Journalist

Han Ji-hyun
  • Audi Korea Names Lee Gyu-hee as Head of Marketing Communications
    Audi Korea Names Lee Gyu-hee as Head of Marketing Communications Audi Korea said Tuesday it has appointed Lee Gyu-hee, an executive director, as its new head of marketing communications. Starting Tuesday, Lee will oversee the company’s overall marketing, including brand strategy, marketing communications, digital and content strategy, and customer experience, Audi Korea said. Audi Korea described Lee as a brand strategy specialist with broad experience across global automotive and performance brands. At Volkswagen Group China, he held key leadership roles including brand management director, marketing director and head of the Brand Innovation Project House, leading initiatives such as brand innovation, market repositioning and building a data-driven marketing system. He also served as marketing and communications director for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at French high-performance sports car brand Alpine, overseeing marketing strategy in key markets. Lee has also worked in global creative agencies and strategic consulting, and is credited with leading large-scale innovation projects across sectors including automotive, luxury goods and electronics, the company said. Audi Korea is seeking to strengthen its position in the domestic market this year by expanding new model launches and refreshing the brand. The appointment reflects its push to reinforce its premium positioning, upgrade digital marketing capabilities and deliver more customer-centered brand experiences, it said. Audi Korea President Steve Clotty said Lee’s global perspective and strategic expertise will play an important role in taking the Audi brand “to the next level.” He said the company will strengthen touchpoints with customers in South Korea and further solidify Audi’s premium value.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 09:18:19
  • Six Korean Business Groups Urge Parliament to Pass U.S. Investment Special Act
    Six Korean Business Groups Urge Parliament to Pass U.S. Investment Special Act Six major South Korean business groups on Tuesday urged the National Assembly to swiftly pass a special law aimed at supporting investment in the United States. In an emergency appeal issued Tuesday, the Korea Enterprises Federation, the Korea Employers Federation, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Federation of SMEs and the Korea Association of Medium-Sized Enterprises said uncertainty in the trade environment has intensified after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, unlawful. They said the ruling could prompt the United States to rely on alternative laws to keep its current tariff policy direction while imposing additional, selective tariffs on specific countries or products, making passage of the bill urgent. The groups said exports to the United States in key South Korean industries — including semiconductors, automobiles and pharmaceuticals — are being directly affected, raising concerns about weakening industrial competitiveness. They warned that delays in handling the bill would weaken South Korea’s negotiating leverage with the United States and make it harder to realize tangible benefits from bilateral economic cooperation. They again called on lawmakers to pass the bill within the special committee’s mandate so companies can reduce trade risks and pursue exports to the United States more actively. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-03 06:03:24
  • Korean Industry, Banks Brace for Prolonged Middle East Turmoil After Strait of Hormuz Closure
    Korean Industry, Banks Brace for Prolonged Middle East Turmoil After Strait of Hormuz Closure The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran are raising the risk of prolonged turmoil in the Middle East, putting South Korean industry on alert. With the Strait of Hormuz now blocked, disruptions to supplies of crude oil and liquefied natural gas, as well as air and sea logistics, have become more likely. A prolonged conflict could also weigh on exporters that have been posting a string of trade surpluses. Major companies including Samsung, LG and Hanwha have activated emergency response systems and are tightening safety management for employees in the region. According to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations and foreign media reports, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global seaborne oil shipments. Near the strait, at least four vessels, including the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight, were attacked, and one crew member was killed. The government said it has not identified any damage so far to South Korean oil tankers or LNG carriers. South Korea imports 70.7% of its crude oil and 20.4% of its LNG from the Middle East, and more than 95% of those shipments pass through the strait. The Korea International Trade Association estimates that using alternative routes could raise ocean freight rates by as much as 50% to 80% and extend transit times by three to five days. It also said insurance premiums for exporters could rise by up to sevenfold, adding to inflationary pressure. If instability persists, exports of defense products, automobiles and semiconductors could weaken, and multiple Middle East projects pursued by Samsung, Hyundai Motor and Hanwha could be suspended. Hanwha’s construction unit said it is closely monitoring the situation, along with the South Korean Embassy in Iraq and Iraqi military and police, in connection