Journalist

Han Ji-hyun
  • FL Auto Korea Launches Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid Midsize SUV in South Korea
    FL Auto Korea Launches Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid Midsize SUV in South Korea FL Auto Korea said March 18 it will officially launch Lincoln's midsize SUV, the Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid, in South Korea. The Nautilus Hybrid is a new trim of the second-generation model and is being introduced to the South Korean market for the first time. The company said the launch is aimed at strengthening its push into the premium midsize SUV segment while responding to growing demand for eco-friendly vehicles. The hybrid model is designed to further emphasize Lincoln's core brand concept of "Quiet Flight." The Nautilus name comes from a Latin word meaning "exploration," and the vehicle is positioned around an elegant design, smooth driving performance and a spacious interior. The hybrid system pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 99-kilowatt electric motor for a combined 321 horsepower. Under South Korea's certification standards, it is rated at about 11.9 kilometers per liter in combined fuel economy. Exterior details include Lincoln's signature horizontal design cues and modern white Lincoln lettering across the rear. A blue-accented Lincoln emblem in the center of the grille and nameplate badges on the doors are used to distinguish the hybrid model. Inside, the Nautilus Hybrid features a 48-inch panoramic display and an 11.1-inch center-stack touchscreen. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Driver-assistance and convenience features include forward collision-avoidance assist, cruise control, lane-centering assist and lane-keeping assist. Lee Yun-dong, CEO of FL Auto Korea, said the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus "more precisely implements Lincoln's 'ultimate sanctuary' through its hybrid system," adding that he hopes more customers will experience the model's differentiated value. The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid is priced at 95 million won, including value-added tax and based on a 3.5% individual consumption tax rate.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-18 15:36:20
  • FedEx Wins 2026 Asia-Pacific Biopharma Excellence Award for Last-Mile Logistics
    FedEx Wins 2026 Asia-Pacific Biopharma Excellence Award for Last-Mile Logistics Federal Express Corp., known as FedEx, said Tuesday it won the “Best Logistics and Supply Chain Management” award in the “Last-Mile Implementation” category at the Asia-Pacific Biopharma Excellence Awards 2026. The awards are hosted by IMAPAC, an international organization in the pharmaceutical and biotech sector. They recognize companies that have contributed to industry development in Asia across areas including bioprocessing, logistics, supply chain management and clinical research. The Asia healthcare market is expected to expand to about $5 trillion by 2030, accounting for roughly 40% of the global healthcare market. The healthcare cold-chain logistics market is also projected to grow from about $31.9 billion last year to about $42.5 billion by 2031. With temperature control critical in healthcare, the role of logistics partners with integrated capabilities is growing, the company said. “This award is a meaningful achievement that shows healthcare customers trust FedEx,” said Salil Chari, FedEx regional president for Asia Pacific. “As therapies become more specialized and temperature control becomes more important, logistics requirements are also increasing. FedEx will support safe transport based on systematic operational capabilities.” FedEx said it supports stable transport across multiple temperature ranges, including ultra-low freezing below minus 70 degrees Celsius, freezing below minus 20 degrees, refrigerated shipments at 2 to 8 degrees, and controlled room temperature at 15 to 20 degrees. It has built a network of FedEx Life Science Center locations in Gimpo, South Korea; Memphis, Tennessee; Mumbai, India; Singapore; Tokyo; and Veldhoven, Netherlands. The company said it operates more than 130 cold-chain facilities worldwide to maintain temperature control in cross-border, multimodal logistics. It also said 22 FedEx facilities worldwide are part of a network with CEIV Pharma certification for international air transport of pharmaceuticals, positioning FedEx as a key logistics partner for high-value healthcare shipments including biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-18 15:24:29
  • T’way Air Triples April Fuel Surcharges, Up to 213,900 Won One-Way
    T’way Air Triples April Fuel Surcharges, Up to 213,900 Won One-Way T’way Air said Tuesday it has set fuel surcharges on one-way international tickets departing South Korea and issued in April at 30,800 won to 213,900 won. The fees are about triple this month’s levels of 10,300 won to 67,600 won. Under the new schedule, the shortest routes, including Incheon and Busan to Fukuoka, will carry a 30,800-won surcharge. Midrange routes such as Incheon to Da Nang and Cebu will be charged 87,900 won, while long-haul routes including Incheon to Paris, Rome and Sydney will be charged 213,900 won. T’way said the benchmark for April surcharges — the average Singapore jet fuel price (MOPS) from Feb. 16 to March 15 — was 326.71 cents per gallon, placing it at level 18 out of 33 (320 to 329 cents per gallon) amid the impact of the Middle East war. That is 12 levels higher than this month’s level 6 (200 to 209 cents per gallon), marking the steepest one-month jump since the current surcharge system was introduced in 2016. Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air and Eastar Jet have also raised April fuel surcharges by up to about threefold in a month. Jeju Air is expected to announce its April fuel surcharges soon. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-18 13:36:18
