SK hynix mulls ADR listing in US SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea's memory giant SK hynix is deliberating to list its treasury shares on a U.S. stock market in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) to further bolster its corporate value. In a disclosure responding to the Korea Exchange's request on ADR rumors, the company said Wednesday it would report further details within a month. Shares in Seoul opened 4 percent higher at 588,500 won ($400) upon the disclosure posted before the market opening and closed at 585,000 won. According to a report by Korea Economic Daily, SK hynix has received multiple proposals from global investment banks to convert some of its treasury shares — roughly 2.4 percent of total outstanding, or 17.4 million shares — into ADRs for trading in the United States. An investment-banking official familiar with discussions said the initiative is being “pursued with sincerity at the group level as part of a broader push to enhance corporate value,” adding that the company is expected to begin selecting underwriters soon. Depositary receipts are alternative securities issued to facilitate overseas trading when the underlying shares remain held by a custodian in the home market. When issued in the United States, they are known as ADRs. For SK hynix, the potential listing represents a bid to break free from what has become a chronic valuation discount. Shares of the company trade only in Korea, limiting exposure to U.S. passive investors and long-only funds restricted to U.S. markets. If ADRs are listed in New York, analysts say, SK Hynix could tap a far deeper investor pool and be assessed against global peers on equal footing — particularly Micron Technology, whose business structure, earnings cycle, and product mix closely mirror those of SK hynix. Yet their valuations diverge sharply: SK Hynix trades at 11.4 times expected 2024 earnings, compared with Micron’s 28.7 times. Despite SK hynix’s central role in the artificial-intelligence semiconductor “alliance” anchored by Nvidia — supplying high-end HBM chips that have become the industry’s hottest commodity — it remains absent from major U.S. semiconductor ETFs. In VanEck’s SMH, TSMC’s ADRs account for 9.1 percent; in SOXX, they represent 3.77 percent. SK hynix holds a 0 percent weight in both. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company offers perhaps the clearest precedent. When TSMC listed its ADRs on the New York Stock Exchange in 1997, the move helped global investors apply a higher valuation multiple based on U.S. semiconductor comps. Over time, TSMC expanded its ADR issuance from 2–3 percent of outstanding shares to nearly 20 percent. A persistent premium of ADR prices over the Taiwan-listed shares ultimately propelled a broader revaluation of the company in its home market — an outcome SK Hynix aims to replicate. The timing also aligns with Korea’s “value-up” initiative and with ongoing debates over mandatory treasury-share cancellation. Because ADR issuance uses existing treasury shares rather than destroying them, the policy goals remain intact while allowing a company to unlock greater value. The proposal could also reshape traditional shareholder-return practices in Korea, which have centered almost exclusively on dividends and share buybacks. SK hynix, which shifted into a net-cash position in the third quarter, has faced mounting pressure to boost shareholder payouts. An ADR listing offers a “third path,” potentially raising its market value without resorting to new borrowing or issuing fresh equity. A U.S. listing would require compliance with America’s stringent disclosure and accounting standards, improving transparency and governance while broadening access to capital. Shareholders would benefit from any rerating of the stock, while the company could gain the option to raise significant funds at a later stage. Questions remain over supply. Aside from portions of treasury shares already tied to a 2023 exchangeable bond, SK hynix holds roughly 2.4 percent of its outstanding shares that are usable for ADR issuance — equivalent to about 10 trillion won. An industry official cautioned that such a float would still rank only as a mid-cap in the U.S. market, suggesting the company may need to repurchase additional shares if it aims to secure material valuation impact. Its local rival Samsung Electronics trades ADRs over the counter, without listing them directly on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq. 2025-12-10 09:15:28

Kookmin University wins national program to train next-generation eco-biological materials specialists SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Kookmin University said Tuesday it has been selected for the government's "Specialized Graduate School in Environmental Fields" initiative in the area of biological materials, a program overseen by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and supported by the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute. The project will run for five years from 2025 to 2030 with a total budget of 6.2 billion won. Professor Park Yong-cheol of the Department of Bio-Fermentation and Convergence is leading the program. The ministry designed the initiative to advance sustainable green technologies based on bio-derived materials and to strengthen South Korea's competitiveness in securing biological resources amid intensifying global competition following the Paris Agreement and the Nagoya Protocol. It also aims to cultivate a new talent pool and build