Journalist

Park Jin-young
  • Rep. Choo Mi-ae Pledges Support for Samsung’s Pyeongtaek Plant, Yongin Chip Cluster
    Rep. Choo Mi-ae Pledges Support for Samsung’s Pyeongtaek Plant, Yongin Chip Cluster Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae visited Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek campus on April 24, touring semiconductor production facilities and holding a meeting to discuss policy support for the chip industry, Samsung said. Choo was joined by lawmakers Hong Ki-won and Kim Hyun-jung, as well as Pyeongtaek mayoral candidate Choi Won-yong and Yongin mayoral candidate Hyun Geun-taek. Samsung executives attending included Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun and presidents Kim Yong-kwan, Kim Wan-pyo and Baek Soo-hyun. Samsung said the visit was arranged to review the Pyeongtaek production lines and to discuss South Korea’s semiconductor competitiveness and directions for policy support. Choo said the semiconductor industry cannot be built overnight, calling it a high-tech sector that depends on infrastructure such as power, water and skilled workers. She said it requires at least eight to 10 years of preparation. With global companies already choosing southern Gyeonggi Province as an optimal location for semiconductors, Choo said the priority is to move plans forward quickly rather than shake them up. She pledged administrative and legislative support so development can continue smoothly from Pyeongtaek to the Yongin semiconductor cluster. Jun said the semiconductor industry changes rapidly and warned that companies can fall behind if they cannot keep pace. He said Samsung has expanded its production base from Giheung to Hwaseong to Pyeongtaek, and that the Pyeongtaek campus has grown quickly and is now largely filled. Jun called the Yongin semiconductor cluster an important project for national competitiveness, adding that if support from the government and local authorities increases, the company will respond with investment and results. The local government candidates who attended presented semiconductor development as a key campaign pledge. They agreed on the need to build a cluster linking Pyeongtaek and Yongin to strengthen competitiveness in global supply chains. Samsung’s Pyeongtaek campus is regarded as one of the world’s largest semiconductor production hubs by single complex. The company said it serves as a global base for key memory chips and advanced process technologies for the AI era, supported by large-scale power and water infrastructure and a concentration of skilled workers. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 14:52:09
  • Samsung to Hold Galaxy S26 Family Festa Promotion for May
    Samsung to Hold Galaxy S26 Family Festa Promotion for May Samsung Electronics said on the 24th it will run a “Galaxy S26 Family Festa” promotion ahead of May, widely observed in South Korea as Family Month. For purchases of the Galaxy S26 series through May 10, all buyers will receive a 50,000-won discount coupon for game items usable in the Galaxy Store, the company said. Samsung said customers who buy the Galaxy S26 series on Samsung.com with a Samsung Card and join the “New Galaxy AI Subscription Club” will also be eligible for up to 55,000 won in additional cashback. The company is also expanding hands-on marketing. From the 24th through May 5, Samsung Electronics will operate a pop-up store for the popular RPG “Honkai: Star Rail” at Samsung Store Hongdae. The pop-up is designed as a game experience zone using the Galaxy S26 series, targeting family visitors with children and people in their teens, 20s and 30s, Samsung said. Visitors can take part in events and stamp missions in a space decorated with in-game settings and characters. During the pop-up period, Samsung said it will sell 2,000 limited sets of the “Galaxy S26 Ultra Kyrene Accessory Edition,” featuring in-game characters and including a magnet case, an acrylic music box and a smartphone stand. “We prepared a range of promotions that families can enjoy together for Family Month,” said Jeong Ho-jin, a vice president at Samsung Electronics’ Korea business. “We hope customers will enjoy not only the strong performance of the Galaxy S26 series, but also the additional purchase benefits.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 13:00:16
  • Taihan Cable & Solution Signs MOU With Vietnam’s Newtecons to Expand Energy Infrastructure
