Hanwha to Debut AI-Enabled Loitering Precision-Guided Weapon at Saudi Defense Show Hanwha is set to unveil advanced weapons systems to the global market for the first time, including an artificial intelligence-enabled “loitering precision-guided weapon (L-PGW).” Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean said Tuesday they will take part in the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Feb. 8-12 with their largest-ever integrated booth, covering 677 square meters (including 50 square meters outdoors). The biennial show is being held for the third time this year, with 773 companies from 76 countries participating. Hanwha Aerospace’s L-PGW is described as a next-generation capability in which AI independently scouts, identifies and strikes targets. The system uses a new concept in which a suicide drone separates and launches at the moment of attack. Hanwha said it will be the weapon’s first public showing in the global advanced-arms market, which has been led by major U.S. and European firms. Hanwha Systems will also present its vision for AI-based future weapons spanning surveillance and reconnaissance, space and maritime operations. It plans to debut a multipurpose radar (MMR) designed to operate with ground weapon systems and counter evolving low-altitude air threats such as drones. The companies will showcase an AI-based combat management system (CMS), an AESA-based four-sided fixed multifunction radar (MFR), and a “smart battleship” concept incorporating unmanned systems and stealth design. A K9A1 self-propelled howitzer fitted with an STX Engine from South Korea will be displayed as a physical unit and was built to meet Saudi export requirements. Hanwha will also exhibit the Jangbogo-III Batch-II 3,000-ton-class submarine launched in a ceremony last October, along with a submarine base, surface ships and unmanned surface vessels. A Hanwha official said the company will work as “one team” with the South Korean government to develop global markets and enter overseas markets with partner firms, adding it will “make a practical contribution” to Saudi Arabia’s defense and industrial self-reliance and strengthen a strategic partnership.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 17:30:00

South Korea’s Imported Car Sales Jump 37.6% in January to 20,960, Led by BMW BMW continued to lead South Korea’s imported-car market in January. The Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association said Tuesday that new registrations of imported passenger cars totaled 20,960 in January, up 37.6% from a year earlier. The figure was down 26.7% from December. By brand, BMW ranked first with 6,270 registrations, ahead of Mercedes-Benz with 5,121. It was followed by Tesla (1,966), Lexus (1,464), BYD (1,347), Volvo (1,037), Audi (847) and Porsche (702). By engine displacement, vehicles under 2,000cc accounted for 9,711 (46.3%). Models from 2,000cc to under 3,000cc totaled 5,781 (27.6%); 3,000cc to under 4,000cc, 694 (3.3%); and 4,000cc or more, 344 (1.6%). Other categories, including electric vehicles, totaled 4,430 (21.1%). By origin, European brands made up 15,132 registrations (72.2%), followed by the United States with 2,291 (10.9%), Japan with 2,190 (10.4%) and China with 1,347 (6.4%). By fuel type, hybrids led with 13,949 (66.6%), followed by electric vehicles with 4,430 (21.1%), gasoline with 2,441 (11.6%) and diesel with 140 (0.7%). Of the 20,960 vehicles sold, individual buyers accounted for 12,200 (58.2%) and corporate buyers for 8,760 (41.8%). Among individual purchases, registrations were highest in Gyeonggi (3,711, 30.4%), Seoul (2,464, 20.2%) and Incheon (726, 6.0%). For corporate purchases, Incheon led with 2,930 (33.4%), followed by Seoul with 2,678 (30.6%) and South Gyeongsang with 1,335 (15.2%). The best-selling model in January was the Mercedes-Benz E 200 with 1,207 registrations. The BMW 520 (1,162) and Tesla Model Y (1,134) also ranked near the top. KAIDA Vice Chairman Jeong Yun-young said January registrations rose from a year earlier due to increased electric-vehicle sales and the impact of new brands. 2026-02-04 10:12:00

