Seoul court upholds fine on Kakao over data leak SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) -A Seoul court on Wednesday upheld a record 15.1 billion won ($11.2 million) fine imposed on Kakao for failing to properly safeguard users’ personal information, rejecting the tech giant’s legal challenge to the penalty. The Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 14, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Sang-deok, ruled against Kakao in a lawsuit seeking to overturn a corrective order and fine issued by the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC). The case stems from a 2023 investigation launched after media reports revealed that personal information of KakaoTalk Open Chat users was being illegally traded online. Investigators found that Kakao had inadequately managed member data, resulting in the leak of approximately 65,000 cases of personal information. In May 2024, the commission imposed what it described as the largest fine ever levied under the Personal Information Protection Act, citing violations of mandatory security safeguards. Kakao filed an administrative lawsuit in November, arguing the sanction was excessive and procedurally unfair. The court rejected Kakao’s claims, finding the commission’s action lawful and proportionate. In its ruling, the court said a database combining mobile phone numbers, profile names, Open Chat room titles and related room profiles — which was posted and sold online — clearly constituted a personal data leak under the law. It further held that Kakao violated reporting obligations by failing to promptly notify authorities and affected users of the breach. The court also pointed to deficiencies in Kakao’s security measures. It noted that the company applied encryption only to newly created Open Chat rooms starting Aug. 5, 2020, despite being aware — or reasonably able to foresee — that security risks had already materialized or that a data breach was possible. The court faulted Kakao for failing to take additional steps to strengthen protection for existing data. Regarding the size of the penalty, the court said the commission appeared to have faithfully applied statutory calculation standards and found no grounds to deem the fine excessive. “The amount of the administrative fine is justified,” the court said, concluding that the commission’s decision fell within the scope of its legal discretion. The ruling reinforces regulators’ tough stance on data protection failures and underscores heightened judicial scrutiny of platform operators’ obligations to safeguard user information. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was edited by AJP. 2026-01-16 07:56:47

Health supplements, wellness foods emerging as growth driver in food industry: report SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s wellness food market is expanding rapidly, with rising competition as more companies enter segments ranging from health supplements to protein foods and low-calorie products, KPMG Samjong Accounting Corp. said in a report, Wednesday. In the report titled “Wellness Food Trends and Business Opportunities,” KPMG Samjong said the market is broadly divided into health supplements, protein foods and so-called “low-spec” foods, which are formulated to reduce calories, sugar, sodium or alcohol content. Health supplement exports rose about 45 percent between 2020 and 2024, the report said, driven by strong demand from China, Southeast Asia, the United States and Europe. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on developing “individually recognized ingredients,” which grant up to six years of market exclusivity under South Korean regulations, offering higher margins and stronger growth prospects. Sales channels for health supplements are also diversifying, expanding beyond online platforms and pharmacies to health and beauty stores, discount retailers and convenience stores, improving accessibility for consumers. KPMG Samjong said demand for personalized health supplements is expected to grow further, supported by regulatory changes and the adoption of AI-based subscription services that provide tailored nutrition solutions. The protein food market, once dominated by products aimed at athletes, is broadening to target general consumers. Companies are introducing offerings tailored to lifestyle, age group and specific health goals, capitalizing on trends such as “healthy pleasure” and “slow aging.” Convenient formats, including ready-to-drink protein beverages, are gaining popularity as meal replacements and snacks, the report said. Low-spec foods are also gaining traction among health-conscious consumers. The alternative sweetener market is expanding rapidly, led by allulose, while low-sugar products are becoming the “new normal” across categories, ranging from zero-calorie soft drinks to desserts and sauces. 2025-12-17 10:57:50

South Korean cable producer TMC to tap US boom with IPO funds SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - TMC, a South Korean industrial cable producer, said Tuesday it will use funds from its planned initial public offering to expand in the United States, aiming to capitalize on what it described as a “supercycle” driven by surging AI-related data demand. “At a time when the cable market has entered a new supercycle, we plan to strengthen our foothold in the expanding U.S. cable industry and secure new growth engines after listing,” CEO Ji Young-won told reporters in Seoul. Founded in 1991, TMC manufactures cables for ships, offshore plants, nuclear power facilities and optical communications, and is a leading supplier in South Korea’s marine cable market. The company will conduct an institutional bookbuilding process for IPO through Nov. 27, with retail subscriptions set for Dec. 3–4. TMC expects to raise 33.5 billion won from IPO, allocating 32 billion won for facility investments and 1.4 billion won for operating capital. The spending will support the expansion of U.S. production lines, completion of certification processes, and growth in high-value segments such as shipbuilding, nuclear, data centers and telecommunications infrastructure, Ji said. The company plans targeted U.S. investments across three sectors: nuclear power, shipbuilding, and broadband infrastructure. TMC established a production subsidiary in Texas in April, with manufacturing starting this month. TMC is also expanding in nuclear and optical cable segments. The company has secured contracts to supply cables for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, following earlier deals for Saeul Units 3 and 4, with deliveries to begin late next year. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-25 15:43:57

South Korea's Auros Technology to provide chipmaking tools to Samsung SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Auros Technology, a South Korean maker of semiconductor measurement equipment, has won new contracts from Samsung Electronics to supply tools used in hybrid bonding and post-process inspection. The deal marks a notable expansion for Auros, which until recently was primarily known as a supplier to SK hynix. The company will now provide Samsung with precision tools used in both the front-end and back-end stages of chip production. According to investment banking sources, Samsung has ordered two HE-900IR infrared overlay systems from Auros, each priced at about 3 billion won, or roughly $2.2 million. The combined value of the order, about 6 billion won, represents nearly 10 percent of Auros’s 2024 revenue of 61.4 billion won. The HE-900IR uses infrared light to measure wafer alignment and copper-to-copper connections in hybrid bonding — a critical process for stacking high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. Auros also received an order for its MT-30T, a measurement system used in Samsung’s HBM stacking process to enhance yield by ensuring precise chip spacing. The devices are scheduled for installation at Samsung’s Cheonan and Onyang facilities by early December. Samsung is reportedly considering ordering at least five additional units, which could bring the total value of the project to as much as 15 billion won. Analysts say the order reflects Samsung’s intensified efforts to improve HBM yields as it competes with SK hynix for major supply contracts with Nvidia. “Samsung’s current HBM yields are lower than SK hynix’s, and it is ramping up investment in advanced inspection equipment to close that gap,” said one securities industry source on condition of anonymity. Auros, founded in 2007, began supplying equipment to SK hynix and added Samsung as a customer in 2023. Last year, it signed a 9.6 billion won contract with Samsung for its OL-900NW overlay inspection tool used in HBM pad alignment. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-11 15:39:32