Journalist

Jang So-young
  • New nuclear reactor in Ulsan gets green light for operation
    New nuclear reactor in Ulsan gets green light for operation SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The government committee for nuclear energy on Tuesday gave a green light to the operation of a nuclear reactor in Ulsan, ahead of its commercial launch scheduled for sometime next year. The committee said it approved the operation of the Saeul-3 reactor, formally known as Kori, in Ulju, Ulsan, after a meeting in which five of six members voted in favor, following safety reviews by the state-funded Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety as well as prior assessments by other experts. The approval comes about nine years after construction began in 2016 and is the first for a new nuclear reactor since the Shinhanul-2 reactor in nearby Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province two years ago. The committee's chairman, Choi Won-ho, said, "We thoroughly checked safety in accordance on scientific and technological grounds," also vowing to conduct strict inspections during the reactor's test run. 2025-12-30 15:06:52
  • POSCO Future M to work with US firm to co-develop solid-state battery materials
    POSCO Future M to work with US firm to co-develop solid-state battery materials SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - POSCO's battery-materials unit, POSCO Future M, has signed a partnership with U.S.-based Factorial Energy to co-develop next-generation solid-state battery materials, the South Korean company said Thursday. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Nov. 25 on the sidelines of the Future Battery Forum in Berlin. Factorial Energy selected POSCO Future M as a partner after testing cathode samples from multiple global suppliers and determining that POSCO’s materials delivered superior quality and performance. The collaboration is expected to strengthen POSCO Future M’s position in the emerging solid-state battery market, with joint work centered on advanced cathode materials and silicon anodes. Solid-state batteries, which use solid electrolytes rather than liquid ones, are viewed as a breakthrough technology for electric vehicles and robotics due to enhanced safety, higher energy density and improved fast-charging capability. Factorial Energy, headquartered in Massachusetts, operates a pilot production facility in Cheonan, South Korea. POSCO Future M executive Hong Young-jun said the companies expect strong synergy between Factorial’s solid-state battery expertise and POSCO’s materials technology. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 10:39:34
  • South Koreas Hyosung Heavy opens research center in Netherlands
    South Korea's Hyosung Heavy opens research center in Netherlands SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyosung Heavy Industries has opened its first European research and development center in Arnhem, the Netherlands, as part of efforts to strengthen its position in next-generation power technologies and eco-friendly energy solutions. The new facility marks the company’s first global R&D hub outside Asia and will focus on developing gas-insulated switchgear — a key component in power substations that traditionally relies on sulfur hexafluoride, a potent greenhouse gas. Researchers at the Arnhem center will also work on high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology to support the region’s shift toward renewable energy and more efficient power grids. Located near KEMA, a major international testing and certification body for power systems, the facility will allow Hyosung to gather testing data more rapidly and incorporate results into its product development cycle. Hyosung said the surge in artificial intelligence and data centers is reshaping the global energy landscape, driving demand for high-efficiency, low-emission power systems. Europe, with its strict environmental standards and aggressive renewable energy goals, has become a key market for innovation in grid technology. “By collaborating with research institutions in the Netherlands and across Europe, we aim to set new standards in power technology and strengthen Hyosung’s global technological leadership,” said Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon said in a press release. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-17 15:05:24
  • Taekwang Industry bets on K-beauty with Aekyung acquisition
    Taekwang Industry bets on K-beauty with Aekyung acquisition SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - Taekwang Industry has been selected as the preferred bidder to acquire a controlling stake in Aekyung Industry, a move its leadership is casting as a strategic entry into South Korea’s booming K-beauty market. The company said Monday that its consortium would purchase about 63 percent of Aekyung’s shares in a deal valued at roughly 400 billion won, or $293 million. If completed, the transaction would mark a significant shift for Taekwang, which has long been rooted in the textiles and chemicals businesses. Yoo Tae-ho, Taekwang’s chief executive, told shareholders in a letter that the acquisition was “not merely financial but a strategic move,” intended to give the company a foundation in cosmetics and personal care, one of South Korea’s most visible global exports. He described the beauty sector as a platform for broader expansion and pledged continued investment. The acquisition comes as Taekwang seeks to stem losses from its traditional businesses. The company has posted three straight years of operating losses, including a 16 billion won deficit in the first half of this year, pressured by volatile raw material prices, China’s capacity expansions and a global slowdown. In response, it has shuttered its cotton spinning unit, restructured its low-melting fiber business and suspended spandex production in China. While paring back weaker divisions, Taekwang has pushed into specialty fibers and chemicals — including modacrylic fibers used in wigs, aramid fibers for industrial applications, and sodium cyanide for gold mining. CEO Yoo said the company would “optimize low-profit businesses and maximize competitiveness” by expanding in areas with proven returns. For now, however, the Aekyung deal underscores Taekwang’s ambition to diversify into a consumer-facing industry with global reach, Yoo said. The K-beauty market, propelled by South Korea’s cultural influence abroad, is widely viewed as one of the country’s fastest-growing export sectors. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-29 15:55:17