Journalist

Oh Jooseok
  • Jeju Air Says Holiday Pet Passengers Rose Up to 26%
    Jeju Air Says Holiday Pet Passengers Rose Up to 26% Jeju Air said the number of passengers flying with pets during major holiday breaks rose by as much as 26% compared with typical periods. The airline said Thursday that about 18,200 passengers flew with pets last year, averaging about 1,500 a month. During holiday periods such as Lunar New Year and Chuseok, and during the August summer vacation season, the figure climbed as much as 26.6% to about 1,900. Jeju Air said pet-travel bookings this month have topped about 2,000. On Feb. 14, the day the holiday travel period began in earnest, 120 passengers flew with pets. The airline attributed the increase to the growing number of “pet parents” who consider animals part of the family and travel with them during holidays and vacations. Jeju Air limits in-cabin pets to six per flight, with a maximum weight of 9 kilograms, including the carrier. Its pet transport service, which assigns a dedicated seat, costs 25,000 won on domestic routes and 70,000 to 100,000 won on international routes depending on the itinerary. The airline said travelers taking pets overseas should carefully check country-specific rules, required documents and vaccination timelines. A Jeju Air official said the company’s pet membership offers unlimited annual pet travel and perks such as an extra 5 kilograms of checked baggage, providing “essential services” at a lower cost. 2026-02-19 10:24:00
  • KORAIL Moves Toward Tender to Replace Aging KTX-I Fleet
    KORAIL Moves Toward Tender to Replace Aging KTX-I Fleet KORAIL is moving up the timeline to replace KTX trains that have been in service for more than 20 years, with bidding procedures expected to begin as early as this summer. The project is expected to total about 5 trillion won, raising the stakes for rail manufacturers. According to the rail industry on Thursday, KORAIL is working through administrative steps to launch the KTX-I replacement project. After finalizing details such as the tender method, it plans to post the procurement notice within this year. The project would replace 46 KTX-I trainsets introduced in 2004, totaling 920 cars. Although their expected service life runs to 2033, the company needs to move this year because building and testing new trains typically takes more than seven years. Industry officials expect the procurement notice to come around July, when the second half of the year begins. They say that from the tender notice through technical evaluation and contract signing typically takes at least four months, making that timing suitable if the government aims to finalize a contract by year’s end. A KORAIL official said the company has begun detailed administrative work needed for the replacement but that the exact tender schedule has not been set. The official added that it could proceed “around summer, when the weather gets warmer.” With the KTX-I replacement expected to exceed 5 trillion won, companies are stepping up competition. The race is widely expected to pit Hyundai Rotem, emphasizing high-speed rail technology, against Woojin Industrial Systems, which is highlighting price competitiveness and overseas consortium partners. The two have faced off repeatedly since a 2023 re-bid for the KTX-Eum (EMU-320). Hyundai Rotem has been positioning itself with next-generation high-speed rail technology. In December, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it completed development of core technologies for the EMU-370, a next-generation high-speed train with a commercial operating speed of 370 kph and a design top speed of 407 kph, through a national R&D program. Last month, Hyundai Rotem also shipped early the first trainset of its second-generation EMU-320, designed for 320 kph service. Woojin Industrial Systems, which began as a Hyundai Rotem partner, has built expertise over more than 50 years producing and supplying electrical components for rail vehicles. Backed by contracts in Seoul’s urban rail projects, it has sought to expand into high-speed rail. In 2023, it teamed with Spanish train maker Talgo and entered the 760 billion won KTX-Eum bid on its own, but lost after falling behind on technical points, scoring 79.30. It later tried again in a 1 trillion won SRT project for distributed-power high-speed trains (EMU-320) ordered by SR, forming a consortium with Talgo. The bid failed after it scored 0.8 points below the 85-point threshold required to pass the technical evaluation. Industry watchers say Woojin has since strengthened its capabilities, making this year’s tender a key test. “The KTX replacement is not just a vehicle purchase; it is a project that will shape Korea’s high-speed rail competitiveness for the next 30 years,” a rail industry official said. “Depending on the outcome, significant changes are expected in the structure of the domestic rail industry.” 2026-02-13 18:03:00
  • Hyundai Motor Group pushes to bring AI, robotics and battery tech in-house
    Hyundai Motor Group pushes to bring AI, robotics and battery tech in-house Hyundai Motor Group are stepping up efforts to bring key future-mobility technologies — including artificial intelligence, robotics and batteries — in-house as competition intensifies and cross-industry partnerships accelerate. In a New Year’s message released Jan. 5, Chairman Euisun Chung said rapid shifts toward software-defined vehicles, AI and future mobility are creating major growth opportunities, but warned that companies that fail to internalize AI capabilities will struggle to survive. “The only way for Hyundai Motor Group to firmly establish itself as a global top-tier company in the future is to accept and absorb AI not as technology borrowed from outside, but as the lifeblood of the organization,” Chung said, underscoring the importance of building AI expertise internally. His remarks reflect the view that securing in-house AI capabilities is essential to deliver proprietary products and services that use AI. The mobility market has recently seen growing focus on robotics, including humanoid robots, and autonomous driving aimed at offering more convenient and flexible mobility experiences. As leading companies compete, talks on collaboration within and across