  • Jin Air Expands Onboarding Training for New Aircraft Mechanics
    Jin Air Expands Onboarding Training for New Aircraft Mechanics Jin Air said on the 17th it has overhauled its onboarding program for newly hired aircraft mechanics to strengthen their skills. The carrier said the revamped training makes active use of Korean Air’s maintenance training infrastructure and includes joint sessions with Air Busan, focusing on raising maintenance expertise and standardizing quality ahead of integration. Since January, Jin Air has been running the strengthened program for 38 new mechanics. Starting this year, it moved part of on-the-job training into the onboarding phase, extending the training period from one month to six months. The company said the change is intended to help recruits build solid fundamentals and practical capability as hiring has expanded beyond aviation maintenance majors to include general engineering fields such as mechanical and electronic engineering. The curriculum includes aviation safety and security, maintenance work procedures, occupational safety and health training, maintenance manuals, and equipment and field practice. Jin Air added new linked training with Korean Air so recruits can learn strict maintenance processes firsthand. Trainees will study core basics such as aircraft systems and airframe structure, and improve job readiness through training using actual heavy-maintenance aircraft and digital content. The airline said it aims to reinforce basic competency and further strengthen group-level safety systems. Air Busan’s new mechanics are also participating. The two airlines’ new hires will complete the same curriculum at one location for six months, building technical ties and a sense of belonging. Jin Air said it expects the joint program to help establish a unified maintenance training system and proactively standardize maintenance quality. After completing the program, the new mechanics will be assigned to departments starting in mid-August, then receive field OJT and aircraft-type specialized training in sequence. Jin Air said it will strengthen safety competitiveness through systematic talent development and continued investment in maintenance so mechanics can reach top-tier industry capability. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-17 08:57:21
  • BYD Rises From China’s Auto Backwater to Global EV Leader, Expands in South Korea
    BYD Rises From China’s Auto Backwater to Global EV Leader, Expands in South Korea BYD has become a symbol of China’s rapid rise in electric vehicles. The company sold about 4.55 million vehicles globally last year, taking roughly 20% of the overall EV market and ranking No. 1. China, once a minor player in autos through the late 1990s, has moved to the front of the global EV race in about three decades, controlling more than 70% of the global EV market. Dozens of EV brands launch in China each year, and more than 80% eventually disappear. BYD has survived that shakeout and, in 26 years, climbed to the top. ◆ 6.4% share in February; reaches top tier in a year According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association on the 13th, BYD sold 957 vehicles last month, ranking seventh behind Tesla (7,868), BMW (6,313), Mercedes-Benz (5,322), Lexus (1,113), Volvo (1,095) and Audi (991). Its cumulative sales for January and February totaled 1,347, giving it a 6.43% share and placing it in the top five by market share. The result is notable for a brand that launched in March last year. BYD’s best-known model is the compact electric SUV Atto 3, credited by some with ushering in a “20 million won EV” era. It has sold 753 units this year. Other models include the compact hatchback Dolphin (81), the midsize SUV Sealion 7 (1,277) and the Seal (193). The company’s appeal is pricing relative to performance: its lineup is priced from 25 million won to 46.9 million won, excluding subsidies. Battery technology remains central to EV competitiveness. BYD uses its proprietary lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery, which it says improves safety and charging convenience. It has also unveiled a second-generation Blade Battery and FLASH charging technology aimed at addressing charging-speed limits and cold-weather performance drops. After six years of development, the second-generation battery can charge from 10% to 70% state of charge in five minutes and to 97% in nine minutes, the company says. A Denza Z9GT equipped with the battery has a driving range of 1,036 kilometers per charge. BYD is expected to reach cumulative sales of 10,000 units in South Korea within the first quarter. That would