Actor Kim Woo Bin Named Polestar Brand Ambassador Swedish electric-vehicle brand Polestar said Tuesday it has selected actor Kim Woo Bin as a brand ambassador. Under the partnership, Kim will experience Polestar products and the brand firsthand and take part in a range of online and in-person activities, including brand events and digital content, to broaden engagement with Polestar customers. Polestar Korea said it focused on Kim’s polished, trustworthy image, saying it aligns with Polestar’s core values of Scandinavian design, performance and sustainability. The company said his emphasis on restrained aesthetics and authenticity is expected to help deliver Polestar’s brand message. Ham Jong Sung, CEO of Polestar Korea, said, “Actor Kim Woo Bin has been loved for a long time based on his distinct style and trustworthy image,” adding that he is expected to convey Polestar’s values of design, performance and sustainability to customers “more sincerely.” Kim said, “I’m happy to be with Polestar. I want to share the brand’s appeal honestly and sincerely.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 09:30:00

Korean Air Launches Generative AI Chatbot for Customer Service Korean Air said Tuesday it has launched the “Korean Air AI Chatbot,” adding generative artificial intelligence to its online customer-service chatbot. The chatbot is built on generative AI trained on a large volume of data, including airline rules, the company said. Customers can type questions in everyday language — for example, asking how many checked bags are allowed for an economy-class trip from Incheon to Paris — and receive an answer tailored to the request. To improve reliability, Korean Air said the chatbot provides the source of its answers along with links to related pages. The airline also said it has completed an AI-focused database designed to minimize “hallucinations” and deliver verified responses. The service is available on Korean Air’s official website and mobile app. Korean Air expanded language support from four — Korean, English, simplified Chinese and Japanese — to 13 by adding traditional Chinese, French, Russian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Thai and Vietnamese. If users need more help beyond the chatbot’s response, they can type “connect to an agent” to move directly from the chatbot screen to a customer-service representative, the airline said. Agent support is available only in Korean and English. Korean Air said it plans to add features in stages based on customer experience, expanding beyond information such as airline policies to functions including ticket purchases and reservation lookups. “With the AI chatbot service, customers can experience more accurate and faster support, as well as convenient and smart service for global customers,” a Korean Air official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 09:00:00

Renault Korea Adds ChatGPT-Based Generative AI to Renault Filante Tips App Renault Korea said Tuesday it has added ChatGPT-based generative artificial intelligence to “Tips,” its vehicle guide application for Renault Filante. Tips is an integrated guide service designed to help drivers quickly resolve questions that come up while using the vehicle, the company said. Its main feature, “AI My Car Assistant,” uses generative AI to provide information in a conversational format. Unlike keyword-based searches, it allows users to continue exploring information through dialogue for more natural guidance, Renault Korea said. The app also offers a digital owner’s manual so drivers can view vehicle information at a glance. Users can browse categories such as getting to know the car, driving, convenience features, multimedia, maintenance and vehicle information, or ask the AI assistant directly. For information that may be needed immediately while driving, the app provides separate menus. A news section offers the latest vehicle-related updates and key notices, while a warning-lights section explains dashboard warning indicators to help drivers quickly understand the situation. “While vehicle functions have become more advanced and the amount of information provided has continued to grow, many drivers still struggle to find what they need during actual driving,” said Choi Seong Gyu, head of Renault Korea’s research center. “Renault Korea has actively introduced AI-based features so customers can use their vehicles more easily and conveniently,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 08:30:00

