South Korea to expand English-language disclosures for global investors SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s top financial regulator is moving to make corporate information more accessible to global investors, unveiling a new disclosure plan that would significantly expand English-language reporting and tighten transparency around shareholder meetings and executive pay. The Financial Services Commission announced the proposed changes on Monday in an effort to strengthen shareholder rights and bring local practices closer to international standards. Under the proposal, companies listed on the benchmark KOSPI index with assets exceeding 2 trillion won, or roughly $1.5 billion, would be required to file disclosures in English beginning May 1, 2026. The current threshold applies only to companies with assets over 10 trillion won. English-language reports on the results of shareholder meetings would be required starting March 1 of the same year. The scope of required English disclosures would also expand sharply — from 26 categories of management information to 55 — covering nearly all items required by the Korea Exchange. Companies with assets over 10 trillion won would need to publish English disclosures on the same day as Korean filings, while those above the new 2 trillion won threshold would have three business days. By 2028, the FSC said it plans to extend English disclosure rules to all KOSPI-listed firms and is considering similar requirements for major companies on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ market. To lessen compliance burdens, the government said it would offer AI-based translation tools and industry-specific English templates. The overhaul also seeks to bring more clarity to South Korea’s tightly packed shareholder meeting season, when hundreds of companies hold annual meetings in the final days of March. Beginning in March 2026, companies would be required to release detailed voting results — including approval, opposition and abstention rates — on the day of the meeting. Regular filings would also need to include complete voting records and shareholder counts. The plan includes new rules on executive compensation as well. Companies would be required to include three years of total shareholder return and operating profit data in their pay disclosures, along with clearer explanations of how compensation was determined. All stock-based awards — including unrealized equity — would need to be reported in a single standardized format with cash-equivalent values. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 15:11:56

Chip sales to the U.S. and Nvidia take up 70% and 27% of SK hynix revenue as of Sept SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) -SK hynix sold 45.18 trillion won ($31 billion) worth of memory chips to the United States as of September this year, up 65 percent from the seven-month period of last year and taking up 70 percent of the South Korean chipmaker's revenue as of the third quarter. According to the full third-quarter disclosure, the chipmaker owed 17.35 trillion won in revenue to a single buyer as of September, more than doubling from 6.1 trillion won in the same period a year ago and accounting for about 27 percent of the company's 64.32 trillion won in accumulated sales for 2025. SK hynix has an exclusive contract with Nvidia for high-bandwidth memory (HBM)3E and will be rolling out HBM4 next year. The DRAM maker dominates global sales of HBM that powers AI chips. SK hynix accounted for 39 percent of the global DRAM market and 22 percent of NAND flash memory market as of June. Shares of SK hynix soared 7 percent to 599,500 won as of 2:20 p.m. ahead of Nvidia's earnings release. 2025-11-17 14:29:01

HD Hyundai to supply 230 electric forklifts to Venezuela's Polar Group SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Site Solutions has secured its largest electric forklift contract in Latin America, winning an order from Venezuela’s Polar Group. The company said Monday it will supply 230 electric forklifts to Polar, the country’s biggest food producer, with deliveries scheduled through January 2026. The deal, valued at more than 10 billion won, includes 178 units in the 2-ton class and 52 heavier models in the 3-ton and 4.5-ton ranges. HD Hyundai Site Solutions said it captured the order by targeting rising replacement demand for aging diesel fleets and tailoring products to local operating conditions. The forklifts are equipped with high-performance lithium-ion batteries that the company says offer 2.5 times the lifespan and triple the charging speed of conventional lead-acid systems. They also feature the company’s Hi-Mate platform, which provides real-time monitoring of battery health, usage patterns and maintenance needs. The Latin American market has become an increasingly important growth driver for the company. Sales of industrial vehicles in the region are expected to reach about 1,200 units this year, more than double the 570 units recorded in 2020. “We are expanding our sales structure from North America to emerging markets and diversifying our global portfolio,” a company representative said. “We plan to strengthen our sales, service and training systems through local dealer networks to meet rising demand for electrification in key emerging markets.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 14:10:09