    Taihan Cable & Solution Signs MOU With Vietnam’s Newtecons to Expand Energy Infrastructure Taihan Cable & Solution said it is accelerating its push into Vietnam’s energy infrastructure market through a partnership with a local company. The company said April 24 it signed a memorandum of understanding with Newtecons, a Vietnamese EPC and construction infrastructure firm, to cooperate on power cable supply and infrastructure projects. Taihan said the MOU is aimed at building a cooperation framework to strengthen competitiveness across energy infrastructure projects in Vietnam. The signing took place April 23 at the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum, an official event of an economic delegation held on the occasion of President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to Vietnam. The forum, held at a hotel in Hanoi, was attended by government officials from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance, as well as Taihan Vice Chairman Song Jong-min and Newtecons CEO Nguyen Quang Thuy, among others. Newtecons is a major Vietnamese EPC and construction infrastructure company that has carried out large projects including Long Thanh International Airport, industrial complexes and high-rise mixed-use developments, Taihan said. Under the MOU, the two companies plan to combine Taihan’s power cable manufacturing capabilities with Newtecons’ construction and installation capacity to strengthen competitiveness in energy infrastructure projects and build a stable supply and execution base. They also plan to seek joint business opportunities to meet local infrastructure demand and expand cooperation through technical advice and information sharing. “This agreement, signed during the economic delegation’s schedule in Vietnam, is expected to contribute to stronger bilateral cooperation in energy infrastructure and to supply chain stability,” Song said. He added that working with Newtecons, “a leading local EPC company,” would be an important opportunity to expand business in Vietnam’s fast-growing energy infrastructure market. Ahead of the forum, Taihan visited the headquarters of Vietnam Electricity (EVN) in Hanoi on April 22 to discuss mid- to long-term cooperation. Song, along with the head of Taihan Vina, met EVN CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan and other executives to share updates on an HVDC grid project and on a 400-kilovolt EHV cable plant currently under construction in Vietnam. The two sides also held in-depth talks on technical exchanges and potential business cooperation in extra-high-voltage power grids and agreed to continue expanding cooperation. Taihan said it has designated Vietnam as a second global production base and is continuing to expand investment in production infrastructure. Taihan Vina is a key hub, and it is building Vietnam’s first 400-kilovolt EHV cable plant, with completion targeted for 2027. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 08:57:49
  • SK hynix posts 72% operating margin in Q1 on HBM boom and surging memory prices
    SK hynix posts 72% operating margin in Q1 on HBM boom and surging memory prices SK hynix’s first-quarter earnings beat pushed its operating margin into the 70% range, outpacing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. as well as Nvidia and Apple, the company said. The strong growth cycle is likely to continue for now. SK hynix reported an operating profit margin of 72% for the first quarter, it disclosed on April 23. That topped its previous record of 58% in the fourth quarter of last year. The figure implies more than 7,000 won in operating profit for every 10,000 won in sales, an unusually high level for a manufacturer. Among semiconductor companies, it ranked first by a wide margin. Samsung Electronics posted a 43% operating margin in the first quarter; its memory business alone is estimated to be in the 60% range. The gap with TSMC, the world’s top foundry, also widened. Based on last year’s fourth quarter, SK hynix led TSMC (54%) by 4 percentage points, but the difference has since grown to 14 points. Nvidia’s operating margin is 65%, and Apple’s is about 48%, the report said. Profitability rose as sales of high-value high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, expanded and prices for other memory chips such as commodity DRAM and NAND flash surged. HBM accounts for 30% of SK hynix’s total DRAM shipments, with the rest in commodity products. By revenue, DRAM made up 78% and NAND flash 21%. With semiconductor demand jumping, first-quarter DRAM selling prices rose more than 60% from the previous quarter, while NAND flash average selling prices increased in the mid-70% range. The earnings strength also improved the balance sheet. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter rose 19.4 trillion won from the end of the previous quarter to 54.3 trillion won. Borrowings fell 2.9 trillion won to 19.3 trillion won, lifting net cash to 35 trillion won. The company aims to build net cash of more than 100 trillion won, with most of it to be used to raise utilization at its M15X facility, build infrastructure for the Yongin cluster, and secure key equipment such as extreme ultraviolet, or EUV, tools. The first-quarter beat, despite a seasonally weak period, has also raised expectations for the second half. If mass production of sixth-generation HBM4 ramps up in the second half, the company’s annual results and profitability metrics could climb further, the report said. Some brokerages forecast annual revenue of 300 trillion won and operating profit exceeding 230 trillion won. Kim Woo-hyun, SK hynix chief financial officer, said on the company’s first-quarter earnings conference call that memory demand from major customers has expanded to HBM, server DRAM and enterprise SSDs, but manufacturers cannot quickly increase supply. “As this supply shortage continues, there is a high possibility that the memory price upcycle will be prolonged,” he said. The company said the current rise in memory prices reflects structural changes such as a broad AI shift, suggesting the supply-demand imbalance could persist and prices could keep rising. 2026-04-23 18:03:21
