Samsung Electronics, SK hynix could avoid US chip tariffs under new Trump policy SEOUL, August 8 (AJP) - The Trump administration will waive newly announced semiconductor tariffs for companies that commit to building manufacturing facilities in the United States during President Donald Trump’s current term, the Commerce Secretary said on Thursday (local time), signaling a possible reprieve for major South Korean chipmakers including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. In an interview with Fox News, Secretary Howard Lutnick sought to clarify President Trump’s announcement a day earlier of a sweeping 100 percent tariff on imported semiconductors. The policy is intended to bolster domestic chip production amid growing concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities. “What the president said is: if you commit to build in America during his term, and if you file it with the Commerce Department and your auditor oversees construction all the way through, then he will allow you to import your chips while you are building — without a tariff,” Lutnick said. He stressed that companies must demonstrate verifiable progress on their U.S. construction projects in order to qualify. “You have to be confirmed and overseen building in America,” he said. “Not just promised.” The policy clarification comes after Trump’s Wednesday announcement at a White House event highlighting Apple’s new domestic investment plans. “A 100 percent tariff on all chips and semiconductors coming into the United States,” he said. “But if you’ve made a commitment to build, or if you’re in the process of building, as many are, there is no tariff.” The initial declaration sent shockwaves through the global semiconductor industry, but analysts said South Korean firms may be well-positioned to benefit from the exemption framework due to their ongoing investments in U.S. manufacturing. Samsung Electronics currently operates a chip fabrication plant in Austin, Texas, and is building a second facility in Taylor, Texas, scheduled to begin operations in 2026. SK hynix is constructing a $3.87 billion high-bandwidth memory packaging plant in West Lafayette, Indiana, with production expected to begin in 2028. 2025-08-08 10:21:44

From optics to AI: Canon's bold bet on future of imaging Editor's Note: This article is the 30th installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - Once a small precision optics workshop in Tokyo, Canon Inc. has evolved into one of Asia’s most prominent technology conglomerates. In 2025, the Japanese company is sharpening its focus on artificial intelligence and sustainable manufacturing, signaling a broader transformation of a firm long known for its cameras and copiers. Founded in 1933 as the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory, Canon made history with Japan’s first 35mm focal-plane shutter camera, the Kwanon. The company would go on to introduce the Hansa Canon in 1936 and expand globally by the mid-1950s with overseas offices in New York and Geneva. Nearly a century later, Canon’s portfolio stretches far beyond photography, encompassing industrial printers, medical diagnostics, surveillance technology, and smart city solutions. In the first half of this year, Canon launched a wave of new products, including the EOS R50 V and PowerShot V1 cameras aimed at content creators, and two flagship mirrorless models — the EOS R5 Mark II and R1 — both equipped with AI-powered autofocus. It also unveiled a 410-megapixel CMOS sensor for use in medical, security and industrial settings. These developments helped drive a strong first quarter. The company reported a 20.8 percent year-over-year increase in imaging division sales, buoyed by demand for the R5 Mark II and a 30 percent jump in network camera revenue. Canon now holds between 35 and 50 percent of the global digital camera market across various categories. Canon’s embrace of artificial intelligence extends beyond its product line. Through partnerships with companies such as IBM, the firm is integrating AI and cloud technologies into its operations. Its imageFORCE series includes predictive maintenance systems, and its subsidiaries are developing video analytics for urban infrastructure. In 2024, Canon established a sustainability committee and pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its entire product lifecycle by 2050. By 2030, it aims to cut direct greenhouse gas emissions by 42 percent and supply chain emissions by 25 percent, targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. The company has introduced more energy-efficient manufacturing processes, developed products with recycled materials, and expanded its European recycling programs. Canon Canada was recently named one of the country’s most environmentally friendly employers. Canon’s long-standing “Kyosei” philosophy — emphasizing harmony and coexistence — continues to shape corporate strategy under Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai. The firm reported global revenues of $29.4 billion in 2024, and its management has prioritized sustainable growth, digital transformation, and research-intensive development. Yet Canon faces mounting challenges. Semiconductor shortages and geopolitical tensions have disrupted supply chains, prompting the company to raise prices on some imaging products due to U.S. tariffs. With the imaging division accounting for roughly a quarter of U.S. sales, Canon is responding by shifting toward high-margin offerings and increasing automation at its domestic production sites. Competition is also intensifying. Sony continues to dominate the high-end mirrorless market, while Nikon and Fujifilm have made aggressive pushes with their own product lines. In response, Canon is expanding its RF lens ecosystem, investing in cost efficiency, and embracing third-party collaborations. The company now sees growth in several key areas: mirrorless cameras, drones, medical imaging, and industrial automation. Canon is also strengthening its presence in emerging Asian markets and pushing further into sectors such as life sciences and smart cities. Canon’s long-term vision seeks to marry environmental stewardship with technological innovation — an ambition rooted in its history and now redefined for the digital age. 2025-08-08 09:16:15

