Mercedes-Benz chief visits Seoul to discuss deepening ties with LG, Samsung SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Ola Källenius, chairman of Mercedes-Benz Group, is set to meet with top South Korean corporate leaders in Seoul this week as the German automaker looks to expand partnerships in next-generation automotive technologies. Källenius’s visit highlights Mercedes-Benz’s strategic push to strengthen its supply chain and technology partnerships in Asia — particularly in South Korea, home to some of the world’s leading suppliers of batteries, displays, and high-performance chips essential to the future of mobility. Källenius will hold talks with senior executives from LG Group on Thursday at the company’s headquarters in Seoul, according to the group. The discussions are expected to center on collaboration in automotive electronics and software-defined vehicles, or SDVs — the emerging class of cars whose functions are increasingly controlled by software. Attending from LG will be Chief Executive Cho Joo-wan of LG Electronics, Kim Dong-myung of LG Energy Solution, Jeong Cheol-dong of LG Display, and Moon Hyuk-soo of LG Innotek. The companies are likely to discuss the supply of batteries, displays, sensors, and other key components that could underpin Mercedes-Benz’s future electric and digital vehicle platforms. Källenius last met with LG leaders about 18 months ago at a private “Tech Day” in Germany, where the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation. Following that meeting, he wrote on social media that Mercedes-Benz aimed “to deliver exceptional digital product experiences” and was “confident in setting new standards with LG as a strong partner.” The Mercedes-Benz chairman’s visit underscores the growing importance of South Korean technology companies in the global auto industry’s transition to electric and software-driven vehicles. In addition to his meetings with LG, Källenius is scheduled to meet Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong to explore opportunities in automotive semiconductors, batteries, and display technologies. Samsung SDI President Choi Joo-sun and Samsung Display President Lee Cheong are also expected to attend. He is also expected to meet Cho Hyun-sang, vice chairman of HS Hyosung, which operates HS Hyosung The Class, an official Mercedes-Benz dealer in South Korea. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-12 15:44:17

Wedding costs fully disclosed in Korea as marriage aversion among 30s deepens SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Bulging wedding costs stand as a growing reason for South Koreans in their late 20s and 30s to put off tying the knot, deepening the country’s demographic woes and prompting antitrust authorities to enforce full disclosure on wedding charges. Starting Wednesday, wedding service providers in South Korea — including studios, dress rental shops and makeup salons — must disclose all pricing terms, including refund policies, before signing any contracts. Responding to mounting complaints about sticker shock in the country’s notoriously expensive and opaque wedding procedures, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) announced revisions to the Mandatory Disclosure Regulation for Key Advertising and Pricing Information. All wedding-related businesses, from venues and planners to photo studios, must now post prices for base packages, optional add-ons, cancellation penalties and refund terms on their official websites or on the state-run Price Information Portal (price.go.kr). Violations can result in administrative fines of up to 100 million won ($73,000), with a six-month grace period before full enforcement begins. Weddings have increasingly turned into a luxury — and a reason many couples skip the ceremonial procedure or forgo marriage altogether. A 2025 survey by the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association found that 42 percent of unmarried Koreans have “no plans to marry,” with one in four citing financial burden as the main reason. Including housing, the average cost of marriage now exceeds 360 million won ($266,000), while a single wedding ceremony in Seoul costs about 26.6 million won ($19,600) on average. According to the latest data from the Korea Consumer Agency, the cost of a wedding in the affluent Gangnam district averaged 33.36 million won as of June, compared with the nationwide average of 20.74 million won. The figure covers the wedding hall fee and the bundled package of photography, dress rental and makeup. A separate survey by matchmaking firm Gayeon placed the average cost of the bundled package alone at 4.79 million won. Consumer complaints filed with the Korea Consumer Agency jumped 63 percent between 2021 and 2023. Korea’s long-standing “showcase wedding” culture — where families compete to stage lavish ceremonies and photo shoots — has fanned wedding inflation and forced many to swallow the extra burden to avoid ruining one of the biggest days of their lives. Couples say the new rule could correct the exploitative nature of the market. Kim Ga-hyun (30), who is preparing for marriage, said financial stress often leads to conflict among families and fights between couples. “Wedding costs keep snowballing and cause arguments,” she said. “Knowing prices upfront can be helpful since we at least know what we’re getting into.” Eunhye Lee, director at the Korea Wedding Planners Association, said the policy will bring mixed results for the industry. “From a consulting perspective, price disclosure actually makes it easier for us to explain total package costs to clients,” she said. “But many vendors are hesitant because each service combines both product and quality, so it’s difficult to set a uniform standard.” Still, the move is welcomed by consumers. Seoul resident Kim Kyu-bin (29), who married in 2023, regrets the rule came too late. “The extra bill arrived only after I fell in love with a dress. Knowing the price ahead would help plan the wedding more realistically.” How pricing disclosure will help rationalize costs, contain inflation, or even bolster the country’s record-low marriage rate — 3.8 per 1,000 people — remains to be seen. 2025-11-12 15:41:08

