South Korea's LG Chem partners with Germany's ZEISS on holographic windshield displays SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - LG Chem said Thursday that it has partnered with German optics maker ZEISS to supply advanced photopolymer film for use in next-generation holographic windshield displays in vehicles. The holographic windshield display, or HWD, projects navigation and entertainment content directly onto the windshield, effectively turning it into a transparent screen. Unlike traditional head-up displays, which show limited data in a small area, the holographic version provides a wider field of view and a more immersive experience, transforming the driver’s space into a dynamic digital interface. ZEISS, renowned for its precision optics, plans to use LG Chem’s film to produce holographic optical elements for these displays, with an eye toward commercialization by 2029. LG Chem said its siloxane-based photopolymer film simplifies the optical path while maintaining high brightness and enabling large-area applications. The material offers superior optical efficiency and thermal stability, supported by more than 150 patents. The company added that the same technology could be applied beyond automobiles, including in augmented reality head-up displays, holographic cameras, public transportation systems, and even aerospace cockpits. Stefan Hofer, a senior executive at ZEISS, said the partnership would allow the two companies to deliver “high-quality optical solutions” for the emerging holographic display market. LG Chem Vice Chairman Shin Hak-cheol described the collaboration as a strategic step toward “leading innovation in mobility displays.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-30 11:03:28

KOSPI positive on U.S. concessions, other Asian markets await Trump–Xi meeting SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI extended gains early Thursday after Seoul and Washington reached a long-awaited tariff agreement, removing a key bilateral sticking point ahead of a high-stakes U.S.–China summit later in the day, while other Asian markets were on hold as investors awaited direction on broader geopolitical tensions. The KOSPI climbed 0.3 percent to 4,090 as of 10:30 a.m., following confirmation that President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump finalized the tariff terms during the APEC 2025 summit in Gyeongju. Retail investors bought a net 206 billion won ($140 million), joined by foreigners with 57.5 billion won, while institutions and credit-finance firms sold a combined 275 billion won to lock in recent gains. Automakers surged after the two nations agreed to cut U.S. automobile tariffs on Korean cars from 25 percent to 15 percent. Hyundai Motor jumped 6 percent to 272,500 won and had briefly triggered a two-minute volatility interruption the previous day after spiking more than 13 percent. Kia rose 3.7 percent to 120,100 won. Hanwha Group stocks rallied on new momentum. Hanwha Ocean jumped 12 percent to 148,000 won after Trump posted that a Korean nuclear-powered submarine would be built at the company-owned Philly Shipyard in the U.S. Hanwha Systems soared 17 percent to 64,800 won on its plan to enter the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market through a partnership with U.S. marine-technology firm HavocAI. Samsung Electronics rose 4 percent to 104,500 won after reporting third-quarter operating profit of 12.1 trillion won, up 33 percent on year, with its Device Solutions division delivering a stronger-than-expected 7 trillion won profit. SK hynix was nearly flat, inching up 0.2 percent to 558,500 won as foreign investors such as J.P. Morgan took profits after Wednesday’s record-setting rally. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.2 percent to 51,180. Sumitomo Electric gained 5 percent to 5,253 yen, and Advantest added 4 percent to 23,000 yen, while exporters with minimal U.S. manufacturing presence underperformed, with Komatsu plunging 6 percent to 5,220 yen. China’s Shanghai Composite inched down 0.1 percent to 4,010, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.7 percent to 26,540. Taiwan’s TAIEX slipped 0.2 percent to 28,280. 2025-10-30 11:01:11