  • Samsung Electronics Majority Union Rally Draws 40,000 at Pyeongtaek Plant Over Bonus Cap
    Samsung Electronics Majority Union Rally Draws 40,000 at Pyeongtaek Plant Over Bonus Cap Samsung Electronics' cross-company union, which has secured majority-union status for the first time at the company, held a rally Thursday afternoon outside the firm's Pyeongtaek site, demanding the abolition of a cap on performance bonuses and other changes. Police and the union estimated attendance at about 40,000. The union held a preliminary gathering until 2 p.m., followed by the main rally from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The union is calling for performance bonuses equal to 15% of the company's operating profit and for the bonus cap to be scrapped. If it fails to reach an agreement with management, the union plans a general strike from May 21 to June 7. The union said a strike could halt semiconductor production lines and cause losses of 20 trillion won to 30 trillion won. The cross-company union has become Samsung Electronics' first majority union. As of the end of last year, Samsung Electronics had about 128,800 employees in South Korea, including about 78,000 in its DS (Device Solutions) semiconductor division. The union said it has secured about 74,000 members, mainly in the DS division. Police blocked both directions of roads near the rally and deployed about 300 officers for traffic control and to prepare for unexpected incidents. Pyeongtaek city also sent a safety alert message Thursday afternoon, notifying residents of traffic controls near the Samsung Electronics site and urging drivers to use detours. Union Chairman Choi Seung-ho said in a speech that the union had negotiated in good faith for four months since last December to build a better Samsung Electronics, but "nothing" came back. He argued the bonus system remains opaque and that management tried to wrap up talks under the banner of one-time compensation. He said the union would keep fighting until its demands are met, calling for fair compensation based on performance to revive the company's "talent first" principle. Separately, Samsung Electronics shareholders held a counter-rally near the union gathering. Around 10 a.m., some members of the Korea Shareholder Activism Headquarters voiced opposition to the union's strike move and called for protecting shareholder rights. Minority shareholders held a banner reading, "Samsung stands with 5 million shareholders in Korea," and placards that read, "Samsung shareholder dividends 11 trillion won! Samsung employee dividends 40 trillion won?" They said shareholder rights and interests should be protected within a reasonable range, and argued the union seeks excessive bonuses when results are strong but does not share responsibility when results are weak. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 16:45:15
  • POSCO International Issues South Korea’s First Digital Bond by a Nonfinancial Firm
    POSCO International Issues South Korea’s First Digital Bond by a Nonfinancial Firm POSCO International said April 23 it has issued a blockchain-based “digital bond,” the first such issuance by a nonfinancial company in South Korea. A digital bond uses blockchain technology across the full process — issuance, registration, trading and settlement — a structure the company said can strengthen security, shorten settlement times and broaden access for global investors compared with conventional bonds. The bond was issued through a private placement totaling about 1.4 trillion won, or about HK$780 million, the company said. HSBC served as sole arranger. The company said it is the second digital bond case in South Korea after Mirae Asset Securities, and the first by a nonfinancial firm. POSCO International said the issuance shortened the settlement period for its foreign-currency bonds to three business days from five. The company said it expects faster settlement to improve cash turnover and operating efficiency, while expanding investor access as a global trading company. It also said it expects lower funding costs through a temporary issuance-cost subsidy program offered by Hong Kong financial authorities to promote digital bonds. POSCO International, a global trading company focused on energy, materials and food, said stable foreign-currency funding is critical to its business. It said it will use the issuance to accelerate the digitalization of finance and respond proactively to