with its Bismayah new city project in Iraq. A surge in global oil prices could also raise costs for petrochemicals, airlines and shipping, potentially hurting first-quarter results. An industry official said the Middle East is a key market for defense and construction orders, and warned that if the region becomes a powder keg, ongoing production and consumption, investment and research and development could face setbacks. The official said companies are watching closely for an export slowdown and the possibility of weaker global consumption if the war drags on. The financial sector, which supports companies, has also moved into emergency mode. All seven branches operated by the four major banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana and Woori — in the Middle East are within the impact zone of the Israel-Iran war. Financial holding groups said there has been no direct damage so far, but warned that additional losses could be unavoidable if the conflict becomes prolonged, as in the Russia-Ukraine war. KB Financial Group, led by Chairman Yang Jong-hee, is checking exchange rates, interest rates and oil prices in real time. Shinhan Financial Group convened its group crisis management council to review its response system amid rising volatility in financial indicators. Hana Bank set up a rapid response team for the Iran situation. Woori Financial Group ordered an urgent review across affiliates, including stronger monitoring of financial markets and steps to ensure the safety of employees working overseas. If a prolonged war weakens the broader Middle East economy, cash flow at South Korean companies operating there could also deteriorate. Banks are also concerned that if exporters face disruptions, delinquency rates could rise. The average delinquency rate on small and midsize business loans at the four major banks in the fourth quarter of last year was 0.45%, already the highest level in nine years. The four banks said they will provide 42 trillion won in management-stabilization funding, interest-rate reductions and deferred installment repayments for companies struggling due to Middle East risks. 2026-03-02 16:21:22
  • Hyundai Motor Group’s Boston Dynamics IPO Seen as Catalyst for Governance Overhaul
    Hyundai Motor Group’s Boston Dynamics IPO Seen as Catalyst for Governance Overhaul Hyundai Motor Group’s U.S. robotics unit, Boston Dynamics (BD), is moving closer to an initial public offering, drawing attention to whether the listing could help the conglomerate tackle a long-discussed governance overhaul. With Boston Dynamics’ value estimated at about 120 trillion to 150 trillion won, Chairman Euisun Chung could secure up to 30 trillion won if the IPO succeeds, market watchers said. That could help unwind circular shareholding links cited as a key obstacle, potentially improving management stability and boosting corporate value. Industry sources said Monday that Hyundai Motor Group has begun work to commercialize robotics and artificial intelligence and to prepare Boston Dynamics for an IPO. The group recently formed a business-planning task force dedicated to robotics and AI under Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon, and placed strategy investment and mergers-and-acquisitions specialists on the team, the sources said. The move is seen as an effort to consolidate robotics and AI capabilities across the group and shift them toward revenue-generating models. Boston Dynamics is also undergoing a transition toward an operating-company structure. After Chief Technology Officer Aaron Saunders stepped down last year, Chief Executive Officer Robert Playter, who led technology development for seven years, resigned last month. Industry observers expect the company to move from a research-and-development focus toward a profitability-driven system capable of mass production, accelerating IPO preparations. Hyundai Motor Group, led by Jang, has begun preparations for a Nasdaq listing in the United States in early 2027, according to industry views. The company is expected to complete a preliminary review filing and select underwriters in the first half of this year, proceed with the offering process in the second half, and seek a listing early next year. A global market research firm projects the global humanoid robot market will reach 9.6 million units a year by 2035. Considering the technology and mass-production timeline of Boston Dynamics’ flagship humanoid robot, Atlas, the firm estimates a roughly 16% share, or about 1.5 million units. Reflecting such projections, KB Securities estimates Boston Dynamics’ value at 128 trillion won, while Hanwha Investment & Securities puts it at 145.77 trillion won. With the financial industry estimating that an IPO could raise 120 trillion to 150 trillion won, Chung is expected to secure up to 30 trillion won. When Hyundai Motor Group acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021, Chung invested about 240 billion won of personal funds to obtain a 20% stake. Hyundai Motor Group currently has three circular shareholding structures: “Hyundai Mobis → Hyundai Motor → Kia → Hyundai Mobis,” “Hyundai Mobis → Hyundai Motor → Hyundai Steel → Hyundai Mobis,” and “Hyundai Mobis → Hyundai Motor → Hyundai Glovis → Hyundai Mobis.” To resolve the circular structure, Chung would need to increase his stake in Hyundai Mobis, which sits at the top of the governance structure. Chung currently holds just 0.3% of Hyundai Mobis. The group also needs additional cash to cover taxes required when Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo’s stakes in affiliates are inherited or gifted. If Boston Dynamics lists successfully, industry observers said it could provide sufficient funds to unwind circular shareholding and finance inheritance and gift taxes, potentially speeding up succession-related work. “Boston Dynamics’ listing is central to Hyundai Motor Group’s long-standing task of governance restructuring,” an industry official said. “The more funding it secures through an IPO, the more options it will have.” 2026-03-02 11:51:08