Seoul's bike-sharing service marks 10 years with 250 million cumulative rides SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Marking its 10th year, bicycle-sharing app Seoul Bike has accumulated more than 250 million rides, or 25 per resident of the capital, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Wednesday. Launched amid much skepticism in October 2015 with some 2,000 bicycles at 150 locations, the app, also known as "Ddareungi," has grown to around 37,500 bikes across more than 3,000 stations in the city. According to the city government, during weekdays, more than half of users commuted with the service during morning and evening rush hours, while on weekends, about 41.9 percent used it in the afternoon, likely for leisure activities. About 8.5 percent of weekday users and 10.5 percent of weekend users relied on the service during late-night hours after midnight, suggesting it was often their most accessible option when public transportation was not available. The number of foreign users and tourists has also been on the rise, with their rides reaching 50,599 in the first nine months of this year, a 2.5-fold increase from the same period in 2019. As part of efforts to further boost the service, a new three-hour rental option was added this week to the existing one- and two-hour time limits, allowing users to enjoy longer rides without the hassle of frequent returns. To ease congestion, users are encouraged to rent and return bikes in less crowded areas, earning extra mileage points as a reward. The city government has partnered with around 80 local bike shops to enhance maintenance and ensure riders' safety. "Over the past decade, we have strived to provide a safer and more convenient public bike service for Seoulites, and we will continue those efforts," said Yeh Jang-gwon, a city official. 2025-11-12 14:56:00

KAIST develops flexible ultrasound sensor that can diagnose and treat without surgery SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - KAIST researchers have developed a new flexible ultrasound sensor that can both capture medical images and deliver noninvasive therapy without the need for surgery or external beamforming. The breakthrough could open new possibilities for wearable medical devices and home-based treatment systems. The team led by Professor Hyunjoo Lee of the KAIST School of Electrical Engineering announced on November 12 that it has created a flex-to-rigid (FTR) capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) using a semiconductor-based MEMS process. The device can freely adjust its curvature to match the contours of the human body while maintaining high output performance, making it suitable for both diagnosis and treatment. At the core of the design is a low-melting-point alloy (LMPA) inserted inside the sensor. When an electrical current is applied, the alloy melts, allowing the transducer to reshape; once cooled, it solidifies and retains the desired curvature. This mechanism enables the device to form precise ultrasonic focus points without any electronic beam steering, ensuring stable imaging and stimulation even under repeated bending. Unlike conventional polymer-based CMUTs, which often produce weak acoustic output and lose focus due to low stiffness, KAIST’s FTR structure combines a rigid silicon base with flexible elastomer bridges. The result is a highly durable, adaptable sensor that retains its electrical and acoustic stability even after multiple deformations. In laboratory tests, the output power reached levels equivalent to or higher than low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU), a therapeutic ultrasound used to stimulate nerves and organs without damaging tissue. When applied to animal models, the sensor successfully delivered noninvasive stimulation to the spleen, reducing inflammation and improving movement in arthritic mice. Professor Lee said the technology could play a key role in future wearable and home medical systems, enabling real-time diagnosis and treatment without surgical intervention. “By integrating the flexibility of wearable devices with the precision of high-performance ultrasound, we’re moving closer to truly personalized, hands-free healthcare,” she said. The research, co-led by Dr. Sangmok Lee and Ph.D. candidate Xiaojia Liang as first authors, was published online in npj Flexible Electronics on October 23 under the title “Flexible ultrasound transducer array with statically adjustable curvature for anti-inflammatory treatment.” 2025-11-12 14:52:47

