Journalist

Kim Pil-soo
  • Airbus: Asia-Pacific Aviation Services Market to Reach $138.7B by 2044
    Airbus: Asia-Pacific Aviation Services Market to Reach $138.7B by 2044 Airbus said Thursday that demand for aviation services in the Asia-Pacific region, including China and India, is expected to grow to US$138.7 billion by 2044, expanding at a 5.2% compound annual growth rate, according to its latest Global Services Forecast report. The company cited rising air traffic and a growing aircraft fleet as key drivers of medium- to long-term growth. Over the next 20 years, the region will need 19,560 new passenger aircraft, Airbus said, representing 46% of global demand over the period. Asia-Pacific passenger demand is projected to rise 4.4% a year, well above the global average of 3.6%, keeping the region the world’s fastest-growing aviation market. The report identified five main areas expected to lead growth: component maintenance, airframe maintenance, modifications and upgrades, digital and connectivity, and education and training. Component maintenance is forecast to surge to $100 billion in 2044 from $37.1 billion in 2025, driven by fleet expansion and aircraft aging. Airbus said supply-chain instability and a shortage of skilled workers remain structural constraints. Airframe maintenance is expected to grow to $14 billion from $6 billion over the same period. Airbus said new base-maintenance hangars are being built in key markets including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, alongside large-scale investment in MRO infrastructure. Modifications and upgrades are projected to expand to $6.2 billion from $3.8 billion. Airbus said demand is rising for cabin modernization as more complex retrofit work increases for older aircraft, with airlines adding premium cabin products and in-flight connectivity to meet changing passenger expectations. Digital and connectivity services are expected to grow to $11.2 billion from $2.9 billion. Airbus said airlines and MRO providers are accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve efficiency, support predictive maintenance, optimize operations and ease labor shortages through automation. Education and training are forecast to rise to $7.7 billion from $3.2 billion, with a rapid shift in the region toward competency-based training and assessment. Airbus said the region will need more than 1.06 million new aviation professionals by 2044, including 282,000 pilots, 302,000 technicians and 473,000 cabin crew members. Airbus also highlighted maintenance operations support and ground operations services as areas that will shape performance for airlines and MRO providers. It projected the maintenance operations support market, including engineering, technical records and inventory management, will reach $46.4 billion by 2044, while the ground operations market, reshaped by automation and digitalization, will grow to $31 billion. Airbus said mature markets will maintain a certain level of demand, but Asia-Pacific — led by South Asia and China — will drive the next phase of global aviation services growth and “reshape the aviation industry’s capacity, capabilities and investment priorities worldwide.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 15:54:00
  • KAMA warns strict auto rules could open South Korea market to low-cost Chinese EVs
    KAMA warns strict auto rules could open South Korea market to low-cost Chinese EVs South Korea’s auto industry, in the midst of a shift to electrification, could see its domestic market eroded by Chinese electric vehicles if regulations become excessive, industry officials warned. The Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, known as KAMA, said it held a meeting of its eco-friendly vehicle committee on Wednesday under the theme “Trends and implications of major countries’ auto environmental regulations and policy changes.” KAMA said the session compared and analyzed regulatory and policy shifts in major markets to assess their impact on the competitiveness of South Korea’s auto industry and to draw lessons for more effective vehicle greenhouse-gas reduction policies. Kang Nam Hoon, KAMA’s chairman, said major countries are “adjusting the pace of electrification” as EV demand weakens and governments move to protect domestic industry. He said the United States has reduced regulatory burdens on its auto industry, including scrapping EV mandates after the launch of the Trump administration. He added that the European Union, after running strict vehicle greenhouse-gas rules, has moved to adjust targets, expand flexibility for carrying over compliance and reflect preferential treatment for European-made EVs in its regulations to protect the auto ecosystem. Kang said Japan, whose export structure is similar to South Korea’s, is keeping environmental rules relatively low and encouraging companies to transition voluntarily, even though it is the world’s