Data breach drives SK Telecom to first quarterly loss in decades SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, reported a steep decline in profit and a swing to a net loss in the third quarter on Thursday, as the fallout from one of the country’s largest personal data breaches continued to batter its business and reputation. The net loss ended the company's streak of consecutive quarterly profits that had continued since 2000. The company said its consolidated operating profit plunged 90.9 percent from a year earlier to 48.4 billion won, or about $35.7 million. Quarterly revenue fell 12.2 percent to 3.98 trillion won ($2.93 billion). The bottom line turned negative, with a net loss of 166.7 billion won ($122.9 million), compared with a profit during the same period last year. In a sign of internal accountability, SK Group removed CEO Yoo Young-sang from management roles. He was replaced by Jung Jae-heon, the company’s president and head of external cooperation. Jung, a former judge born in 1968, is expected to bring a steadier hand as the company navigates regulatory and reputational challenges. As of 10:45 a.m., SK Telecom shares were trading at 52,650 won, down 1,450 won, or 2.68 percent, from the previous session. SK Telecom said it would not pay a dividend for the third quarter — an uncommon move for one of South Korea’s most established blue-chip firms. The financial blow in the third quarter stems largely from the large-scale hacking incident disclosed in April, which exposed customer information and triggered a wave of cancellations. To stem the damage, SK Telecom rolled out extensive countermeasures, including compensation programs for affected users and rate reductions, all of which eroded earnings. The company also faced a 134.8 billion won ($99.3 million) regulatory fine imposed by the Personal Information Protection Commission — one of the largest penalties ever levied in South Korea for a data breach. Even as the crisis weighed on its bottom line, SK Telecom’s core telecom operations began showing signs of recovery after a turbulent second quarter, the company said. The company added roughly 240,000 5G subscribers from the previous quarter, bringing the total to 17.26 million, while its high-speed internet division returned to net growth. The company’s investments in artificial intelligence offered the strongest source of optimism. Revenue from AI-related businesses surged 35.7 percent year-over-year, with its data center division generating 149.8 billion won. Its broader AI transformation initiative, known as AIX, recorded 55.7 billion won in revenue. SK Telecom is doubling down on the sector, breaking ground on a new AI data center in Ulsan with Amazon Web Services and partnering with OpenAI to establish another facility in the country’s southwest. “The company will prioritize restoring customer trust and seek to turn this crisis into an opportunity by producing tangible results in our AI business,” Kim Yang-seop, SK Telecom’s chief financial officer, said in a statement. 2025-10-30 10:54:52

UPDATE: Samsung Elec Q3 memory OP stronger than expected at $5 bn, upbeat on Q4 (Updated with conference call comments) SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ chip division staged a decisive turnaround in the July–September quarter, with profit from its core memory operation jumping to 7 trillion won ($4.9 billion) — nearly 18 times from the last quarter — on the back of record memory revenue fueled by high-value server demand. Memory sales climbed 26 percent on quarter and 20 percent on year to a fresh quarterly high of 26.7 trillion won. Including non-memory operations, revenue from Device Solution overseeing all chipmaking operation reached 33.1 trillion won, reflecting narrowing losses in logic and foundry segments as contract manufacturing activity picked up. Samsung shares rose 3 percent to 103,100 won in Thursday trading after the better-than-expected memory results. Even with the rebound, Samsung’s memory performance remains laggard behind SK hynix, which delivered 11.4 trillion won in operating profit and a 47 percent margin in the third quarter. The gap reflects hynix’s dominance in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — the defining component for premium AI servers — where it held 62 percent of the market as of June. Samsung, once unrivaled in DRAM, remains a distant third in HBM, falling short of a breakthrough on HBM4 shipments for the fourth quarter, while SK hynix begins supplying Nvidia. While expecting stronger HBM4 demand and broader AI-driven memory momentum next year, Samsung is still awaiting customer clearance for mass production after delivering HBM4 prototypes, said Kim Jae-jun, memory division vice president, during a conference call. Samsung reportedly cleared Nvidia’s HBM3E tests last month, but its position in the next-generation HBM4 supply chain remains uncertain. To prepare for future demand, the company said it is making aggressive, preemptive investments. R&D spending reached a record 26.9 trillion won as of September. Capital investment totaled 32.3 trillion won, down 6.3 trillion won from a year earlier, with memory-infrastructure spending reduced but high-end chip production investment increased. Capex next year will again center on AI-related memory and return to 2024 levels, Kim added — signaling a deepening shortage in legacy chip supply. Samsung Electronics allotted around 57 trillion won for expansion in 2024. Outside its chip division, Samsung’s MX and networks business — home to its smartphone operations — reported 3.6 trillion won in operating profit, steady from 3.1 trillion won in the second quarter and 2.8 trillion won a year earlier on strong demand for new foldables. Mobile revenue rose 18 percent on quarter and 12 percent on year to 33.5 trillion won. On a consolidated basis, Samsung confirmed third-quarter operating profit at 12.2 trillion won, more than double the previous quarter and up 32.5 percent on year, the strongest performance since the second quarter of 2022. Sales rose 15.4 percent on quarter and 9 percent on year to 86.1 trillion won. Net profit came in at 1.22 trillion won, sharply higher than 51 billion won last quarter and 21 percent above a year earlier. Looking ahead, Samsung echoed SK hynix’s upbeat chip outlook, pledging to accelerate sales of high-performance AI and data-center products and push HBM4 mass production. While it reiterated the industry view that supply will remain tight amid surging, broad-based demand for generative AI, Samsung said it will focus on ramping output from its 2-nanometer fabrication line and readying its next-generation Taylor, Texas fab for start-up next year. 2025-10-30 10:27:18