developments in smart contracts and the security token offering (STO) market. POSCO International and HSBC held a signing ceremony April 16 at HSBC’s headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. Attendees included Jeong Gyeong-jin, head of POSCO International’s management planning division, and Lee Sang-ho, CEO of HSBC Securities. The two sides said they will strengthen cooperation in digital finance, including adopting blockchain and digital financial technologies, improving funding efficiency and advancing digital transformation. “This issuance is a milestone that realizes digital transformation in funding, following last year’s introduction of a blockchain-based global payment system,” Jeong said. “Based on our DX master plan, we are pushing forward a full-scale digital shift, and we will respond proactively to changes in the digital finance environment, including the STO market, to strengthen our funding competitiveness in global markets.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 12:27:20
  • LS Materials to Supply Ultracapacitors to U.S. Fusion Power Project for First Time
    LS Materials to Supply Ultracapacitors to U.S. Fusion Power Project for First Time LS Materials said Wednesday it will supply ultracapacitors, or UCs, to a U.S. nuclear fusion power project. The company said the order marks its first supply deal in the fusion power sector and will be used in a demonstration project aimed at commercialization by a U.S. energy company. LS Materials said it expects follow-on orders tied to additional demonstrations and larger orders if the project moves into commercialization. The company said high-output UCs for fusion power require advanced technology and must meet strict verification standards, making early references important as orders expand. It called the supply deal a turning point in establishing a leading position in the market. LS Materials said it is expanding beyond a business focused on wind turbines and uninterruptible power supplies into next-generation power infrastructure, including fusion, hydrogen fuel cells and grid stabilization. It added that the mid- to large-size UC market is dominated by a small number of players, meaning growth could translate directly into gains. Fusion power is a next-generation technology that produces energy using the same principle as the sun, and major countries including the United States, Europe and China are pursuing large-scale projects, the company said. With electricity demand rising sharply as AI data centers spread, investment in fusion is increasing, and demand is also expected to grow for UCs capable of high-output power control. The project will use more than 1,000 large UC modules. LS Materials said its UCs can deliver 15 megawatts of power in 0.06 seconds, providing the instant power needed to operate fusion equipment — a level comparable to supplying electricity used by thousands of households at once. Chief Executive Hong Young-ho said the supply deal is “an important turning point” in accelerating entry into the commercialization market. He said the company will expand orders in next-generation power infrastructure markets including hydrogen fuel cells, AI data centers and grid stabilization. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 11:21:16
  • Samsung Targets Europe With High-Efficiency Built-In AI Appliances
    Samsung Targets Europe With High-Efficiency Built-In AI Appliances Samsung Electronics said it held an appliance technology seminar, “The Brief Milan,” on April 21 (local time) at a showroom inside its Italian subsidiary in Milan for major local media and influencers. The company highlighted high-efficiency AI appliances tailored to energy-conscious European consumers, along with SmartThings-based features such as “AI Energy Saving Mode.” Samsung showcased a range of laundry products that meet Europe’s energy-efficiency Grade A standard. The Bespoke AI Washer cuts energy use by an additional 65% beyond the Grade A threshold and includes “AI Custom Wash+,” which detects load weight, fabric type and soil level to run an optimized cycle automatically. The Bespoke AI Dryer and the all-in-one washer-dryer Bespoke AI Combo also achieved Grade A energy efficiency. When connected to SmartThings and run in “AI Energy Saving Mode,” the Bespoke AI Washer can reduce energy use by up to an additional 70% and the Bespoke AI Dryer by up to an additional 20%. The Bespoke AI Combo can cut energy use by up to an additional 60% for washing and up to an additional 30% for drying. Samsung also presented built-in kitchen appliances designed to fit European living spaces while maintaining performance. The event introduced a new hood-integrated induction cooktop rated at Europe’s “A+” energy-efficiency grade. With a hood built into the center of the cooktop, it is designed to remove smoke and odors generated during cooking. Also on display, the Bespoke AI Dishwasher reduces energy use by an additional 20% compared with Europe’s Grade A benchmark and features a