Hanwha Aerospace earns top global certification for R&D excellence SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace said on Wednesday that it has received the highest possible rating in a global assessment of research and development capabilities. The company earned a Level 5 certification under Version 3.0 of the Capability Maturity Model Integration, or CMMI, a global standard developed by Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense. The designation represents a benchmark for advanced quality management and continuous improvement in complex engineering and software systems. Level 5 certification, rarely achieved even among top-tier defense contractors, indicates that Hanwha Aerospace operates with highly optimized R&D processes and a culture of systematic performance improvement, the company said. The certification covers the company’s core defense operations, including ground weapon systems, precision-guided munitions, and energy storage systems for submarines — all key components of South Korea’s growing defense export portfolio. “The quality of defense products is directly tied to national security, making rigorous management systems as vital as technical innovation,” Hanwha Aerospace said in a press release. “We will continue to strengthen our R&D management to become a trusted global defense partner.” Hanwha Aerospace has emerged as a central player in South Korea’s efforts to expand its defense and aerospace industries. The company supplies engines, propulsion systems, and precision components to both domestic and international defense programs, while also investing in next-generation technologies such as space launch vehicles and urban air mobility. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-12 14:09:07

PHOTOS: Ancient ginkgo trees enduring centuries SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - In Jangsu-dong, Incheon, and Banggye-ri, Gangwon Province, two ancient ginkgo trees stand as witnesses to time. Their vast canopies cast golden shadows across the ground, glowing under the thin autumn light. The ginkgo in Jangsu-dong grows in the middle of the city. An overpass runs beside it, yet the tree holds its ground as if untouched by concrete and steel. The bark is coarse and timeworn, its surface cracked and uneven. Wooden pillars now support its enormous trunk, but its branches remain perfectly balanced, spreading outward in quiet symmetry.​​​​​​​ From its base, multiple limbs diverge like rivers from a single source, shaping a dome of branches that seem deliberately composed. Designated as Natural Monument No. 562, the tree stands 28 meters tall, with a circumference of nearly 9 meters and an estimated age of about 800 years. Beyond the low fence surrounding it, fallen leaves lie thick on the ground. Each gust of wind scatters them like yellow rain, and visitors lift their phones to capture the fleeting sight. Many have come deliberately for this — to see the tree at its brightest before winter dulls its color. The parking lot under the overpass fills easily, yet the crowd moves slowly, reverently, around the stillness of the tree.​​​​​​​ At a distance, standing apart from the flow of people, the tree’s size and composure feel almost solemn. While everything moves and changes, it alone remains unmoved.​​​​​​​ The ginkgo in Banggye-ri tells a different story. Standing before it, one feels age more than scale. Its massive trunk splits into thick limbs that stretch in every direction, some propped by supports. The surface is deeply creased, like folded fabric, and parts of its roots rise above the soil, tangled and exposed. From a distance, the tree resembles a cluster of trees rather than one.​​​​​​​ When the wind blows, yellow leaves lift into the air all at once, and for a moment, the entire landscape falls still. Designated as Natural Monument No. 167, the Banggye-ri ginkgo is said to be around 1,300 years old, tracing its roots back to the Unified Silla period. Standing 26 meters high and more than 14 meters in girth, it towers above the surrounding rice fields, a solitary figure in open land.​​​​​​​ For centuries, villagers have regarded it as sacred. Old tales speak of a white serpent that once lived beneath its roots — a spirit said to guard the tree. No one dared to cut or harm it, and through storms, droughts, and the slow touch of time, it has survived. To stand before it is to feel not sentiment, but awe — the weight of endurance itself. The small parking area often overflows, a quiet proof of how many come to see it. ​​​​​​​ Leaving both trees behind, one remembers Jangsu-dong for its balance and stillness, and Banggye-ri for its scale and history. The first shows how nature can endure within a city; the second, how humankind grows smaller before the passing of time. At the edge of November, as yellow leaves drift through the cold air, both trees meet the same season again — as they have for centuries. 2025-11-12 14:03:18