be the fastest pace among imported-car brands entering the Korean market, the article said. BMW Korea, which entered in 1995, took seven years to reach 10,000; Mercedes-Benz took three years; Tesla took four. ◆ Learning by rebuilding cars; from an auto backwater to No. 1 BYD stands for “Build Your Dreams,” a slogan tied to the entrepreneurial story of founder and Chairman Wang Chuanfu. Wang, who worked as a nickel-cadmium battery researcher at a Chinese government-affiliated institute, argued that batteries — not engines — would define the future of cars, and that whoever led battery technology would become a key player in the EV era. He started the company in Shenzhen in 1995 with 2.5 million yuan (540 million won). The article describes his approach as buying premium products, taking them apart and reassembling them — a method applied to EVs to accelerate learning. A widely cited anecdote says he bought one of the first 10 Teslas imported into China by Elon Musk, dismantled it and rebuilt it to study EV design. The article says he continued to buy competitors’ vehicles in bulk, disassemble and reassemble them, and build design know-how that helped propel BYD to the top. The company’s success has also been attributed to vertical integration — producing batteries, semiconductors and vehicles in-house — which supports price competitiveness and faster production. Investor Charlie Munger once described Wang as someone with “Thomas Edison’s ability to invent and Jack Welch’s ability to manage.” BYD ranks third in market capitalization among global automakers, behind Tesla in the United States and Toyota in Japan. BYD’s expansion continues. Beyond battery-electric vehicles, it has built out plug-in hybrid lineups and launched premium brands including Denza, Yangwang and Fangchengbao. Yangwang, launched in 2023 and positioned around ultra-high-end hypercar concepts, has been dubbed a “Chinese Rolls-Royce,” the article said, and showcases technologies such as the U8 luxury off-road SUV and the U9 electric supercar. The U8 features amphibious technology that can float for about 30 minutes and a “tank turn” enabled by four independent electric motors controlling each wheel. The U9 is known for movements likened to jumping in place. The company is increasingly viewed as a global technology player for the EV era, and Wang’s story has become an inspiration for young Chinese entrepreneurs. Still, controversies remain, including allegations of design copying and battery patent infringement. The article says early BYD models resembled key products from Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, prompting complaints. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also mocked BYD in an interview when asked whether he saw it as a competitor, saying, “I’ve never seen their cars.” An industry official said BYD built its formula by “copying, revising and developing independently” competitors’ products hundreds of times, but added that to fulfill its “Build Your Dreams” philosophy, it now needs a success story based on originality rather than imitation. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-16 18:15:26
  • Automakers, Defense Firms Enter ‘Super AGM Week’ With Focus on Shareholder Value and New Businesses
    Automakers, Defense Firms Enter ‘Super AGM Week’ With Focus on Shareholder Value and New Businesses Automakers and defense contractors are heading into the heart of annual shareholders meeting season, with companies expected to spotlight new business expansion as they navigate global uncertainty. Firms are also expected to advance measures tied to revisions to South Korea’s Commercial Act, including steps to strengthen shareholder value such as electronic voting and bigger dividends, while also shoring up defenses of management control. Industry officials said meetings will run nationwide from March 17 to 31, starting with Hyundai Mobis on March 17. Other scheduled annual general meetings include Kia (March 20), Poongsan (March 20), Hanwha Systems (March 23), Hanwha Aerospace (March 24), Hyundai Motor (March 26), Korea Aerospace Industries (March 26), Hyundai Rotem (March 27) and LIG Nex1 (March 31). At Hyundai Motor Group companies, key agenda items are expected to include reappointing inside directors, expanding into new businesses and strengthening board independence. Hyundai Mobis will vote on reappointing Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun as an inside director and appointing Sung Nak-seop, head of FTCI at Hyundai Mobis, as a new inside director. For outside directors, the company will consider reappointing James Kim, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, and appointing Park Hyun-joo, a former Korea representative at BNY Mellon Bank, as a new outside director. Hyundai Mobis will also put forward items including expanding directors’ duty of loyalty, renaming outside directors as independent directors, deleting a clause that excludes cumulative voting, and introducing electronic shareholders meetings. The company is also set to seek approval to pay year-end dividends of 5,000 won per common share and 5,050 won per preferred share. Hyundai Motor will propose adding a car rental business as a new line of business, aiming to expand vehicle rental operations that already