built-in design intended to blend into kitchen spaces. The Bespoke AI Refrigerator 1-Door uses “Space Max” technology to provide 387 liters of interior capacity while keeping a compact exterior, and includes an “Auto Open Door” function that opens with a touch. It also uses metal materials to help retain cold air and includes an “AI Precise Cooling” function that analyzes usage patterns to limit temperature increases inside the refrigerator. A built-in top-refrigerator, bottom-freezer (BMF) model also uses Space Max technology to offer up to 298 liters of capacity. When connected to SmartThings and used in “AI Energy Saving Mode,” it can reduce energy use by up to 15%. Samsung also displayed the Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator, featuring a 21.5-inch touchscreen and an internal camera-based “AI Vision” function that recognizes items being added and removed in real time. With “AI Energy Saving Mode” enabled through SmartThings, it can reduce energy use by up to 10%. “Samsung Electronics will actively target the European market by strengthening our lineup of high-efficiency built-in AI appliances tailored to the European lifestyle,” said Moon Jong-seung, a vice president in Samsung’s DA Business Division. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 11:09:18
  • SK hynix posts record 72% Q1 operating margin, widening lead over TSMC
    SK hynix posts record 72% Q1 operating margin, widening lead over TSMC SK hynix set a quarterly record with a 72% operating profit margin, far surpassing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a key profitability benchmark in the chip industry, which posted a 58.1% margin. The company attributed the surge to expanded sales of high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, and a sharp rise in prices for commodity memory chips. SK hynix said in a regulatory filing on the 23rd that it posted first-quarter revenue of 52.5763 trillion won, operating profit of 37.6103 trillion won and net profit of 40.3459 trillion won. The operating margin of 72% topped the previous record of 58% in the fourth quarter of last year. The company said the figure means it earned more than 7,000 won in operating profit for every 10,000 won of products sold, a level rarely seen in manufacturing. The margin gap with foundry leader TSMC widened sharply. In the fourth quarter of last year, SK hynix led TSMC, which had a 54% operating margin, by 4 percentage points. In the first quarter, the gap expanded to 14 percentage points, the company said. Samsung Electronics, which released preliminary results earlier this month, reported a first-quarter operating margin of 43%. Its memory business is estimated to have posted margins in the 60% to 70% range, according to the report. SK hynix has climbed steadily since hitting a low of minus 67% in operating margin in the first quarter of 2023. It turned positive at 3% in the fourth quarter of that year and has risen each quarter since, it said. Quarterly revenue also topped 50 trillion won for the first time. Operating profit roughly doubled from the previous quarter, underscoring a sharp improvement in profitability. The company said demand remained strong despite the seasonal off-peak period, as AI infrastructure investment expanded. It said it boosted sales of high-value products including HBM, high-capacity server DRAM modules and enterprise SSDs, or eSSDs. Analysts cited a steep jump in commodity DRAM prices as a major driver: first-quarter contract prices for commodity DRAM rose more than 90% from the previous quarter. HBM accounts for about 30% of SK hynix’s total DRAM shipments, with the remainder largely commodity products, the report said. The earnings surge also strengthened the balance sheet. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter rose 19.4 trillion won from the end of the previous quarter to 54.3 trillion won. Borrowings fell 2.9 trillion won to 19.3 trillion won, resulting in net cash of 35 trillion won, it said. CEO Kwak Noh-jung said at last month’s shareholders meeting that “financial soundness that enables stable investment is essential” to respond to structural demand growth and maintain competitiveness, and he set a goal of securing more than 100 trillion won in net cash. SK hynix said the uptrend could continue as memory demand broadens across DRAM and NAND with the evolution toward agentic AI, and as memory-efficiency technologies spread, improving AI service competitiveness and expanding overall service scale. On that basis, it expects favorable pricing conditions to persist for both DRAM and NAND. The company said it will keep investing to strengthen future competitiveness. For HBM, it plans to enhance execution capabilities spanning performance, yield, quality and supply stability. In DRAM, it will expand supply of LPDDR6 using the world’s first 10-nanometer-class sixth-generation (1c) process, and ramp shipments of the 192-gigabyte SOCAMM2, which began mass production this month on the same process. In NAND, it said it has