LG Electronics to expand automotive software business SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - LG Electronics said Thursday that it has joined SDVerse, a global automotive software marketplace established by General Motors, Magna, and Wipro — a move that underscores the South Korean company’s growing ambitions in vehicle software. Billed as the industry’s first open marketplace for automotive software, SDVerse brings together automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, and developers to accelerate software innovation across the mobility sector. The platform allows buyers to compare software offerings and verify quality standards, while giving sellers access to leading car manufacturers and suppliers. Through its participation, LG aims to expand its presence in the software-defined vehicle (SDV) ecosystem. The company plans to introduce a range of mobility software products on SDVerse, including its proprietary LG αWare platform. LG has already positioned itself as a key technology partner for global automakers, offering in-cabin sensing systems, telematics solutions, and its webOS content platform — technologies that enhance driver safety, connectivity, and entertainment. At the IAA Mobility 2025 exhibition in Munich last September, LG showcased its webOS-based in-vehicle platform, emphasizing its vision to transform cars into “living spaces on wheels.” “By providing proven automotive software solutions, we aim to accelerate innovation for our clients and partners,” said Eun Seok-hyun, president of LG’s mobility business division. “This collaboration will strengthen our competitiveness and contribute to a more dynamic automotive software ecosystem.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-23 10:16:37

Taihan Cable & Solution expands South Africa plant to target region's growing power market SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - South Korea's Taihan Cable & Solution is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Africa as part of a broader effort to strengthen its competitiveness in the region’s growing power infrastructure market. The cable manufacturer held a ceremony on Oct. 22 to mark the expansion of its power cable plant in South Africa, operated by its subsidiary M-TEC. The project is designed to meet surging demand for medium- and low-voltage cables, which account for more than 90 percent of the country’s underground power market. The upgraded facility effectively doubles M-TEC’s production capacity while improving quality and cost efficiency. The ceremony drew attendees from both government and industry, including Lester Bower of South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition; representatives from state-owned utility Eskom; executives from Taihan Cable & Solution’s local partner CIH; South Korean Ambassador Yang Dong-han; and corporate leaders Kim Dae-heon of Hoban Group and Kim Jun-seok of Taihan Cable & Solution. “This investment allows us to better respond to local demand and expand exports across Africa,” Taihan Cable & Solution said in a press release. “We aim to play a key role in stabilizing South Africa’s power grid and in supporting the region’s energy transition as a comprehensive cable provider.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-23 10:05:53

KOTRA to operate 'K-Business Square' for APEC delegates SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korea will set up an exhibition booth highlighting its industrial achievements and future growth sectors for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, or KOTRA, said Wednesday that it will operate the “K-Business Square” in collaboration with the provincial government of North Gyeongsang and the city of Gyeongju for five weeks. The exhibition is designed to welcome visiting delegations and investors ahead of the summit. The venue features four themed sections — a Korean industrial history hall, a future industries hall, a regional business hall, and five cultural experience spaces. The future industries section focuses on semiconductors, next-generation mobility, and shipbuilding, with participation from both major corporations and startups showcasing cutting-edge technologies. KOTRA said it intends to use the exhibition as a platform for economic diplomacy, inviting about 100 overseas buyers and global investors to explore opportunities in South Korea’s advanced manufacturing sectors. To bolster economic cooperation ahead of the summit, KOTRA has been expanding its outreach to international partners through the “Korea-APEC Business Partnership,” launched in September. More than 300 domestic and foreign business leaders have joined related events, including an investment forum held on Oct. 16. The upcoming Invest KOREA Summit, scheduled for Oct. 29 to 31, will aim to attract large-scale investments in strategic industries such as energy transition, advanced materials, and digital technology. “This exhibition is an ideal opportunity to present South Korea as a leader in advanced manufacturing to visiting diplomats and business leaders,” said Kang Kyung-sung, president of KOTRA. “We are committed to enhancing the national brand and strengthening international business cooperation through the APEC platform.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-22 14:01:14

