HOT STOCK: Undervalued Hyundai Motor plays catch-up amid tariff hopes SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor is emerging as a comeback play in Asian markets, as optimism grows over a possible U.S. tariff relief deal that could level the playing field long tilted in favor of Japanese rivals. Currently, South Korean car exports to the U.S. face a 25 percent import tariff—10 percentage points higher than the 15 percent levied on Japanese and European brands. Despite the disparity, Hyundai Motor’s shares have surged nearly 20 percent so far this month, closing Wednesday at 261,000 won ($182.56). The stock’s rally outpaced gains of 6 percent in Toyota and 1.8 percent loss in Volkswagen, even as those competitors benefit from lower U.S. duties. Hyundai Motor Group, which also owns the premium Genesis and Kia marques, ranked 33rd in Time magazine’s 2025 “World’s Best Companies” list—up 159 notches from last year—beating out Toyota at 48th. The ranking cited improvements in employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and ESG performance. Last year, Hyundai’s revenue jumped 23 percent to 175 trillion won ($127 billion), with operating profit up 45 percent to 14.2 trillion won. This year, however, profits took a hit from the tariff spike. “Among the top ten KOSPI companies by market capitalization, Hyundai and Kia are the only ones expected to post year-on-year profit declines,” said Kiwoon Securities analyst Shin Yoon-chul. Hyundai’s third-quarter operating profit is estimated to have fallen around 30 percent to 2 trillion won, reflecting the U.S. tariff burden. If the rate drops to 15 percent after an intergovernmental deal, quarterly operating profit could rebound to 2.4 trillion won, according to Daishin Securities analyst Kim Gwi-yeon. Another potential headwind emerged after China restricted exports of automotive semiconductors by Nexperia—one of Hyundai’s key suppliers and a global leader in power semiconductor production. Even so, local brokerages remain optimistic, pointing to Hyundai’s steady shipment performance. The automaker’s global sales rose 3.2 percent year-on-year in the third quarter to 1.04 million units. U.S. sales alone climbed 2.3 percent to a record 257,000 units. Electric vehicle sales, though modest at about 10,000 units, grew 35.2 percent from a year earlier. To sustain momentum, Hyundai plans to introduce a hybrid (HEV) version of its Palisade SUV in North America later this year, followed by a software-defined vehicle (SDV) built on its next-generation Pleos OS platform in 2026. “Profit margin recovery may remain limited through the first half of 2026 amid tariff uncertainties,” said Sangsangin Investment & Securities analyst Yu Min-ki. “But Hyundai’s growing diversity of profit-contributing models will strengthen its resilience going forward.” 2025-10-22 15:54:08

LocknLock concludes global conference in Bangkok SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korean household goods company LocknLock held its annual global conference in Bangkok from Oct. 19 to 21, bringing together business partners from 24 countries. The conference at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel featured presentations on the company's 2026 vision and product plans, LocknLock said in a statement. Partners from Thailand's CP Group, Taiwan's C&J Forest, and Middle Eastern distributor Misbah presented sales and marketing strategies. Chief Executive Young-Sang Yi outlined the company's global expansion strategy during the event. Participants also visited a newly opened LocknLock store at Makro, a retail chain operated by CP Group. LocknLock has been hosting the conference since 2010 in various countries including Germany, Vietnam and China. The company manufactures food storage containers, beverageware, cookware and small appliances. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with CP Axtra, Thailand's largest retail group, in 2025 and partnered with Malaysian multi-level marketing company COSWAY. It also established a branch in India this year. LocknLock plans to expand into Latin America and the Commonwealth of Independent States region in 2026 while strengthening online sales channels in the United States, the company said. 2025-10-22 15:53:35

