Global leaders gather for APEC CEO Summit SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Global business moguls and other leaders gathered for talks at the CEO Summit as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, which kicked off on Wednesday. The multilateral business roundtable, hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), is the largest ever, featuring more sessions, speakers, and high-level attendees. President Lee Jae Myung, along with leaders from major businesses like electronics giant Samsung's Lee Jae-yong and automaker Hyundai's Chung Eui-sun, attended the opening ceremony. Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann was also present, along with many international business figures. Now in its 30th year, the four-day gathering features 1,700 global business leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific countries and will wrap up with a keynote by Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA on Friday. This year's theme focuses on connecting businesses and governments to build a better future, covering topics like artificial intelligence (AI), finance, and carbon neutrality. KCCI Vice Chairman Park Il-jun said, "Through this event, South Korea will be able to solidify its position as a key partner in global economic cooperation and emerge as a leading hub for the AI industry." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-29 14:48:12

Hanmi Semiconductor chairman increases stake in sign of confidence SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Hanmi Semiconductor said Wednesday that its chairman, Kwak Dong-shin, will buy 5 billion won (about $3.7 million) worth of company shares using his own funds. The purchase, expected to be completed by Nov. 26, will bring Kwak’s total personal investment in Hanmi shares since 2023 to 47.3 billion won, raising his stake from 33.47 percent to 33.50 percent. Hanmi Semiconductor is a global leader in TC bonder equipment — technology critical to the production of high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, a component increasingly vital to artificial intelligence chips. The company has focused heavily on intellectual property since 2002, filing more than 120 patents related to HBM manufacturing tools. Analysts say that confidence in Hanmi’s technological edge likely underpins Kwak’s decision to expand his holdings. Founded in 1980, Hanmi Semiconductor supplies roughly 320 clients worldwide. The company recently established a subsidiary, Hanmi Singapore, in the Woodlands district to provide enhanced local support for Micron Technology and other customers in Southeast Asia. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-29 14:15:10

South Korea sees births rise for 14th straight month SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - South Korea recorded an increase in births for the 14th consecutive month in August, according to new government data released Wednesday. The National Data Office said 20,867 babies were born in August, a 3.8 percent increase from a year earlier. Births rose in 12 of the country’s 17 major regions, including Seoul and Busan, though declines continued in Daejeon, Sejong and several smaller provinces. The birth rate climbed to 4.8 per 1,000 people, up 0.1 percentage point from last year. The total fertility rate — the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime — rose slightly to 0.77 from 0.75 a year earlier, remaining far below the population replacement level of 2.1. Firstborn children accounted for most of the increase, up 2 percent from the previous year, while births of second and third or later children fell by 0.9 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively. Marriage rates also improved, a trend demographers say could signal modest stabilization in family formation. There were 19,449 marriages in August, up 11 percent year over year, while divorces fell by 5.5 percent to 7,196. Despite the recent uptick, South Korea continues to grapple with one of the lowest fertility rates in the world — a demographic challenge that threatens long-term economic growth and labor supply. Government efforts to reverse the decline, including childcare subsidies and housing incentives for young families, have so far yielded limited results. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-29 13:55:00

AI data centers are 'strategic national assets': Naver chief SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Naver’s chief executive, Choi Soo-yeon, urged greater institutional and policy support for artificial intelligence data centers, calling them essential to the next stage of digital development in South Korea. Speaking Wednesday at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, Choi emphasized that AI data centers had become foundational infrastructure for the global economy and said governments should treat them as strategic national assets. “The AI we are developing at Naver connects the digital ecosystem more intricately, supporting users, creators and sellers,” she said, noting that the company has built a “full-stack” AI ecosystem that integrates infrastructure, data and services. Choi said countries around the world were racing to build AI data centers as part of national industrial policy, and she called for South Korea to accelerate its own efforts through the government’s “AI highway” initiative. She proposed tax incentives, streamlined regulatory procedures and more flexible location rules to encourage investment in the sector. She also voiced support for a special law under discussion in South Korea’s National Assembly that would create a legal framework to promote AI data center development, describing it as “a foundation for transitioning the national industry to AI.” “AI should benefit everyone,” Choi said, adding that data centers — with their vast energy needs — must also address power supply and environmental sustainability challenges. “I hope this summit will mark a starting point for meaningful collaboration.” Choi spoke alongside Matt Garman, chief executive of Amazon Web Services, and Simon Milner, vice president at Meta, in a session devoted to AI’s role in the global economy. Earlier in the week, she had appeared at the APEC Future Tech Forum to discuss Naver’s AI strategy and ecosystem. In tandem with the summit, Naver is hosting a “Be Local Week” campaign in Gyeongju to showcase the city to foreign visitors. Choi visited the event site and met with local business owners to discuss regional growth and digital innovation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-29 13:34:28

