Hanwha Aerospace seeks Chunmoo rocket launcher deal in Norway SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace is emerging as a key contender to supply multiple rocket launchers to Norway, as the Nordic country moves ahead with a roughly $2 billion long-range artillery procurement. Norway’s parliament has given final approval to a plan to acquire a long-range artillery system, local media reported on Wednesday. The proposed deal is estimated to include 16 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers along with related equipment. Industry officials said Norway is likely to favor Hanwha Aerospace as the development of new multiple rocket systems in Europe could take years, while Hanwha is seen as capable of delivering the systems more quickly. Hanwha recently established a local production facility in Poland for Chunmoo guided missiles and plans to begin deliveries as early as 2030. The Chunmoo system can be equipped with missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers and is regarded as faster to deploy than competing systems. A win in Norway would mark Hanwha’s further expansion in Europe, following its entry into the Polish market late last year. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-29 08:40:28

Hanwha Aerospace Seen as Front-Runner for Norway’s Chunmoo Rocket Deal Hanwha Aerospace is widely being cited as a leading contender to supply Norway’s multiple rocket launcher program, with analysts pointing to fast delivery and strong performance as key advantages. According to local media reports on Thursday, Norway’s parliament gave final approval to a US$2 billion plan to procure a long-range artillery system. The export contract is believed to include 16 Chunmoo launchers and related equipment. Industry watchers say Norway is likely to choose Hanwha Aerospace, as developing new multiple rocket systems in Europe can take considerable time, while Hanwha is seen as able to deliver more quickly. Hanwha Aerospace recently set up a local production facility in Poland for Chunmoo guided missiles and is expected to begin deliveries as early as 2030. The Chunmoo’s range can be extended to up to 500 kilometers (311 miles), and the company is viewed as faster than rivals in delivering systems, giving it an edge in the competition. If Hanwha wins the project, it would follow its entry into Poland late last year with a move into the Norwegian market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 08:21:32

Korean GM Workers Rally Against Mass Layoffs at Sejong Logistics Contractor "Direct and subcontract workers have united. Bring out the real boss now." Direct employees and subcontract workers at Korean GM rallied together over mass layoffs involving subcontract workers at the company’s Sejong logistics center. On Jan. 28, about 300 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Korean GM branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union held a joint rally outside the west gate of Korean GM’s Bupyeong plant, demanding that the company immediately reverse what they called unfair dismissals of Sejong logistics subcontract workers. Despite temperatures of minus 3 degrees Celsius, protesters chanted, "Bring out the real boss now." About 50 laid-off workers from Woojin Logistics, a Sejong logistics center contractor, wore closure notices on their backs to protest the dismissals. The union said Korean GM "preemptively fired subcontract workers with bargaining power" ahead of the March implementation of revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act, known as the Yellow Envelope Act. Woojin Logistics workers formed a union in June last year, citing low pay and forced overtime, the union said. Korean GM later terminated its contract with Woojin Logistics, and 120 workers were laid off effective Jan. 1 this year. Park Ok Ju, head of the KCTU’s North Chungcheong regional headquarters, said Korean GM promised to resolve the issue through talks while saying it would ensure employment succession, but then carried out layoffs. She also criticized what she described as shifting blame to striking workers after consumer complaints emerged over parts supply disruptions. The Sejong logistics union expressed regret that months of protests have disrupted parts supplies. About 1.5 million Chevrolet vehicles are registered in South Korea, raising concerns that a prolonged dispute could increase inconvenience for drivers. Sun Ji Hyun, co-chair of a joint committee supporting the GM parts logistics union, said workers understood the impact on consumers and felt sorry, but argued that ignoring what she called injustice because of inconvenience would make it impossible to correct wrongdoing by GM’s capital. Direct employees said they would also support efforts to resolve the dispute. The union claimed the Sejong layoffs, along with Korean GM’s plan to close nine company-run service centers in South Korea, signals restructuring. It said it has filed for an injunction with the Incheon District Court to block the closures. Ahn Gyu Baek, head of the Korean GM union branch, said a special labor-management meeting was held the previous day to seek withdrawal of the service-center closure plan. He warned that if both the service-center issue and the Sejong parts logistics dispute are not resolved, labor-management relations this year will head toward a breakdown. The union said it delivered a request for negotiations to Korean GM headquarters, urging the parent company to take responsibility for resolving the dispute. It also said it plans to hold a performance on Jan. 29 at the Chevrolet Daejeon Center with vehicle owners to oppose the service-center closures. Kim Gi Yeon, secretary-general of the KCTU’s North Chungcheong regional headquarters, said Korean GM is taking steps in advance to undermine the intent of the Yellow Envelope Act revisions. He said the moves appear to reflect the possibility of downsizing or withdrawal from South Korea ahead of the completion of a 2028 agreement between global GM and the Korea Development Bank.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 18:03:00

