Journalist

Park Jin-Young
  • Hyundai, Kia poised to surpass 1 million EVs in cumulative sales in Europe
    Hyundai, Kia poised to surpass 1 million EVs in cumulative sales in Europe SEOUL, February 15 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia are on the verge of reaching 1 million cumulative electric vehicle sales in Europe by the first half of this year, the automotive giant said on Sunday. Their combined EV sales stood at 915,996 units as of the end of last year, since the launch of Kia's compact sport-utility vehicle Soul in 2014. With monthly sales surpassing 15,000 units, they are on track to surpass 1 million units in cumulative sales soon. The milestone comes after the two automakers achieved annual sales of 100,000 units for the first time, with some 135,408 units sold there in 2021. Sales continued to rise, reaching 143,460 vehicles in 2022 and 147,457 in 2023, before slightly slipping to 121,705 amid reduced EV subsidies in major European countries including Germany. But sales rebounded to 183,912 last year, buoyed by a wave of new releases such as Hyundai's Ioniq 9 and Kia's EV4 and EV5, setting a record. Meanwhile, Europe's EV market has regained momentum since last year. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), annual EV sales reached 2.59 million units last year, accounting for 19.5 percent of the market. In December, EV sales also surpassed those of gasoline vehicles for the first time. 2026-02-15 16:24:03
  • Hyundai, Kia Near 1 Million EV Sales in Europe as Market Rebounds
    Hyundai, Kia Near 1 Million EV Sales in Europe as Market Rebounds Hyundai Motor and Kia are expected to reach 1 million cumulative electric-vehicle sales in Europe in the first half of this year. Hyundai Motor Group said on Feb. 15 that the two automakers sold a combined 915,996 EVs in Europe from the start of Soul EV sales in 2014 through last year. In 2021, they sold 135,408 EVs in Europe, topping 100,000 annual sales there for the first time. Sales continued to rise in 2022 and 2023, reaching 143,460 and 147,457 vehicles, respectively. In 2024, sales fell to 121,705 amid reduced EV subsidies in major European countries including Germany and concerns about an economic slowdown. Last year, sales rebounded to 183,912 on the strength of new models such as the Ioniq 9, EV4 and EV5. That was more than a 50% increase from a year earlier and the highest annual total on record. Given that Hyundai and Kia averaged more than 15,000 EV sales a month in Europe last year, the group said it is likely the companies will surpass 1 million cumulative sales in the European EV market in the first half of this year. Europe’s EV market has also regained momentum since last year. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA, said annual EV sales totaled 2,585,187 last year, accounting for 19.5% of the market, and in December EV sales surpassed gasoline vehicles for the first time.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 14:06:32
  • President Lee Jae-myung congratulates Hwang Dae-heon on Olympic 1500m silver
    President Lee Jae-myung congratulates Hwang Dae-heon on Olympic 1500m silver President Lee Jae-myung on Saturday congratulated short-track speed skater Hwang Dae-heon after he won a silver medal in the men’s 1,500 meters at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. In a Facebook post titled, “A calm race by a true ice competitor — congratulations on Korea’s short-track silver,” Lee said, “I sincerely congratulate him,” adding that he applauded Hwang for a “hard-earned silver medal.” Hwang finished second in the men’s 1,500-meter final held Saturday (local time), crossing in 2:12.304 behind Jens van’t Wout of the Netherlands. Hwang, who won silver in the 500 meters at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and gold in the 1,500 meters plus silver in the 5,000-meter relay at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, has now medaled at three consecutive Games. Lee said Hwang “proved once again he is among the world’s best” by adding silver to his 2022 Olympic gold, and noted he also set a record as the first in South Korean men’s short track to win medals at three straight Olympics. “Even in a fierce race, he stayed calm to the end and kept his pace,” Lee wrote, calling Hwang a true “ice competitor” and adding, “It’s incredible, and I’m proud.” Lee also voiced support for Hwang’s pledge to become “an athlete remembered for a long time, not a star who shines briefly,” saying he hoped Hwang’s hard work and passion would lead to more strong results. Lee again congratulated Hwang on the silver and offered encouragement to fellow South Korean competitors Shin Dong-min and Lim Jong-eon. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-15 13:24:00
  • 3.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Gyeonggi Province
    3.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Gyeonggi Province SEOUL, February 15 (AJP) - A 3.0-magnitude earthquake struck Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province early Sunday morning. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the quake occurred at around 4:13 a.m. Residents in nearby areas such as Gimpo, Paju, and Pocheon in the province, as well as Cheorwon in Gangwon Province, felt weak tremors. So far, there have been no reports of damage or injuries. It was the strongest earthquake recorded on the Korean Peninsula this year. Of the eight earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or higher in 2026, this was the first to reach magnitude 3.0, while the rest ranged between 2.0 and 2.9. 2026-02-15 10:12:11
  • Kakaos profit jumps 48 percent in record year, plans AI push in 2026
