybrids Regain Focus Global automakers are revising their strategies as growth in the electric-vehicle market slows. U.S. and Japanese carmakers are increasingly dialing back the pace of EV investment and shifting more attention to hybrids. According to the industry on the 15th, Japan’s Honda has decided to temporarily suspend its next-generation EV platform strategy, the “Honda 0 Series.” Development has also effectively halted on the flagship sedan “Saloon,” slated for release next year, and the Acura RSX sport utility vehicle, the report said. That has clouded Honda’s goal of investing 3.5 trillion yen in EVs by 2030 and switching all new vehicles to electric and hydrogen models by 2040. Honda’s decision reflects rising management burdens. Kyodo News and other foreign media reported Honda’s consolidated operating loss for last year is expected to be as much as 690 billion yen, a sharp reversal from an 835.8 billion yen profit a year earlier. This year, losses are forecast to reach as much as 2.5 trillion yen, the reports said. U.S. automakers have also posted operating losses tied to EV investment. Ford reported a $4.8 billion operating loss in its EV division last year. GM, while scaling back EV investment, spent about $6 billion to adjust production lines. Honda is moving to strengthen a hybrid-centered strategy while moderating EV investment. Toyota recently said it plans to increase hybrid production by about 30%, significantly expanding annual output. The Korea Automotive Technology Institute projected the same trend. In a January report, “Global Automotive Industry Issues to Watch in 2026,” it said the eco-friendly vehicle market should keep growing even as policy uncertainty increases. It said consumers are likely to focus on hybrids, which carry relatively lower risk. The global EV market has entered a contraction phase, the article said. Last year, the United States temporarily suspended EV tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. China ended its purchase-tax exemption policy starting this year and is imposing a tax equal to 5% of an EV’s price. In Europe, there are moves to ease a policy that would ban sales of internal-combustion vehicles starting in 2035. 2026-03-15 18:03:48
  • Hyundai launches self-driving taxi service with Uber in Las Vegas
    Hyundai launches self-driving taxi service with Uber in Las Vegas SEOUL, March 15 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group's Ioniq 5-based robotaxis can now be hailed through ride-hailing app Uber in Las Vegas, Nevada. Motional, the automaker's autonomous driving joint venture, said Sunday it has launched a pilot robotaxi service with Uber in the city. The service area includes hotels and shopping districts along the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, with coverage expected to continue expanding. The Ioniq 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle, certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, capable of handling all aspects of driving, monitoring, and emergency response without human intervention within specific areas or conditions. Riders can request a trip through the Uber app, set "ride preferences" to prioritize robotaxis, or choose to be assigned to a non-robotaxi vehicle. Fares are the same as standard Uber rides. ​When the robotaxi arrives, riders use the Uber app to unlock the doors and board. After getting in, audio messages provide a greeting and safety reminders, such as fastening seat belts. Riders who need assistance during the trip can connect to a support agent through the app. During the pilot period, a vehicle operator remains in the driver's seat for safety. Motional said it wants to improve the service by gathering feedback from riders and begin fully driverless operations by the end of the year. "Motional is ready to put our extensive ride-hail experience to work with Uber again," said David Carroll, a Motional executive. "We've tested the Ioniq 5-based robotaxi on public roads in urban areas like Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Singapore. And, in Las Vegas, we've conducted over 100,000 public rides with overwhelming customer satisfaction and zero at-fault incidents," the automaker said in a press release. "Las Vegas hotel and casino owners have also allowed Ioniq 5-based robotaxis to practice passenger pick-ups and drop-offs, which is a challenging, but critical, skill for robotaxis." 2026-03-15 12:20:11
  • Renault Korea Launches 2027 Arkana Coupe-Style SUV
    Renault Korea Launches 2027 Arkana Coupe-Style SUV Renault Korea said Sunday it has launched the 2027 model-year Arkana, a coupe-style sport utility vehicle. For the model-year update, the company consolidated both the Hybrid E-Tech and 1.6 GTe versions into a single Iconic trim to streamline specifications. Front-row ventilated seats are now standard, and the price of the optional Camel Brown synthetic leather seat package has been lowered, Renault Korea said. The 2027 Arkana comes standard with 17-inch dark gray alloy wheels, which the company said improves fuel efficiency. The Hybrid E-Tech is rated at 17.4 kilometers per liter in combined fuel economy, while the 1.6 GTe is rated at 13.6 kilometers per liter. Renault Korea said the Hybrid E-Tech incorporates hybrid know-how from Renault Group’s F1 cars and is expected to deliver real-world fuel economy above the official rating. Driver convenience features were also upgraded. The OpenR Link navigation system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto and provides real-time Tmap navigation information. Advanced driver assistance systems are included as standard equipment. To mark the launch, Renault Korea is offering a “New Start” special support program to buyers this month. The benefit applies if the buyer or a family member has had a birth, school enrollment, marriage or newly obtained driver’s license since Jan. 1, 2026. The company is also running a new-model promotion that includes up to three years of interest-free installments for the Arkana 1.6 GTe. Pricing, based on the reduced individual consumption tax, starts at 33,129,000 won for the Hybrid E-Tech (with eco-friendly vehicle tax benefits applied) and 26.4 million won for the 1.6 GTe. 2026-03-15 11:09:16