Asian shares mostly higher early Wed; KOSPI and Nikkei lead on chip momentum SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Asian markets were mostly higher early Wednesday, with Seoul and Tokyo continuing to set the pace for the region on the back of strong third-quarter earnings and ongoing enthusiasm for AI-related chips. Sentiment was also supported ahead of a potential U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut expected at this week’s FOMC meeting. Korea’s benchmark KOSPI rose 0.7 percent to hover around 4,040 after jumping 1.27 percent earlier, driven by a fresh rally in SK hynix following its record third-quarter performance. Retail investors maintained a hectic buying streak, adding 71.3 billion won ($49.8 million) in net purchases, while institutional profit-taking was largely absorbed by long-term investors such as pension funds. SK hynix outperformed with a 3.17-percent rise to 538,000 won after reporting a record operating profit of 11.38 trillion won ($7.9 billion) for the quarter. The company also confirmed it had finalized 2026 high-bandwidth memory (HBM) supply volumes with key clients including NVIDIA. Samsung Electronics, however, struggled to hold its recent milestone. The stock rose about 0.7 percent to 100,200 won as of 10:30 a.m., but showed little appetite for further gains. Despite better-than-expected quarterly earnings and plans to unveil its new “trifold” smartphone at APEC 2025, investors remained cautious ahead of NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to Korea and the results of NVIDIA’s HBM4 qualification process. Transformer-related stocks led broader gains. Hyundai Engineering & Construction surged more than 8 percent to 74,500 won after reports that a KEPCO-led consortium won a wind-power project in Saudi Arabia, boosting expectations for transformer demand. The momentum lifted LS Electric more than 6 percent to around 410,000 won and Hyosung Heavy Industries over 3 percent to 1.99 million won. Iljin Electric edged up only 0.7 percent to 51,800 won, with analysts noting it is less likely to benefit from the new orders. Among battery makers, Samsung SDI posted the strongest performance, climbing more than 6 percent to 331,000 won for a second day. Although its third-quarter results were soft, investors anticipate a fourth-quarter rebound driven by growing share in the North American energy storage system market and new electric-vehicle battery supply deals with Stellantis. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose more than 1.2 percent to around 50,850, supported by industrial and technology names after Japan and the United States announced a new joint investment framework the previous day. Hitachi, a nuclear-related heavyweight, gained 3 percent to 4,815 yen ($31.76), while Panasonic Holdings climbed over 2 percent to 1,866 yen. Mitsubishi Electric, a key supplier of power-grid solutions, jumped 4 percent to 4,240 yen. Advantest was the day’s standout, soaring 15.5 percent to about 20,900 yen, riding the global semiconductor rally sparked by the record results of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Across the region, Taiwan’s TAIEX advanced about 1 percent to 28,230. China’s Shanghai Composite Index briefly topped the 4,000 mark on Tuesday on optimism over potential progress in U.S.–China trade talks, but failed to maintain momentum as investors locked in profits. Markets also remained alert to how China’s economy may react to anticipated U.S. rate cuts. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was closed for the Chung Yeung Festival holiday. 2025-10-29 11:26:21

Lee set to hold talks with Trump in Gyeongju SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday is set to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday in South Korea's historic city of Gyeongju on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Their meeting, scheduled for later in the day, comes about two months after they first met in Washington, D.C. in August, marking the shortest interval between reciprocal visits by the two leaders. Lee arrived in Gyeongju the previous day to prepare for the summit, inspecting the venue for the multilateral gathering ahead of Trump's arrival from Tokyo. Trump, who left Tokyo earlier in the day for the final leg of his Asia trip, which includes a stop in Malaysia, arrived at Gimhae International Airport in the southern port city of Busan. At their meeting, Lee and Trump are expected to discuss a broad range of economic and security issues to strengthen the bilateral alliance. In particular, much attention is given to whether the two sides can resolve differences in ongoing tariff-related negotiations, which involve Seoul's pledge last July to invest $350 billion in the U.S. as part of a broader deal to reduce reciprocal tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent. Meanwhile, Trump is expected to receive a gold-plated replica of the ancient Silla crown as a gift, symbolizing the summit's venue in Gyeongju, which was once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla that flourished for over 1,000 years. Earlier, Japan similarly rolled out the red carpet for him with lavish gifts including a gold-coated golf ball tailored to his taste and other gestures of flattery. 2025-10-29 11:06:03

PHOTOS: Media art bathes Gyeongju's historic sites for APEC SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju is providing a unique backdrop for global leaders, with the host city leveraging its ancient heritage to deliver a striking cultural experience. As delegates gather, the historic heart of Gyeongju is being transformed nightly into an outdoor art gallery, blending tradition with cutting-edge technology. The ancient Daereungwon Tomb Complex and the iconic Cheomseongdae Observatory are the centerpieces of spectacular evening showcases. Various media art and grand media facade performances are lighting up the historic sites nightly. The stunning visual displays are free to the public and run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Nov. 16. The Gyeongju National Museum is also hosting a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. To mark the museum's 80th anniversary, a special exhibit has brought together six Silla-era ancient gold crowns in a single location for the first time. The crowns represent a dazzling look into the power and artistry of the ancient Silla Kingdom. 2025-10-29 10:36:32