    Kakao's profit jumps 48 percent in record year, plans AI push in 2026 SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s Kakao Corp. said Thursday its annual revenue exceeded 8 trillion won for the first time last year, with operating profit surging on stronger platform performance and improved cost efficiency. In a regulatory filing, the company said consolidated revenue for 2025 rose 3 percent from a year earlier to a record 8.1 trillion won, while operating profit jumped 48 percent to an all-time high of 732 billion won. Fourth-quarter revenue increased 9 percent year-on-year to 2.13 trillion won, marking the highest quarterly sales in the company’s history. Operating profit more than doubled, rising 136 percent to 203.4 billion won, exceeding 200 billion won for a second consecutive quarter. Platform revenue in the October–December period climbed 17 percent from a year earlier to 1.22 trillion won. Within the segment, Talk Biz revenue grew 13 percent to 627.1 billion won, driven by a 16 percent increase in advertising sales to 373.4 billion won and a 19 percent rise in business messaging revenue. Display advertising revenue advanced 18 percent. Other platform revenue, including mobility and payment services, jumped 30 percent to 523.9 billion won. Kakao said its mobility unit recorded double-digit growth as taxi operations remained stable while parking and quick-delivery services expanded. Kakao Pay also posted balanced growth across payments, financial and platform services. Content revenue totaled 910.6 billion won in the fourth quarter, largely unchanged from a year earlier. Music and media revenue rose 12 percent and 30 percent to 525.1 billion won and 95.8 billion won, respectively, while story content revenue slipped 5 percent to 191.8 billion won. This year, Kakao said it will focus on artificial intelligence and KakaoTalk to drive growth. In the first quarter, the company plans to launch its on-device AI service, “Kanana in KakaoTalk,” on both Android and iOS, while continuing development of its in-house large language model. Chief Executive Jeong Shin-a said restructuring efforts to concentrate resources on core businesses were reflected in the company’s performance. “We will demonstrate progress through improved earnings and deliver tangible results that support Kakao’s mid- to long-term growth outlook,” Jeong said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-12 08:36:58
  • Lunar New Year exodus expected to peak next Tuesday
    Lunar New Year exodus expected to peak next Tuesday SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Holiday traffic is expected to peak on Lunar New Year's Day, which falls next Tuesday, according to SK Telecom's navigation app TMAP. With the country's biggest holiday of the year coming in the latter part of the weeklong break, the annual mass exodus of people heading to their ancestral hometowns is expected to spread out, while their return trips will be concentrated early next week, making Feb. 17 the most likely day for heavy congestion. The next busiest day would be Friday, as some people may travel early to avoid heavy traffic and spend the later part of the break at home. The average driving time from Seoul is estimated at six hours and two minutes to Busan, four hours and 40 minutes to Gwangju, three hours and 40 minutes to Daejeon, and three hours and 34 minutes to Gangneung, about an hour longer than usual overall. Their trip back to Seoul next Tuesday is expected to take over seven hours from Busan, more than five hours from Gwangju, and about three hours and 30 minutes from Daejeon. But traffic is expected to remain at normal levels during late-night and early-morning hours. The app will also offer additional travel information including toll fees and parking availability. 2026-02-11 10:51:21
  • Naver/Kurly steps up delivery race to win over Coupang customers
    Naver/Kurly steps up delivery race to win over Coupang customers SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - South Korea’s dominant internet platform, has rolled out same-day grocery delivery in partnership with fresh-food unicorn Market Kurly, stepping up efforts to capitalize on mounting reputational troubles at e-commerce leader Coupang. Under the expanded service, Naver and Kurly’s joint grocery platform, Kurly N Mart, began offering same-day delivery on Monday. Orders placed between 11 p.m. the previous day and 3 p.m. on the same day are now delivered before midnight. The option applies to both Kurly N Mart and Kurly’s main platform. Previously, Kurly N Mart focused on early-morning delivery, with orders placed by 11 p.m. arriving by 8 a.m. the following day. While that service remains in place, the addition of same-day delivery is expected to ease pressure around order cutoffs and encourage more frequent purchases. The new delivery window will initially operate in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, with plans for nationwide expansion. Naver said Kurly N Mart, launched in September last year, has recorded average monthly transaction growth of more than 50 percent. January transaction volume surged more than sevenfold compared with September. Fresh produce transactions rose 82 percent over the same period, while meat sales climbed 74 percent. Ultra-fresh items such as eggs, milk and tofu posted particularly high repurchase rates. After five months of operation, top-selling products shifted from meal kits and ready-to-eat foods to a broader mix including produce, seafood and meat, reflecting growing demand for quality and freshness. Sales of fast-moving consumer goods such as toilet paper, detergent and toothbrushes also jumped more than fivefold, indicating that Kurly N Mart is increasingly used for routine grocery shopping. Repeat purchasing has strengthened as well. The repurchase rate reached 60 percent, roughly double the level recorded in October. Naver attributed the rise in customer loyalty to synergies with its membership program, including lower thresholds for free delivery and additional benefits. More than 90 percent of Kurly N Mart users are Naver Plus members, the company said. The number of “core regulars” who used the service at least 10 times over five months was about 70 times higher among members than non-members. Around 80 percent of transactions are generated through the Naver Plus Store app, underscoring the steady shift toward mobile-based grocery shopping. Naver’s expansion comes as rival platforms benefit from weakening confidence in Coupang following last year’s massive data breach. According to data from IGAWorks’ Mobile Index, new installations of Naver’s shopping app surged to 935,507 in January, up more than 147,000 from December and the highest level since June. Over the same period, Coupang’s app installs fell to 467,641, down nearly 60,000 month on month. Meanwhile, market tracker Wiseapp.Retail reported that Coupang’s monthly active users declined to 33 million in January, down about one million, or 3.2 percent, from December. The drop was nearly ten times larger than the previous month’s decrease. Industry analysts say the figures reflect eroding consumer trust following the November breach that affected almost all of Coupang’s more than 33 million users. 2026-02-09 09:50:42