  • Hyundai Motor Group Unmanned Firefighting Robot Video Tops 30 Million Views
    Hyundai Motor Group Unmanned Firefighting Robot Video Tops 30 Million Views Hyundai Motor Group said March 15 that a video it co-produced with the National Fire Agency introducing its unmanned firefighting robot technology, titled “A Safer Way Home,” surpassed 30 million views in 12 days. The video, released March 3 on Hyundai Motor Group’s YouTube channel, first highlights the dedication of firefighters who run into flames at personal risk. It then shows an unmanned firefighting robot deployed in high-risk sites that are difficult for people to enter. The video has logged more than 45,000 likes and 841 comments. Hyundai Motor Group said the video has drawn strong interest overseas as well. Of the 30 million views, more than half — 17.21 million — came from the English-language version. Viewers by country were South Korea at 43%, the United States at 12%, Italy at 5%, Spain at 4.4%, France at 4% and the United Kingdom at 2%. Commenters expressed surprise at robotics technology, including physical AI, being used to protect people and thanked firefighters. Comments included: “I hope this technology helps protect more firefighters’ lives. Thank you, Hyundai Motor Group,” “Thank you that Hyundai’s technology can serve as a shield for firefighters. It’s moving to see innovation used to save lives,” and “Robot technology: a powerful shield protecting our heroes.” A Hyundai Motor Group official said the company will continue corporate social responsibility efforts for “uniformed heroes” who help keep society safe and will keep a safety-first philosophy at the center of advances in physical AI and robotics technology.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-15 10:51:15
  • Uber Riders in Las Vegas Can Now Request Motional Ioniq 5 Robotaxis
    Uber Riders in Las Vegas Can Now Request Motional Ioniq 5 Robotaxis Hyundai Motor Co.’s Ioniq 5-based robotaxis will be available to hail through the Uber app in Las Vegas. For now, a vehicle operator will ride in the driver’s seat, but the service is set to move to fully driverless operation at SAE Level 4 by the end of this year. Motional, the autonomous driving joint venture of Hyundai Motor Group, said March 15 that it has launched a pilot robotaxi service with Uber in Las Vegas. The service area includes Resorts World Las Vegas, hotels around the Las Vegas Strip, downtown and the Town Square shopping district. Motional said the coverage area will be expanded over time as it begins autonomous service within designated zones in the city’s complex road environment. Riders can request a trip as usual through the Uber app. If the route falls within the pilot zone, an Ioniq 5 robotaxi will be automatically dispatched. Riders can also ask to be reassigned to a standard vehicle. Fares are the same as regular Uber rides. When the robotaxi arrives, passengers unlock the doors through the app and get in. After boarding, audio messages provide a welcome and reminders such as fastening seat belts. Riders can connect to a support agent through the app if they need help during the trip. Motional said its Ioniq 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, meaning it can handle all driving within set areas and conditions without driver intervention. During the pilot phase, a vehicle operator will ride in the driver’s seat to help ensure safe operation. Motional said it plans to use user feedback to refine the service and begin fully driverless robotaxi operations by the end of this year. “Through AI-based autonomous driving technology, Motional can safely and smoothly drive the wide range of routes requested by Uber users,” said David Carroll, Motional’s vice president of commercialization. Motional and Uber are working to broaden access to autonomous driving services under a 10-year strategic partnership signed in 2022. Earlier that year, they ran a pilot Uber Eats delivery service in Los Angeles, and later conducted a ride-hailing pilot program in Las Vegas. Hyundai said it plans to apply the Level 4 operating know-how and safety validation systems accumulated through the Las Vegas commercialization process to advance the group’s software-defined vehicle development. 2026-03-15 10:15:16
  • Global Air Defense Market Grows as Hanwha, Other South Korean Firms Expand Production
