Journalist

Lee Seongjin
  • Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech Named Korea’s 2026 Import Car of the Year
    Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech Named Korea’s 2026 Import Car of the Year Renault Korea said Feb. 27 that its compact electric SUV, the Scenic E-Tech 100% Electric, was named 2026 Import Car of the Year at the Korea Car of the Year (K-COTY) awards hosted by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association (KAJA). The Scenic E-Tech had earlier won Electric Crossover of the Year at another Korea Car of the Year program hosted by the Korea Automobile Expert Journalists Association (AWAK), giving it two major domestic “car of the year” awards this year. Renault Korea said the recognition follows last year’s award for its midsize SUV, the Grand Koleos, which was named SUV of the Year. The company said the back-to-back wins reflect strong evaluations of both its locally produced models and vehicles it imports and sells in South Korea. Renault also said it became the first non-German brand to win the Import Car of the Year category in South Korea. Since the category was introduced in 2016, winners through last year had all been models from two German premium brands, the company said. Renault Korea, which changed its corporate name and logo in 2024 and announced a renewed push in the domestic market, said it operates under the motto “born in France, made in Korea.” The company said it contributes to the local economy as an automaker rooted in Busan, while offering both domestically produced vehicles from its Busan plant and imported models to broaden its lineup. The Scenic E-Tech is equipped with an 87-kilowatt-hour high-performance NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) battery from LG Energy Solution and has a maximum driving range of 460 kilometers under South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy certification standards, Renault Korea said. It also features “Fireman Access,” a patented battery-fire response technology developed with French fire authorities, the company said. The Scenic E-Tech previously won the 2024 European Car of the Year award.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-27 08:15:22
  • Porsche Korea Marks 10th Year of Do Dream Campaign, Donates 11.24 Billion Won
    Porsche Korea Marks 10th Year of Do Dream Campaign, Donates 11.24 Billion Won Porsche Korea said Thursday it will strengthen its social contribution efforts as its “Porsche Do Dream” campaign enters its 10th year, aiming to spread the brand’s values more broadly across local communities. Launched in 2017, “Porsche Do Dream” is built around the brand identity of “dreams” and has introduced new programs each year. To date, Porsche Korea has donated a total of 11.24 billion won, supporting the dreams of 37,919 people, 139 organizations and 39 schools. This year, the company said it will reorganize its programs in line with its “Partner to Society” direction, focusing on creating social value and moving beyond one-time donations through more systematic management and support. Total donations this year will be 1.8 billion won. Porsche Korea also plans to deepen its work in education, culture and the environment while launching new programs designed to strengthen community connections. With ChildFund Korea, it will expand its indoor gym construction project, “Dream Playground,” which has run for about a decade, into “Dream Circuit,” an eco-friendly sports ground intended for broader public use. Set to debut in May, “Dream Circuit” will be created as a Porsche concept garden using upcycled materials and other eco-friendly elements, offering children a space to play and be physically active in nature. In culture, Porsche Korea will begin a new partnership with the Korea Heritage Service Foundation to present a special exhibition in September at Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, highlighting Korea’s intangible heritage and aesthetics where tradition and modernity meet. Its garden program aimed at ecological conservation and carbon reduction will also expand nationwide. “Believe in Dream - Park,” run with Seoul Green Trust, will broaden from Seoul to the greater capital region. This year, it will build a garden at Yeongheung Forest Park in Yeongtong-dong, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, designed to strengthen habitat functions for key protected species. The company said it will build a database on species in parks and green spaces through ecological monitoring involving citizens and experts, while running public-private cooperation and online and offline campaigns to develop a citizen-participation green infrastructure model. It will continue supporting an urban beekeeping project. Porsche Korea said it will also expand support in arts, sports and job training to help talented children from vulnerable backgrounds and young people pursue their dreams and become self-reliant. “Dream Up,” run with ChildFund Korea since 2018, supports children with talent in arts and sports and will be strengthened this year with education infrastructure to deepen their expertise. With