Korean Air invests in drone startup to boost unmanned aircraft capabilities SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - Korean Air has made a strategic investment in drone specialist Pablo Air, aiming to secure core unmanned-aircraft technologies and expand its presence beyond its traditional aviation business. The two companies signed a strategic equity investment agreement on Jan. 23 at Korean Air’s Seosomun office in central Seoul, according to Korean Air, Monday. Pablo Air specializes in swarm artificial intelligence technology, which allows multiple drones to operate as a coordinated group, similar to birds flying in formation. Pablo Air has demonstrated its technological competitiveness by becoming the first company in South Korea to reach Stage 4 of a five-stage “swarm coordination” technology framework, according to Korean Air. Korean Air said the deal forms part of its mid- to long-term growth strategy in aerospace, which it has identified as a key future business area. The company plans to apply Pablo Air’s swarm AI autonomous-flight algorithms, integrated control platform, and small- and medium-sized drone development capabilities to its own medium- and large-sized unmanned aircraft, expanding its footprint in the defense sector. The partnership goes beyond financial backing and is intended to support Pablo Air’s stable growth by combining the infrastructure of a large corporation with the agility of a technology venture, Korean Air said. The two sides plan to conduct joint research and development on swarm flight, explore new business models, and share unmanned-aircraft technologies and business expertise. “This investment is a strategic choice to secure future competitiveness in a rapidly changing industrial environment and part of our efforts to build a healthy industrial ecosystem,” a Korean Air official said. “We will continue to pursue technological innovation and shared growth by strengthening cooperation with capable small and venture companies.” Korean Air operates a dedicated unmanned-aircraft business unit and develops drones domestically. It said it has produced multiple systems now in use by the South Korean military and local governments, including medium-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance drones, low-observable unmanned wingmen, division-level reconnaissance drones, multipurpose unmanned helicopters and vertical takeoff-and-landing unmanned aircraft. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-26 09:10:09

South Korea's Jin Air posts first annual loss in 3 years, hit by weak won SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korean low-cost carrier Jin Air returned to the red last year for the first time in three years, pressured by a weak won and intensifying competition in the airline industry. The company said on Monday that its standalone revenue fell 5.5 percent from a year earlier to 1.38 trillion won ($1 billion), based on preliminary results. Profitability swung to a loss for the first time since 2022, when the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted travel. Jin Air posted an operating loss of 16.3 billion won last year, compared with an operating profit of 163.1 billion won in 2024. The airline had recorded operating profits for 10 consecutive quarters from the fourth quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of last year, but slipped into an operating loss in the second quarter due mainly to the won's weakness. Its annual net result also turned negative, with a net loss of 8.8 billion won, reversing a net profit of 95.7 billion won a year earlier. Despite the headwinds, the carrier said it launched new routes, including Incheon-Ishigaki in April and Jeju-Taipei in October, and worked to improve operating efficiency in an effort to cushion the impact on earnings. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-19 17:15:24

Hyundai Motor's Palisade named North America's top utility vehicle of the year SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor said on Thursday that its Palisade sport utility vehicle has been named this year's North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, citing the model’s upgraded hybrid system and strong appeal in the U.S. market. Finalists in the 2026 utility category included the Hyundai Palisade, Lucid Gravity and Nissan Leaf. Hyundai said the Palisade emerged as the winner following close competition. Judges cited the Palisade’s next-generation hybrid system, which improves both performance and fuel efficiency, as well as its spacious interior designed to meet North American consumer preferences, the company said. The Palisade’s new hybrid system features a transmission with two integrated motors and can be paired with multiple engine configurations, allowing performance and fuel economy to be optimized by vehicle type, Hyundai said. Electrification-focused technologies also enhance driving performance, ride comfort and the in-vehicle experience. Jeff Gilbert, chairman of the award jury, said the Palisade “sets the standard for a 21st-century family vehicle,” pointing to its interior space, driving dynamics and range of technologies. The North American Car of the Year awards, established in 1994, are among the auto industry’s most closely watched honors. 2026-01-15 10:37:57