    Global Air Defense Market Grows as Hanwha, Other South Korean Firms Expand Production Demand for air defense weapons is rising in the Middle East and Europe, rapidly expanding the global market and prompting South Korean defense companies to intensify sales efforts and expand production bases. With regional instability persisting in the Middle East, countries are moving more aggressively to strengthen air defense capabilities. According to the defense industry on March 12, Hanwha took part in a defense exhibition opening that day in Brussels, Belgium, promoting systems including the long-range surface-to-air missile, or L-SAM, and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher. L-SAM is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitude and is often described as a “Korean-style THAAD.” Chunmoo is a weapons system capable of firing various guided munitions. By joining the exhibition in Belgium, home to NATO headquarters, Hanwha aims to accelerate its push into Western Europe. Hanwha Aerospace has secured contracts to supply Romania with K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles worth $1 billion, and to supply Poland with Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers in deals valued at $3.6 billion for the first phase and $2.2 billion for the second. Lim Kyung-wook, head of Hanwha Aerospace’s Romania unit, said at an international security and defense conference in Bucharest on March 10 (local time) that the company would expand in Europe based on a local factory. The sales push comes as demand for South Korean air defense weapons grows quickly in Europe and the Middle East. Cheongung-II, deployed earlier this month in the United Arab Emirates, has drawn attention for its performance, spreading by word of mouth to neighboring countries. Industry observers have also suggested announcements of additional purchase agreements with multiple Middle Eastern countries could be imminent. As production demand increases, South Korean defense firms are expanding their footprints. Hanwha Aerospace began construction last month on a production plant in Romania aimed at broadening its European supply chain. In South Korea, affiliate Hanwha Systems relocated its Gumi production plant last year, increasing output capacity by about 30%. The facility expanded from 45,000 square meters to 89,000 square meters, roughly doubling in size. LIG Nex1, the lead contractor for South Korea’s missile systems, completed a guided-missile assembly and inspection facility this month in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, for the Fleet-to-Air Guided Missile-II. Korea Aerospace Industries said it built a second hangar near its Sacheon plant in South Gyeongsang Province in line with planned KF-21 deliveries in the second half of this year. “Production lines tied to export contracts are already running at full capacity,” a defense industry official said. “If additional new weapons exports are secured, expanding the workforce will be unavoidable.” Industry officials say shifting security conditions in Europe and the Middle East are creating opportunities for South Korean defense companies. As countries in those regions seek to reduce reliance on U.S.-made weapons and strengthen their own defense industries, analysts say South Korea has emerged as a niche supplier. Choi Ki-il, a professor of military studies at Sangji University, said Europe’s expanding “buy European” approach is changing defense exports from simple weapons sales to deals that also build production facilities. For Middle Eastern countries, he said, difficulties importing weapons from adversary states are combining with a growing tendency to seek South Korea, which he described as having strong ground-weapons production capabilities among NATO countries.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 05:04:57
  • Polestar Discloses Carbon Footprints for Full Lineup, Including Polestar 5
    Polestar Discloses Carbon Footprints for Full Lineup, Including Polestar 5 Swedish premium EV maker Polestar on 12일 disclosed the carbon footprints for its entire lineup, including the four-door grand tourer Polestar 5. Polestar has published lifecycle assessments, or LCAs, for all models since 2020 to identify emissions from materials and manufacturing and reduce the climate impact of vehicle production. For the Polestar 5, total greenhouse-gas emissions before delivery are 23.8 tons, covering the process from raw-material extraction through production and delivery to the customer. The company said it is working to cut emissions by using more environmentally friendly materials. Aluminum is considered one of the most carbon-intensive materials in vehicle manufacturing. Polestar said it overhauled how aluminum is sourced for the Polestar 5: 13% of the aluminum is recycled, and 83% is produced at smelters powered by renewable energy. The company said that reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 14 tons per vehicle compared with conventional methods. Renewable energy also plays a key role in production, Polestar said. The Polestar 5 uses renewable power not only at its manufacturing facilities but also at sites producing battery cell modules and key battery materials, cutting emissions from vehicle, parts and battery manufacturing. Polestar also said it used new materials in the interior to reduce environmental impact and applied circular design to the front trunk. "If you don’t measure it, you can’t reduce it," said Fredrika Klaren, Polestar’s head of sustainability. Disclosing a car’s carbon footprint, she said, "clearly shows where emissions occur" and encourages industry efforts to cut emissions from materials and manufacturing. She added that such transparency is essential to expanding low-carbon materials, renewable energy and circular solutions and reducing the auto industry’s climate impact. 2026-03-12 09:55:05