industries have also become more active to create synergies. Against that backdrop, Hyundai Motor Group said it aims to expand value by strengthening internal capabilities rather than relying on outside technology. The company points to electric-vehicle battery technology as a leading example of successful internalization. Hyundai have continued to strengthen cooperation with global battery makers while building vehicle-centered battery expertise, rolling out EVs such as the Ioniq series. The group are also pushing to deepen battery R&D. In November, it held a topping-out ceremony for the “Future Mobility Battery Anseong Campus,” and is pursuing what it described as the group’s first large-scale battery-focused R&D hub, targeting completion by the end of this year. It said it is building a close cooperation framework between automakers and the battery industry in line with government electrification policies. Hyundai Motor Group said its electrification strategy depends on in-house capabilities to define performance and safety standards from a vehicle perspective and to integrate, develop and validate batteries based on real-world driving conditions. 2026-02-13 14:42:00
  • Hyundais Palisade, Kias EV9 win Canadian vehicle of the year awards
    Hyundai's Palisade, Kia's EV9 win Canadian vehicle of the year awards SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Two South Korean vehicles have receive top awards at this year's Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, which wraps up its weeklong run this weekend. According to Hyundai Motor Group, the Palisade was named the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, while affiliate Kia's EV9 won the Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year award, presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). "Our expert jurors scored the Palisade highly for its interior styling, its overall quality, and for the high consumer appeal this SUV brings to the Canadian marketplace," said Evan Williams, president of AJAC. "Earning this recognition for a fourth time in since 2022 underscores the importance of applying customer and journalistic feedback we've gained over the years, while continuing the strong momentum and leadership of our SUV portfolio in Canada," said Steve Flamand, president and CEO of Hyundai' operations in Canada. The annual awards "recognize excellence across four categories: Canadian Car of the Year, Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, Canadian Electric Car of the Year, and Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year." This year's AJAC winners were voted by a jury of 53 auto experts and journalists. 2026-02-13 11:21:46
  • KAI explores space industry cooperation with Saudi Arabia at WDS 2026
    KAI explores space industry cooperation with Saudi Arabia at WDS 2026 Korea Aerospace Industries, known as KAI, said Feb. 13 it discussed potential cooperation on space projects with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment at the World Defense Show WDS 2026 in Riyadh. KAI CEO Cha Jae-byeong met Feb. 10 (local time) with Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih to discuss cooperation in future industries that could align with the Saudi government’s Vision 2030 project, including space, satellite communications and aviation. KAI said it has been steadily strengthening cooperation with Saudi Arabia in space and aviation, and expects the latest talks to broaden collaboration. In October 2023 in Riyadh, KAI signed an MOU with the Saudi Space Agency to build a cooperative relationship in the space sector. It has pursued technology development and operations to expand the space market, joint commercialization, and investment in new startups. KAI said it also met with the Saudi Space Agency during the exhibition to reaffirm their strategic partnership. “Saudi Arabia can be a strategic partner for K-Space’s overseas expansion beyond K-defense, including the KF-21,” Cha said. “We will prepare the best proposal to expand cooperation in space and aviation linked to Saudi Vision 2030.” KAI said it built the country’s first private space center in 2020 and is preparing to commercialize mass production and exports of satellites, a key part of the New Space era, based on platforms such as next-generation mid-sized satellites, 6G communications satellites and nanosatellites. The company has participated in government-led satellite development projects over the past 40-plus years, including multipurpose satellites, geostationary composite satellites, next-generation mid-sized satellites, nanosatellites and the 425 satellite program, helping drive commercialization of the private space industry. KAI said the next-generation mid-sized satellites No. 2 and No. 4, for which it served as lead developer, are scheduled for launch this year. 2026-02-13 11:18:00
  • Renault Koreas new hybrid SUV receives 5,000 pre-orders in about a month
    Renault Korea's new hybrid SUV receives 5,000 pre-orders in about a month SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Renault Korea said on Friday that orders for its new crossover sport utility vehicle have exceeded 5,000 units since pre-orders began last month. According to the France-based automaker, the midsize hybrid Filante, which combines features of a sedan and an SUV, boasts 250 horsepower and artificial intelligence (AI)-based connectivity services. It comes with a price tag of about 43.32 million Korean won (about US$30,000) after tax incentives for eco-friendly vehicles. Deliveries are set to begin next month. The automaker is also preparing promotional events during the Lunar New Year holiday, offering gifts such as mini bags, umbrellas and maintenance coupons to 2,026 customers who visit showrooms for purchase consultations or test drives. 2026-02-13 10:39:41
  • T’way Air Sets Up Special Transport Control Center for Lunar New Year Travel Rush