include short-term rentals. Since 2019, Hyundai Motor has operated “Hyundai Genesis Selection,” a monthly subscription service for Hyundai and Genesis vehicles. If expanded, the company expects to broaden the models used for rentals and the service areas. With its certified used-car business already in place, the company expects to strengthen a vehicle life-cycle ecosystem spanning new-car sales, rentals and used-car distribution, improving customer service conditions. Hanwha Aerospace will also propose adding new business purposes. The additions include: energy resource development, production, export-import, distribution and trading for natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia and biofuels; investment, development and operation of energy distribution infrastructure and related equipment; power, district energy and zone electricity businesses, power brokerage, and related investment, construction and operations; aircraft and spacecraft launch services; mechanical facilities and gas construction; and industrial environmental facilities construction. Most of the proposed new businesses align with Hanwha Aerospace’s stated future direction, including energy development, distribution infrastructure and space-related areas. The fields have largely been led by other group affiliates such as Hanwha Energy and Hanwha Solutions, and the industry views the move as an effort to expand its future business base by leveraging group synergies. In growth areas such as defense, aviation and space, topics include shifting to cleaner energy and power infrastructure and developing reusable launch vehicles. “Across groups, this year’s shareholders meetings are seeing a push for greater governance transparency and stronger shareholder value in line with the intent of the Commercial Act revisions,” an industry official said. “At the same time, expanding into new businesses to find future growth engines is also a major trend.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-14 05:03:28
  • InterBattery 2026 Draws Record 77,250 Visitors as Battery Uses Expand Beyond EVs
    InterBattery 2026 Draws Record 77,250 Visitors as Battery Uses Expand Beyond EVs InterBattery 2026, South Korea’s largest battery exhibition, ended after setting records for both participation and attendance. The Korea Battery Industry Association said Friday that the 14th edition of the event, held at COEX in Seoul’s Gangnam district, featured 667 companies from 14 countries across 2,382 booths, the largest lineup in the show’s history. Total attendance over the three-day event reached 77,250, also a record. The exhibition highlighted battery applications beyond electric vehicles, including energy storage systems, AI data centers, robotics, drones and urban air mobility. Companies showcased next-generation technologies such as all-solid-state batteries, higher-performance and safer battery designs, strategic upgrades to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, and manufacturing innovations including dry electrode processes. Organizers said interest from abroad was strong, with visits by overseas government agencies and global companies. Joint national pavilions were organized by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the embassies of the Netherlands, Australia and Canada, among others. A total of 182 foreign companies set up large booths to present key mineral resources and advanced battery technologies. The show also featured discussions on cross-border cooperation in technology and supply chains, along with presentations of future technology road maps by South Korea’s three major battery makers: LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On. At the third InterBattery Awards 2026, 12 innovations were selected, including LG Energy Solution’s “JF2 DC LINK 5.0 power-grid ESS,” Samsung SDI’s “700Wh/L high-energy prismatic battery,” and SK On’s “prismatic on-vent cell.” “InterBattery 2026 showed that battery technology is a core foundational technology for the AI era, beyond electric vehicles,” said Park Tae-seong, executive vice chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association. He said the association will work to help InterBattery grow into a platform for next-generation battery technology, supply chain security and global business. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 21:06:23
  • T’way Air, Catalonia Tourism Board Launch Barcelona Flight Promotion
    T’way Air, Catalonia Tourism Board Launch Barcelona Flight Promotion T’way Air said Friday it will offer limited-time promotional fares and a discount code of up to 5% for its Incheon-Barcelona route through March 29 on its website and mobile app (web). Under a first-come, first-served deal, one-way tickets start at 391,600 won, including fuel surcharges and airport taxes. The travel period runs from March 13 through Oct. 24 this year. Customers who miss the special fare can still receive up to 5% off by entering the discount code “MAR26.” The code applies to both one-way and round-trip tickets and can be used for bookings at the Smart fare level or higher. T’way Air will also provide a 60,000-won coupon, on a first-come basis, that can be used for an additional discount when paying for a round-trip ticket. The airline currently operates the Incheon-Barcelona route four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. It is also posting travel information on its website for Catalonia destinations including Barcelona, Tarragona, Figueres, Sitges and Montserrat. Details on flight schedules and the promotion are available on T’way Air’s website and mobile app (web). A T’way Air official said the joint promotion is intended to help more customers experience the appeal of Catalonia, including Barcelona, and added that the airline will continue to prioritize safe operations while improving travel satisfaction through convenient schedules and various benefits. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 17:06:18