Hyundai Glovis completes shipment of tanks, howitzers to Poland SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - Hyundai Glovis, the logistics arm of Hyundai Motor Group, said Monday it has completed another shipment of South Korean-made military equipment to Europe, as the company expands its role in the region’s defense supply chain. The company delivered 20 K2 main battle tanks built by Hyundai Rotem and 21 K9 self-propelled howitzers produced by Hanwha Aerospace to the Polish port of Gdansk on Nov. 13. The hardware was transported aboard Hyundai Glovis’s car carriers — vessels traditionally used for moving automobiles but now increasingly repurposed for heavy defense cargo as European demand surges. The shipment follows a delivery of six K9 howitzers to Estonia earlier this year and builds on the company’s logistics work for global defense exhibitions. Since early 2025, Hyundai Glovis has supported the distribution of 124 K2 tanks and 60 K9 howitzers across Europe, with inland transport managed by its Polish subsidiary, Adampol. The company uses a roll-on, roll-off, or RORO, loading system that allows armored vehicles to be driven directly onto ships. The method minimizes the risk of damage, improves loading efficiency and avoids the need for cranes, giving Hyundai Glovis an operational advantage, according to the company. Hyundai Glovis said it aims to expand its car-carrier fleet to 128 vessels by 2030, including new ships capable of carrying up to 10,000 vehicles. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 13:56:15

PHOTOS: Exam season SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - For South Korean families, November is the month of the national university entrance exams. Far from being a mere academic hurdle, it is a period that consumes the nation, climaxing in the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), or Suneung, and the subsequent, high-stakes essay examinations. While the students bear the immediate, exhausting burden of preparation, the weight of the moment extends deeply into the lives of their parents. They, too, are thrust into a relentless schedule of administrative tasks and emotional labor. 2025-11-17 13:34:43

KOSPI defies overall subdued mood in Asia, friction weighs over Tokyo and Shanghai SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s stock market opened the week on a strong note Monday, lifted by easing concerns over an AI bubble ahead of Nvidia’s quarterly results and trade uncertainties with the United States, in contrast to the subdued sentiment across most of Asia. As of 9:03 a.m., the KOSPI was up 1.7 percent at 4,079.41, while the tech-heavy Kosdaq added 0.6 percent to 903.26. Market heavyweights led the advance, with Samsung Electronics jumping 3.7 percent to 100,800 won ($69) to reclaim the 100,000-won level and SK hynix surging 6.1 percent to 594,000 won. Other blue chips traded higher as well: LG Energy Solution gained 0.7 percent to 466,000 won, Hyundai Motor rose 0.4 percent to 273,500 won, and Kia was up 0.4 percent at 117,500 won. The upbeat start followed Wall Street’s mixed close Friday, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 slipped 0.7 percent and 0.05 percent, respectively, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.13 percent. Renewed buying in major tech and AI names—on optimism that fears of an “AI bubble” were easing and memory prices were firming—helped bolster Korean chip stocks. Among biotech stocks, ABL Bio rose 1 percent to 176,000 won after rallying for three consecutive sessions last week. In entertainment, HYBE slipped 0.8 percent to 295,000 won, trimming last week’s 4.5 percent gain after girl group NewJeans, under its ADOR label, announced plans to return as a full five-member lineup. Meritz Securities last week raised its HYBE target price to 380,000 won from 370,000 won. SM Entertainment fell 0.6 percent to 100,900 won, while YG Entertainment also declined 0.6 percent to 61,700 won. JYP Entertainment was the sole gainer among the “Big Four,” rising 1.2 percent to 70,300 won after being named by Time magazine as the “World’s Best Companies in Sustainable Growth” for 2026, ranking No. 1 globally and in Korea for the second consecutive year. JYP manages TWICE, Stray Kids, ITZY, and NMIXX. Consumer-stock standout Nongshim jumped 11.1 percent to 469,500 won after brokerages raised their outlooks, citing expected synergy from its upcoming “K-Pop Demon Hunters” tie-in. Kiwoom Securities reiterated a buy rating with a 540,000-won target, while KB Securities lifted its target to 570,000 won from 530,000 won, pointing to continued earnings momentum after a robust third quarter. Nongshim’s operating profit jumped 44.6 percent on year to 54.4 billion won ($37 million) in the third quarter, beating market consensus by about 20 percent. Meanwhile, affiliates of Ssangbangwool Group, Kwanglim and FutureCore, plunged nearly 80 percent as trading resumed under liquidation procedures. As of 10:13 a.m., Kwanglim was down 75.5 percent at 1,480 won and FutureCore was down 87.8 percent at 78 won. The Korea Exchange restarted delisting procedures after the court rejected injunctions filed by the companies. Kwanglim and FutureCore will trade for settlement through Nov. 25, and Ssangbangwool from Nov. 19 to 27, with final delistings expected later this month. All three firms have filed appeals. Across the region, sentiment was weaker. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.4 percent to 50,179.15 amid rising tensions between China and Japan after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tokyo would intervene in a Taiwan contingency, prompting a strong protest from China’s Consul-General in Osaka. On Friday, Beijing urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan via a notice posted on the Chinese embassy’s official WeChat account. Analysts said the advisory could pressure Japan’s tourism sector, which relies heavily on Chinese visitors—7.49 million out of 31.65 million foreign arrivals between January and September. Kyodo News described the move as a “de facto economic measure targeting Japan’s tourism industry.” In China, the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.5 percent to 3,972.44 in early trade, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.4 percent to 26,476.55. 2025-11-17 11:42:23