No. 2 auto exporter and No. 3 producer. By contrast, he said, South Korean companies are already facing significant difficulties under current regulations. He warned that moves to tighten rules further — to what he called the world’s highest level, linked to national emissions-reduction targets — would impose an “unbearable” burden on industry. “Excessive regulation could accelerate dependence on price-competitive Chinese EVs and their inflow into the domestic market, raising concerns that the domestic market could be eroded,” he said. To cut greenhouse gases effectively, Kang said, policymakers should “boldly” reduce reliance on new-vehicle rules that pressure companies and instead focus on measures that create demand, including expanded support for scrapping aging vehicles, more charging infrastructure and stronger incentives to buy eco-friendly vehicles. He also called for urgent, broad support to maintain and strengthen domestic production during the transition, including expanding production tax credits so EVs made in South Korea can secure real competitiveness. Kim Cheol Hwan, a managing director at InnoThink Consulting, said global climate policy, once focused on carbon cuts, is being reshaped into an “industrial security and supply chain strategy” centered on protecting domestic industry and countering China. He said U.S. and EU tariffs and policy changes do not mean abandoning electrification, but show a commitment to watch market conditions while prioritizing keeping manufacturing bases within their regions. Kim said the rapid shift to battery electric vehicles is running into practical barriers, including reduced purchasing power due to high interest rates and a lack of charging infrastructure, widening the gap between regulatory targets and what markets can absorb. He said consumers’ preference for hybrids will likely persist in the short to medium term. He said major countries are increasingly diversifying realistic emissions-cutting options rather than locking in a single technology path to minimize industrial friction, adding that punitive regulation alone has limits in driving demand. Kim urged South Korea to secure long-term stability by operating rules more flexibly, including institutionalizing conditional buffers if external variables that hurt electrification emerge, such as sudden market shifts or trade-related problems. He said the overall direction of targets should remain, but the role of hybrids should be recognized quantitatively based on their real contribution to carbon reductions, and flexibility in emissions-reduction pathways should be ensured. Experts at the meeting agreed that, amid changes in the global regulatory environment, South Korea needs regulatory policies that fully consider auto industry competitiveness. They also said EV adoption should be paired with support measures that keep the domestic production base solid while meaningfully creating demand. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 10:03:24
  • Renault Korea’s Filante Crossover Arrives at 175 Showrooms Nationwide
    Renault Korea’s Filante Crossover Arrives at 175 Showrooms Nationwide Renault Korea said Wednesday that display vehicles of its E-segment crossover, the Renault Filante (FILANTE), have begun arriving at showrooms ahead of customer deliveries scheduled to start in March. Since its world premiere event in January, the Filante had been shown only at select locations including Renault Seongsu, COEX Mall and Starfield City Myeongji in Busan. The company said Filante display vehicles are expected to be in place at 175 Renault Korea showrooms nationwide, including SS locations, by the end of this week. Renault introduced the Filante as a new global flagship model, featuring a crossover design that blends sedan and sport utility vehicle characteristics. Its hybrid E-Tech powertrain delivers a maximum system output of 250 horsepower. All trims come standard with active noise cancellation (ANC). The Filante is now available for order at showrooms nationwide. Prices range from 43,319,000 won to 49,719,000 won depending on trim, based on a reduced individual consumption tax and eco-friendly vehicle tax benefits. The Esprit Alpine 1955, a launch edition limited to 1,955 units, is offered at 52,189,000 won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 09:39:00
  • Hyundai Motor expands hydrogen truck push in Europe