the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, Porsche Korea will continue its “Porsche Frontier” program, supporting the discovery and performance of outstanding works through the Seoul Arts Awards, a prize program for fine arts. To help young people entering society, it will work with the social cooperative Dream Sharing to provide professional training for golf caddies and connect graduates to jobs to support practical career planning. Matthias Busse, CEO of Porsche Korea, said, “As ‘Porsche Do Dream’ marks its 10th anniversary next year, it has steadily laid the groundwork to support dreams across Korean society and expand them into social value,” adding, “We will continue to build a sustainable ecosystem that spreads the brand’s core value of ‘dreams.’”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 16:30:18
  • Parata Air Adopts AMOS Maintenance and Engineering Management System
    Parata Air Adopts AMOS Maintenance and Engineering Management System Parata Air has adopted AMOS (Aircraft Maintenance and Operational Support), a maintenance and engineering management system, to strengthen its maintenance and safety operations. The airline said Thursday it selected AMOS, developed by Swiss aviation software company Swiss-AS, as the core platform for its aircraft maintenance and engineering system. The system supports maintenance planning and execution as well as airworthiness and regulatory compliance management, integrating key functions across maintenance operations. It is widely used by major airlines worldwide. Parata Air said adopting the system from the outset improved transparency in maintenance records and helped establish standardized maintenance processes aligned with international standards. The airline said it was able to stabilize the rollout in a relatively short period because many staff in its maintenance organization already had experience operating AMOS, allowing it to focus the initial setup on core functions needed for flight operations. Parata Air plans to expand its use of AMOS in phases. After initially focusing on routine maintenance operations and regulatory requirements, it aims to link the system to maintenance financial management to build a more advanced, integrated aviation IT environment. “An airline’s safety and trust start with its maintenance system,” a Parata Air official said. “By adopting a digital maintenance system proven by global airlines, we have laid the foundation for stable operations and sustainable growth.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 15:49:06
  • Hyundai Motor speeds up robotaxi push as it expands physical AI strategy
    Hyundai Motor speeds up robotaxi push as it expands physical AI strategy Hyundai Motor Group, which has drawn attention in the AI race with its humanoid robot Atlas, is also accelerating its robotaxi business as it pushes to commercialize “physical AI.” After demonstrating the potential of humanoid robots in factories and logistics sites, the group is expanding into autonomous driving to speed up its vision of AI that operates in the real world. Industry officials said Feb. 19 that Hyundai is developing autonomous driving on two tracks rather than merging everything into a single architecture. It is pursuing a certification-friendly modular approach through Motional, prioritizing safety validation and regulatory approvals, while also developing a more general end-to-end (E2E) approach through 42dot. Motional, which is building the modular system, aims to commercialize a Level 4 driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas later this year, signaling commercial operations for the general public in a real urban environment. Motional is currently running test operations based on Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 robotaxi. At a media briefing in Las Vegas last month, Motional CEO Laura Major said, “Given that the market is still in its early stages, I don’t think there is any company that has a cost-efficient Level 4 autonomous driving system yet,” adding, “Motional wants to focus not only on a safe driving experience but also on developing a profitable business model.” Hyundai’s robotaxi push is the other pillar of its physical AI strategy alongside humanoid robots. The group sees Atlas’ data from physical work environments and robotaxi driving data from city roads as inputs that can help AI understand and adapt to the real world. Hyundai plans to use its hardware-software integration capabilities to expand practical uses of physical AI more quickly. Hyundai also plans to build a domestic physical AI ecosystem, including AI data centers, to strengthen future technologies such as in-vehicle AI, autonomous driving, manufacturing efficiency and robotics. To that end, it is stepping up collaboration with global AI companies. Hyundai has been pursuing cooperation with Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit, to adopt the Ioniq 5 as an autonomous vehicle platform. Boston Dynamics has also signed a strategic partnership with Google’s AI research organization DeepMind to accelerate development of future humanoid technologies. At CES 