  • Hanwha Aerospace Completes Phase 2 Expansion of Australia Plant, Begins Redback IFV Production
    Hanwha Aerospace Completes Phase 2 Expansion of Australia Plant, Begins Redback IFV Production Hanwha Aerospace said on the 13th it has completed a Phase 2 expansion of its plant in Australia. The company secured production facilities about two years after signing a contract with the Australian government in December 2023 to supply 129 Redback infantry fighting vehicles. The Phase 2 buildout includes a second production building, what it described as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) test chamber, a large washing facility and a finished-goods storage building. Key facilities, including the second production building, were completed about a month and a half ahead of schedule. Since opening its Phase 1 facilities in 2024, the plant has produced the AS9 self-propelled howitzer and the AS10 ammunition resupply vehicle. The Phase 2 expansion added about 32,000 square meters (about 344,000 square feet) of space, establishing a system that allows simultaneous production of howitzers and armored vehicles. Hanwha said the site can now accommodate more than 250 office and production workers. It has two production buildings, a 1.2-kilometer (0.75-mile) driving test track with slope and deep-water test facilities, a system integration lab and painting facilities. Cumulative investment totals about 225 million Australian dollars (about 236.7 billion won), it said. The plant is expected to serve as a strategic production and maintenance, repair and overhaul hub for Australia and South Korea, as well as the Indo-Pacific region. The facility, known as H-AC, is in Geelong and was completed in August 2024 as the first overseas production base built by a South Korean defense company, Hanwha said. The site covers about 150,000 square meters and consists of 11 facilities, including a main building, production buildings, an assembly area, a driving test track and a firing range. A Hanwha Aerospace official said, “Through the Australia plant, we will contribute to the local defense ecosystem and develop it into a key production hub for land defense in the Indo-Pacific region.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 15:18:19
  • KGM Deepens Vietnam KD Partnership, Eyes Wider Southeast Asia Exports
    KGM Deepens Vietnam KD Partnership, Eyes Wider Southeast Asia Exports KG Mobility, or KGM, said Friday it met with Kim Long Motors, a unit of Vietnam’s FUTA Group and its KD partner, to inspect the production site and discuss detailed cooperation plans as it prepares to enter the Vietnamese market. The meeting was held March 11 (local time) at FUTA Group’s headquarters in Da Nang, in central Vietnam. Attendees included KGM Chairman Kwak Jae-sun; Kwon Kyo-won, head of KGM’s business division; FUTA Group Chairman Nguyen Huu Luan; Mai Tien Phat, president of FUTA Group’s vehicle dealership company; and Ho Cong Hai, head of KLMH, along with other officials. Ahead of the talks, Kwak on March 10 visited KLMH (Kim Long Motors Hue), a KGM-dedicated KD plant in the Hue Industrial Park that is in the final stage of construction, to check readiness by process and review support needs, KGM said. Kim Long Motors plans to begin full-scale KD production of key KGM models, including the Rexton and Musso, in the second half of this year after the plant is completed. “The Vietnam plant is expected to supply high-quality vehicles to the market by providing not only KD but also KGM’s full set of production equipment, reflecting KGM’s manufacturing know-how,” Kwak said. “The two companies will cooperate to produce vehicles of the highest quality.” Kwak said Vietnam is “a high-potential market” where vehicle purchases are expected to rise sharply and a strategic hub for expanding exports across Southeast Asia. He added that KGM will continue to increase global sales by developing new markets beyond existing ones such as Europe and by expanding overseas launches of new models, including the Musso. FUTA Group is a Vietnamese company that operates auto sales and passenger transportation businesses. Kim Long Motors is its automotive subsidiary. The two companies formed a partnership in 2023 by signing a licensing agreement for local assembly production in Vietnam. KGM said it is accelerating expansion of its KD business to increase export volumes. Outside Vietnam, it signed an HOA (heads of agreement) in May last year to supply KD kits to Indonesia, and plans to expand KD operations this year to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 10:18:23