Kakao Mobility launches autonomous ride service in Seoul SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Kakao Mobility, the transportation arm of South Korea’s internet giant Kakao, has introduced a new autonomous ride service in Seoul’s Sangam area, integrating self-driving technology into everyday transportation. The service, part of the Kakao T platform, offers what is known as Demand Responsive Transport, or DRT — a flexible form of public transit that adjusts its routes and schedules based on passenger demand. Unlike traditional buses, DRT vehicles stop only at designated stations within a defined service zone. Users can request, board, and pay for rides through the Kakao T app, selecting routes, stops, and departure times, and tracking vehicle locations and waiting times in real time. Kakao Mobility developed the system using data and operational experience from pilot programs in Seoul’s Gangnam area, the city of Sejong, and Jeju Island. Since being named a private operator for Seoul’s autonomous vehicle transport platform in September last year, the company has been working to fold autonomous services into its existing app-based mobility ecosystem. The new service, operated in partnership with the self-driving technology company SWM, will run on the A02 route in the Sangam area in Mapo-gu. Two vehicles, including one equipped for wheelchair access, will serve the route. The pilot service will be free of charge during its initial testing phase, operating on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. near Sangam DMC Station. Kakao Mobility said it plans to gradually expand the service to rural, suburban, and aging communities, where public transportation is often limited. “We hope more citizens will experience the convenience of autonomous DRT through the Kakao T app,” Ryu Gung-seon, the company’s chief executive, said in a press release. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-12 13:53:13

Asian stocks mixed early Wed amid conflicting US factors, USD/KRW near 1,470 SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Asian stocks were mixed in early Wednesday trading as investors sidelined for a breakthrough in the U.S. fiscal standoff. In Seoul, the KOSPI swung the positive and negative before settling 0.6 percent higher at 4,133.36 by midday. The KOSDAQ rose 1.8 percent to reclaim the 900 level. Foreign investors continued to sell, pushing the Korean won down to near 1,470 per U.S. dollar. Analysts cited conflicting forces — hopes for a U.S. fiscal settlement and lingering pressure from the overnight drop in major American tech stocks — as key drivers of the early volatility. Among heavyweights, Samsung Electronics fell 1.6 percent to 101,800 won ($69), and SK hynix declined 2.8 percent to 602,000 won, following losses in U.S. chip and AI shares. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index slid 2.5 percent. The Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.3 percent to 23,468.30, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 gained 1.2 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. NVIDIA sank 3 percent after reports that SoftBank Group had sold its entire stake, reviving concerns about an “AI bubble” and stretched valuations. Sentiment toward chipmakers remains divided. Worries about overinvestment continue to fuel bubble fears, even as strong earnings expectations attract buyers. Bloomberg estimates U.S. tech giants will spend roughly $320 billion this year on AI infrastructure, more than double the $151 billion invested in 2023, with the figure projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2031. Venture capital funding for AI startups surpassed $100 billion last year, hitting a record high. Morgan Stanley maintained an upbeat view on Korean memory shares, recently raising its price targets for Samsung Electronics to 175,000 won and SK hynix to 850,000 won, citing solid AI-driven memory demand. Automakers and defense names outperformed. Hyundai Motor rose 2.2 percent to 275,000 won, and Hanwha Aerospace gained 2.3 percent to 970,000 won. NCSoft jumped 6.3 percent to 244,000 won on enthusiasm for its upcoming Aion 2 title. Hana Securities lifted its target price by 15.4 percent to 300,000 won, citing strong earnings leverage. Analyst Lee Jun-ho said Aion 2 is “well-positioned to deliver explosive profit growth upon success,” noting NCSoft plans additional launches through 2026, including Limit Zero Breakers, Time Takers and Cinder City. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 edged up 0.03 percent to 50,857.50 as markets digested SoftBank’s unexpected NVIDIA divestment. SoftBank Group shares tumbled 4.8 percent to 21,600 yen ($140) after confirming it sold all 32.1 million NVIDIA shares last month for $5.83 billion. CFO Kazuhiko Fujihara said the sale was not driven by doubts about NVIDIA but to reallocate capital into new AI investments. Founder Masayoshi Son — who had previously lamented missing out on $150 billion in gains after an earlier NVIDIA exit — now faces fresh scrutiny over group strategy. SoftBank’s market cap, which had tripled by late October during the AI boom, has fallen more than 20 percent in the past week. At its peak on Oct. 29, SoftBank’s valuation reached ¥40.15 trillion ($260bn), narrowing the gap with Toyota to less than ¥10 trillion. Excluding SoftBank, most Japanese blue chips advanced. Toyota rose 1.8 percent to 3,203 yen, Honda climbed 2.3 percent to 1,559 yen, Sony gained 3.1 percent to 4,662 yen, and Fast Retailing edged up 0.2 percent to 58,760 yen. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.2 percent to 4,010.88, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.7 percent to 26,878.97. 2025-11-12 12:14:45