[[K-Culture]] Hanbok Expo weaves tradition into four seasons SEOUL, August 7 (AJP) - The vibrant energy of South Korea's four seasons came to life through hanbok, the country's traditional clothing. The 2025 Hanbok Expo, a four-day expo launched on Thursday at COEX in southern Seoul, featured a fashion show that highlighted the elegance of the country's traditional attire through seasonal fabrics. Professor Shim Yeon-ok of the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, who directed the fashion show, said that the fashion show was designed to restore the seasonal beauty embedded in South Korea's traditional fabrics. The fashion show followed the natural cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with each section highlighting distinct fabrics, colors, and textures associated with the season. Models walked one by one along a white runway, each wearing hanbok designed to reflect the character of the season. The Spring section featured translucent fabrics like myeongju (silk tabby), saengmyeongju (raw silk tabby), hangra (ribbed gauze), guksa, and sukgosa (patterned simple gauze). With pastel tones and light-permeable materials, the designs conveyed the freshness of spring, embodying youthful beginnings, anticipation, and excitement. While maintaining the traditional structure of hanbok, the collection used harmonious color schemes and thoughtful fabric combinations to enhance the season's refreshing ambiance. The Summer section showcased hanbok with enhanced breathability and lightness through traditional fabrics such as mosi (ramie), sambe (hemp), eunjosa (plain gauze), saenggosa, and other munsa (patterned simple gauze), all known for their cooling properties. The garments were mostly created in light, single-layer formats, ideal for hot weather. The collection captured the freedom and vitality of summer, offering both comfort and layered beauty. The Autumn section of the fashion show embodied abundance and tranquility, using luxurious silks like jinjusa, sukgosa, jamisa, and gapsa in deep hues such as indigo and burgundy. Reflecting the spirit of Chuseok, the country's Thanksgiving, the collection included children’s hanbok worn for festive occasions. Colorful saekdong jeogori (striped jackets), kkachi durumagi (magpie overcoats), and richly patterned textiles expressed the richness of the season. Reconstructed garments based on historical artifacts were presented in subdued tones to enhance the calm and elegant mood of autumn. The Winter section captured the deep, serene spirit of the cold season, presenting garments that embodied both warmth and dignity. Traditional winter fabrics such as neung (twill), dan (satin), yangdan (two-colored damask on satin), and jikgeum (weaves with supplementary golden wefts) were dyed in rich seasonal tones. Additional warmth was provided through fur linings and quilted garments filled with cotton. The finale of the fashion show featured reenactments of historical garments, including a reproduction of a Joseon-era general's bangmyeongpo and a jeogori (short jacket) excavated in Yongin's Yeongdeok-dong, Gyeonggi Province, worn by actors Jung Il-woo and Kwon Yu-ri, drawing enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Among the visitors was Lee Seo-hyun, a woman in her twenties who traveled from Sokcho, Gangwon Province, dressed in hanbok. "I also came last year," she said. "Since then, I've continued attending hanbok-related events and even bought my first daily hanbok from a brand called Daraewon here." Ina from Germany, who was browsing booths at the event with her baby and a friend, said, "I like to wear modern hanbok. I'd love to stay and look around longer." Beyond the runway, the exhibition featured booths showcasing workwear, lifestyle hanbok, and accessories, modern interpretations that all draw from the enduring legacy of traditional hanbok. 2025-08-07 19:28:50

[[K-Beauty]] South Korea's SME minister pledges export support amid US tariff concerns SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - South Korean Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Seong-sook said Wednesday the government will help maintain global competitiveness in key export sectors, including K-beauty and used cars, amid rising trade tensions with the United States. Han made the remarks during a meeting with export-focused small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at a logistics center, owned by a beauty product retailer Silicon2, located in Gwangju, south of Seoul. The session focused on tariffs and exports, addressing challenges faced by SMEs due to US tariff measures. "The government will support sectors where private companies have pioneered export leadership, helping them maintain their global number one competitiveness," Han said. She pledged assistance through funding, overseas market expansion, and global platform cooperation. According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, South Korean small businesses recorded 56.7 billion dollars in exports during the first half of 2025, a 3 percent increase from the same period last year. However, seven of the top 10 export categories, excluding cosmetics, used cars, and semiconductor equipment, showed year-on-year declines, indicating significant industry variations. Han acknowledged concerns over the 15 percent mutual tariff implementation and promised additional support measures beyond existing export vouchers and emergency management stabilization funds. She emphasized plans to provide timely information on tariff criteria and develop online export activation measures as lower-risk alternatives for small exporters. 2025-08-07 16:30:59