Samsung weighs new 'control tower' as leadership reshuffle nears SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is considering reestablishing a central management body to coordinate its sprawling business divisions, as the conglomerate prepares for a major executive reshuffle next month. The move comes as Chairman Lee Jae-yong marks his third year at the helm with the company riding a resurgent semiconductor boom. Industry sources say Samsung plans to accelerate both its annual personnel reshuffle and a broader organizational restructuring. At the center of speculation is the possible revival of a corporate “control tower,” a strategic management hub that Samsung has lacked since it dismantled its powerful Future Strategy Office in 2016 amid a high-profile political scandal. Since then, the conglomerate has operated with smaller task forces dedicated to business support and financial competitiveness but without a central coordinating structure. Pressure to restore such a unit has grown in recent months. Lee Chan-hee, head of Samsung’s compliance committee, recently underscored the need for “responsible and unified management” through a more formalized control system — a comment interpreted by observers as an endorsement of the idea. Attention is also turning to Samsung’s semiconductor division, the company’s primary profit driver, as it seeks to capitalize on soaring demand for advanced memory chips. Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun is expected to retain oversight of the semiconductor unit, while the company’s HBM4 research and development team, established last year, is set to expand. Samsung is also reportedly reallocating DRAM developers from its foundry and system semiconductor teams to reinforce its leadership in high-performance memory. In the device experience (DX) division, Roh Tae-moon — who has been serving in an acting capacity — is widely expected to be formally appointed as division head. If confirmed, he is likely to hand off his responsibilities in the mobile experience business to a successor. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-21 13:53:18

Samsung invests in US biotech firm specialized in early cancer detection SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and Samsung C&T will jointly invest $110 million in Grail, a U.S. biotechnology company specializing in early cancer detection, as the South Korean conglomerate expands its footprint in digital health care, the firms said Friday. Grail, a subsidiary of Illumina, has developed technology that detects cancer-related DNA fragments in blood samples and uses artificial intelligence to predict both the presence and likely location of cancer. Its flagship product, Galleri, can identify more than 50 types of cancer through a single blood test. Since its launch in 2021, the company has performed more than 400,000 tests worldwide. Under the partnership, Samsung Electronics plans to integrate Grail’s data with its Samsung Health platform to enhance personalized health monitoring and preventive care services. Samsung C&T, the group’s trading and construction arm, will exclusively distribute the Galleri test in South Korea and collaborate with Grail to expand access in Singapore and Japan. “This investment and partnership aim to improve health through technology, offering personalized digital health experiences,” said Park Heon-soo, head of Samsung Electronics’ digital health team. The move underscores Samsung’s growing ambitions in the health technology sector, as the company looks to pair its consumer electronics and data platforms with advances in medical diagnostics. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-17 10:04:45

Samsung Electronics will receive $250 million grant from Texas SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will receive a $250 million grant from the state of Texas to support its semiconductor expansion, Governor Greg Abbott announced Wednesday (local time). The funds, allocated from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, are separate from the $4.7 billion in federal aid Samsung secured last year under the CHIPS Act. The new grant was announced after Abbott met with Kyung Kye-hyun, Samsung’s vice chairman, in Austin on Sept. 17. Abbott praised Samsung for its $40 billion investment in the state, which he said has created thousands of high-paying jobs and cemented Texas as a hub for semiconductor manufacturing. The award is tied to Samsung’s $4.73 billion capital investment in its chip fabrication facility in Taylor, northeast of Austin. The plant, scheduled for completion by year’s end, will manufacture cutting-edge 2-nanometer semiconductors for applications in 5G, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Samsung said production of its AI6 chips — part of a $23 billion supply agreement with Tesla — will begin at the Taylor site in late 2026. The grant highlights Texas’s active role in courting semiconductor investment, setting it apart from federal-level initiatives. Abbott visited Samsung’s massive Pyeongtaek campus in South Korea in July 2024 and previously awarded $27 million in state funds for the Taylor fab in 2021. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-18 15:39:50