2026 in Las Vegas last month, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Chung Euisun drew attention when he met again with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, a reunion that became a talking point in the industry. Some in the industry have speculated Hyundai could adopt Nvidia’s autonomous vehicle platform, “Alpamayo.” Hyundai also plans to expand cooperation among its Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) division, 42dot and Motional to speed development. It is reviewing ways to combine Level 4 operational know-how and safety validation systems accumulated through the Las Vegas robotaxi rollout with 42dot’s roadmap to advance software-defined vehicles (SDVs). An industry official said Park Min-woo, a president recruited from Nvidia who runs both AVP and 42dot, is expected to move quickly on upgrading 42dot’s autonomous driving technology, Atria AI, and deciding whether to use Nvidia’s Alpamayo. Separately, Chung visited 42dot’s Pangyo headquarters late last year to review Atria AI, a Level 2+ E2E autonomous driving system based on the Ioniq 6, and stressed that “safety and completeness must come first to secure global competitiveness.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 18:05:12
  • Hyundai to Supply 20 More Ioniq 5 Robotaxis in U.S., Expanding Physical AI Push
    Hyundai to Supply 20 More Ioniq 5 Robotaxis in U.S., Expanding Physical AI Push Hyundai Motor Group is expanding robotaxi supply in the United States, accelerating its autonomous-driving business built around what it calls “physical AI.” The automaker is supplying vehicles not only to its self-driving unit Motional, which is preparing to commercialize robotaxis this year, but also to Google-owned Waymo as it seeks a bigger role in the U.S. autonomous-driving ecosystem. After drawing attention at CES 2026 in Las Vegas last month with the humanoid robot “Atlas,” Hyundai is now seeing its push into autonomous-driving commercialization take clearer shape, with robotics and self-driving technology at the center of its physical AI strategy. According to industry sources on Feb. 19, Hyundai sold 20 Ioniq 5 robotaxis in the United States in January alone, exceeding its total U.S. robotaxi sales for all of last year, which stood at 16 vehicles. The vehicles are believed to have been supplied to robotaxi operators such as Waymo and Motional. Waymo, widely viewed as a leading player in autonomous driving, is running commercial services in five major U.S. cities and plans to offer services in more than 20 cities, including in Texas and Florida, by the end of this year. Hyundai said in October 2024 that it had signed a strategic partnership with Waymo to integrate Waymo’s sixth-generation fully autonomous technology, the Waymo Driver, into the Hyundai Ioniq 5. At the time, Hyundai President Jose Munoz said, “Hyundai and Waymo share a vision of making the way people move safer, more efficient and more convenient,” adding that “Waymo’s innovative technology is improving road safety in the regions where it operates, and the Ioniq 5 is an ideal vehicle to help expand that vision.” Ioniq 5 vehicles for Waymo are assembled at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the company’s EV production facility in Georgia. Initial road tests of the Ioniq 5 equipped with Waymo technology are reported to have begun late last year. Hyundai’s autonomous-driving joint venture Motional has also announced plans to commercialize a Level 4 driverless service in Las Vegas within this year, suggesting Ioniq 5 robotaxi supply will continue to rise. Hyundai aims to use Ioniq 5 supply to Waymo and Motional to secure positions in the U.S. autonomous-driving market as both a robotaxi hardware platform supplier and a software player. Kim Dong-young, a senior researcher at the Korea Development Institute, said Hyundai is working to raise its software competitiveness to match its hardware strength. “Collaboration with AI companies is likely to go beyond simply supplying hardware and could be linked to software development as well,” he said. Hyundai Motor Group is also investing in humanoid robots, another pillar of its physical AI strategy. Hyundai plans to invest 50.5 trillion won in AI robotics by 2030 and is building a robot-dedicated factory in the United States with annual capacity of 30,000 units.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 18:03:30
  • Volvo S90 and XC90 Sales Jump in South Korea After New Models Begin Deliveries