  • Hyundai Motor Group, Veterans Ministry to Renovate Korean War Memorial Sites in the Philippines
    Hyundai Motor Group, Veterans Ministry to Renovate Korean War Memorial Sites in the Philippines Hyundai Motor Group said it will work with South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to repair and improve two Korean War remembrance sites in Manila: the Korean War memorial monument at the Philippines’ National Shrine of Heroes and the Philippine Korean War Memorial Hall. The Philippines was the first Asian country and the third in the world to send troops to the Korean War, and it marks the 77th anniversary this year of establishing diplomatic relations with South Korea, the company said. The two sites were built to honor the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea, or PEFTOK — five combat battalions totaling 7,420 troops — and their families, it said. The monument at the National Shrine of Heroes was built in 1967 to express gratitude for veterans’ sacrifice and service. It was renovated in 2009 to mark the 60th anniversary of Korea-Philippines diplomatic ties under the ministry, then known as the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Hyundai Motor Group said it will now refurbish the site in cooperation with the ministry. The monument is a triangular pillar about 7 meters (23 feet) tall. At the top are the United Nations emblem and the national flags of South Korea and the Philippines. Below are the names of all 112 PEFTOK members who were killed in action, the company said. Hyundai Motor Group said it will begin work this month, repairing cracks and discoloration, replacing marble on nearby steps and flooring, and installing an information sign and a symbolic sculpture to make the site easier for veterans’ families and visitors to find. The group also plans repairs at the Philippine Korean War Memorial Hall, about 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) from the monument. Built in 2012, it includes a museum and library that display and store records and historical materials from the war. The company said it will replace furnishings and carry out a full building repair, and will also review whether additional remodeling is needed to increase use of the facility. Hyundai Motor Group said it will use the Philippines project as a starting point to work with the ministry on broader reviews of environmental improvements at Korean War memorial sites in other countries that sent troops. It also said it plans to cooperate on preserving and managing overseas sites tied to Korea’s independence movement, checking conditions at both types of locations and considering ways to build content and revitalize spaces using the group’s capabilities. “Preserving Korean War memorial sites and independence movement historic sites is a way to pass historical value to future generations,” a Hyundai Motor Group official said. “We will work with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to honor the noble spirit of overseas veterans and independence activists.” Separately, the group said it is running a range of community-focused programs in the Philippines. They include “Hyundai Wheels on the Go!” to support disaster victims by providing vehicles and supplies to help civil society respond directly to emergencies. It also cited the “Hope in a Bag Project,” which provides daily necessities to youths in vulnerable groups and to students in disaster-affected areas, and the “Hyundai Accelerate Program,” which offers technical training to youths seeking jobs in the auto industry. The group said it also supports vulnerable youths through the Chung Mong-Koo Foundation. Philippine daily Philstar was quoted as saying Hyundai Motor Group’s community programs in the country provide practical and effective help in disaster-hit areas.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-02 09:51:19
  • Hyundai Launches EV Promotion After Ioniq 9 Wins 2026 Car of the Year Triple Crown
    Hyundai Launches EV Promotion After Ioniq 9 Wins 2026 Car of the Year Triple Crown Hyundai Motor Co. said Sunday it will run a series of special EV promotions starting in March to mark the Ioniq 9’s “2026 Car of the Year” triple crown. In South Korea, the three major “Car of the Year” awards are presented separately by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association, the Korea Automobile Expert Journalists Association and JoongAng Ilbo. Each group’s jury evaluates factors including price, performance and innovative technology to select what it considers the best vehicle each year. Under the promotion, customers who sign contracts in March and take delivery by April will receive a 1 million won discount on Hyundai passenger EVs, including the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Ioniq 9 and Kona Electric. Small electric commercial vehicles, including the Porter Electric and the ST1 (excluding the chassis cab), will receive a 500,000 won discount. Hyundai will also hold an online customer event from March 1 to 15, offering daily vehicle