    Hyundai Motor expands hydrogen truck push in Europe SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor is stepping up promotion of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in Europe and North America, as its hydrogen-electric truck fleet in Europe surpassed 20 million kilometers in cumulative driving, the company said Thursday. The milestone underscores Hyundai’s push to expand hydrogen mobility overseas as governments and logistics companies seek to cut transport emissions. Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks first entered service in Switzerland in October 2020 and have since expanded across Europe. A total of 165 trucks are now operating in Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Austria, serving roles ranging from refrigerated and freezer transport to street sweepers, hook-lift container trucks and cranes. In Germany, hydrogen-related firms have deployed about 110 trucks, mainly supporting logistics operations for supermarket chains, Hyundai said. In France, the vehicles are used in supermarket logistics as well as municipal and industrial services, including street cleaning and heavy-duty transport in regions such as Paris, Lyon, Pays de la Loire and Burgundy. In Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria, the trucks are mainly used to transport food, beverages and industrial textiles. Hyundai said the trucks produce no carbon dioxide emissions while driving. Citing guidelines from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the company estimated that diesel trucks covering the same 20 million kilometers would emit roughly 13,000 metric tons more carbon dioxide — equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of about 1.5 million pine trees. Hyundai plans to use operational data collected from the fleet — including driving distance, hydrogen consumption and fuel cell performance — to improve future hydrogen fuel cell technologies. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-05 09:36:38
  • K Car Holds 2025 Employee Awards, Highlighting Collaboration and Challenge
    K Car Holds 2025 Employee Awards, Highlighting Collaboration and Challenge K Car said Wednesday it held its “2025 Employee Awards” event a day earlier at the Paradise City hotel on Yeongjong Island in Incheon. The company said it honored employees who delivered standout results across business areas including sales, customer satisfaction and safety management, helping strengthen the organization’s competitiveness. Awards were also presented to teams and larger units, underscoring K Car’s emphasis on creating greater value through collaboration. The event included year-end and fourth-quarter awards. Categories included Proud K Car Person, Top Performance, Excellence in Safety and Health, Excellent CS Branch, Top Member and Top Leader, with prize money awarded alongside the honors. Lee Dong Min, who won the top vehicle purchasing award for the second straight year, said, “My know-how is to carefully inspect and purchase vehicles as if I were choosing my own car,” adding, “I feel very proud to be making a big contribution to the company’s performance.” Im Neung Seop, who received the top sales performance award, said he believed the recognition reflected his focus on trust with customers and doing his best in the field. CEO Jeong In Guk said he thanked employees for producing results despite a difficult business environment, and said K Car will continue to build a workplace where staff can take pride in their work and fully develop their capabilities while growing as a company that earns greater trust from customers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 09:21:00
  • Hyundai’s XCIENT hydrogen fuel cell trucks top 20 million kilometers in Europe
    Hyundai’s XCIENT hydrogen fuel cell trucks top 20 million kilometers in Europe Hyundai Motor Co. said Wednesday that its XCIENT Fuel Cell hydrogen-electric truck fleet in Europe has surpassed a cumulative 20 million kilometers (12.4 million miles) of driving. The XCIENT Fuel Cell began operating in Switzerland in October 2020 and has been developed in multiple specialized versions, including refrigerated and freezer vans, street sweepers, hook-lift container trucks and cranes. A total of 165 trucks are now running in five European countries: Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Austria. In Germany, hydrogen-industry companies, including a commercial hydrogen-vehicle leasing specialist, have purchased about 110 hydrogen fuel cell trucks and are using them for logistics such as deliveries for supermarket chains, Hyundai said. In France, the trucks are also used for supermarket logistics and are deployed in Paris, Lyon, Pays de la Loire and Burgundy for specialized uses including street sweepers, hook-lift trucks and crane trucks. In Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria, the trucks are used in logistics for food, beverages and industrial textiles, the company said. Hyundai said the trucks emit no carbon dioxide while driving, helping cut emissions. Under guidelines from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the company said, operating hydrogen fuel cell trucks for 20 million kilometers would reduce carbon emissions by about 13,000 metric tons compared with diesel commercial trucks. Hyundai said that is equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed annually by about 1.5 million pine trees. Hyundai said it plans to analyze data gathered during the 20 million kilometers of operation — including driving distance, hydrogen consumption and fuel cell performance — and apply the findings to future hydrogen fuel cell technologies. A Hyundai official said the XCIENT Fuel Cell, which started in Switzerland, is contributing to emissions reductions with partners in various fields, adding that the company will keep working to expand the hydrogen ecosystem and strengthen the role of hydrogen commercial vehicles as an eco-friendly mobility solution.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 09:12:00