an industrial ecosystem in the eco-friendly biological materials sector. With the new designation, Kookmin University will launch and operate the "Eco-Biomaterials Convergence Graduate Program," which will train students in both development and production technologies. The school plans to open 114 courses, including new modules dedicated to biomaterials development and manufacturing, and offer industry-linked programs such as the PBR-MAX track, on-site internships and global seminars to strengthen practical competencies. Kookmin University will also build a research platform that integrates AI, data science and synthetic biology for eco-biomaterials, while expanding its global collaboration network in the sector. The university said the initiative is expected to enhance connectivity between education, research and industry while contributing to new green-technology industries and broader industrial competitiveness. Kookmin University previously operated a specialized graduate program in green convergence technologies after being selected for an earlier round of the initiative in 2020. Its Department of Bio-Fermentation and Convergence — the only one of its kind in South Korea — has partnered with 19 companies in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and environmental materials to offer joint projects, internships and on-site training. The university said this track record helped secure the latest selection. The department will be renamed the Department of Convergence Bioengineering beginning in the 2026 academic year to reflect its integration of biotechnology and AI. "This selection is an important milestone that demonstrates Kookmin University's strength in ESG fields, a key pillar of the KMU Vision 2035: EDGE agenda," Kookmin University President Chung Seung-ryeol said in a statement. "We will continue working to become a hub for interdisciplinary and industry-ready talent in green technology." Professor Park said the university will "further expand the environmental and industrial value of biological materials" and strengthen its ability to train globally competitive talent, calling the new program a significant step in advancing Kookmin University's practical education model. 2025-12-09 17:52:20

Asian stocks mostly flat ahead of FOMC as caution builds SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Asian stocks were largely unchanged on Tuesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.3 percent to 4,143.55, while the KOSDAQ added 0.4 percent to 931.35. Market sentiment was subdued as traders awaited the outcome of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting beginning Tuesday U.S. time, where policymakers will decide the December rate move. The KOSPI retreated after two sessions of gains, dragged lower by heavyweight tech shares Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Samsung slid 0.9 percent to 108,400 won ($73.8), and SK hynix dropped 1.9 percent to 566,000 won. LG Energy Solution, the third-largest stock by market cap, fell 1.8 percent to 443,500 won. Autos also weakened. Hyundai Motor declined 2.7 percent to 307,000 won, Kia slipped 1.4 percent to 123,800 won, and KB Financial Group lost 1.5 percent to 126,000 won. Entertainment stocks were mixed to slightly higher. HYBE rose 0.7 percent to 291,000 won, JYP Entertainment edged up 0.3 percent to 67,800 won, and YG Entertainment added 0.5 percent to 61,800 won, while SM Entertainment dipped 0.4 percent to 101,600 won. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 inched up 0.1 percent to 50,655.10 as large-cap shares moved unevenly. Toyota Motor, the index’s biggest constituent, rose 0.2 percent to 3,066 yen ($19.6), and SoftBank Group gained 0.8 percent to 18,800 yen. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group slipped 0.5 percent to 2,486 yen, and Nintendo tumbled 3.4 percent to 11,900 yen. Canon climbed 1.3 percent to 4,635 yen, and Panasonic Holdings advanced 1.5 percent to 1,886.5 yen. NHK on Monday released a survey of 1,192 adults showing that 54 percent were concerned that China–Japan tensions could negatively affect the Japanese economy—14 percent saying they were “very worried” and 40 percent “somewhat worried.” In China, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.4 percent to 3,909.52. China’s exports rose more than expected in November, according to customs data released Monday. Shipments increased 5.9 percent from a year earlier to $330.35 billion, beating economists’ forecasts of a 3.8 percent gain in a Reuters poll and 4 percent in a Bloomberg survey. The country’s trade surplus for January–November reached $1.08 trillion, topping the $1 trillion mark for the first time on record. Some Chinese economists say the surplus is now too large and is weighing on domestic demand. Zhang Jun, dean of the School of Economics at Fudan University, said in a recent speech that China should consider narrowing the surplus—and even running a deficit in the long term—to stimulate consumption. 2025-12-09 17:37:36

