Samsung shares head north on record R&D, buyback plan in AI chip push SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - Shares of Samsung Electronics headed north as investors welcomed the South Korean tech behemoth’s record spending — amounting to nearly a third of last year’s revenue of over $200 billion — to advance chipmaking capabilities in the AI-driven era while sharing the memory boom with shareholders. According to its 2025 business report disclosed Tuesday, the company invested a record 37.7 trillion won ($28.3 billion) in research and development last year and set aside 16 trillion won to retire around 87 million treasury shares during the first half. As of 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, shares were up 2.55 percent at 192,500. The 2025 R&D spending marked a 7.8 percent increase from 2024, while capital expenditure on semiconductor and display facilities rose to 52.7 trillion won, about 5 trillion won more than initially planned. Samsung said the massive investment was aimed at preemptively addressing demand for next-generation semiconductors such as High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and high-capacity DDR5, key components powering artificial intelligence data centers. The company recently began mass production of HBM4 base dies and plans to expand supply of HBM4 this year to meet surging demand from major global technology firms. Notably, Alphabet has joined Samsung’s top five customers amid the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure investments by big tech companies. Samsung also reported strong financial performance last year. Annual revenue reached 333.61 trillion won, up 10.9 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit jumped 33.2 percent to 43.6 trillion won. Revenue exceeded 330 trillion won for the first time, marking the company’s highest annual sales on record. Shareholder returns are also being strengthened. Samsung plans to cancel about 87 million treasury shares, valued at roughly 16 trillion won based on the March 10 closing price, as part of efforts to enhance shareholder value. The semiconductor recovery and improved earnings also lifted employee compensation. The average annual salary rose 21.5 percent to a record 158 million won last year, compared with 130 million won in 2024. To promote longer-term performance-based management, the company granted 35.29 million performance share units (PSUs) to around 128,000 employees. As of the end of last year, Samsung’s domestic workforce stood at 128,881, with the average tenure rising to 13.7 years. The company said it plans to continue creating jobs for young people through its traditional open recruitment program in the first half of the year. 2026-03-11 11:11:40

Mercedes-Benz Korea Launches In-Car App for Service Center Bookings Mercedes-Benz Korea said on the 11th it has launched an “Onboard Service Application” that lets drivers book service-center appointments through the vehicle’s central display. The company said the service is the first of its kind in the imported-car segment. It follows the official website and mobile app as another option aimed at improving digital convenience. Through the in-car screen, drivers can check the vehicle’s current service status. If the system identifies needed maintenance, it provides a suggested service along with an online booking notification. The app is available for vehicles equipped with second- or third-generation MBUX infotainment systems or later. If digital service activation requirements are met, the application is automatically installed via an over-the-air update.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 11:07:30

Hyundai Rotem Earns Top CDP Water Security Rating Hyundai Rotem said it has received top marks from CDP, a global sustainability assessment organization, for its environmental management performance. The company said Wednesday it earned the highest “Leadership A” rating and received an Excellence Award for water security at the 2025 CDP Korea Awards, held Tuesday at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman in Seoul. CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, evaluates major companies’ responses to climate change and water management by requesting and assessing management information on behalf of financial institutions worldwide. It is widely used by global investors and companies as an environmental disclosure platform. CDP grades companies each year across eight levels, including Leadership A, Leadership A- and Management B. It gives a grand prize to the top-scoring company and top excellence awards to the second- and third-ranked firms. Companies that earn Leadership A- or higher receive an excellence award. Hyundai Rotem said it moved up two grades from the previous year to reach Leadership A, its first time receiving the top rating since it was included in CDP’s environmental management assessment in 2022. The company said it operates internal standards stricter than legal requirements to minimize water pollutants at its worksites. It said it continuously monitors discharged water quality and tracks water use and reuse. Hyundai Rotem said it plans to set a mid- to long-term plan to cut water pollutants and strengthen its water-risk management system. Over the longer term, it said it will introduce advanced wastewater treatment and build a process to reuse low-concentration wastewater. To support carbon-neutral management, the company said it installed solar power facilities last year at its Changwon plant, a key domestic production base. The plant produces 929 MWh of renewable energy annually, enough to fully charge a small electric vehicle with a 42 kWh battery about 22,000 times. Hyundai Rotem said it aims to convert all worksites to 100% renewable energy by 2040. “We earned the highest rating in the CDP assessment as a result of companywide efforts to manage water resources to protect ecosystems,” a Hyundai Rotem official said. “We will continue to advance water management and expand renewable energy use to contribute to a sustainable society.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 11:03:19