TRAVEL: Exploring wild scenery of Korea's West Sea archipelago GUNSAN, October 30 (AJP) - The Gogunsan Archipelago, a stunning cluster of 63 islands in the Yellow Sea off Gunsan, South Korea, is no longer a world apart. Thanks to the massive Saemangeum Seawall — a 33.9 km engineering marvel connecting Gunsan and Buan — six of the largest islands are now accessible by car. These include Seonyudo, Jangjado, Daejangdo, Munyeodo, Sinsido, and Yamido. Work on the seawall began in 1991 and was finally completed on April 27, 2010, permanently linking these islands to the mainland. Often described as the most spectacular island scenery on Korea’s west coast, the Gogunsan Archipelago offers an unforgettable escape. We came to walk the Gogunsan-gil trail, a 10-kilometer route connecting the three most beautiful islands: Seonyudo, Jangjado, and Daejangdo. The walk takes a typical person about four hours. On a weekend, Jangjado was bustling with visitors. Shops were doing a brisk trade, with the scent of freshly fried ssiat-hotteok (sweet seed-filled pancakes) filling the air, alongside stalls selling traditional Korean sweets. Our journey began in Jangjado as we set off toward Daejangdo. The view is breathtaking: small islands dot the horizon, the sea lies calm like a lake, vast mudflats stretch in the distance, and high rocky mountains rise dramatically. With so many islands packed into such a short distance, it creates a visual trick — it seems as if the islands are encircling the sea, rather than the sea surrounding the islands. We headed for Daejangbong Peak on Daejangdo. From the bottom, the peak — only about 100 meters high — exudes an unexpected, profound dignity. The spectacular, almost fairyland quality of Seonyudo and Daejangdo is due to this unique terrain of bare rocky mountains crowned with scattered patches of resilient green trees. The climb was steep in sections but manageable. Closer to the top of Daejangbong, we were surprised to find a dense forest dominated by evergreens like camellia, pine, and spindle trees. The reward at the summit was the panoramic view of Gogunsan's hidden treasures. Looking out from the peak, the expanse of the island cluster is a photographer's dream. Fishing boats move between the islands, their white wakes carving streaks across the calm water, bringing a lively contrast to the tranquil sea. Back on Jangjado, we stopped at a hotteok shop with a back patio overlooking the ocean. Enjoying the sweet pancake and coffee while watching the ocean was the perfect healing moment. Two bridges link Seonyudo and Jangjado. The newer, robust Jangja Bridge is built for modern traffic, while the older structure, the Jangja Bridge Skywalk, is now a dedicated, cherished pedestrian walkway. Finally, on Seonyudo — the legendary “Island where immortals play” — the twin highlights are Seonyudo Beach and Mangjubong Peak. The beach itself is mystifying, a sweep of sand that connects two landmasses, making the island look like two separate entities. The smooth, clean sand is so fine that the beach has gained fame for centuries. The imposing Mangjubong Peak consists of two rocky mountains rising to about 150 meters. It has a unique seasonal spectacle: after heavy summer rains, a waterfall plunges directly down the sheer rock face from the summit. The Gogunsan-gil trail is an enriching experience, offering a mix of flat paths, mountain climbs, and seaside walks. With numerous eateries along the way, it’s an ideal destination for light-backpacking and genuine relaxation. 2025-10-30 10:12:56

