Journalist
아마노 유키코 기자/ [번역] 이경
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Seoul Mayoral Candidates Clash Over Safety Concerns and Transparency Jung Won-o, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, called on his opponent, Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party, to clarify when he first became aware of the omission of rebar in the construction of the GTX-A line at Samsung Station. Oh countered by asserting that he has never concealed reports from construction companies and demanded that Jung disclose details of his trip to Cancun, Mexico. After announcing youth housing measures in front of Seoul City Hall, Jung told reporters that "important matters should be reported either individually or in person," adding, "I asked Oh when he first received the report and what actions he took afterward, but I have yet to receive a response." He urged Oh to clarify the timeline and subsequent actions regarding the rebar omission, stating, "If what he said about confirming it yesterday is true, it cannot be a trivial matter." In response to accusations from the People Power Party that he is spreading a so-called 'rebar myth,' Jung criticized the party for its 'safety complacency.' He stated, "Avoiding and hiding safety issues is a sign of safety complacency. The reasons for accidents later stem from this. Safety issues must be transparently disclosed." Oh refuted Jung's claims, asserting that the Democratic Party is making unfounded allegations during the election campaign. After visiting the Youth Employment Academy in Yeongdeungpo, he told reporters, "It has been confirmed that the omission report from Hyundai Engineering & Construction was promptly communicated to the Korea Railroad Corporation by the Seoul City government." He added, "As the election atmosphere shifts, they are politicizing the issue. This is a cowardly and unjust attempt," and emphasized that creating unfounded rumors is not something the ruling party should engage in. Oh also raised concerns about Jung's trip to Cancun during his tenure as the head of Seongdong District. He explained on Channel A's YouTube broadcast that, "From the perspective of Seoul City, it is quite rare for overseas trips to last more than ten days." He further criticized, "If a three-day vacation was included in the middle of the trip, it is advisable to disclose the details to avoid misunderstandings as a public figure, as it is the duty of a public servant."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:55:14 -
Airfare Prices Drop Ahead of Vacation Season as Fuel Surcharge Decreases As fuel surcharges decrease, international airfare prices are expected to drop slightly next month. According to industry sources on May 18, tickets issued for June will apply a fuel surcharge of 27 stages (ranging from 410 to 419 cents per gallon). This marks a reduction from the 33 stages (over 470 cents per gallon) applied this month. The fuel surcharge is an additional fee airlines impose to offset losses incurred from rising oil prices. The reduction in surcharge stages is due to the average price of Singapore jet fuel (MOPS) falling to 410.02 cents per gallon, based on data from April 16 to May 15. Domestic airlines plan to sequentially adjust fuel surcharges by route in accordance with this change. Korean Air, for instance, charged a minimum of 75,000 won to a maximum of 564,000 won for one-way flights this month, but will reduce these charges to a minimum of 61,500 won and a maximum of 451,500 won in June, resulting in a potential decrease of up to 112,500 won. Asiana Airlines will set its international fuel surcharge for next month at a minimum of 68,000 won and a maximum of 382,800 won for one-way flights, reflecting a decrease of up to 93,400 won compared to May's rates of 85,400 won to 476,200 won. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:52:59 -
Political Tensions Rise Over GTX Construction Issues in Seoul Tensions escalated on May 18 during a full meeting of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee, as both the ruling and opposition parties engaged in accusations against candidates for Seoul mayor. The Democratic Party and the People Power Party each alleged that their respective candidates, Oh Se-hoon and Jung Won-oh, violated election laws. The conflict intensified following allegations of Jung's misconduct and issues related to the rebar omission in the GTX-A project, as well as Oh's attendance at the audit garden completion ceremony. Democratic Party members of the committee reported Oh and acting mayor Kim Sung-bo to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for allegedly violating Article 86, Section 2 of the Public Official Election Act, which prohibits actions that influence elections. This accusation stemmed from Oh's attendance at the completion ceremony held on May 12 at Gwanghwamun Square. In response, People Power Party members stated they would file a complaint against Jung for spreading false information regarding the GTX-A rebar omission. They claimed that Jung and his campaign team were inciting fear with sensational phrases like "raw GTX" and "Seoul's safety negligence". They emphasized that the Seoul city government had reported anomalies to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, countering Jung's assertion that