Hyundai Motor Group overtakes Volkswagen in profitability, claims global No. 2 spot SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group surpassed Volkswagen Group in annual operating profit for the first time last year, securing the No. 2 position among global automakers in a milestone that underscores the South Korean conglomerate's rising dominance in an increasingly competitive industry. The group, which encompasses Hyundai Motor Company, Kia and premium line Genesis, posted a combined operating profit of 20.55 trillion won ($13.99 billion) in 2025, comfortably eclipsing Volkswagen's 8.9 billion euros (15.19 trillion won). Toyota Group retained the top spot with an operating profit of 4.31 trillion yen (39.97 trillion won). Hyundai Motor Group sold 7.27 million vehicles worldwide last year, ranking third in global sales behind Toyota at 11.32 million units and Volkswagen at 8.98 million units. General Motors trailed in fourth with 6.18 million units, followed by Stellantis at 5.48 million. The group's operating profit margin stood at 6.8 percent, more than double Volkswagen's 2.8 percent, and second only to Toyota's 8.6 percent. Despite shouldering about 7.2 trillion won in U.S. tariff-related costs — split between Hyundai Motor at 4.1 trillion won and Kia at 3.1 trillion won — the group's tariff burden was lighter than that of Toyota, which paid about 1.2 trillion yen. Hyundai Motor Group offset tariff headwinds through local production adjustments, market diversification and swift inventory drawdowns. Industry analysts attributed the group's outperformance to its agility in balancing electrified and internal combustion lineups while tightening cost controls across its global operations. Revenue for the group totaled 300.4 trillion won last year, dwarfed by Volkswagen's 321.9 billion euros but supported by margins that have steadily widened over the past several years. 2026-03-11 10:59:35

North Korea conducts another missile test from new destroyer SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - North Korea has conducted another test‑firing of strategic cruise missiles from its new destroyer, state media reported on Wednesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), leader Kim Jong‑un observed the test through a monitor the previous day, accompanied by his daughter Ju‑ae. The test comes less than a week after a similar test conducted at a shipyard in Nampo and also coincides with the annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S., which are currently underway. KCNA said the missiles from the multipurpose destroyer Choe Hyun flew along the West Sea for roughly 10,000 seconds before hitting their designated targets, with Kim expressing "his great satisfaction over the verified reliability of the national integrated control system of strategic weapons and the superiority of the destroyer's integrated combat system." Kim was quoted as saying, "The components of our war deterrent are now being included in the very sophisticated operational system in an effective and accelerated manner continuously and the country's nuclear forces have made a switch to the phase of multifaceted operation." He also vowed to enhance the country's naval capabilities with more warships in the future. In April last year, North Korea unveiled the Choe Hyon, named after a comrade of its regime founder Kim Il‑sung during his days as a partisan fighter. The 5,000-ton destroyer is believed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons. North Korea is also building another destroyer, which is expected to be completed by early October, in time for the 81st anniversary of the founding of the country's key ruling organ, the Workers' Party of Korea. 2026-03-11 10:56:29

Hanwha to Debut L-SAM Missile Defense System at Belgium’s BEDEX Arms Show Hanwha will showcase South Korea’s long-range surface-to-air missile interceptor, known as the L-SAM, at the BEDEX defense exhibition in Belgium, aiming to expand sales in the global market. Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems said Wednesday they are taking part in BEDEX in Brussels from March 12-14, marking the first participation by a South Korean company. The exhibition, being held in Belgium for the first time, is set to draw major defense firms including Rheinmetall, KNDS and Raytheon, among other European and global companies. Hanwha said it is moving early to establish a foothold in Western Europe by exhibiting in Belgium, home to NATO headquarters. Belgium is pursuing a layered air defense network as a top defense priority. Hanwha Aerospace plans to display the L-SAM interceptor missile and launcher, while Hanwha Systems will exhibit a multifunction radar, the Cheongwang laser air defense weapon and a laser armored vehicle under development. Often described as a South Korean version of THAAD, the L-SAM is a long-range surface-to-air missile system designed to hit and destroy ballistic missiles at altitudes above 40 kilometers using a hit-to-kill method. Development was completed in 2024, and mass production began last year. Hanwha said the system can intercept fast, medium-range ballistic missiles descending from high altitude, enabling rapid response. The company also plans to emphasize its ability to support quick fielding tailored to local requirements as European countries accelerate efforts to strengthen missile defense networks. Hanwha Aerospace will also introduce the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher to Western European customers. The system’s European operators have expanded beyond Poland to include Estonia and Norway. At the exhibition, Hanwha will display a Chunmoo launcher and four types of guided rockets with ranges of 80 kilometers to 290 kilometers. “Belgium is a key hub for European security, hosting NATO headquarters and major European Union institutions,” a Hanwha official said. “Building on Hanwha’s standing as a strategic partner to NATO, strengthened through exports such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer, we will actively seek cooperation to present our air defense and ground firepower capabilities in Europe and contribute to strengthening the defense capabilities of NATO member states.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 10:39:49