  • Canadas head of defense procurement to visit presidential office on submarine talks
    Canada's head of defense procurement to visit presidential office on submarine talks SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) -Canada's minister for state for defense procurement Stephen Fuhr will visit the presidential office to hear last-minute pitch from Seoul on the government-sponsored Korea's bid for Canada's multibillion-dollar submarine contract ahead of the final tender submission next month. Fuhr will meet with presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik whom he last met on Jan. 28, when Kang visited Canada as a special envoy of President Lee Jae Myung for defense industry cooperation. According to the presidential office, Fuhr has a crucial say in the competition after Canada created a dedicated defense procurement post under the Mark Carney administration last year. Under the CPSP, Canada plans to acquire up to 12 new 3,000-ton diesel-electric submarines. The final round has narrowed to a Korean “one-team” consortium led by Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai, and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Final proposals are due in March, with a preferred bidder possibly selected in the first half of the year. While in Korea, Fuhr conducted on-site inspections ahead of the final decision. He toured Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard and boarded a trial-stage submarine, praising its internal technology. He also visited HD Hyundai’s Global R&D Center in Seongnam. Before coming to Korea, Fuhr inspected facilities operated by TKMS in Germany, contender the Korean team is pitted against, in December 2025.Industry sources note that “offset” negotiations — including technology transfers, local production and industrial investment — are likely to determine the outcome, as Canada increasingly aligns with European procurement frameworks. While Ottawa's trust in Korea’s submarine technology already strong, overcoming Germany’s NATO-backed bid will depend on whether Korea can present a compelling industrial and economic package alongside its military offering. Seoul has been extra cautious in sharing the progress in the bid, given the sensitiveness of the issue. 2026-02-06 07:38:33
  • South Korea’s Kang Hoon-sik to Meet Canada Defense Procurement Minister on Submarine Bid
    South Korea’s Kang Hoon-sik to Meet Canada Defense Procurement Minister on Submarine Bid Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the president, will meet on Thursday with Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s minister of state for defense procurement, who is visiting South Korea. The presidential office disclosed the schedule on Wednesday and urged caution in reporting on Canada’s submarine procurement, saying the project is the subject of competition among countries. It asked media to refrain from speculation or inaccurate reports until the government or companies issue official statements, warning such coverage could complicate defense exports. Fuhr oversees Canada’s defense procurement policy and is leading the patrol submarine acquisition program. The contract is valued at up to 60 trillion won and is described as the largest single project in South Korea’s defense export history. South Korean firms Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries are competing in the final round against a German company. Canada plans to accept final bid proposals in March and aims to select a preferred bidder as early as the first half of the year. Kang visited Canada last month as President Lee Jae Myung’s special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, providing support for South Korean companies seeking the contract.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-05 19:54:00
  • POSCO seeking to deploy Persona AIs humanoid robots for steelworks
    POSCO seeking to deploy Persona AI's humanoid robots for steelworks SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - POSCO Group is moving to deploy humanoid robots in steel logistics operations in cooperation with U.S.-based startup Persona AI. The group said Wednesday that POSCO, POSCO DX, POSCO Technology Investment and Persona AI signed a memorandum of understanding a day earlier to jointly pursue on-site deployment of industrial humanoid robots. Under the agreement, POSCO will identify steel mill tasks suitable for humanoid robots and assess their operational feasibility. POSCO DX will design automation systems and jointly develop robot models optimized for steelworks, while POSCO Technology Investment will support proof-of-concept testing. Persona AI will develop and supply humanoid robot platforms tailored to harsh industrial environments. Starting in February, the partners plan to conduct a test using Persona AI’s robots to manage logistics for steel coils produced at POSCO plants. Handling finished coils, which can weigh tens of tons, typically requires crane operations. The companies aim to have humanoid robots assist workers in fastening crane belts to coils, enabling safer collaboration between humans and machines. The group said it has been reviewing humanoid robot applications in logistics processes, including transport and material preparation at terminals, since last year, reflecting the labor-intensive nature of heavy industry operations. If the pilot confirms operational safety and effective human-robot collaboration, POSCO plans to expand deployment and introduce the robots across broader logistics operations. Persona AI, founded in 2024 by robotics engineers and industry specialists, is developing industrial humanoid robots combining NASA-derived robotic hand technology with proprietary precision-control systems. POSCO Group invested a total of $3 million in the startup last year ahead of the partnership, aiming to support technologies capable of handling tasks ranging from fine assembly work to moving heavy industrial materials. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-02-04 09:50:08