Canada’s defense procurement minister visits Hanwha Aerospace plant, cites potential for deeper cooperation Canadian Minister of State for Defense Procurement Stephen Fuhr visited Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon site, a day after touring facilities run by Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Rotem to review major South Korean defense systems. Hanwha Aerospace said Fuhr, a delegation of Canadian company representatives and others — about 30 people — visited its Plants 2 and 3 in Changwon, South Gyeongsang province, on Feb. 3. The group toured production lines for the K9 self-propelled howitzer, the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. They also watched mobility demonstrations of the K9, the Redback infantry fighting vehicle and the K21 armored vehicle, and rode in key equipment to experience performance firsthand. Hanwha said the visit was aimed at assessing South Korea’s defense capabilities ahead of Canada’s large-scale military modernization effort, the Indirect Fire Modernization (IFM) program. Canada plans to introduce about 250 infantry fighting vehicles into its army by 2030, six years earlier than scheduled. Hanwha Aerospace said it proposed an integrated “firepower-and-mobility solution” linking the K9, Chunmoo and Redback — systems it said are operated in more than 10 countries, including six NATO members. The company also proposed a partnership to help build a local defense industrial ecosystem in Canada, beyond simply supplying equipment. The company said the approach is intended to meet Canada’s priorities for local production and supply-chain security, while expanding cooperation in North America and NATO markets with Canada as a hub. “We will be the best partner for Canada’s military modernization, based on Hanwha’s decades of accumulated technology and our ability to meet delivery schedules,” Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il said. Fuhr said Hanwha’s modern production facilities and high level of technology were “very impressive and surprising,” adding that the visit would be an important opportunity to make bilateral defense cooperation more concrete. Fuhr visited Hanwha Ocean the previous day, where he looked at a model of the Jang Yeong-sil ship and requested cooperation in the automotive sector. At Hyundai Rotem, he reviewed production processes for major defense systems including the K2 tank.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 17:27:00

Hanwha Aerospace Launches $22 Million Supplier Innovation Profit-Sharing Program Hanwha Aerospace said it will launch a supplier innovation profit-sharing program aimed at advancing cutting-edge defense technology and supporting shared growth by directing its defense R&D funding to suppliers’ research and expanded intellectual property. The company held a ceremony on Monday at its R&D center at its Plant 3 site in Changwon, South Korea, with about 80 attendees, including representatives from 56 suppliers as well as central and local government officials. Hanwha Aerospace said it will begin the program this year with a total budget of 30 billion won. Under the plan, if suppliers pursue advanced R&D and localization of key components, Hanwha Aerospace will cover 100% of required R&D costs, including direct development expenses, research activity funding, facility investment and infrastructure. When suppliers participate in government small-business R&D programs — including those run by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology for defense component localization and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups for public-private technology commercialization — Hanwha Aerospace will also pay the suppliers’ required contributions. The company said not only existing suppliers but also promising small firms and startups can join R&D in strategic defense areas such as AI and robotics. Hanwha Aerospace said it will also significantly expand financial support for suppliers, tripling its shared-growth fund to 150 billion won from 50 billion won to back rising defense demand and export opportunities. It also said it will work with the Defense Industry Mutual Aid Association to create an advance-payment performance bond fee reduction program — the first such move in the defense industry — to ease suppliers’ financial burden during export contract processes. Jo Jeong Hyun, CEO of SG Solution and head of the shared-growth cooperation council, said, “With the new shared-growth cooperation program, we will trust Hanwha Aerospace as a strong partner and take bolder challenges to achieve technological independence and global growth.” He added, “We appreciate the creation of this program and look forward to a stronger future.” Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae Il said, “The competitiveness of K-defense begins with suppliers’ competitiveness in components,” adding that the company will treat suppliers “not as simple counterparties, but as strategic partners that share technology and drive growth together,” putting into practice the group’s shared-growth management philosophy of “going far together.” 2026-02-03 16:36:00

Air Premia pilots move closer to strike, file mediation request in Seoul Air Premia pilots have begun steps that could lead to a strike. According to the aviation industry on Monday, the Air Premia pilots union filed a mediation request with the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission. The move followed a strike-authorization vote held Jan. 29, which passed with 83.8% support (62 votes), and came after final talks with management broke down Monday morning. The union has sought better pay, saying wages have been frozen for years. The union was initially reported to have demanded an 8.3% increase in total wages. It later revised its proposal, seeking raises only for first officers at pay grade step 4 or below and retroactive application of increases since October 2024, but management rejected it. The union will make a final decision on whether to strike after a 14-day mediation process. Shin Dong Hun, head of the Air Premia pilots union, said consumer prices rose 24% over the past five years, cutting real wages. “The 8.3% we proposed is about one-third of the inflation rate,” he said, adding that management is focused on cutting costs despite what he described as significant union concessions. The risk of strikes has been rising across the airline industry this year. Earlier, the Air Busan pilots union sought mediation with the Busan Regional Labor Relations Commission after wage talks for 2025 broke down. The union demanded a 13% increase, citing pay levels at Jin Air, which is set to be merged, while management offered 3.7%, leaving the sides far apart. Pay gaps between airlines have emerged as a key issue in mediation requests. According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system, Air Busan employees’ average pay through June last year was 36 million won, or 81.8% of Jin Air’s 44 million won. Airlines’ reluctance to raise wages comes amid a weak business environment, with a strong exchange rate, fuel-cost burdens and intensifying competition weighing on profitability. The industry believes most carriers, except full-service carrier Korean Air, posted operating losses last year. An Air Premia official disputed the union’s claim of a wage freeze, saying annual pay has risen steadily since 2023 as pay steps were adjusted. The official also said pilots’ pay increases have outpaced those of other employees even as the union prepares for a strike. 2026-02-03 14:42:21