Alaska Airlines Names Korea Country Manager Yoo Su-jin to Lead Asia Regional Headquarters Alaska Airlines said March 11 that it has appointed Yoo Su-jin, its Korea country manager, to lead its Asia regional headquarters. The company said the move is part of efforts to expand international routes, strengthen premium services and improve global operating capabilities. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have stepped up cooperation as a single group since their merger, expanding their network to 29 international routes and more than 140 destinations across North America, Central and South America, Asia and the Pacific. The group will add new routes to Europe starting this spring. Yoo graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in English literature. She began her career as a foreign-exchange dealer at Banque Indosuez in Seoul and later worked at Renault Samsung Motors and Air France-KLM, among others. She has worked in the airline industry for more than 10 years, including serving as Hawaiian Airlines' Korea country manager since 2016. Based in Seoul, she will oversee all Asia routes, including those serving South Korea and Japan. "It is very meaningful to take on the role of overseeing both South Korea and Japan, key markets in Asia," Yoo said. "This year marks an important momentum as Alaska Airlines officially enters the South Korean market, and I will further strengthen Alaska Airlines' presence in Asia based on my expertise." She said she will focus on maximizing synergies between the two airlines across Asia, drawing on more than a decade of experience with Hawaiian Airlines, and will work to expand customer touchpoints and advance as a premium global airline. Alaska Airlines also appointed Kees Berkelk, a Dutch national, to lead its U.K. and Europe regional headquarters, and Andrew Stanbury, from Sydney, Australia, to lead its South Pacific regional headquarters. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 10:33:18

Hanwha Advanced Materials showcases lightweight composite solutions for EVs at global convention SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - Hanwha Advanced Materials is presenting a suite of lightweight composite solutions for electric vehicles at JEC World 2026, the world's largest composites exhibition running from Tuesday to Thursday in Paris, as the South Korean materials maker ramps up its push into the global mobility market. The company is exhibiting products designed to address two pivotal challenges in EV development — weight reduction and safety — including a lightweight seat cushion frame that trims mass compared with conventional metal components while retaining the strength and rigidity required for mass-produced vehicles. The proprietary frame, built on Hanwha's in-house composite design and processing technology, is engineered to boost fuel efficiency and extend driving range through structurally optimized design that cuts both thickness and weight without compromising crash safety or passenger protection. Hanwha is also unveiling EV-specific parts already in serial production, such as a front trunk, or frunk, and a composite truck bed for electric commercial vehicles. The parts leverage the moldability, impact resistance and corrosion resistance of composite materials to expand cargo space, enhance design flexibility and reduce overall vehicle weight. Among the flagship exhibits is a next-generation battery protection system comprising an underfloor structure and upper case, both currently under development. The integrated design reduces part count and achieves about 20 percent weight savings while incorporating materials technology capable of slowing thermal runaway propagation during battery fires, along with electromagnetic shielding. "This exhibition will serve as a venue to explore technical synergies with our global automaker partners in advancing the lightweight performance and safety of electric vehicles," a Hanwha Advanced Materials spokesperson said. "We will continue to propose practical composite-based solutions in step with the evolving mobility market and strengthen cooperation on the global stage." 2026-03-11 10:25:13