the report was made five and a half months after the issues arose. They expressed deep regret over the use of public safety concerns in the election. Earlier in the meeting, lawmakers clashed over allegations against Jung and the controversies surrounding the GTX-A project and the audit garden. A Seoul city official stated that relevant institutions had been informed, which sparked further debate. People Power Party lawmaker Park Soo-min questioned, "Is it necessary for all matters to be reported directly to the mayor when they have already been communicated to the relevant institutions?" Conversely, Democratic Party members held a separate press conference, asserting that the People Power Party claimed the city had already reported the issues through official documents. They criticized the evidence presented as merely a few pages from a 400-500 page monthly construction management report, arguing that while the city was aware of the problems, it failed to adequately share this information for prompt action by relevant agencies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:51:00 -
Inflation Fears Hit South Korea, U.S., and Japan as Bond Yields Reach Multi-Year Highs Concerns over inflation are escalating globally, pushing government bond yields to their highest levels in years. Analysts suggest that future interest rates will largely depend on international oil prices. According to the Korea Financial Investment Association, on May 18, the yield on three-year government bonds closed at 3.757%, while the yield on ten-year bonds reached 4.239%. This ten-year yield is the highest since October 13, 2022, when the "Legoland incident" occurred. In May alone, yields have risen by 16.2 basis points for three-year bonds and 31.6 basis points for ten-year bonds. The rise in South Korean government bond yields reflects growing inflation concerns. Sustained high oil prices have driven up energy supply costs, increasing upward pressure on prices, while the economy is performing better than expected. As a result, the Bank of Korea is increasingly likely to shift its monetary policy toward raising interest rates, a sentiment that is being reflected in the market. Additionally, there is heightened caution regarding government bond auctions, further complicating the situation. External factors are also influencing bond yields. Following a U.S.-China summit that yielded no significant outcomes, international oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel. Brent crude futures for July delivery have risen to $110 per barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for June delivery have also surpassed $100 per barrel. This increase is attributed to concerns over stalled peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Yields on government bonds in major economies are also climbing sharply. The rise in international oil prices has intensified inflationary pressures, leading to widespread concerns about central bank tightening. According to the CME FedWatch, the interest rate futures market reflects a 41.7% probability that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by December. The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note reached 4.597% on May 15 and has remained above 4.6% as of May 18. The yield on the two-year U.S. Treasury note, which is sensitive to monetary policy, is above 4.10%, while the 30-year Treasury yield has exceeded 5.14%, marking its highest level since 2007. Japanese government bond yields have also surged, contributing to global bond market anxiety. Following an unexpected rise in Japan's inflation rate in April, the yield on 10-year Japanese government bonds has climbed to around 2.7%, the highest level in 29 years since 1997. In the UK, bond yields have reached multi-decade highs as a pro-expansion prime ministerial candidate emerges. Experts predict that the current surge in yields is unlikely to reverse anytime soon. Im Jae-kyun, a researcher at KB Securities, stated, "Despite a significant rise in yields, the government intervened verbally on May 15, but the Bank of Korea has shifted toward raising interest rates. Concerns about supply and demand are also emerging, making it difficult for market anxiety to ease quickly." Ultimately, international oil prices are seen as a key variable influencing future interest rate directions. Ahn Ye-ha, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, noted, "Given the structural challenges in resolving the increased duration premium due to expanded fiscal burdens in major countries, market interest rates can only shift direction if oil prices decline significantly. This indicates that unless geopolitical uncertainties are resolved, volatility is likely to persist." 2026-05-18 22:49:02 -