begun supplying the consumer SSD, or cSSD, “PQC21,” which applies CTF-based 321-layer quad-level cell technology. It plans to respond flexibly to AI demand across the enterprise SSD market with a lineup spanning high-performance triple-level cell products and high-capacity QLC products. It also said it will strengthen competitiveness in AI data center and AI PC storage markets by leveraging synergies with Solidigm, where it has strengths in high-capacity QLC eSSDs. SK hynix expects this year’s investment to rise significantly, with spending on infrastructure preparation such as the M15X ramp-up and the Yongin cluster, as well as securing key equipment including EUV tools. “We will strategically expand our production base to proactively respond to mid- to long-term demand growth,” the company said, adding it will “secure both supply stability and financial soundness through investment that considers demand visibility.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:21:22
  • WIRobotics launches WIM Premium subscription to update WIM S wearable walking robot
    WIRobotics launches WIM Premium subscription to update WIM S wearable walking robot #At a WIM walking exercise center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, a reporter strapped on a waist belt connected to leg supports and headed toward Olympic Park outside the facility. After pressing “Air Mode” and taking a few slow steps, the device felt as if it gently nudged the body forward. Within several steps, walking became easier, and when the pace increased slightly, the stride rhythm stayed steady. On an uphill section, switching to “Hiking Mode” made climbing feel more comfortable. Rather than a heavy machine, it was a 1.6-kilogram wearable that moved with the user’s gait. The reporter took part on April 13 in a hands-on event marking WIRobotics’ launch of “WIM Premium,” a subscription service based on its WIM S wearable walking-assist robot. Instead of a one-time purchase, the company said it will keep updating functions to match a user’s walking data and condition, similar to smartphone operating system updates. WIM Premium offers three subscription modes: △Balance (left-right) △Soft △Slow Jogging. The most notable feature was “Balance Mode,” which analyzes differences between left and right steps and applies different levels of assistance. With stronger support on one leg, the effect was clear. The company expects it to help users who put more weight on one side during long walks or whose gait balance has deteriorated. In “Soft Mode,” the focus shifts to reducing impact when the foot hits the ground. Even with a longer stride, the burden on knees and ankles felt lower. The company said the mode is suited for long walks, light trekking and middle-aged users who feel joint strain. “Slow Jogging Mode” is designed to help users keep a steady rhythm without running fast. In the demonstration, a natural tempo between walking and running was maintained. It may appeal to office workers and older adults who want more exercise but find running hard on the knees and joints. While earlier wearable robots were centered on rehabilitation therapy or industrial sites, WIRobotics is aiming this service at everyday consumers. Existing users can access new functions through software updates by paying a monthly subscription fee, without replacing the device. The company is positioning the robot less as something to buy and more as functions to use. The company is also betting on demand as South Korea ages rapidly and interest grows in extending healthy life expectancy and home training. With rising attention to senior health care such as maintaining walking ability and supporting muscle strength, the market for daily-use wearable robots could expand. Potential settings include rehabilitation centers, senior living communities and fitness centers. Barriers remain. Wearable robots are still unfamiliar to many consumers, and purchase prices can run into several million won. Wearing a device to walk may also feel unnatural. Still, based on the hands-on test, WIM Premium appeared likely to find demand among seniors who need walking assistance, evolving toward a personalized mobility aid that adapts to walking habits and physical condition. WIRobotics said it will continue upgrading functions using user walking data and plans to expand applications beyond daily walking assistance to rehabilitation exercise, outdoor activity and support for workers in industrial settings. Lee Yeon-baek, WIRobotics’ co-CEO, said everyday movement such as walking varies widely by individual, making it difficult for a single piece of hardware to meet every user’s needs. “WIM Premium is the starting point of a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model that continuously improves assistance methods based on user data,” he said. He added that wearable robots will develop into integrated services that include devices and software, updates and maintenance. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 08:24:40