    Volvo S90 and XC90 Sales Jump in South Korea After New Models Begin Deliveries Volvo’s flagship S90 sedan and XC90 SUV are posting rising sales in South Korea. Volvo Car Korea said on the 19th that since full-scale deliveries of the new S90 and XC90 began in July last year, sales have increased 57.5% and 95.5%, respectively, compared with the first half of the year. The S90 is the brand’s flagship sedan, combining Volvo technology with the lifestyle the company says it aims to deliver. It measures 5,090 millimeters in length with a 3,060-millimeter wheelbase, which Volvo said provides roomy comfort beyond its class. The interior reflects a “Swedish living room” concept, using a mix of high-quality materials. Rear air suspension, previously limited to the top trim, is now standard on the B5 Ultra trim. Volvo said the system automatically adjusts ride height and damping based on road conditions and load. The plug-in hybrid T8 model was named “Hybrid Sedan of the Year” by the Korea Automobile Writers Association (AWAK), which cited both the electrified powertrain’s completeness and the sedan’s quietness and driving quality. The XC90 is Volvo’s representative SUV, showcasing the company’s technology and product competitiveness. Exterior updates focus on new matrix LED headlights and changes to the front bumper, fenders and hood details. Like the S90, the cabin follows the “Swedish living room” theme, combining recycled polyester textile, wood trim and upgraded ambient lighting. The XC90 is offered with a plug-in hybrid T8 and a mild-hybrid B6 powertrain, which Volvo said deliver efficiency and performance suited to the electrification era. Both vehicles come standard with Volvo’s next-generation user experience system, “Volvo Car UX.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-19 18:03:00
  • Hyundai’s U.S. sales hit January record as SUVs and hybrids drive growth
    Hyundai’s U.S. sales hit January record as SUVs and hybrids drive growth Hyundai Motor is extending its momentum in the U.S. market on the strength of SUVs and hybrids, with January sales topping 60,000 for the first time as it pushes for another annual record. Industry data released Tuesday showed Hyundai’s U.S. retail sales in January totaled 60,794 vehicles, up 2.4% from 59,355 a year earlier. Sedan sales, including the Sonata and Ioniq 6, fell 12.6% to 13,569. But RV sales — including SUVs such as the Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe and Palisade — rose 7.8% to 47,225, accounting for 77.7% of Hyundai’s U.S. sales. A Hyundai official said the Santa Fe and the all-new Palisade stood out, strengthening the company’s position in the family SUV segment. Hyundai’s U.S. market share in January rose 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier to 5.5%. Hyundai has been setting annual sales records in the United States. Last year, its U.S. sales rose 7.9% from a year earlier to 984,017 vehicles, and it surpassed 1 million on a wholesale basis. Hybrids have also been a major driver. Since launching Sonata Hybrid sales in the U.S. in 2011, Hyundai has sold a total of 1,014,943 eco-friendly vehicles — including hybrids, EVs and hydrogen vehicles — through last month. Hybrids accounted for 759,359 vehicles, about 75% of the total. In January alone, Hyundai’s U.S. hybrid sales jumped 51.9% from a year earlier to 14,316. The Tucson Hybrid, introduced in the U.S. in 2021, has sold 233,793 units through January, the company said. According to the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association’s “2025 U.S. Electric Powertrain Vehicle Market Analysis,” U.S. sales of eco-friendly vehicles rose 12.7% last year to 3,575,924 despite slower EV sales, helped by strong hybrid demand. Hybrid sales climbed 27.6% to 2.05 million. Hyundai said it plans to broaden its lineup and strengthen local production as the market shifts. In the U.S., it currently sells four hybrid models, seven EV models and one hydrogen fuel cell model. The Palisade hybrid, launched locally last year, won the utility category at the “2026 North American Car of the Year” awards, citing strong reviews of Hyundai’s next-generation hybrid system. Hyundai also plans to add hybrid production by introducing a mixed-model production system at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, its EV production hub. It aims to expand annual capacity to 500,000 vehicles from 300,000.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 18:03:00
  • Boston Dynamics Robotics Research VP Scott Kuindersma to Step Down
    Boston Dynamics Robotics Research VP Scott Kuindersma to Step Down Hyundai Motor Group robotics unit Boston Dynamics said Scott Kuindersma, vice president of robotics research, has submitted his resignation. Industry sources said Feb. 18 that Kuindersma wrote on social media that he decided in January to leave Boston Dynamics. “Starting with a small research team, we became the first to showcase humanoid robot parkour, and it has been an incredible journey all the way to launching Atlas, a product with the potential to reshape industrial automation,” he wrote. “I’m truly grateful for the chance to build, fail, learn and celebrate achievements with the world’s best robotics experts.” Kuindersma joined Boston Dynamics in 2018 and played a key role in commercialization by developing control algorithms for the Atlas humanoid robot. He later was promoted to vice president overseeing robotics research across the company. Separately, Robert Playter, who has led Boston Dynamics for seven years, said he will step down as CEO on Feb. 27. Chief Financial Officer Amanda McMaster will serve as interim CEO until the board names a successor. 2026-02-18 11:51:00
  • Hyundai Tops 1 Million Eco-Friendly Vehicle Sales in U.S., Hybrids Lead