Türkiye and South Korea reaffirm 'blood brotherhood' at Republic Day reception SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - The Embassy of Türkiye in the Republic of Korea hosted a reception on Wednesday to mark the 102nd anniversary of the founding of the Republic, celebrating the long-standing friendship between Türkiye and South Korea — a relationship born of shared sacrifice during the Korean War. The event, held at the Ambassador Pullman Hotel in Seoul, brought together around 300 guests, including diplomats, government officials, scholars, media representatives, and business leaders. Ambassador Salih Murat Tamer and Mrs. Tamer welcomed attendees to the Turkish National Day reception, which reflected both pride in the past and confidence in the future. "It is a great honor and joy to celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye together with you tonight," Ambassador Tamer said in his opening remarks. "On this meaningful occasion, we proudly remember the enduring legacy of the Republic of Türkiye and the deep friendship we share with the people of the Republic of Korea." He paid tribute to the visionary leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and highlighted Türkiye's continued progress under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. "Today, in line with the visionary goals set by the Great Atatürk and under the esteemed leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are advancing with steadfast determination into the Century of Türkiye," he said. Ambassador Tamer also underlined the growing economic partnership between the two nations. "The trade volume between our countries has surpassed 11 billion US dollars, and we believe this is only the beginning," he said. "More mutual investments and new projects in renewable and peaceful nuclear energy will carry our cooperation to new heights." Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Yoon-jin delivered a congratulatory address, emphasizing the historic bond between the two countries. "Korea and Türkiye are brothers that share blood," she said. "Seventy-five years ago, when South Korea was in crisis during the Korean War, Türkiye sent over 21,000 brave soldiers — the fourth largest among the 22 participating nations. The Korean people will never forget their noble sacrifice." Kang recalled her visit to Atatürk's mausoleum in Ankara and shared her memory of meeting Ayla, the Korean War orphan whose story inspired the 2017 Turkish film Ayla: The Daughter of War. "Even though she has left us, the love between Sergeant Süleyman and Ayla still lives in the hearts of Koreans," she said. The story of Sergeant Süleyman Dilbirliği and the orphaned Korean girl later known as Ayla remains one of the most moving symbols of the Türkiye–South Korea friendship. During the Korean War, Dilbirliği found the five-year-old child alone and freezing on the battlefield near Waegwan in 1950. He took her to his unit, cared for her like a daughter, and named her Ayla, meaning "moonlight" in Turkish. Though they were separated when he returned home after the war, the two reunited more than six decades later in 2010, a moment that touched hearts in both countries and was later immortalized in the film Ayla: The Daughter of War. "We sincerely support the bright future of our brother nation Türkiye," Kang added. "South Korea will continue to work closely with Türkiye in the fields of economy, culture, and defense, and together we will uphold the values of freedom, peace, and human rights." The reception concluded with a performance by K-pop duo HoonDoo and a dinner attended by guests from across the diplomatic and business communities. 2025-10-30 10:08:44

Business leaders to gather for dinner with Xi SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is making his first visit to South Korea in 11 years to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. According to industry sources, he is scheduled to meet with top business leaders and executives at a dinner to strengthen bilateral economic ties. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, when the multilateral gathering wraps up. Attendees are expected to include leaders from top conglomerates such as Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics, Chung Eui-sun of Hyundai Motor, Chey Tae-won of SK Group, and Koo Kwang-mo of LG Group. Among notable figures from the Chinese side, battery manufacturer CATL's chairman Zeng Yuqun and Chinese entrepreneur and former CEO of JD.com Liu Qiangdong, are expected to attend. "The dinner could be a chance to foster mutual understanding and improve relations between business leaders from both countries," one industry watcher said. Meanwhile, Xi arrives in South Korea on Thursday for a three-day stay, which includes a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-30 09:54:05

Lee set for first summit with Japan's newly elected prime minister SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is expected to hold his first summit with Japan's newly-elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. With both sides still coordinating their schedules, the meeting is expected to take place later in the day. Takaichi, known as a staunch right-winger and a self-proclaimed successor to the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, will also hold a series of talks with leaders of other countries during her three-day stay here. Despite her hardline stance on historical issues with South Korea as a key protégé of Abe's political legacies, she emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with South Korea through dialogue and mutual cooperation in her recent address at the Diet shortly after taking office as the island country's first female prime minister last week. Much attention is given to whether Lee and Takaichi can continue their shuttle diplomacy, in which the leaders of the two neighboring countries make regular reciprocal visits, as it was under her predecessor Shigeru Ishiba. 2025-10-30 09:19:08