  • Kim Jae-youl elected to IOC executive board, second Korean to serve on the body
    Kim Jae-youl elected to IOC executive board, second Korean to serve on the body SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) -Kim Jae-youl, president of the International Skating Union and a member of the International Olympic Committee, has been elected to the IOC Executive Board, becoming only the second South Korean to serve on the body. Kim was chosen Tuesday (Korea time) during the 145th IOC Session in Milan, host city of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. He received 84 votes in favor out of 100 valid ballots, with 10 against and six abstentions. He joins the late Kim Un-yong, a former IOC vice president, as the only South Koreans to have served on the IOC’s top decision-making body. Founded in 1921, the Executive Board consists of the IOC president, four vice presidents and 10 other members. It oversees the organization’s administration and finances and manages procedures for selecting Olympic host cities. Members serve four-year terms. Four candidates competed for three open seats in the election. Along with Kim, Ingmar De Vos of Belgium and Neven Ilic of Chile were also elected. President Lee Jae Myung congratulated Kim in a Facebook post, calling the election a significant step for South Korea’s international standing in sports governance. “This great accomplishment transcends individual glory,” Lee wrote. “It carries tremendous significance in that South Korea will now take on an even greater leadership role at the center of international sports governance.” Lee added that Kim’s experience and leadership would help shape the future of the Olympic Movement. “Kim’s wealth of experience and brilliant leadership will lay a strong foundation for leading the future of the Olympic Movement,” he said, expressing hope that Kim would further expand international cooperation based on Olympic values of fairness, transparency, peace and solidarity. The president also pledged the government’s full support for sports diplomacy, vowing to strengthen South Korea’s role as “a responsible partner” in the global community. Kim became an IOC member in October 2023 in his capacity as head of an Olympic sport’s international governing body. He has served as ISU president since June 2022. He previously served as president of the Korea Skating Union from 2011 to 2016, vice president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, and South Korea’s chef de mission at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. He was also executive vice president of international relations for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Kim remains the only South Korean member of the IOC. Former Olympic bobsleigh silver medalist Won Yun-jong is seeking election this month to the IOC Athletes’ Commission. Kim, 57, is the brother-in-law of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Meanwhile, former U.N. under-secretary-general Kim Won-soo was elected to the IOC’s Ethics Commission.Kim Won-soo, a career diplomat and close associate of former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, will serve a four-year term and may be re-elected twice. The commission is responsible for updating the IOC’s Code of Ethics, reviewing potential violations and advising on ethical governance. 2026-02-05 07:43:23
  • Kim Jae Yeol Elected to IOC Executive Board, Second South Korean to Serve
    Kim Jae Yeol Elected to IOC Executive Board, Second South Korean to Serve Kim Jae Yeol, president of the International Skating Union and an International Olympic Committee member, was elected to the IOC Executive Board. Kim was chosen in a vote held Tuesday (Korea time) at the 145th IOC Session at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Main Media Center in Milan, Italy. He received 84 votes in favor out of 100 valid ballots, with 10 against and six abstentions. He is the second South Korean to serve as an IOC executive board member, following the late Kim Un Yong, a former IOC vice president.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 20:03:00
  • Korean tire makers weather US tariff headwinds, turn focus to high-end segment