South Korea elected chair of key global food standards committee SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea has been elected chair of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables, securing a larger role in shaping global food rules at the 48th Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting held in Rome from Nov. 10 to 14. The appointment coincides with the commission’s approval of South Korea’s proposal to add the term “kimchi cabbage” to international standards for kimchi — a move officials say strengthens global recognition of the dish’s Korean origins. Codex Alimentarius, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, is the primary international body responsible for setting food safety and quality standards. While its standards are voluntary, they serve as global benchmarks and are widely used in trade disputes and national food regulations. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said South Korea’s election reflects its growing influence within Codex, citing its recent leadership roles in committees on antimicrobial resistance and regional food safety coordination in Asia. Holding the chair is expected to strengthen Seoul’s ability to navigate emerging global food technology regulations and provide momentum for the country’s expanding K-food industry. A key outcome of the meeting was the commission’s decision to include “kimchi cabbage” alongside “Napa cabbage” in global kimchi standards. Previously, only “Chinese cabbage” had been listed, a term Korean officials argued did not accurately represent the ingredients commonly used in traditional kimchi. “The government will strengthen cooperation at home and abroad to enhance the credibility and trade of K-food worldwide,” the ministry said in a press release, adding that it will ensure the smooth operation of the processed fruits and vegetables committee to maximize national interests. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 10:41:03

Korea's bakery hotspot London Bagel chain moves to fix working conditions SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - LBM, the operator of South Korea’s bakery hotspot London Bagel Museum and now under expansive investigation over alleged labor abuses, on Monday unveiled a comprehensive set of remedial measures to improve working conditions. The initiative focuses on bolstering job stability, enforcing compliance with legal working hours, and upgrading store-level safety and health systems. Repeatedly apologizing to employees and customers, CEO Kang Kwan-gu said the company would “reassess operations from the ground up with new leadership to create a safe and stable work environment.” Starting December, LBM will hire HR specialists to overhaul employment contracts and personnel systems, including the introduction of a one-year employment-conversion program to move away from short-term hiring practices. External consultants will support efforts to increase the share of permanent employees. An emergency support team will be created to respond to sudden staffing shortages and prevent work overload. During peak seasons, staffing levels will be raised by 50 percent to reduce shortages and manage working hours more effectively. Work-record management will be restructured: while employees will still self-enter and review their hours, mandatory security-system verification will be added to confirm actual hours worked. By next year, a fingerprint-based ERP system will be introduced to monitor hours in real time, enabling immediate intervention in overtime and staffing issues. Regular employee interviews and expanded manager training will also be adopted. LBM plans to strengthen safety and health policies by increasing store safety training and broadening headquarters-level monitoring. The company is also working to enroll all employees in group injury insurance. Comprehensive safety guidelines will be drafted to identify store-specific risks and track monthly industrial-accident metrics, with a goal of reducing accidents through proactive risk management. “This improvement plan is only a beginning,” LBM said, aiming to become a workplace “employees feel proud of — a truly great place to work.” The once-beloved bagel chain that helped ignite Korea’s bagel craze has in recent weeks exposed the darker side of the country’s artisanal food boom and its zeal for quick profits, including widespread reliance on short-term workers vulnerable to exploitation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 10:07:08