OPINION: Embracing 'creative destruction' in South Korea's shipping industry SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - This year’s Nobel Prize in Economics celebrated the power of innovation and sustainable growth through the lens of “creative destruction.” Co-recipient Prof. Peter Howitt underscored the need for a competitive environment that enables market leaders to keep innovating — a concept rooted in Joseph Schumpeter’s classic theory that progress is driven as much by destruction as by creation. That message resonates deeply with South Korea’s shipping industry, which is struggling to adapt to what many call the “Big Blur” era — when traditional industry boundaries are dissolving. Global giants like Amazon and Tesla have already transcended their original domains, evolving into platforms designed to solve complex customer problems. Yet South Korea’s shipping sector remains bound by convention, held back by resistance to mergers and acquisitions and a deep-seated wariness toward outside capital. The global landscape tells a starkly different story. Over the past two decades, the world’s leading shipping companies have expanded aggressively through M&A, consolidating their power and reshaping global logistics. Today, the top 10 players control roughly 84 percent of the world’s container capacity. Scale and integration have become prerequisites for survival. Against this backdrop, the planned privatization of HMM — the nation’s flagship carrier — is more than a question of ownership. It is a test of whether South Korea can move beyond its traditional view that only “shipping experts” can manage a shipping company. Such thinking risks isolating the industry at a time when cross-sector collaboration is the engine of global competitiveness. Elsewhere, the lines between manufacturing, logistics, and finance have long blurred. Germany’s Deutsche Post DHL and Denmark’s Maersk have both built integrated logistics ecosystems, creating resilient structures that can weather economic turbulence. South Korea’s shipping industry, by contrast, has struggled to escape the shadow of its past. The collapses of Hanjin Shipping and Hyundai Merchant Marine were not just business failures — they were symptoms of an industry that resisted change until it was too late. If HMM is to avoid a similar fate, it must embrace creative destruction and the discipline of private ownership. Clinging to old models, protecting vested interests, and erecting barriers to competition may feel like safety — but only in the short term. In the long run, such strategies erode competitiveness and innovation. The industry’s future depends on openness, flexibility, and diversification. As the saying goes, “Those who build walls perish; those who build roads prosper.” South Korea’s shipping industry must stop building walls around itself and instead build the roads that connect technology, capital, and service into a unified logistics platform. What the industry needs now is not fear of disruption but the courage to pursue it. Breaking down boundaries and reshaping industrial order is not a threat — it is the path to renewal. The question is whether South Korea’s shipping leaders will have the will to chart that course before the tide turns against them once again. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-30 08:54:17

Trump gives a go-ahead to Korea's nuclear submarine project GYEONGJU, October 30 (AJP) - After concessions over upfront cash payment in the $350 billion investment package from South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump gave a go-ahead to Korean production of nuclear-powered submarine in a show of "stronger-than-ever" bilateral relations, indicating upgrade in military ties to the highest level, given Washington's protectiveness of nuclear submarine technology. "I have given them approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, rather than the old fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel powered submarines that they have now," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account after he accepted President Lee Jae Myung’s argument for Seoul’s need to transition from diesel to nuclear propulsion in their second face-to-face summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Gyeongju. "This decision marks a historic step in advancing our security cooperation," he added. Washington shares its nuclear submarine technology with only a select few — the United Kingdom and Australia — underscoring the sensitivity and significance of Trump’s approval. Trump, who was adorned with a gold-glittering ancient crown and awarded South Korea’s highest honor during his visit, declared the bilateral alliance “stronger than ever,” calling Lee “a great president of South Korea.” The nuclear-powered submarine will be built at Philly Shipyard, which was purchased last year by Korea’s Hanwha Group. Trump’s endorsement came shortly after Seoul and Washington finalized details of the $350 billion investment pledge, including $150 billion dedicated to shipbuilding cooperation. A separate White House fact sheet said Korean Air will purchase 103 new Boeing aircraft valued at $26.2 billion, along with GE Aerospace engines worth $13.7 billion. Trump arrived in South Korea on Wednesday for a two-day trip. He is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday amid an escalating U.S.-China trade war. 2025-10-30 07:56:48