CES 2026 : Boston Dynamics' Atlas wins CNET's top robot honor at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday that Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by its robotics company Boston Dynamics, won CNET’s Best Robot award in the Best of CES 2026 honors. Atlas is central to Hyundai Motor Group’s AI robotics strategy unveiled in Las Vegas. The next-generation, electric Atlas development model, shown for the first time at CES 2026, was designed for high efficiency in real manufacturing settings, with autonomous learning and flexibility to handle varied work environments, the group said. CNET cited Atlas’ natural, humanlike walking ability and refined design in naming it Best Robot at CES 2026. The outlet said the robot supports the group’s vision of human-centered AI robotics through next-generation machines built to collaborate with people. “Atlas was easily the best of the many humanoid robots we saw at CES 2026,” CNET said. “The prototype demonstrated on the show floor left a strong impression with its natural gait, and the product version, closer to mass production, has completed preparations to be deployed at Hyundai Motor Group manufacturing plants starting this year.” Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy Atlas first in 2028 at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, or HMGMA, in Savannah, Georgia. It will begin with processes where safety and quality gains have been verified, such as parts sequencing, and then expand use in stages. By 2030, the group plans to broaden Atlas’ role to various parts-assembly processes and more complex work, including repetitive tasks and handling heavy loads, to improve worker safety and accelerate smart-factory innovation. After performance verification, it plans to expand deployment across the group’s global production sites. Developed for industrial use, Atlas is a general-purpose humanoid robot designed to integrate smoothly with existing factory equipment. It can lift up to 50 kilograms (110 pounds) and perform delicate tasks, and it is designed to be waterproof and washable for easier maintenance. The robot is built to operate reliably from minus 20 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius (minus 4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit). It also includes advanced rotary joints and sensors for autonomous movement and work in complex industrial environments, and it can quickly adapt to new tasks through AI-based learning. With a fully rotating joint structure offering 56 degrees of freedom and a human-size hand equipped with tactile sensors, it can autonomously handle high-difficulty tasks. Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, said, “Atlas is the best robot we have developed, and this award means the team’s efforts are bearing fruit as we work to bring the world’s top humanoid to market.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-09 15:56:10

Hyundai Motor chairman puts AI, software, robotics at core of future strategy SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group will place artificial intelligence, software-defined vehicles and robotics at the core of its future mobility strategy this year, Chairman Chung Eui-sun said in a New Year's message on Monday. Cautioning that rapid advances in AI are reshaping competition and driving a major transition in global manufacturing, Chung called for bold cooperation with a wide range of partners to respond to the AI-driven shift. “Even in the automotive market, we have entered an era in which a product’s core competitiveness is determined by AI capability,” Chung said. He added that global industry leaders have already secured an advantage through massive investments, while Hyundai Motor Group’s capabilities “are not yet sufficient.” Citing increasingly complex global trade conflicts that could weigh on business conditions and profitability, Chung warned that geopolitical disputes could disrupt operations or harm business in certain regions. To address these challenges, Chung outlined key priorities including customer-focused restructuring, clearer assessment of realities and faster decision-making, expanded support for supply-chain partners, broader ecosystems through cooperation with diverse partners, and leadership in setting new industry and product standards. “As competition intensifies, the strongest pillar that will protect us is restructuring born from deep reflection,” Chung said. He urged employees to question whether customer perspectives are fully reflected in planning and development and whether they can stand behind the quality of products. Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest 125.2 trillion won in South Korea from this year through 2030 to help foster the domestic and global automotive industry ecosystem. 2026-01-05 11:06:40