Korea's Oct job data flags persistent weakness in youth employment, record idled MZ SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s headline job figures for October extended their steady growth but also underscored persistent cracks in youth hiring and a record number of economically idled people in their 30s — a troubling sign for a country already strained by a fast-aging population and chronically low birth rate. According to data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the number of employed people added 193,000 from the same month a year ago to reach 29.04 million in October. Employment among those aged 40 to 49 saw the most notable improvement, with the employment rate rising 0.9 percentage point to 80.4 percent. In contrast, the rate for people aged 15 to 29 — a key barometer of youth labor conditions — fell 1 percentage point to 44.6 percent, marking the 18th straight month of decline. The slide coincides with the job slump in manufacturing, which remains critical for hiring. The overall unemployment rate stood at 2.2 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier. But the seasonally adjusted jobless rate, regarded as a clearer gauge of underlying trends, inched up 0.1 percentage point on-year to 2.6 percent. Employment trends also diverged by gender. The rate for men slipped 0.3 percentage point to 76.4 percent, while that for women climbed 0.8 percentage point to 63.5 percent. By industry, health and social welfare services added the most positions, up 280,000. Arts, sports and leisure-related services posted the fastest growth pace, increasing 13.9 percent, or by 70,000 jobs. Service-sector activity strengthened overall, supported by government stimulus vouchers distributed to most households. Manufacturing shed 51,000 jobs, down 1.2 percent. Construction lost 123,000 positions, a 6 percent drop, while agriculture, forestry and fisheries decreased by 124,000, or 7.8 percent. By employment type, full-time jobs rose by 286,000 and temporary roles by 79,000, while day labor fell by 55,000. The economically inactive population — those outside the labor force by choice or due to discouragement — reached 16.12 million, up 38,000 from a year earlier. While inactivity due to childcare or old age declined, the number of people “idled” without a clear reason for not working — typically those who have given up looking — jumped 5.5 percent, or 135,000. People in their 30s saw the steepest increase among core working-age groups, up 7.7 percent, or 13,000, to 334,000 — the highest level on record. Idling was even more pronounced among those in their 20s, totaling 402,000, up 15,600 from a year earlier. The number of people who have given up job hunting despite wanting employment rose to 366,000, up 21,000. Active job seekers fell sharply by 38,000, or 6 percent, to 598,000. 2025-11-12 12:10:58

Leading chip equipment maker ASML sets up major campus in South Korea SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - ASML, the Dutch maker of the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, has completed construction of a new campus in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The complex is designed to support South Korea’s leading chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, while strengthening local technical capabilities and supply chain stability. The new site will serve as ASML’s key Asian hub, housing a remanufacturing center for deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment as well as a training facility for advanced technology transfer, according to ASML. The Dutch firm holds a near monopoly in the production of EUV lithography machines, indispensable tools for fabricating the most advanced semiconductors. Each unit, costing more than $150 million, is supplied to a select group of companies, including Samsung, SK hynix, and Taiwan’s TSMC. Officials from the South Korean government said it is expected to help localize technology expertise and promote a stronger ecosystem for materials, parts, and equipment suppliers. ASML said it plans to expand collaboration with Korean chipmakers on process development and to build closer partnerships with domestic suppliers to establish a “symbiotic ecosystem” within the country’s semiconductor value chain. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-12 11:23:38