Ex-first lady Kim faces possible arrest over stock and bribery charges SEOUL, August 7 (AJP) - On Thursday, a team of independent prosecutors requested an arrest warrant for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, 36 days after launching an investigation into multiple allegations. If approved, it would mark the first time in South Korean history that a former president and first lady are jailed at the same time. Her husband, disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been in custody at a detention center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, since early last month on separate political funding charges. Kim was questioned for about seven hours on Wednesday at the special investigators' office in central Seoul. She reportedly denied all five allegations, which include stock manipulation, political interference, and accepting illegal gifts. Although she did not invoke her right to remain silent, she gave mostly brief responses. Prosecutors had initially planned to summon her again, but decided to seek her arrest due to her complete denial and concerns over evidence destruction. 2025-08-07 15:44:40

[[K-Tech]] South Korea's fintech giants gear up for stablecoin battle SEOUL, August 7 (AJP) - South Korean fintech companies are forming dedicated task forces and ramping up preparations as expectations mount for the introduction of won-backed stablecoins in the country. Stablecoins, digital tokens typically pegged to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar or euro, have gained traction globally for their potential to enable faster, lower-cost transactions while promising greater price stability. Following the fintech sector's growing interest in cryptocurrency, mobile financial services provider Toss, operated by Viva Republica, has recently established a stablecoin task force team to examine business opportunities in the emerging market, according to industry sources on Thursday. The task force, led by Toss chief business officer Kim Kyu-ha, includes three financial subsidiaries under the Toss umbrella. The move follows similar actions by Kakao, which formed a group-wide stablecoin task force involving KakaoBank and KakaoPay. Both tech giants are positioning themselves ahead of potential regulatory approval for digital currencies. The crypto boom comes as South Korea presses forward with legislative reforms aimed at modernizing digital asset oversight — a key campaign pledge of President Lee Jae Myung. While South Korea's central bank and the Bank for International Settlements have raised fresh alarms over the systemic risks posed by the rapid rise of stablecoins, fintech giants are in preparation as stablecoins provide faster and cheaper transactions while mitigating the volatility often associated with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Naver Pay has also signaled its intentions, with CEO Park Sang-jin saying in June 26 that the company is "well-positioned to develop and implement practical use" if stablecoin regulations are introduced. Last month, Naver announced plans to collaborate with Dunamu on stablecoin business ventures. System integration companies are also eyeing opportunities as banks, brokerages, and payment platforms would need to convert or redesign their existing payment and settlement systems for blockchain-based operations. Digital solution provider LG CNS mirrored great interests during its second quarter results briefing, its chief account officer Kim Hong-geun announcing that " we are strategically responding to stablecoin business opportunities." 2025-08-07 15:03:52

[[K-Tech]] Samsung to produce Apple's next-generation chips at US foundry facility SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will manufacture next-generation chips for its competitor Apple's products, including iPhones, at its foundry facility in the United States, the South Korean chipmaker said Thursday. This marks Samsung's first return to chip production partnership with Apple after the American tech giant shifted most of its processor manufacturing to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) in 2013. Apple also released a press release on August 7 and announced that it is collaborating with its South Korean counterpart to develop innovative new chip manufacturing technology at Samsung's semiconductor facility in Austin, Texas. The technology represents the first of its kind to be used globally, according to Apple. "By introducing this technology to the United States first, this facility will supply chips that optimize power efficiency and performance for Apple products, including iPhones shipped worldwide," Apple said. Industry analysts believe the chips are likely image sensors for next-generation iPhones and other Apple devices. Park Yu-ak, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, wrote in a report last month that Samsung's semiconductor division is expected to reduce operating losses through mass production of iPhone 18 image sensors next year and by securing new clients, including Tesla. Samsung's ISOCELL image sensor brand is designed by its System LSI division and will be manufactured by the foundry at the Austin facility, which began operations in 1998. The ISOCELL sensors are constructed by bonding two wafers together, with the new technology-enabled chips to be produced at the Austin plant. Samsung currently supplies ISOCELL sensors to its own Galaxy smartphone models and Chinese manufacturers including Xiaomi, Vivo and Motorola. Apple has traditionally sourced iPhone image sensors exclusively from Japan's Sony, which holds more than half the global image sensor market share, while Samsung ranks second with 15.4 percent as of last year. 2025-08-07 14:59:15