Education Industry Faces Crisis Amid Declining Birth Rates Amid a declining birth rate, leading education companies in South Korea are expressing a sense of crisis, stating they are at a "survival crossroads." The drop in birth rates directly impacts the school-age population, which is essential for the education market. Facing slowed growth, major education firms are seeking solutions through global expansion driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and edtech, as well as diversifying their portfolios to include senior care and lifelong learning. According to the National Statistical Portal, the school-age population (ages 6 to 21) is estimated at 6.784 million this year. This figure has been on a steady decline since peaking at 14.411 million in 1980. By 2030, the school-age population is projected to fall below 6 million, reaching approximately 5.966 million. The population crisis poses a "survival challenge" for education companies that have traditionally relied on this demographic for growth. Their core education business has been struggling, as evidenced by recent financial reports. For instance, Woongjin ThinkBig reported a consolidated revenue of 797.3 billion won in 2025, down 8.1% from 867.1 billion won the previous year. Its operating profit shifted from a profit of 9.2 billion won to an operating loss of 10.4 billion won. During the same period, Daekyo's revenue decreased by 2.03%, from 663.5 billion won to 650 billion won, with operating losses increasing from 1.6 billion won to 3.4 billion won. Kyowon Group's education division also saw a revenue drop of 5.5%, from 865.4 billion won to 817.7 billion won, while its operating losses expanded from 16.2 billion won to 23.1 billion won. In response to the declining school-age population, education companies are accelerating efforts to explore new markets as a necessary growth engine. Woongjin ThinkBig is targeting high-value overseas markets with its proprietary edtech and metaverse educational tools. Notably, its generative AI-based reading solution, Booxtory, won the Best Innovation Award in the AI category at CES 2025, positioning the company to challenge markets in the U.S., Japan, and Taiwan. Additionally, the company is increasing exports of its augmented reality reading platform, ARpedia, which is already available in 24 countries, to boost its technology-driven performance. Daekyo is shifting its focus to the Korean language education market, targeting multicultural families and foreign residents in South Korea. The company has developed specialized courses for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) and created dedicated learning platforms, significantly broadening its target audience to include foreigners living both domestically and abroad. The senior care and funeral service sectors have become another competitive arena for the big three education companies. Last year, Woongjin acquired Fried Life, the leading funeral service provider in South Korea, for approximately 883 billion won, rebranding it as Woongjin Fried Life and quickly becoming the top player in the funeral industry. Kyowon established Kyowon Life in 2011, solidifying its position as a top competitor in the sector by employing a hybrid strategy that combines home appliances and educational services. Daekyo has launched a senior-focused brand, Daekyo New Life, and has built a nationwide franchise network for home care and daycare centers. The company is aggressively expanding its influence in related services, including funeral services and AI care calls. An industry insider noted, "The rapid decline in the school-age population means that if we remain idle, we will inevitably face extinction. By exporting K-edutech to generate high profits and simultaneously entering the senior and funeral service sectors in a super-aged society, a two-track strategy will become the standard survival formula for the education industry."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:46:47 -
Weather Forecast: Continued Heat with Daytime Temperatures Above 30 Degrees On Tuesday, May 19, early summer weather is expected to continue across the country, with heat intensifying. In particular, daytime temperatures are forecasted to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, especially in the Gyeongsang region, necessitating caution for health management. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the morning low temperatures nationwide are expected to range from 14 to 20 degrees Celsius, while daytime highs will be between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius. In Daegu and southern Gyeongbuk, the maximum perceived temperature may rise to around 31 degrees Celsius, indicating a hot midday. However, temperatures are expected to drop quickly after sunset, resulting in a significant temperature difference of about 15 degrees Celsius, so appropriate clothing choices are advised. The sky will be partly cloudy nationwide, gradually becoming overcast from the evening. Thanks to favorable atmospheric dispersion, fine dust levels are expected to remain at 'good' to 'moderate' levels across all regions, making outdoor activities manageable. Sea conditions will be relatively calm across all waters. In the East Sea, wave heights will be between 0.5 and 1.0 meters, while in the West Sea and South Sea, wave heights will remain around 0.5 meters. In the offshore waters, wave heights will be 0.5 to 1.0 meters in the East Sea and 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the West and South Seas.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:43:37 -