discount coupons worth up to 10.4 million won. Customers can participate through a roulette event on Hyundai’s official website. Prizes include a 3 million won discount coupon for one winner per day, a 1 million won coupon for five winners per day, and a 100,000 won coupon for 24 winners per day. The coupons do not apply to buses, medium and large trucks, commercial vehicles or the Casper model. Hyundai said customers using its “Hyundai EV Burden Down Promotion” will receive additional benefits through a vehicle-care “STRESS-FREE” package. The program is a 36-month installment plan that allows customers to defer returning the vehicle, and it offers a 2.8% interest rate as of March, the company said. Customers who take delivery of an Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 or Kona Electric in March through the program will receive three years of benefits, including body-care service covering up to 1.2 million won for repair and parts replacement (up to three total claims, once per area) and support for auto insurance deductibles (up to three claims, capped at 500,000 won per claim). Hyundai is also offering a “repeat purchase customer program” for existing EV finance customers. For customers currently using a Hyundai passenger EV or the Nexo through Hyundai Capital’s installment financing, rent or lease, Hyundai said it will offer a 2.3% interest rate — 0.5 percentage points lower — if they repurchase an eligible vehicle on installment using the “Hyundai EV Burden Down” program and take delivery in March. Customers who take delivery in March through the “Hyundai EV Rent/Lease Promotion” will receive a monthly payment discount equal to about 10% of the vehicle price, the company said. “The Ioniq 9’s Car of the Year triple crown shows that experts have validated Hyundai’s electrification technology,” a Hyundai official said. “We prepared a range of benefits so more customers can experience the value of EVs.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-02 09:36:19
  • Korean Air to Open Renovated Flagship Lounge at LAX
    Korean Air to Open Renovated Flagship Lounge at LAX Korean Air said Saturday it will open a next-generation flagship lounge on March 6 (local time) at Los Angeles International Airport in California. The new lounge is in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Ahead of the opening, the airline held a two-day preview event starting Feb. 26 (local time), drawing about 200 guests for an introduction and tour. Korean Air said it invested about 65 billion won and completed the lounge after 22 months of construction. The facility consists of two lounges: a first-class lounge on the sixth floor and a Miler Club and Prestige lounge on the fifth floor. With a total area of 1,675 square meters — 1.27 times larger than before — it is the largest overseas lounge directly operated by Korean Air, the company said. The lounge sits on an upper level of the terminal and includes a balcony terrace and an open layout with floor-to-ceiling windows, designed to provide a more spacious environment and broad views of the terminal interior. Korean Air said the interior was designed to bring in natural light and reflect Los Angeles’ energy. It combines warm wood textures and premium stone to express what it called “Modern Korean Luxury,” blending Korean restraint with a contemporary feel. The airline said it also installed artworks inspired by Korean aesthetics throughout the space, including pieces referencing buncheong ware, brushstroke-style ink work and the curved form of a moon jar. The first-class lounge includes two private rooms and will offer personal a la carte dining service, the airline said. The Miler Club and Prestige lounge will feature an open-kitchen live station where chefs prepare food, along with local craft beer and a signature blended coffee available only on site, Korean Air said. The Miler Club will offer both a buffet and a dedicated special menu, with ordering available by scanning QR codes at seats. Beyond dining, the lounge includes a business zone, a family zone and shower rooms, the airline said. Korean Air said LAX, California’s largest airport, is a key North American hub for the carrier, linking Asia, Central and South America, and the U.S. mainland. The airline said it plans to continue expanding and upgrading lounge infrastructure at home and abroad to meet customer demand after the launch of an integrated airline. Following LAX, it plans to proceed with lounge expansion and renovations at major overseas hub airports, including New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, with openings to be announced within the year. A Korean Air official said the new lounge will strengthen the airline’s standing at LAX and deliver “a new level of premium service,” adding that the company will continue investing to improve the travel experience. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-01 10:12:17
  • Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s Stock Holdings Near 40 Trillion Won as KOSPI Surges
    Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s Stock Holdings Near 40 Trillion Won as KOSPI Surges After the KOSPI broke above 6,000 for the first time and then cleared the 6,300 level just one day later, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s stock holdings were valued at nearly 40 trillion won, according to a report. Corporate analysis firm Korea CXO Institute said on the 26th that Lee’s stock valuation totaled 38.7738 trillion won, based on the Feb. 25 closing prices. If treated as a single listed company, that value would rank about 23rd by market capitalization in South Korea. Lee holds shares in seven issues: Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung SDS, Samsung E&A, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and Samsung Electronics preferred shares. His Samsung Electronics stake totals 97,414,196 shares. Using a common-share price of 203,500 won per share, that holding alone was valued at 19.8237 trillion won. The institute said Lee’s other major holdings were valued at 12.3840 trillion won in Samsung C&T, 5.1363 trillion won in Samsung Life, and 1.2721 trillion won in Samsung SDS. Hong Ra-hee, honorary director of the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, was valued at 17.9336 trillion won in stock holdings. Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin held 16.1991 trillion won, and Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun held 13.9079 trillion won, the report said. Together, the four members of the Samsung family had combined stock holdings valued at 86.8146 trillion won, it said. Hyundai Motor honorary chairman Chung Mong-koo’s stock wealth also topped 10 trillion won, reaching 10.3024 trillion won. Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Euisun was valued at 9.9973 trillion won, near the 10 trillion won mark. Their combined holdings totaled 20.2998 trillion won, exceeding 20 trillion won, the institute said. The report also listed Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin, valued at 16.7744 trillion won, and Meritz Financial Group Chairman Cho Jung-ho, valued at 13.0492 trillion won, as members of the 10 trillion won stock-wealth club. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 16:21:24
  • Toyota Korea Holds Awards for 19th Dream Car Art Contest National Qualifier
    Toyota Korea Holds Awards for 19th Dream Car Art Contest National Qualifier Toyota Korea said Wednesday it held an awards ceremony Feb. 25 at the CONNECT TO cultural complex for the national qualifier of the 19th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest. The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is the automaker’s global social contribution program that invites children worldwide to freely depict their “Your Dream Car.” The Korean qualifier drew a record 3,396 entries this year, Toyota Korea said. Judging was conducted in three age groups: under 8, ages 8-11, and ages 12-15. Entries were evaluated on message delivery, originality and artistic quality, with 59 works selected as final winners. Nine gold, silver and bronze winners across the three divisions received certificates and prizes and advanced automatically to the global final, the World Contest. Winners also received one-of-a-kind keepsakes, including a snow globe trophy featuring their artwork and a custom calendar. Toyota Korea ran the ceremony as a brand experience program for customers. The 59 winning works were displayed at CONNECT TO for about two weeks starting Feb. 13, and videos of the artworks were shown on in-store digital screens, the company said. The venue also offered hands-on programs for award recipients, including a World Rally Championship-themed RC car experience, an LED mood light-making activity, and a guided Toyota Gazoo Racing tour highlighting the company’s philosophy of “making ever-better cars through motorsports.” Kim Hyeongjun, a director at Toyota Korea, said the contest was meaningful because it connected children’s imagination with Toyota’s values of individuality and diversity. He said the company will continue to support Korean children’s dreams and communicate with future generations as a brand that respects individuality beyond mobility. The winning works can be viewed on Toyota Korea’s official website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-26 16:03:41
  • Hanwha Aerospace Ships First Australia-Built AS9 Self-Propelled Howitzers
    Hanwha Aerospace Ships First Australia-Built AS9 Self-Propelled Howitzers Hanwha Aerospace has shipped AS9 self-propelled howitzers for the first time from its plant in Australia. The AS9 is an Australia-tailored variant of the K9, which holds more than 50% of the global self-propelled howitzer market. The company said on the 26th it held a shipment ceremony at H-ACE in Geelong, Australia, for three AS9 units produced locally. The first Australia-built AS10 ammunition resupply vehicle is also scheduled to leave the plant within the year. Hanwha Aerospace plans to supply the Australian Army with a total of 30 AS9 howitzers and 15 AS10 vehicles. H-ACE, completed in August 2024, is described as Korea’s first overseas production base for the defense industry. Built on a site of about 150,000 square meters, it includes 11 facilities, including a main building, production and assembly areas, a driving test track and a firing range. Hanwha Aerospace said it aims to use the successful operation of the Australian plant to respond more directly to defense demand in the Indo-Pacific, and to use the site as a production base not only for Australia but also for key allied countries. The company also said it will accelerate efforts to target markets tied to AUKUS, a U.S.-Australia-UK security partnership, and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. A Hanwha Aerospace official said, “The first shipment of self-propelled howitzers made at an overseas production base means K-defense exports have entered a new stage,” adding, “We will develop the Australian plant into a core production hub for the Indo-Pacific region.” 2026-02-26 15:48:30