Next round in Samsung vs. Apple: Galaxy XR joins mixed-reality race SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics unveiled its first mixed-reality headset, the Galaxy XR, on Wednesday in South Korea and the United States, entering the spatial computing race as a more affordable alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro and a sleeker model than Meta’s Quest. Powered by Qualcomm chipset and Google’s Android XR platform as well as Gemini AI assistant, the Galaxy XR is priced at 2.69 million won ($1,800), about half the cost of the Apple Vision Pro launched earlier this year at $3,499, and roughly four times the price of Meta’s Quest 3 at $499. Samsung aims to position the device as an accessible yet high-spec option built on its strengths in chip, display, and ecosystem integration. The headset features dual 4K-level screens, eye- and hand-tracking sensors, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor. It supports multimodal AI input through voice, gaze, and gestures, powered by Google’s Gemini AI embedded into the device. Weighing 545 grams, it is slightly lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro at around 600 grams but heavier than Meta’s Quest 3. Samsung said it worked with Google to ensure native support for YouTube XR, Google Maps, Photos, and Play Store apps adapted for spatial use, and plans to release developer kits by the end of the year. Unlike Apple, which relies on its own silicon and software stack, Samsung partnered with Google and Qualcomm to build the Galaxy XR. Industry analysts say this approach could help speed up app availability but may limit Samsung’s control over the user experience and long-term software updates. “We have been working together at every layer—hardware, software, and how the product comes to market—as one team building a new platform and a new product,” said Juston Payne, director of XR management at Google. Apple’s Vision Pro uses dual 4K micro-OLED displays and its in-house M2 and R1 chips to process spatial video, hand tracking, and eye input, and supports more than 2,000 optimized apps as of September 2025. Meta’s Quest 3, while less powerful, leads global shipments with more than 20 million cumulative unit sales, thanks to its large gaming ecosystem and lower price point. According to industry tracker IDC, about 12 million headsets are expected to ship worldwide in 2025, with Meta holding over 50 percent of the market, followed by Apple at around 15 percent. Samsung has not disclosed shipment targets for the Galaxy XR. Analysts say the key test for Samsung will be whether it can extend XR applications beyond gaming and entertainment. The company has signed an agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries to use XR for shipbuilding and engineering training and has conducted pilot programs in medical education. Demand for Apple’s Vision Pro remains largely confined to the United States and China, while Meta dominates the mass market but earns little profit from hardware sales. Samsung, by contrast, is targeting professional training, design collaboration, and industrial simulation as potential growth areas. The Galaxy XR will begin shipping in early 2026. Whether Samsung can challenge Apple’s dominance at the high end and build a profitable XR ecosystem will depend on app availability, battery performance, and whether consumers see headsets as daily-use devices rather than novelties. The initial response is lukewarm. “People already own phones, tablets, and laptops. I’m not sure it’s worth spending that much money on another device just yet,” said Kim Yeon-ji, 34. Another prospective buyer, Lee Jong-min, 35, said, “I’ve always wanted to try XR, and I’m curious about it. I plan to try it as soon as it becomes available.” 2025-10-22 15:44:37

Korea's telecom trio exposed in widening cybersecurity lapses SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korea's pride as an ICT powerhouse has taken another blow after LG Uplus joined SK Telecom and KT Corp. in suffering major security compromises this year, deepening public concern and demanding sober reckoning over corporate attention to cybersecurity. Security spending accounted for only about 6.3 percent of total IT investments by 773 Korean companies, according to the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA)'s information security disclosure. The global average stands around 11 percent. Among the nation's wireless trio, SK Telecom, which recently suffered a SIM card hacking incident, allocated just 4.2 percent of its IT budget to information security, the lowest among the three. KT spent 6.3 percent and LG Uplus devoted 7.4 percent on cybersecurity in 2024. "We need to break away from past practices. Security officers at companies like LG Uplus tend to have little authority. They're not in core business divisions, so they remain peripheral, but security must be treated as more important and given proper authority," said Kim Ki-hyung, a professor at Ajou University's Department of Cyber Space. Regulations also aren't sufficient, experts add. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPC) covers details comprehensively but its penalties are slap on the wrist compared to international rules. Europe's General Data Protection Regulation imposes fines for severe data breaches reaching 20 million euros or 4 percent of a company's global annual turnover, whichever proves higher. SK Telecom's fine of 134.8 billion won – the largest under the PIPC – following a major breach this year amounts to just 1.05 percent of the company's annual revenue of 12.8 trillion won last year. "Global standards for data breaches remain far higher than Korea's. Our situation is quite ambiguous," said Kim. LG Uplus became the latest flashpoint when it reversed course Tuesday and agreed to formally report a suspected cyberattack to authorities after initially denying any breach. The company detected suspicious activities as early as July but refused to file mandatory incident reports, arguing that no confirmed data compromise had occurred. "While a data breach has not been confirmed, there are suspicions and circumstances that warrant a proactive response," a company spokesperson said, adding that the on-site investigation launched by the ministry remains ongoing with no confirmed evidence of hacking yet established. Lee Sang-joong, president of the KISA, called the string of hacking incidents as "an unprecedented cybersecurity crisis" and emphasized that "securing digital trust is a national responsibility" during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly on Tuesday. Lee added that the KISA now plan legal reforms empowering authorities to launch investigations at the first sign of hacking, with significantly heavier penalties for companies that delay or fail to report cyber intrusions. "The data leakages should be viewed as a growth process for South Korea. We have a neighboring country (North Korea) with world-class hacking capabilities, and these incidents should heighten corporate vigilance and drive improvement," said Kim. 2025-10-22 15:43:24