Voters in Jeonnam and Gwangju Express Support for Min Hyung-bae Amid Calls for Checks on Democratic Party Dominance In the Democratic Party's stronghold of Jeonnam and Gwangju, support for the party's candidate, Min Hyung-bae, is overwhelming. However, there are also signs of a push to elect candidates from the People Power Party to counter the party's dominance. Opinions on the administrative merger of Jeonnam and Gwangju lean more negative than positive.Aju Economy visited Gwangju and Suncheon on May 18 to gauge voter sentiment ahead of the June 3 local elections, which will see the election of the first integrated mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju after 40 years. Five candidates have declared their intention to run: Min Hyung-bae from the Democratic Party, Lee Jeong-hyeon from the People Power Party, Lee Jong-wook from the Progressive Party, Kang Eun-mi from the Justice Party, and independent candidate Kim Kwang-man.Many citizens expressed their intention to vote for Min as the first integrated mayor. Park Young-taek, 71, met at Yangdong Market, stated, "I have always supported the Democratic Party and believe Min Hyung-bae would be a much better mayor than Lee Jeong-hyeon." Kim, a 25-year-old graduate student at Suncheon University, also expressed support for Min, saying, "He is the only incumbent lawmaker from Gwangju, possessing both expertise and political skills."Conversely, criticism of Lee Jeong-hyeon was noted, with one voter recalling his appearance on YouTube where he referred to the pro-Yoon Seok-youl faction as "hidden heroes, you are Yi Sun-sin," and defended the December 3 emergency martial law, stating, "He has proven himself unfit for the mayoral position."However, among voters in their 20s and 30s, there were calls for a 'punishment vote' against the long-standing dominance of the Democratic Party. Kwon, a 27-year-old intern in Gwangju, remarked, "If the Democratic Party continues to win every year, I wonder what development will occur in Honam. I believe their monopoly is harmful to Gwangju, so I support Lee Jeong-hyeon." Another voter, Lee, 30, who works at a sports center, stated, "The Democratic Party candidate will likely win anyway. Honam will not change, so I will vote for the People Power Party to provide some checks."Kang, a 21-year-old political science student at Jeonnam University, mentioned, "I am a member of the Democratic Party but am considering voting for the People Power Party as a punishment vote. The Democratic Party has been in power, yet nothing has changed in Gwangju." A 24-year-old college student added, "While the Democratic Party has significant support, there seems to be a growing disconnect among young voters. Parties like the Justice Party and Basic Income Party seem to position themselves as the Democratic Party's backup, so even though I dislike the People Power Party, I might vote for them this time."Criticism of the People Power Party included remarks about their failure to distance themselves from the pro-Yoon faction, with one voter stating, "It is shameless for them to come to Gwangju without having severed ties with that group. Their leader seems inexperienced in politics, often sending the wrong messages, and it appears they are only focused on protecting their own constituencies."Regarding the Jeonnam-Gwangju administrative merger, negative sentiments prevailed. Kang criticized the rushed process, saying, "They merged without even determining how to delineate the electoral districts for local governments. They promised public hearings, but the city councilors seemed to have already made decisions and just informed us, which is frustrating." Another voter echoed this sentiment, stating, "It felt like a hasty decision made under pressure from the president. Was this merger really necessary?"On the other hand, some citizens expressed optimism. Yoon, a 24-year-old job seeker, said, "As this is the first integrated mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju, I am hopeful. If Gwangju and Jeonnam work together, there could be synergies in transportation, culture, and job creation. I hope the new mayor focuses on balanced regional development." Park also emphasized the importance of unity, stating, "There are population issues, and since Jeonnam and Gwangju were once one, we need to integrate again to create a new vision."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:38:40 -
New Task Force Launched to Combat Illegal Medical Practices and Shorten Recovery Periods for Health Benefits The South Korean government has launched a task force to address the rising number of illegal medical institutions and improve the collection rate of health benefits that have been determined for recovery. On May 18, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced the formation of the "Joint Investigation Team for Illegal Medical Practices," which includes personnel from seven investigative and regulatory agencies, including the police and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.The task force comprises 30 members: four prosecutors, seven police officers, two special judicial police from the Ministry of Welfare, 12 from the National Health Insurance Service, one from the National Tax Service, three from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, and one from the Financial Supervisory Service. The Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office was designated as a specialized food and drug safety office in May 2013 and has experience operating a joint investigation team for rebates since 2014.The task force will operate under