    Korean tire makers weather US tariff headwinds, turn focus to high-end segment SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korean tire manufacturers reported higher sales last year despite the impact of U.S. tariffs on auto parts, supported by solid replacement-tire demand and price increases. Hankook Tire & Technology said Wednesday its tire business recorded sales of 10.32 trillion won ($7.7 billion) last year, up 9.6 percent from a year earlier and surpassing the 10 trillion won mark for the first time. Operating profit, however, fell 4.4 percent to 1.68 trillion won. The company said it maintained steady growth in both global original-equipment (OE) and replacement markets despite economic uncertainty, supported by rising demand for larger-diameter tires. Hankook said it expanded supply partnerships with automakers including Porsche, BMW, Xiaomi, Lucid Motors, Cupra and Kia, and now provides original-equipment tires to more than 40 brands across over 300 vehicle models. Nexen Tire reported sales of 3.19 trillion won last year, up 12 percent and marking its fifth consecutive year of revenue growth. Operating profit edged down 1.07 percent to 170.2 billion won. The company attributed sales growth to stable contributions from the second phase of its European plant expansion, along with continued gains in OE supply for both electric and internal-combustion vehicles supplied to more than 30 global automakers. Replacement tire sales also grew steadily, supported by region-specific product strategies. "U.S. tariffs weighed on profitability but we mitigated the impact through diversified regional distribution and a stronger product mix driven by higher sales of larger-diameter tires," a Nexen Tire official said. "Lower raw material prices and easing ocean freight rates, together with cost-efficiency measures, also helped improve margins." Kumho Tire, which is scheduled to release earnings on Thursday, is also expected to post revenue growth. According to financial data provider FnGuide, the company’s sales last year are estimated at 4.74 trillion won, up 4.6 percent, while operating profit is projected to fall 6.8 percent to 548.2 billion won, partly reflecting the impact of a fire at its Gwangju plant in May last year. Based on these estimates, combined revenue for the three tire makers is projected to reach 18.25 trillion won, up 8.7 percent from the previous year. This year, the companies plan to sustain growth through overseas capacity expansion and a focus on premium segments. Hankook said it will continue expanding production at its Tennessee plant in the United States and its facility in Hungary, while strengthening partnerships with premium automakers. The company aims to raise the share of high-inch tires to 51 percent and increase the share of electric-vehicle tires to at least 33 percent of passenger-car and light-truck OE revenue. Nexen said it will concentrate on improving sales capabilities and growth quality through marketing efforts aimed at increasing brand exposure and strengthening customer partnerships. It also plans to leverage its premium OE track record to further expand replacement-tire sales. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-04 16:34:41
  • Korea Automotive Technology Institute, AP위성 sign MOU on space-mobility technology
    Korea Automotive Technology Institute, AP위성 sign MOU on space-mobility technology The Korea Automotive Technology Institute said it is moving to strengthen global competitiveness in the space-mobility industry. The institute said it signed a memorandum of understanding with AP위성 on Tuesday at AP위성’s headquarters in Seoul’s Geumcheon district to cooperate on securing technological competitiveness in space mobility and building an innovation-driven industrial ecosystem. The institute said the agreement comes as major countries, including the United States with its Artemis program and “Moon to Mars architecture,” as well as China, Europe and Japan, accelerate crewed lunar and Mars exploration. It said the partnership aims to secure core next-generation space-mobility technologies and respond to fast-changing global markets. Under the MOU, the two organizations plan to pursue joint research on space-mobility development projects, along with technology development, performance verification and the creation of evaluation systems, and to expand cooperation over time. Planned areas of cooperation include developing a prototype model for lunar exploration mobility and developing artificial intelligence-integrated avionics for space mobility. Jin Jong-wook, the institute’s president, said space mobility is a key industry that will shape future national competitiveness and requires advanced technology and cross-disciplinary capabilities. “Through this cooperation, we will secure homegrown core technologies and promote the creation of an innovative ecosystem, actively contributing to the development of South Korea’s space industry and strengthening its competitiveness,” Jin said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-04 14:45:00