Tesla price cuts set to spur EV competition in South Korea SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Tesla’s decision to cut prices on key electric-vehicle models in South Korea is expected to intensify competition in the country’s EV market, as expanded government subsidies and the growing presence of imported brands put pressure on domestic automakers. The U.S. firm has discounted the Model 3 Performance all-wheel-drive version by up to 9 million won ($760), lowering its price below 60 million won, the threshold for eligibility for South Korea’s EV purchase subsidies. The move comes as Seoul strengthens policy support for electric vehicles and as Chinese manufacturers prepare to enter the market with lower-priced models. Under the government’s revised 2026 EV purchase subsidy plan released on Jan. 1, buyers who scrap or sell gasoline-powered or other internal-combustion vehicles and then purchase an EV will be eligible for up to 1 million won in additional subsidies starting this year. The measure broadens support as South Korea works toward its 2035 national greenhouse gas reduction target under its nationally determined contribution (NDC), though per-vehicle subsidy amounts remain unchanged from last year. Industry officials expect competition between domestic and imported brands to intensify under the expanded incentives, with around 20 new EV models scheduled to launch in South Korea this year. Imported brands have steadily increased their market share. According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, new EV registrations in South Korea totaled about 207,000 units from January through November last year. Imported vehicles accounted for 84,045 units, or 40.6 percent of the market, up from 25 percent in 2022 and 29.2 percent in 2023. Tesla remains one of the dominant players. Led by the Model Y, the company sold 55,594 vehicles in South Korea from January through November last year, ranking second behind Kia, which sold 59,939 units. Model Y sales reached 46,927 units, the highest of any EV model sold in the country. Chinese automakers are also expanding their presence. BYD, which ranked third in South Korea’s imported EV market in its first year, has signaled plans to launch the compact electric SUV Dolphin, which it said could be priced in the 20 million won range after subsidies. Following Zeekr’s market entry last year, Xpeng is also expected to enter the South Korean market this year. Domestic automakers are responding with new models. Hyundai Motor plans to launch the Genesis flagship electric GV90, while Kia is preparing to introduce new electrified vehicles, including GT versions of the EV3, EV4 and EV5. “The EV market will see very fierce competition this year as imported brands move into South Korea to strengthen global competitiveness,” said Kim Pil-soo, a professor of future mobility at Daelim University College. Hyundai and Kia “have no choice but to roll out proven models” to defend their home market against foreign rivals competing aggressively on price, he said. 2026-01-02 08:25:10

Weak won squeezes Korean airliners, KAL's profit to fall by double digits Weak won squeezes South Korea’s airlines, with Korean Air the lone profit holdout SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) -The Korean won, averaging its weakest level on record this year, has eaten into profitability across South Korea’s airline industry by driving up U.S. dollar-denominated costs for aircraft leases and fuel. According to financial data provider FnGuide, Korean Air’s consolidated operating profit for the year is estimated at 1.40 trillion won ($1.05 billion), down 33.5 percent from 2.14 trillion won a year earlier. The decline largely reflects rising costs linked to the weaker exchange rate. Airlines are particularly vulnerable to currency swings because a significant share of their expenses — including fuel, aircraft leases and maintenance — is denominated in the greenback. The weak won has also dampened outbound travel demand by raising overseas travel costs for Korean passengers. The blow would have been heavier on smaller carriers. Brokerage-house consensus forecasts show Asiana Airlines posting an operating loss of about 245 billion won this year, partly reflecting the impact of its cargo business divestment. T’way Air is projected to see operating profit fall by 223.1 billion won, Jeju Air by 140.9 billion won, and Jin Air by 4.2 billion won. Intensifying competition on short-haul routes — particularly to Japan and Southeast Asia — has compounded the pressure alongside the weak currency. Choi Min-gi, a senior researcher at Shinhan Securities, said Korean Air is relatively insulated because it earns a higher share of revenue in foreign currencies from inbound passengers and cargo, providing a form of “natural hedge.” Other airlines, he noted, are more directly exposed to exchange-rate fluctuations, which feed quickly into earnings volatility. Foreign-currency expenses account for roughly half of airlines’ operating costs, according to industry estimates. Using an exchange rate of 1,400 won per dollar as a benchmark, the sector calculates that every 10-won depreciation adds about 75.2 billion won in operating costs for Korean Air, 5.1 billion won for Jeju Air, 3.9 billion won for Jin Air and 5.9 billion won for T’way Air. The won that hovered around 1,480 for most of the month eased to 1,440.3 last Friday following verbal intervention and measures to stabilize foreign-exchange supply and demand. Market participants, however, say uncertainty over the currency outlook remains elevated. Asiana Airlines has moved to reinforce its financial buffer by issuing 200 billion won in perpetual bonds. Lee Jong-woo, a professor of business administration at Ajou University, said it would be difficult for both the exchange rate and broader economic conditions to improve meaningfully next year. He added that if industry restructuring and consolidation move forward, reduced competition could eventually help stabilize airline profitability. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-29 05:38:21