the leadership of the head of the Food and Drug Crime Investigation Division at the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office. It will include an investigation team (composed of police and special police from the Ministry of Welfare), a support team (from the National Health Insurance Service, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, National Tax Service, and Financial Supervisory Service), and a joint enforcement team (from the National Health Insurance Service and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service).Initially, the support team will provide criminal information, allowing the enforcement team to conduct operations. Following this, the investigation team will focus on cases involving sham hospitals, excessive non-covered medical treatments, and fraudulent insurance claims. The prosecutor's office will then take over the cases for further investigation or processing.The joint investigation team aims to expedite the process of asset forfeiture and recovery through inter-agency cooperation from the outset of investigations. It will also support the recovery of assets preserved through the National Health Insurance Service. Additionally, the team plans to coordinate with the Ministry of Welfare to ensure swift administrative actions, such as business suspensions and fines, separate from criminal penalties.According to data from the National Health Insurance Service, from 2009 to 2025, 1,805 illegal medical institutions, including sham hospitals, were subject to enforcement and prosecution, resulting in a total recovery decision amounting to 29.16 trillion won. However, the actual amount recovered was only 256.3 billion won, or 8.79% of the total.The number of illegal medical institutions has been on the rise, with 28 in 2022, 50 in both 2023 and 2024, and 87 in 2025. Despite this increase, the average recovery decision amount during this period was 154.3 billion won, with a collection rate averaging only 11.27%.In response, the government has established the joint investigation team to eradicate the establishment and operation of illegal medical institutions and to confiscate the proceeds of related crimes.A spokesperson for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "We expect that the formation of this joint investigation team, which systematically combines the investigative capabilities of law enforcement with the expertise of relevant agencies in crime information collection and analysis, will shorten the time required for the entire process of recovering illegal assets after investigations."The spokesperson added, "Through thorough cooperation among agencies, we will strive to eliminate the establishment and operation of illegal medical institutions, such as sham hospitals, and to strengthen the financial health of the National Health Insurance system through prompt administrative actions."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:36:00 -
Rainbow Robotics Achieves Record Quarterly Revenue Amid Ongoing Challenges Rainbow Robotics is experiencing significant growth, achieving its highest quarterly revenue to date, thanks in part to synergies with Samsung Electronics. However, ongoing losses and the nascent stage of its software capabilities pose challenges to qualitative growth. According to industry sources on May 18, Rainbow Robotics reported first-quarter revenue of 9.0625 billion won, a 116.6% increase from 4.18477 billion won in the same period last year. With Samsung's supply volumes now fully reflected, the company has surpassed 9 billion won in quarterly revenue for the first time since its founding. Considering that the total transaction volume with Samsung last year was approximately 10.4 billion won, this performance matches the annual cumulative total in just one quarter. Samsung Electronics exercised a call option at the end of 2024 to incorporate Rainbow Robotics as a subsidiary. The company has since strengthened its collaboration with the newly established 'Future Robotics Promotion Team' within Samsung, playing a key role in the group's future robotics technology development. Noh Tae-moon, President of Samsung Electronics' Device Experience (DX) division, stated earlier this year at CES 2026, "We will prioritize automation in manufacturing through collaboration with Rainbow Robotics and commercialize based on the technology we have developed." This formalizes a strategy of prioritizing manufacturing automation before commercialization. Consequently, Samsung's major production facilities, including the semiconductor production site in Pyeongtaek, are becoming significant testing grounds and stable revenue sources for Rainbow Robotics' technology. In terms of technology, Rainbow Robotics has secured numerous core technologies for key hardware components. Since its inception at KAIST's Humanoid Robot Research Center in 2011, the company has focused on developing technologies such as miniaturized actuators. As of this year, it has registered over 20 patents domestically and internationally. Building on this foundation, the company is accelerating the expansion of its 'dual-arm robot' lineup this year. This approach contrasts with major domestic companies like Hyundai Motor and LG Electronics, which are heavily investing in the costly and time-consuming development