KCCI chief invites new Japanese PM to APEC CEO Summit in letter SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Choi Tae-won, chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has sent a letter congratulating Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, on her election as the country’s leader. In the letter, delivered Wednesday, Choi, also chairman of SK Group, expressed confidence that Prime Minister Takaichi’s leadership would “bring new energy to Japan” and foster meaningful progress across the region. He underscored the importance of deepening cooperation between South Korea and Japan as the two nations face shared challenges in a rapidly shifting global trade environment. Marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Tokyo, Choi said he hoped the milestone would serve as a springboard for stronger economic ties. He also extended an invitation for Takaichi to attend the upcoming APEC CEO Summit on Oct. 28. Park Il-jun, vice chairman of the chamber, said the summit would be “a meaningful opportunity for Japan to demonstrate its commitment to regional economic cooperation.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-22 15:36:17

KAI partners with Dutch aerospace institute on developing AI combat systems Participants pose for a photo at the KAI-NLR MOU signing ceremony. Courtesy of KAI SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands Aerospace Centre to collaborate on developing next-generation air combat technologies. The agreement seeks to combine the technical expertise and research infrastructure of both organizations to accelerate innovation in aerospace technology and strengthen preparedness for future battlefields, KAI said. The Netherlands Aerospace Centre, or NLR, is one of Europe’s leading aviation research institutions, known for its deep experience in aeronautics testing, systems evaluation, and next-generation flight technologies. Under the partnership, KAI and NLR plan to deepen cooperation in several key areas of future air combat systems — including mission autonomy, secure data links, and integrated technology demonstrations. KAI has been investing heavily in autonomous and AI-enabled defense systems, such as its manned-unmanned teaming programs MUCCA and SUCCA, as well as in the development of artificial intelligence pilots. The collaboration with NLR is expected to accelerate those projects and bolster KAI’s competitiveness in the aerospace sector. “This MOU marks a significant step forward in our long-term partnership built on trust,” said Kim Ji-hong, executive vice president of KAI’s Future Convergence Technology Institute. “Through this collaboration, KAI aims to evolve from a ‘fast follower’ to a ‘technology leader’ in next-generation aviation.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-22 15:22:20

INTERVIEW: Tourism chief aims to boost Seoul's global appeal SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Ghil Gi-yeon, who recently secured a third term as CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization, has been instrumental in revitalizing the tourism industry since assuming his post in July 2021, helping restore the city's vibrancy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "With support from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, we carried out several major projects swiftly and efficiently, including opening a marketplace at Gwanghwamun Plaza, organizing a series of seasonal events like a lantern festival along the Cheonggye Stream, and offering mountain-climbing programs," said Ghil, who now envisions making Seoul one of the top five global tourist destinations with a focus on "art tourism." "What was most rewarding about those projects was the tangible outcomes and favorable responses from both citizens and tourists," he added. Among them, the most notable project was the launch of tourism booths to assist hikers in climbing mountains across Seoul. "I thought outdoor activities would be key in the post-COVID era," he said. "Starting with programs to climb Mt. Bugaksan in 2022, which were later expanded to other nearby mountains including Gwanaksan, the number of participants soared to over 100,000 as of June this year. The project has since been adopted by other local governments with similar programs," he added. Various summer-themed leisure activities and other seasonal festivals in central Seoul have gained popularity, encouraging more Seoulites to take part. In particular, the annual lantern festival along the Cheonggye Stream, featuring dazzling lights and media art installations, has become one of the city's major nighttime attractions for tourists. To cater to the growing number of individual travelers, the organization also opened a cultural lounge last year, attracting more than 22,000 visitors in its first year alone. Interactive programs such as traditional craft-making, calligraphy, makeup classes, and other K-pop-themed events there have drawn strong interest from foreign tourists and youngsters. Ghil, who was awarded a government merit last year in recognition of his achievements and efforts to promote Korean culture, said, "Through these immersive programs and hands-on activities, we can give visitors a true sense of what makes Seoul special." The organization also formed the so-called "Seoul Art Tourism Alliance" (SATA) this year, a partnership of some 83 public and private agencies from the performance, exhibition, and tourism sectors, in a bid to attract more global conferences and conventions, as well as develop new tourism courses to enhance the city's competitiveness. "Seoul has already emerged as one of the world's leading tourist destinations, but its true competitiveness lies in the happiness of its citizens," he emphasized. "Through innovative approaches and strategies that integrate art into daily life, we want to make Seoul a must-visit destination that international tourists are eager to explore." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-22 14:24:57