Hanwha Aerospace takes command of Korea's first privately led rocket launch SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea is gearing up for the launch of its fourth Nuri rocket on Nov. 27, a milestone that marks the country’s transition from government-led space projects to a growing private-sector ecosystem. Officials say the shift is expected to open new export opportunities for domestic defense and aerospace companies as global demand for launch services accelerates. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute said the rocket is scheduled to lift off between 00:54 a.m. and 1:14 a.m. from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. For the first time, the mission will be led not by the government but by Hanwha Aerospace, underscoring the private sector’s expanding role in South Korea’s space ambitions. The upcoming mission features major upgrades from the third launch, including a payload increase to 960 kilograms. Nuri will carry the next-generation satellite along with 12 CubeSats from universities, research institutions and private firms. Engineers have also modified the rocket to carry more satellites, reduce vibration and broaden camera coverage. Hanwha Aerospace — working with more than 300 companies, including Korea Aerospace Industries and Hancom InSpace — is at the center of efforts to build a domestic launch-vehicle supply chain. “We aim to lead the private space economy by securing core technologies and operational know-how through the fourth to sixth launches,” a company official said. The commercial potential is substantial. McKinsey & Company forecasts the global space industry will surge from $600 billion in 2023 to $2 trillion by 2035, driven by satellite services, launch demand and new applications in communications and defense. Industry analysts say South Korea must establish a competitive value chain to capture a share of that growth, citing the cost-cutting achievements of SpaceX and Blue Origin as models. Defense officials view Nuri’s fourth flight as a critical test of South Korea’s ability to secure a foothold in the commercial launch market. “This year marks the beginning of the private space economy,” one industry insider said. “Hanwha Aerospace and domestic defense companies are positioning themselves to push Korea into the next space age.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 09:59:35

South Korea targets AI, R&D collaboration in broader ASEAN strategy SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea is seeking to upgrade its free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to strengthen digital trade and ease regulatory hurdles for companies operating in the region, a senior government official said Monday. Yeo Han-koo, South Korea’s chief trade negotiator, said the government plans to prioritize the removal of non-tariff barriers that have slowed South Korean firms’ entry into fast-growing ASEAN markets. He made the comments at the “2025 Mid-sized Enterprises International Cooperation Meet-up Day” in Seoul. The event, co-hosted by the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea and the Korea Importers Association, focused on expanding overseas networks for mid-sized companies. While such firms make up just 1.3 percent of all South Korean businesses, they accounted for 21 percent of the nation’s exports to ASEAN last year. Exports from mid-sized enterprises to ASEAN rose 7.6 percent in 2024, far outpacing the country’s overall export growth of 2.7 percent. Officials say the numbers underscore the sector’s growing role in diversifying South Korea’s export portfolio beyond its traditional dependence on semiconductors and heavy industry. Yeo also met with ASEAN diplomats attending the event, including Malaysian Ambassador Zamruni Khalid, to discuss follow-up steps from last month’s South Korea–ASEAN summit in Malaysia. A recent report from the Hyundai Research Institute said deepening business networks in ASEAN will require joint research and development in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, as well as investments in logistics capabilities and cultural soft power to support long-term growth. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 09:46:12