Chinese, Russian military jets briefly buzz South Korean airspace SEOUL, December 9 (AJP) - Around nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft buzzed South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) here. According to the JCS, two Chinese and seven Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ at around 10 a.m., before leaving shortly after. This prompted South Korean military fighter jets to scramble in response to any incidents. They were bombers and fighter jets involved in the two big powers' military maneuvers in the region. A JCS official said, "The Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ near Ulleungdo Island and the easternmost islets of Dokdo, while the Chinese aircraft entered near the submerged shelf of Ieodo, before converging near Japan's Tsushima Island." Similar flybys occurred in November, last year during their joint military exercises as well. The air defense identification zone does not constitute territorial airspace but is established in order to identify air traffic. It is common protocol for aircraft to obtain prior permission before entering another country's air defense identification zone. But Russia does not recognize South Korea's KADIZ, citing a lack of international legal basis. The KADIZ over Ieodo overlaps with the airspaces of both South Korea and China. 2025-12-09 17:26:35

Korean memory makers eye bumper year to extend into 2026 SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc., enjoying their best-yet bumper cycle, are set to reap more than $20 billion in combined operating income for the quarter ending December, according to upgrades by brokerage houses following stronger-than-expected price gains in memory chips from mass-market to high end. Kiwoom Securities on Monday projected SK hynix’s fourth-quarter operating profit at 16.2 trillion won ($11 billion), about 1.6 trillion won above the market consensus estimate of 14.6 trillion won. Its mainstay DRAM business, led by high-bandwidth memory (HBM), is expected to deliver 15.3 trillion won, while NAND flash profit is seen at 900 billion won—up 39 percent and 170 percent, respectively, from the previous quarter. KB Securities projected on Tuesday that Samsung Electronics will record an operating profit of 19 trillion won in the fourth quarter, a 192 percent jump from a year earlier, comfortably beating the market consensus of 14.9 trillion won. Operating profit from the chip division is expected to surge fivefold year on year and double from the previous quarter to 15.1 trillion won, with DRAM operating margins improving to 53 percent from 32 percent in the same period last year. Industry watchers predict the red-hot earnings streak to extend into 2026, citing severe supply constraints across memory products including mainstream DRAM. As major cloud service providers rush to secure memory components for AI data centers, prices of HBM, DRAM, and NAND all continue to push north. Financial data provider FnGuide estimates Samsung Electronics’ 2026 operating profit will exceed 80 trillion won ($54.3 billion), while SK hynix’s is forecast at 73.24 trillion won ($49.7 billion). The projections suggest the two Korean companies are heading into one of the most profitable stretches in global semiconductor history. “Samsung has reportedly raised contract prices for server DRAM by 60 percent to 80 percent in the fourth quarter,” said Kim Dong-won, head of research at KB Securities. “Despite these steep hikes, many customers other than big tech companies haven’t been able to secure sufficient supply since November, suggesting prices will continue to climb aggressively.” The surge in chip demand is likely to intensify as Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 3.0, equipped with Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), enters direct competition with Nvidia’s GPUs. Analysts say the rise of such new architectures signals an expansion of the semiconductor market and sustained demand for high-performance memory chips. 2025-12-09 16:54:02

SRT bullet train clocks up over 205 million passengers in nearly a decade SEOUL, December 9 (AJP) - Tuesday marks the 9th anniversary of high-speed rail service Super Rapid Train (SRT). Operator SR Corporation said its high-speed trains, with a maximum speed of 305 km/h, have carried a total of 205 million passengers over the past nine years. Passenger numbers grew sharply from 1 million in 2016 to 26.69 million last year. As of early this week, approximately 24.33 million passengers have used the service this year. The number of daily commuters also exceeded initial forecasts, rising from 53,334 in 2017 to 70,920 this year. SRT passengers have traveled a combined 45.5 billion kilometers, equivalent to 151 round trips between Earth and the Sun. SR's acting CEO Shim Young-joo said, "We will continue to strive to provide passengers with safe and convenient high-speed rail service." In a related development, the government announced plans the previous day to merge SRT with the primary KTX bullet train service by the end of next year, allowing passengers to transfer between the two high-speed trains. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-09 16:52:31

KTX-SRT integration after 10 years enabling easier rail access from southern Seoul SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Korea will merge its two high-speed rail operators — KTX, run by the state-owned Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), and SRT, operated by SR Corporation — by the end of next year, which can enable easier rail travel from southern part of Seoul and reduce overlapping costs. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced Monday that the two services will begin cross-operating their trains in March. Under the plan, SRT trains, which currently depart exclusively from Suseo Station in southern Seoul, will also run from Seoul Station, the city's largest rail terminal. KTX trains, normally operating from Seoul or Yongsan stations, will start departing from Suseo as well. The government expects the shift to ease seat shortages on popular routes. The KTX trains scheduled to operate from Suseo have 955 seats across 20 cars — more than double the 410 seats on a standard 10-car SRT train. KORAIL estimates the integration will add about 16,690 seats nationwide on peak-demand weekends, raising daily high-speed rail capacity by roughly 6.5 percent from the current level of 255,000 seats. Authorities also said reducing duplication between the two operators could allow KTX fares to be lowered by up to 10 percent. Seat shortages at Suseo have become a persistent problem since SRT launched in 2016. Because all SRT trains depart from Suseo, passengers in the busy southern Seoul region — including Gangnam and Bundang — overwhelmingly rely on the station, especially during peak travel times such as Friday evenings or Monday mornings, when tickets routinely sell out within minutes. Capacity limitations are made worse by SRT's smaller trains and the lack of flexibility to redeploy rolling stock between the two systems, as KTX and SRT have been operated separately. Following the operational transition next year, the government plans to merge ticketing platforms and allow passengers to book all high-speed services through a single application. Full institutional consolidation between KORAIL and SR is expected by the end of 2026, marking the first such merger since SR was established in 2013 and 10 years after SRT first entered service. However, critics argue that the key problems behind the initial decision to separate the two operators — including heavy debt loads and repeated safety incidents — remain unresolved. KORAIL's debt ratio rose from 242 percent in 2020 to 265 percent last year, while SR's stood at 173 percent. Concerns have also been raised that combining KORAIL's nearly 30,000-person workforce with SR's 700 employees will expand the organization without structural reform. Safety remains another major issue. KORAIL currently holds exclusive responsibility for maintenance, yet serious accidents have continued. In August, seven workers were killed or injured during track maintenance in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, prompting renewed criticism of oversight. A KORAIL public relations official, responding to questions about concerns over maintenance responsibilities remaining solely with KORAIL after the merger, said, "This is a roadmap that now requires discussion and agreement between labor and management. Nothing is finalized yet." Labor-related risks have also drawn attention. KORAIL's union is affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), while SR's union is independent. At present, even if KORAIL workers strike, SRT trains continue running. After the merger, a nationwide strike could halt all high-speed rail operations, raising concerns about the country's logistics infrastructure. Transport experts say the merger could benefit passengers if executed effectively, but warn that without financial reform, safety investment, and labor restructuring, consolidation could simply enlarge an already inefficient system. For now, the public remains divided on whether the integration will ultimately improve service or create new vulnerabilities. "Integration is now the government's decided direction, and any side effects from institutional consolidation must be assessed objectively, and we hope decisions regarding structural changes will be made rationally and based on objective data," a high-speed rail industry official said. 2025-12-09 16:29:12

3M turns to robotics to meet strict Korean standards for automated tapes HWASUNG, December 09 (AJP) - A multi-axis industrial robot sweeps deliberately across a component panel, its joints pivoting with an almost animal-like fluidity. From a needle-fine nozzle, it extrudes a glossy black ribbon of liquid-form tape that catches the overhead lights before settling into a perfect line. As the machine arcs over curved ridges and dips into semi-circular edges — surfaces that typically force human technicians to slow their breathing and reset their hands — bundles of cables trail from its arm like tendrils. Each pass lands with identical precision, as though the robot were tracing an invisible blueprint only it can see. Inside a restricted-access lab at 3M Korea’s research center in Hwaseong, the demonstration feels part workshop, part choreography. A 3M engineer stands at a console, tuning parameters and occasionally nudging the robot’s movement. “With flexible automation, the robot is now dispensing tape more precisely than a human can,” he said, watching the tape settle into flawless contours. The system — branded internally as RoboTape™ System— is built for unbroken consistency and speed, traits Korean manufacturers increasingly regard not as advantages but as survival requirements. U.S.