Hyundai Mobis Targets 2029 Mass Production of Holographic Windshield Display With European Partners Hyundai Mobis said Tuesday it is teaming up with global industry leaders to pursue mass production of a holographic windshield display by 2029. The South Korean auto parts maker said it has launched a “Quad Alliance” with three European specialists: German optics company Zeiss, German adhesive tape maker Tesa and French automotive glass company Saint-Gobain Sekurit. The holographic windshield display, or HWD, uses a vehicle’s front windshield as a large display without a separate physical screen, allowing drivers to check driving information while keeping their eyes forward. Hyundai Mobis began developing the HWD through an exclusive collaboration with Zeiss in 2024. It said it will expand that partnership ecosystem starting this year, aiming to commercialize the technology by 2029. Hyundai Mobis will oversee the overall system, including designing and producing the projector that casts images. Zeiss will design the hologram-based optical element film to improve clarity and visibility. Tesa will handle mass replication of the high-function film, and Sekurit will manage the precision process of bonding the film to windshield glass. Hyundai Mobis said the partnership creates a one-stop supply chain spanning technology design, parts production and assembly. The companies are targeting light transmittance of at least 92% — comparable to clear glass — and brightness of more than 10,000 nits, about twice that of outdoor LED billboards, to keep images clear even in bright daytime conditions. Hyundai Mobis said it plans to use the optical characteristics of the film so the driver cannot see the front passenger’s HWD screen. That would allow passengers to watch video, play games and use other infotainment features while driving. Jung Soo Kyung, head of Hyundai Mobis’ Electronics Business Unit, said the company will provide customers with differentiated value through “a core technology that opens the future of in-vehicle displays.” She said Hyundai Mobis will work closely with global partners through mass production to strengthen competitiveness and reinforce its image as a leader in innovative technology in the global market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-03 11:12:00

Hyundai Motor Breaks Ground on Immersive Safety Experience Center at Ulsan Plant Hyundai Motor has broken ground on an immersive safety experience center to be built at its Ulsan plant. The automaker said Wednesday it held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at the Ulsan plant with about 200 labor and management representatives in attendance, including Choi Young Il, head of domestic production and chief safety and health officer; Jung Won Dae, vice president in charge of production support; and union leaders Lee Jong Cheol and Lee Chang Min. Set to open in the second half of this year, the H-Safety Experience Center will be a safety media facility covering 280 pyeong on the Ulsan plant site. It will be open to employees, partner-company workers and members of the public. Hyundai Motor said the center will offer training content using augmented reality, holograms and special effects. It also plans, for the first time among safety experience centers in South Korea, to recreate the Ulsan plant’s real production sites and hazardous situations using projection-mapping technology. Visitors will move through six zones — a welcome zone, safety zone, traffic safety zone, accident experience zone, risk assessment zone and emotional safety zone — to take part in training built around real-world accident cases. In the safety zone, visitors will be able to experience a smoke-filled fire scene using special effects. In the accident experience zone, they can watch a life-size forklift collision simulation. After it opens, Hyundai Motor plans to provide immersive safety training to about 20,000 people a year. “The H-Safety Experience Center is a symbolic place that shows Hyundai Motor’s commitment to top-level safety,” a company official said. “We expect it to help everyone build lasting safety awareness by using a range of new technologies.” 2026-01-29 08:51:00