    T’way Air Sets Up Special Transport Control Center for Lunar New Year Travel Rush T’way Air said Thursday it will operate a “special transport control center” to handle higher demand and heavier airport congestion during the Lunar New Year holiday travel period. The airline said it will strengthen its response system, assign essential staff by department and move to a 24-hour emergency duty schedule to improve passenger convenience and ensure safe operations. T’way Air also highlighted its “easy boarding pass” feature, which lets passengers view their boarding pass immediately from the app’s main screen after completing online check-in. The feature allows boarding-pass access using saved information even for nonmembers or when offline. The airline said it also provides a “boarding guidance” function that offers real-time, day-of-departure information at the airport, including congestion levels, gate details and remaining time to the flight, to help passengers manage routes and waiting times more efficiently. A T’way Air official said, “In preparation for the increase in airport passengers during the Lunar New Year holiday period, we are continuously upgrading our digital services so customers flying with T’way Air can start their trips more conveniently and efficiently.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 10:27:00
  • Hyundai Palisade, Kia EV9 win top honors at Canada Car of the Year awards
    Hyundai Palisade, Kia EV9 win top honors at Canada Car of the Year awards Hyundai Motor Group said Friday that the Hyundai Palisade won 2026 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year and the Kia EV9 won 2026 Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year at the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto. The Canadian Car of the Year awards are decided by a 53-member jury of Canadian auto experts and journalists, who test-drive vehicles and vote in four categories: passenger car, utility vehicle, electric passenger car and electric utility vehicle. With the Palisade and EV9 wins, Hyundai Motor Group said it has taken two awards at the Canadian Car of the Year program for four straight years. The group has also won Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year five times in the past six years: the GV80 in 2021, Tucson in 2022, Ioniq 5 in 2023, Santa Fe in 2025 and the Palisade this year. One local outlet previously described the run as a “dynasty,” the company said. Jurors said the Palisade stands out for “an appealing balance of performance and fuel efficiency” from its next-generation hybrid powertrain, along with a range of safety systems. They praised the EV9 as “the best three-row electric vehicle,” citing its styling, an available GT option with more than 500 horsepower, and overall value, price and size. The Palisade was also selected as the utility winner at last month’s 2026 North American Car of the Year awards, scoring 270 points to finish well ahead of the Nissan Leaf (135) and Lucid Gravity (85). Hyundai Motor Group said the model posted its highest annual global sales since its 2018 launch last year, with 211,215 units sold on an IR basis. The EV9 won two titles at the 2024 World Car Awards: World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle. It has also been recognized by major organizations and media outlets, including 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year and the 2024 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year, the company said. A Hyundai Motor Group official said the dual wins in Canada show the company’s innovation and product competitiveness as it seeks to lead future mobility.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 10:09:00
  • Chaevi Wins Contract to Inspect and Maintain Environment Ministry Fast-Charging Sites
    Chaevi Wins Contract to Inspect and Maintain Environment Ministry Fast-Charging Sites Chaevi, a South Korean electric vehicle charger company, said Thursday it was selected as the top bidder in a Korea Automobile Environmental Association tender to provide on-site inspections and outsourced maintenance for the Ministry of Environment’s fast-charging facilities. Chaevi has carried out the ministry’s outsourced maintenance work for the past two years, and the latest award extends its role for a fourth straight year. The contract covers 4,603 fast-charging bays installed in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Gangwon, Chungcheong, Daejeon and Sejong. The term runs for two years through Dec. 31 of next year. The company said it will handle regular, unscheduled, emergency and special inspections, along with fault diagnosis, rapid restoration, repairs to related facilities, and relocation or removal work across the charging infrastructure. CEO Choi Young Hun said, “Through this selection, we will do our best in maintenance and management so that public fast-charging facilities can be operated with the industry’s highest level of quality and reliability.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 08:57:00
  • Renault Korea Says New Filante Tops 5,000 Orders Ahead of March Deliveries
    Renault Korea Says New Filante Tops 5,000 Orders Ahead of March Deliveries Renault Korea said Thursday that cumulative orders for its Filante, launched last month, have topped 5,000 units. The Filante is designed to blend sedan and SUV features. It includes an illuminated signature lozenge logo, a “tech lounge” interior based on first-class lounge seats, a 250-horsepower Hybrid E-Tech powertrain and AI-based connectivity services. The Filante is priced at 43,319,000 won under reduced individual consumption tax and eco-friendly vehicle tax benefits, and deliveries are set to begin next month. Renault Korea will also hold Lunar New Year holiday promotions. From Thursday through Feb. 19, it will give a lozenge mini padded bag or mini umbrella to 2,026 people who visit showrooms nationwide for Grand Koleos purchase consultations or complete a test drive. Among customers who sign contracts during the period and take delivery by the end of February, 100 will be selected by drawing to receive maintenance coupons worth 100,000 won. Separately, Renault Korea is running a monthlong “Bonjour 2026” Grand Koleos event in February. Some customers who buy the Grand Koleos, or take a test drive or consultation, will receive prizes including a travel gift certificate worth 2 million won (one winner), Samsung steam robot vacuum cleaners (three winners) and CGV Gold Class vouchers for two (20 teams). The maximum Grand Koleos purchase benefit under February terms is 4.8 million won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-13 08:36:00