-based materials giant 3M is now leaning on Korea’s demanding industrial environment to pressure-test and refine its next-generation automation technologies before deploying them globally. At a technology briefing Monday, company executives underscored how Korean manufacturers — known for unforgiving specifications, rapid development cycles and millimeter-level quality thresholds — are directly influencing the evolution of automated bonding, sealing and dispensing systems across appliances, displays and electric vehicles. “Korean customers require extremely detailed performance data before finalizing their product designs,” said Choi Bokyung, a senior application engineer at 3M Korea. “To complete their modeling, they need reliable simulation data for each material going into a component. We share that data actively so customers can raise the overall completeness of their designs.” That data-heavy collaboration has intensified as manufacturers race to automate tasks once handled manually, driven by rising labor costs, worker shortages and increasingly complex internal product architectures. According to 3M, robotic tape and adhesive systems not only reduce reliance on manual work but deliver uniformity that human operators cannot consistently match. Choi said labor costs — in a country known for powerful unions and high wages — are one of the strongest incentives behind automation. “When production depends heavily on manual work, quality can vary dramatically between operators,” she said. “Automation makes sure end users receive the same level of quality every time.” But the business case hinges on scale. Chung Sehoon, bonding project specialist leader at 3M Korea, noted that automation only becomes cost-effective when it replaces larger teams. “In our experience, automation doesn’t always make sense when a line has just two or three workers,” he said. “In those cases, costs may even rise. But when you’re running lines that need 10 or 20 workers, the labor savings far outweigh the automation investment.” As product designs grow more intricate, automated tape systems are entering areas once off-limits to manual work: curved appliance housings, the maze-like wiring harnesses inside refrigerators, large-format displays, and irregular surfaces beneath what appear to be flat exteriors. “Even products that look perfectly flat often contain extremely complex internal structures,” Choi said. “Automation allows tape to be applied precisely along wiring, curved edges and other irregular surfaces without relying on manual dispensing.” At the heart of 3M’s strategy is the goal of turning automated tape and adhesive solutions into a core platform technology. The company showcased two approaches: extrusion-based systems that dispense tape directly from specialized cartridges, and robotic tape systems co-developed with Canadian equipment maker Innovative Automation. “Not every tape can be automated,” Choi noted. “The material and equipment must be designed together — which is why we partner with high-quality equipment firms to ensure stable performance.” One of the clearest testing grounds is the automotive sector, where electrification has rewritten bonding requirements. Battery packs must be tightly sealed against water and contaminants yet be removable for repairs — a dual demand traditional adhesives struggle to meet. “That’s why we developed elastic sealants that preserve airtight performance while remaining removable when necessary,” said Joo Hyung Suk, director overseeing 3M’s automotive business. He said 3M’s elastic battery sealant is already used by major Korean automakers and overseas manufacturers. The material stays elastic for years, preventing moisture intrusion while allowing service teams to reopen the pack without damage. Automation is what makes these solutions viable at scale, Joo emphasized. “Automation is no longer optional. Without automated processes, achieving both price competitiveness and consistent quality is impossible.” 3M also highlighted high-strength structural adhesives — capable of bonding chassis and body components with strength approaching welding — but without the heat-induced distortion of traditional welding processes. Because the adhesives cure at room temperature, they lower energy consumption and are more compatible with lightweight materials such as aluminum and carbon-fiber composites. These decisions — from heat tolerance to load-bearing needs — are set through intensive collaboration with automakers, Joo said. Across the briefing, executives repeatedly pointed to Korea’s role as a fast-moving, high-specification market that has become a global testbed for 3M. Feedback from Korean customers is relayed to global R&D teams almost instantly, accelerating development cycles well beyond what is possible elsewhere. With automation demand rising across sectors, 3M expects its automated tape and adhesive systems not only to support Korea’s industrial competitiveness but also to anchor its next phase of global expansion. 2025-12-09 16:22:26

Mercedes-Benz–LG deal marks latest harvest from Korea's high-stakes LFP bet SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Behind LG Energy Solution's latest $1.4 billion breakthrough with Mercedes-Benz lies a strategic gamble South Korea placed years ago: a belated but deliberate expansion into mid-to-lower-end rechargeable batteries even as China dominated the field. That pivot is now paying dividends as surging demand from AI data centers, along with Western efforts to diversify supply chains away from China, creates fresh openings for Korean players. The long-term supply agreement announced Monday covers batteries for Mercedes-Benz's North American and European production lines from March 2028 to June 2035. It follows CEO Ola Källenius's meeting with LG Group leaders in Seoul last month, where he signaled a more balanced supply-chain strategy to support Mercedes-Benz's plan to launch more than 40 new models by 2027 under a cost-conscious electrification drive. While both sides declined to disclose the battery chemistry, industry analysts widely believe the order targets affordable EV lineups and will likely involve lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells — a segment China has effectively controlled for nearly