North Korea fires cruise missiles as Trump arrives for APEC summit SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were met with another round of provocation, as the isolated country test-fired a couple of ship-to-surface cruise missiles in the West Sea on Tuesday. According to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday, the missiles "improved for the launch form the ship" were launched vertically the previous day and flew for about 7,800 seconds along a preset route to hit their targets. The test launch came just a day before Trump's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the historic city of Gyeongju, the final leg of his Asia trip that included stops in Malaysia and Japan. With Kim absent, key party official Pak Jong Chon, along with other senior military brass, observed the test. Hailing it as a "success," the KCNA also reported that Pak instructed the training of mariners for the operation of the country's new 5,000-ton destroyers, dubbed "Choe Hyon" and "Kang Gun," named after partisan fighters against Japanese colonial rule, suggesting that the missiles were likely launched from one of these vessels. Despite Trump repeatedly expressing his wish to meet with Kim during his stay here, the North Korean leader has remained silent. Some speculated that Tuesday's test launch dashed such prospects. But others say the possibility still remains in their wildest scenario, as Trump has hinted at his willingness to extend his stay here and may even travel to the North. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo earlier this week, "If he'd like to meet, I'm around," adding, "I'll be in South Korea, so I can be right over there." On his way to Gyeongju earlier in the day, Trump reiterated that he has always had a "very good relationship" with Kim, saying, "At some point, we'll be involved with North Korea." But he said his focus for now is his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping slated for Thursday, adding, "We'll come back and, at some point in the not-too-distant future, meet with North Korea." Meanwhile, Trump is set to hold talks with President Lee Jae Myung later in the day, the second summit in about two months after they first met in Washington, D.C. in August. 2025-10-29 09:52:09

Kia's electric van sets Guinness World Record for longest drive on single charge SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - South Korean automaker Kia said on Wednesday that its PV5 Cargo electric van has set a Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by a light commercial electric vehicle on a single charge, covering 693.38 kilometers, or about 431 miles, while carrying a full load. “The Guinness World Record achieved by the PV5 Cargo demonstrates Kia’s vision to provide new mobility solutions beyond transportation,” said Song Ho-sung, the company’s president. “It proves the vehicle’s efficiency and practicality in real-world conditions.” The test, conducted on Sept. 30 on public roads north of Frankfurt, Germany, used a four-door PV5 Cargo equipped with a 71.2-kilowatt-hour battery and loaded to its maximum capacity of 665 kilograms, or about 1,465 pounds. The route, a 58.2-kilometer circuit of urban and suburban roads with repeated elevation changes, was designed to replicate the stop-and-go conditions of delivery operations. The drive was led by George Barrow, a commercial vehicle journalist, and Christopher Niggemeyer, a senior engineer at Hyundai-Kia’s European Technical Center. The two completed the course under GPS monitoring and with onboard cameras recording the trip. “It’s impressive that the PV5 Cargo can travel over 693 kilometers on a single charge with a full load,” Barrow said. “This record will be hard to beat.” Niggemeyer added that a deep understanding of the van’s powertrain system helped optimize energy efficiency and highlight “its remarkable driving capabilities.” The PV5 is Kia’s first purpose-built electric vehicle, developed on the company’s E-GMP.S platform — a next-generation architecture designed for modular, electrified commercial and passenger vehicles. The model features a low loading height, flexible cargo configuration, and software integration intended to suit a range of business applications. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-29 09:48:24

Hanwha explores autonomous navigation through partnership with US company SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - South Korea's Hanwha Group is accelerating its expansion into the United States by teaming up with Havok AI, an American company specializing in autonomous navigation technology. Hanwha Solutions and Hanwha Ocean said Wednesday that they are exploring strategic cooperation with Havok AI in the development of unmanned maritime systems. On Tuesday, Havok AI’s chief executive, Paul Lewin, and his team visited Hanwha Ocean’s shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, to review the company’s shipbuilding and maritime systems capabilities. During the visit, engineers conducted a live demonstration of remote vessel control — operating one of Havok AI’s unmanned surface vessels stationed off Hawaii directly from the Geoje facility. Hanwha sees the partnership as a key step toward entering the global unmanned maritime systems market, particularly in the United States. The move follows Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean’s expansion efforts last year, which included acquiring a shipyard in the Philadelphia. By combining Hanwha’s expertise in shipbuilding, defense systems, and platform integration with Havok AI’s autonomous navigation software, the companies aim to develop scalable unmanned solutions for both defense and commercial use — technologies that promise to improve operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. “By merging Hanwha’s maritime systems expertise with Havok AI’s autonomous capabilities, we can enhance the value of existing vessels and accelerate the deployment of next-generation unmanned systems,” Lewin said. Yoo Moon-ki, who leads Hanwha Systems’ maritime division, said the company intends to work closely with Havok AI “to penetrate the global maritime unmanned systems market” by leveraging Hanwha’s combat systems and integration know-how. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-29 09:37:01