    Hyundai Tops 1 Million Eco-Friendly Vehicle Sales in U.S., Hybrids Lead Hyundai Motor Co. has surpassed 1 million cumulative sales of eco-friendly vehicles in the U.S. market. The automaker said Feb. 18 that since it began selling the Sonata Hybrid in the United States in 2011, it has sold a total of 1,014,943 eco-friendly vehicles through January, including hybrids, electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Sales have climbed sharply in recent years, reaching 75,009 units in 2021 — more than triple the prior year — then 98,443 in 2022 and 159,549 in 2023. In 2024, Hyundai sold 204,115 eco-friendly vehicles in the U.S., topping 200,000 for the first time. Their share of Hyundai’s U.S. sales rose to 22.4%, also the first time it exceeded 20%. Last year, Hyundai set an annual record with 259,419 eco-friendly vehicles sold, lifting the share to 26.4% — about one out of every four vehicles it sold in the U.S. In January, eco-friendly vehicle sales rose more than 30% from a year earlier to 17,408, the highest January total on record, the company said. By type, hybrids accounted for 759,359 units, or 75% of cumulative eco-friendly sales. EVs totaled 253,728, followed by 1,856 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Hyundai’s best-selling eco-friendly model in the U.S. was the Tucson Hybrid. Since its U.S. debut in 2021, it has sold 233,793 units through January. Next were the Sonata Hybrid with 205,420 and the Ioniq 5 with 150,618. Hyundai currently sells four hybrid models, seven EV models and one hydrogen fuel cell model in the U.S. The Palisade Hybrid, launched locally last year, won the utility category at the “2026 North American Car of the Year” awards in January, Hyundai said. Hyundai is expanding eco-friendly vehicle production at its Alabama plant (HMMA) and at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA). Eco-friendly vehicle sales from the two plants totaled 132,533 last year, about 50 times higher than in 2022, the first year of mass production. The company plans to add hybrid production by introducing a mixed-model production system at HMGMA, its EV manufacturing hub. It also plans to expand annual capacity from 300,000 units to 500,000.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 10:27:00
  • South Korean Airlines Had 441 Aircraft at End of Last Year; 15% Were Over 20 Years Old
    South Korean Airlines Had 441 Aircraft at End of Last Year; 15% Were Over 20 Years Old South Korean airlines had about 450 aircraft at the end of last year, according to data submitted to the government. Rep. Lee Yeon-hee of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, said Feb. 18 that figures provided via the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport by 12 South Korean carriers showed they held a total of 441 aircraft at year’s end: 401 passenger planes and 40 freighters. That was up 25 aircraft from a year earlier (416). Passenger planes increased by 27, while freighters fell by two. The combined fleet stood at 414 aircraft in 2019, then dropped to 366 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has climbed since, reaching 370 in 2022 and 393 in 2023, as passenger demand recovered and newer airlines expanded. By carrier, Korean Air had 167 aircraft at the end of last year — 144 passenger planes and 23 freighters — up two from a year earlier. Its fleet included 45 Boeing 777s, 27 Boeing 787s, 24 Boeing 737s and 19 Airbus A321s. Asiana Airlines, which is preparing to merge with Korean Air, operated 68 passenger aircraft, down 15 from the previous year. Asiana sold its cargo business unit in August to cargo-only carrier Air Zeta (formerly Air Incheon). Among low-cost carriers, T’way Air had the largest passenger fleet with 46 aircraft, up eight, helped by the introduction of Boeing’s next-generation 737-8. Jeju Air followed with 45 aircraft — 43 passenger planes and two freighters — up four. The airline has not sharply expanded its fleet as it focuses on modernization after a passenger-plane accident. Hanjin Group’s three low-cost carriers — Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul — maintained their fleet sizes at 31, 21 and six passenger aircraft, respectively. Eastar Jet expanded to 20 passenger planes after adding five 737-8s last year. Air Zeta held 15 freighters after adding 11 aircraft transferred from Asiana, including 10 Boeing 747s and one Boeing 767. Aero K and Air Premia each had nine passenger aircraft, up three apiece. Parata Air, a new airline that began flying in September, operated four aircraft. The data also showed 67 aircraft — 15.2% of the total — were more than 20 years old and classified as aging aircraft subject to special oversight by the transport ministry. Those aircraft were operated by Korean Air (28), Air Zeta (15), Jin Air (8), Jeju Air (6), Asiana (5), Aero K (3) and Air Busan (2). Airlines are bringing in newer aircraft and retiring older planes to reduce safety concerns and improve passenger satisfaction and fuel efficiency. They reported to the ministry plans to add 55 aircraft this year and dispose of 32, including aging planes.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-18 10:09:00