a decade. "This is a long-awaited order from Europe and a win against heavy Chinese presence such as CATL," said Yoo Ji-woong, an analyst at Daol Investment & Securities. LFP batteries, built with iron and phosphate instead of costly nickel or cobalt, cost roughly 30 percent less than nickel-based chemistries and offer advantages for mass-market EVs. China invested aggressively in LFP early, securing more than 80 percent of global production and relegating Korean makers to higher-end, nickel-rich cells. As of October 2025, Chinese producers controlled nearly 69 percent of global EV battery installations, according to SNE Research. CATL holds 38.1 percent alone — more than quadruple LG Energy Solution's 9.3 percent share — and Korea's battery trio of LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On has seen its combined market share slip from above 30 percent in 2021 to 23.8 percent in the first half of this year. Yet Korea's long-delayed reentry into the LFP segment has gained traction precisely where the chemistry is booming: in energy storage systems (ESS). LFP has become the preferred platform for storing solar and wind power due to its lower thermal-runaway risk and long cycle life. The rise of AI data centers, which require unprecedentedly stable and heavy power loads, is accelerating this shift. SNE Research forecasts the global ESS market to grow sixfold from 185 GWh in 2023 to 1,232 GWh by 2035. Korean battery companies are positioning themselves aggressively. LG Energy Solution began mass-producing LFP cells for ESS at its Michigan plant in June and plans to expand capacity there to 30 GWh by year-end. Its joint venture with Stellantis in Canada will also convert some nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lines to LFP for ESS. Samsung SDI plans to convert its Stellantis JV factory in the United States to ESS production with a 30 GWh annual target by end-2025 and is expected to supply Tesla with more than 3 trillion won worth of ESS batteries over three years, delivering about 10 GWh annually. SK On, meanwhile, secured a 1 GWh ESS supply deal in the United States in September and will convert part of its Georgia plant to fulfill the order, with additional line conversions under review depending on demand. Geopolitical shifts are amplifying these opportunities. The United States now imposes more than 45 percent in combined tariffs on Chinese EV lithium-ion batteries — a 25 percent Section 301 duty plus two separate 10 percent levies tied to fentanyl enforcement and reciprocal trade measures following the Trump–Xi summit in Busan. The European Union has added tariffs of up to 35 percent on Chinese EVs, atop its preexisting 10 percent duty, and is reviewing whether to widen tariff coverage to lithium-ion battery imports. "The decoupling of the U.S. from China is expected to accelerate in areas with high Chinese dependency such as ESS batteries and graphite, which will serve as an opportunity for Korean battery companies," said Lee Jin-myung, an analyst at Shinhan Securities. To capture this opening, LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI plan to install LFP production lines at their U.S. plants co-owned with General Motors, marking the Korean battery makers' full-scale entry into a chemistry they long avoided. LG has also announced plans to begin domestic LFP production at its Ochang plant by 2027. Global EV battery installations outside China rose 28.5 percent year-on-year to 377.5 GWh in the first ten months of 2025, according to SNE Research — evidence that demand remains strong in markets where Korean suppliers compete on quality and tariff-free access. 2025-12-09 16:06:09

Naver's shopping app emerges as Korea's fastest-growing e-commerce platform SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Naver’s shopping app, Naver Plus Store, has emerged as the fastest-growing platform in South Korea’s e-commerce market this year, according to market data. Data from Sensor Tower released on Tuesday showed that Naver Plus Store ranked first in both downloads and growth in South Korea between January and October, underscoring the success of Naver’s strategy to launch a standalone, AI-focused commerce application. While Coupang continues to lead in monthly active users (MAU), the report said Naver Plus Store is rapidly narrowing the gap, posting the fastest MAU growth among major shopping apps. Upon its launch in March, the app topped popularity charts on Google Play and Apple App Store, and outpaced ChatGPT in downloads between March and May. By October, cumulative downloads approached 800,000. User data indicated that Naver’s AI-driven approach has been effective in appealing to key consumer segments. Women accounted for 58 percent of users, while 41 percent were aged between 35 and 44, highlighting strong traction among household decision-makers. Globally, the report showed China-based Temu leading in both downloads and MAU growth, while India’s Blinkit ranked first in download growth, reflecting rising potential in emerging markets. Sensor Tower said global e-commerce app downloads increased by 45 percent compared with 2019 levels, as online shopping habits became entrenched after the pandemic. “As user acquisition slows in mature markets, competition is shifting toward retaining existing users and improving service experiences,” Sensor Tower said in a press release, adding that emerging regions such as Latin America and Africa are becoming key growth engines. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-09 15:57:53