of bipedal humanoid robots. By prioritizing dual-arm robots, which have lower technical complexity, Rainbow Robotics aims to maximize immediate applicability in industrial settings. According to Rainbow Robotics, the dual-arm robots are still in the research and development platform stage. While they have been supplied to some of Samsung's production facilities, their use is currently limited to specific solution processes such as packaging and welding. The challenge lies in the pace of qualitative improvements behind the growth in revenue. Despite significant sales growth, the company recorded an operating loss of 1.56708 billion won due to fixed costs from research and development and the expansion of its new factory in Sejong. This figure represents an 11.7% increase from the operating loss of 1.4014 billion won in the same period last year. After incurring a substantial annual operating loss of 44.6 billion won in 2023, the company has failed to escape losses in every quarter since. Additionally, the investment value of its U.S. subsidiary, designated as a global outpost, has dropped by over 1 billion won, resulting in a book loss. While the company aims to enter the North American and European markets, there are significant barriers to transitioning to a profitable 'money-making robot' business. The software capabilities, which serve as the 'brain' of the robots, are still in their infancy. The integration of Samsung's proprietary artificial intelligence technology to enable robots to autonomously assess their surroundings and operate was only achieved last year. Rainbow Robotics aims to establish an AI ecosystem in the industrial robot sector this year, similar to Samsung's proactive development of the 'Galaxy AI ecosystem' for smartphones and TVs. An industry insider noted, "For Rainbow Robotics to succeed in standing on its own in the market without the massive umbrella of 'Samsung,' it is crucial to quickly and effectively build an independent technological ecosystem."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:24:33 -
Korean Business Leaders Meet Japanese Prime Minister Ahead of Summit Ahead of the Korea-Japan summit scheduled for May 19 in Andong, South Korea, major domestic companies met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo to discuss strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. Attention is focused on whether concrete business outcomes will emerge in advanced industries such as supply chains, artificial intelligence (AI), and energy during their meetings with Japanese business leaders.According to industry sources on May 18, the Korean delegation, led by Gu Ja-yeol, chairman of the Korea-Japan Economic Association and LS Group, departed for Japan earlier that day and held a series of meetings with Japanese government officials and key political figures. The delegation met with Prime Minister Takaichi around 3 p.m. and reportedly requested enhanced economic cooperation in key sectors, including global supply chain collaboration, AI data centers, and energy.Takaichi welcomed the delegation's visit, stating, "I greatly appreciate the Korea-Japan Economic Association's representatives. I have been invited to visit Andong, the hometown of President Lee Jae-myung, on May 19, and I believe that business leaders have played a crucial role in fostering friendly relations between our two countries." She added, "I pay my respects to the business leaders who have maintained communication and cooperation, whether our relationship was good or faced challenges."Earlier, the delegation also met with Ryota Takeda, chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentary Federation, who recently emphasized the need for technological cooperation between the two countries. Discussions likely focused on collaboration in advanced industries such as semiconductors. On May 19, the delegation is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Yawata Iwao and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Toshio.The visiting delegation includes Gu Ja-yeol, Shin Dong-bin, chairman of Lotte Group, Gu Ja-eun, chairman of LS Group, Gu Ja-kyun, chairman of LS Electric, Kim Dong-wook, vice president of Hyundai Motor, Lee Hyung-hee, vice chairman of SK, and Lee Jae-eun, president of Samsung C&T.The Korea-Japan Economic Association, in collaboration with the Japan-Korea Economic Association, will hold the 58th Korea-Japan Economic Conference in Tokyo on May 19-20 under the theme "Next Step Together." The event is expected to focus on the restructuring of global supply chains and the intensifying competition in the AI industry. As the U.S.-China conflict continues and protectionist trends spread, the need for cooperation between Korean and Japanese companies in strategic industries such as semiconductor materials, components, equipment, batteries, automotive, and energy infrastructure is growing.There are also expectations for specific collaboration opportunities between companies from both countries. LS Group plans to expand its engagement with Japanese firms in the power equipment and wire sectors, while Hyundai Motor aims to enhance its collaboration in future mobility. Doosan is also looking to expand its connections in the semiconductor materials sector.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 22:19:17