Korea showcases its chipmaking future at SEDEX 2025 SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korea opened its largest semiconductor exhibition on Wednesday, bringing together industry leaders, engineers, and policymakers. The Semiconductor Expo, or SEDEX 2025, runs through Friday at COEX in Seoul and features more than 280 companies — including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Jusung Engineering, Dongjin Semichem, PSK, and Wonik — across more than 700 booths. Organizers expect roughly 60,000 visitors over the three-day event. This year’s exhibition focuses on how the industry can push technological boundaries and strengthen collaboration across the semiconductor ecosystem in the age of artificial intelligence. Samsung Electronics is highlighting its newest high-bandwidth memory, the HBM4, along with the Exynos 2600 mobile application processor built with cutting-edge 2-nanometer technology. SK hynix is presenting its own lineup of AI memory solutions, including HBM4, high-capacity DDR5, Compute Express Link (CXL) modules, and high-performance enterprise solid-state drives. Keynote speakers include Song Jae-hyuk, Samsung’s chief technology officer and head of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, and Sung Yun-mo, a former industry and energy minister and now a professor at Chung-Ang University. “SEDEX 2025 showcases the relentless innovation of Korea’s semiconductor companies,” said Kim Jeong-hoi, vice chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association. “The collaboration and creativity on display here reflect the future direction of our industry.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-22 14:18:38

KOTRA to operate 'K-Business Square' for APEC delegates SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korea will set up an exhibition booth highlighting its industrial achievements and future growth sectors for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, or KOTRA, said Wednesday that it will operate the “K-Business Square” in collaboration with the provincial government of North Gyeongsang and the city of Gyeongju for five weeks. The exhibition is designed to welcome visiting delegations and investors ahead of the summit. The venue features four themed sections — a Korean industrial history hall, a future industries hall, a regional business hall, and five cultural experience spaces. The future industries section focuses on semiconductors, next-generation mobility, and shipbuilding, with participation from both major corporations and startups showcasing cutting-edge technologies. KOTRA said it intends to use the exhibition as a platform for economic diplomacy, inviting about 100 overseas buyers and global investors to explore opportunities in South Korea’s advanced manufacturing sectors. To bolster economic cooperation ahead of the summit, KOTRA has been expanding its outreach to international partners through the “Korea-APEC Business Partnership,” launched in September. More than 300 domestic and foreign business leaders have joined related events, including an investment forum held on Oct. 16. The upcoming Invest KOREA Summit, scheduled for Oct. 29 to 31, will aim to attract large-scale investments in strategic industries such as energy transition, advanced materials, and digital technology. “This exhibition is an ideal opportunity to present South Korea as a leader in advanced manufacturing to visiting diplomats and business leaders,” said Kang Kyung-sung, president of KOTRA. “We are committed to enhancing the national brand and strengthening international business cooperation through the APEC platform.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-22 14:01:14

SK Ecoplant, Gyeryong Construction punished over fatal bridge collapse SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - The South Korean government has ordered two major construction firms, SK Ecoplant and Gyeryong Construction, to suspend operations for six months following a bridge collapse last year that killed a worker and injured several others in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the suspension will take effect from Dec. 1 through May 31 next year. The ministry said it was intended to hold the companies accountable for safety failures during the project. The accident occurred on April 30 last year at a highway construction site when a girder collapsed during installation, killing one worker, injuring five others, and wounding a nearby civilian. Police later charged six people, including the site manager from SK Ecoplant, as well as two subcontractors, with professional negligence resulting in death and injury. The project had been a joint venture between SK Ecoplant and Gyeryong Construction, a mid-sized contractor based in Daejeon. Both companies have contested the government’s decision. SK Ecoplant said its construction quality met required standards and denied direct responsibility for the collapse. The firm said it plans to present evidence in court to demonstrate compliance with safety regulations. Gyeryong Construction also said it would seek an injunction and file a lawsuit to overturn the government's decision. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-22 13:39:49