OpenAI and Anthropic tap S. Korean market, targeting enterprise and public sector markets SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - Major United States artificial intelligence developers are accelerating their business expansion into South Korea, establishing local offices and recruiting skilled workers as they target the country’s enterprise and public sector markets. According to industry sources on Thursday, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has recently relocated the address of its South Korean entity to a shared office space in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam, also the capital's heart of finance and technology. The firm previously announced the formation of a South Korean corporation and began hiring locally. OpenAI is currently finalizing the appointment of its Head of OpenAI Korea. Once the position is filled, the company is expected to hold an official launch event for OpenAI Korea as early as next month. The local team is projected to include around 10 employees. In May, OpenAI began hiring for account director positions, as well as roles in client support, solutions engineering, and solution architecture, among others. Anthropic, the developer of Claude and widely seen as a key rival to OpenAI, also recently established a Korean entity under the name Anthropic Korea, marking the start of its formal entry into the Korean market. Although Anthropic has yet to open a physical office in South Korea, industry watchers expect the company to set up local operations by the end of the year. Mike Krieger, Chief Product Officer at Anthropic, said the company plans to begin making significant investments in the Asia-Pacific region this year, during "Amazon Web Services (AWS) Unicorn Day 2025" held in March at COEX, a major exhibition and conference hub complex in Seoul. While OpenAI’s models are widely recognized for their strengths in text generation and summarization, Claude has shown strength in "vibe coding," where the AI autonomously writes code, gaining traction in the enterprise AI model market. South Korea is currently the second-largest market for paid ChatGPT subscriptions globally, and also ranks among the top five countries for enterprise (ChatGPT for Teams) usage. This highlights Korea’s rapid adoption of AI technologies in both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) domains. An AI industry expert said, "Korea may have a relatively small population and thus a limited consumer market, but it is one of the most proactive countries when it comes to adopting AI to drive real-world results. That’s why it’s increasingly being seen as a proving ground for AI in the broader Asia-Pacific region." 2025-08-07 14:09:58

Yoon resists second arrest attempt in investigation tied to wife SEOUL, August 7 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors on Thursday failed again to bring in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning, as he refused to cooperate. Prosecutors led by Min Jung-ki, who are investigating a series of allegations involving Yoon’s wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, visited a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, in an attempt to arrest Yoon. Yoon reportedly protested by lying on the floor of his cell and refusing to respond to repeated calls from prosecutors. The operation was called off after about 75 minutes due to concerns over possible injury. Officials said limited physical measures were used, but decided to halt the attempt to avoid escalation. It marked the second failed arrest attempt in a week. During the first attempt on Aug. 1, Yoon allegedly lay almost bare-naked on the floor of his cell in protest. With the latest attempt thwarted, prosecutors are now considering their next steps, including whether to try again or move forward without questioning. Yoon is under investigation over allegations of accepting illegal election support and spreading false information during the 2022 presidential race. He allegedly received unauthorized polling services from a political broker and made disputed claims during a televised debate about his wife’s stock dealings. Prosecutors have been trying to question Yoon as part of a broader investigation into Kim, who is embroiled in several allegations, including the acceptance of a luxury handbag, involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, election-related meddling in candidate nominations, and other accusations. She appeared for questioning on Thursday and has denied wrongdoing. 2025-08-07 13:54:23

[[K-Tech]] Samsung unveils Galaxy Watch8 with advanced health sensors for preventive care SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said Thursday it has upgraded the Galaxy Watch8 series with advanced sensor technologies that enable preventive health monitoring and lifestyle habit formation through new features including bedtime guidance and antioxidant index measurement. The South Korean tech giant announced during a press briefing held in central Seoul that the latest smartwatch series is the brainchild of Samsung's smartwatch sensor development project that began in 2013 with the Galaxy Gear. Galaxy Watch8 houses a 3-in-1 BioActive sensor that combines optical heart rate, electrocardiogram, and bioelectrical impedance analysis capabilities. Samsung Health app for smartphones currently has over 70 million monthly active users globally. Key new features include a bedtime guidance function that uses the scientifically-recognized "Two-Process" sleep model to analyze circadian rhythms and sleep drive over three days for the calculation of optimal bedtime recommendations. The watch also introduces the world's first smartwatch antioxidant index measurement, using upgraded sensors to measure carotenoid levels in the skin within five seconds as an indicator of vegetable and fruit intake. The Galaxy Watch8 series adds vascular stress monitoring that automatically measures blood vessel stiffness during sleep using photoplethysmogram signals, providing baseline comparisons to detect cardiovascular health changes. Enhanced electrocardiogram monitoring can now detect ectopic beats, irregular heartbeats that may indicate early signs of atrial fibrillation and stroke risk. Samsung MX Division Health Hardware Development Group Executive Vice President Choi Jong-min said the company aims to help users form healthy habits and detect abnormal signs early through advanced sensor technology. The Galaxy Watch8's sensor improvements include design and comfort enhancements to improve measurement accuracy during active movement and exercise. Choi mentioned that Samsung's regulatory achievements as the company's competitive edge against rivals. "We received the world's first FDA approval for sleep apnea early screening functionality last year, and competitors have followed our lead since then," he said during the Jung-gu media briefing. Choi emphasized Samsung's focus on innovation, saying: "We are continuing development with pride in Galaxy Watch's new features and how much benefit we can provide to users." 2025-08-07 13:52:25