Porsche Unveils New Cayenne S Electric With 544-HP AWD System Porsche AG on Tuesday unveiled the new Cayenne S Electric, an all-electric sport utility vehicle. Positioned between the Cayenne Electric and the range-topping Cayenne Turbo Electric, the Cayenne S Electric adds 224 PS over the base model, with a sharper exterior design and a broad list of options, the company said. Its drive system uses permanent-magnet synchronous motors on the front and rear axles, producing 544 PS. With launch control, system output rises to as much as 666 PS. The model accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 250 kph. Driving range is up to 653 kilometers under the WLTP standard. An optional push-to-pass function can deliver up to an additional 122 PS for 10 seconds. The Cayenne S Electric uses the same 113-kWh high-voltage battery fitted to the Cayenne Electric and Cayenne Turbo Electric. At a compatible fast-charging station, it can charge from 10% to 80% in under 16 minutes at up to 400 kW, Porsche said. The exterior features model-specific front and rear aprons in Volcano Gray Metallic, with inserts and the diffuser finished in the body color. It also comes with 20-inch Cayenne S Aero wheels. Porsche said buyers can choose from 13 exterior colors, along with multiple interior and accent packages. Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur will offer packages under its “Style” product line developed with the Style Porsche design studio. One configuration pairs Mystic Green Metallic paint with a mix of colors and materials aimed at a modern, exclusive look. Aluminum trim in Isarbal Green contrasts with leather surfaces. A black leather GT sports steering wheel features a 12 o’clock marker and Delgada Green cross-stitching. In South Korea, the Cayenne S Electric will be priced at 163.8 million won and is scheduled to go on sale in the second half of this year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 10:24:17

National Museum, HYBE Team Up on BTS Goods Inspired by Korean National Treasure Korean national treasures are increasingly being recast through K-pop, with the 1,250-year-old Bell of King Seongdeok now serving as inspiration for BTS-linked merchandise aimed at global fans. The “Hip Tradition” trend that has spread in South Korea in recent years is moving onto the international stage through K-pop, broadening interest from K-content to Korean culture more broadly, including traditional heritage. Industry officials said Wednesday that the National Museum of Korea has become a key venue for collaborations between K-pop and traditional culture. A leading example is “Mu:ds,” the museum’s cultural merchandise line. Reinterpreting heritage through a modern lens, Mu:ds topped 40 billion won in annual sales last year. Its reach has grown further through partnerships with globally recognized K-pop, helping bring traditional culture to a wider audience. Riding the popularity of the Netflix animation “K-pop Demon Hunters,” a “magpie and tiger” badge sold about 90,000 units over the year, prompting “open-run” lines for purchases. This year, BTS is set to take over the Mu:ds spotlight. The National Museum Foundation of Korea said it will begin selling products developed with HYBE starting on the 20th to mark the release of BTS’ fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG.” The collaboration draws on patterns from the Bell of King Seongdeok, a national treasure held by the Gyeongju National Museum. Designers developed graphics based on donor figures and cloud motifs engraved on the bell’s surface and applied them to items including hairpins, shoulder bags, card holders and layered skirts. With BTS set to stage a comeback performance blending tradition and modernity at Gyeongbokgung Palace on the 21st, to be livestreamed worldwide on Netflix, the foundation expects the new Mu:ds products to draw interest from ARMY fans around the world. The Hip Tradition wave has been driven in large part by K-pop. After years of emphasizing a more borderless image, K-pop artists over the past five years have increasingly incorporated traditional elements such as hanbok, helping spark interest in heritage among Generation Z. BTS leader RM has also been credited with boosting Mu:ds’ visibility. Public attention grew after it became known that he owns a Mu:ds miniature modeled on the gilt-bronze pensive bodhisattva, a national treasure. Performances and videos have reinforced the trend, including BTS wearing reinterpreted hanbok while performing in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Blackpink featuring a jeogori jacket in a music video, the report said. Collaborations are also expanding into museum spaces. The National Museum of Korea and Blackpink recently set up a listening zone inside the museum timed to the group’s new album release, allowing visitors and fans to hear tracks from the album. The museum also offered a docent program in which Thai member Lisa introduced museum artifacts in Thai, the report said, as a way to present Korean heritage to overseas K-pop fans. Experts said the synergy between K-pop and traditional culture is a positive development. Pop culture critic Jeong Deok-hyeon said, “We are moving from the era of K-content to the era of K-culture,” adding that events featuring globally recognized K-pop artists at the National Museum of Korea can be “highly effective” in promoting K-culture. Reinterpreting heritage through goods, he said, has become a channel for showing that “our culture is hip.” 2026-03-11 10:21:32