Washington expands metal tariffs as weight thresholds trigger new duties SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) - Washington upended the global household appliance market Thursday (local time) by imposing a flat 25 percent tariff on metal-intensive goods, a move that places South Korea’s leading exporters in a defensive crouch just as a separate pharmaceutical trade wall begins to rise. The new policy, anchored in a Section 232 national security justification, targets any finished product where steel, aluminum, or copper accounts for more than 15 percent of the total weight, a threshold that effectively encompasses the vast majority of premium refrigerators and washing machines exported from Seoul. The fallout is immediate for South Korean brands, which currently command a combined 35 percent share of the American home appliance market. By replacing a fragmented system of duties based on raw material value with a blunt 25 percent tax on the final retail price, the White House has fundamentally altered the math for high-end manufacturing. A flagship French-door refrigerator with a $3,000 price tag now faces a $750 import penalty, a cost that threatens to erase the competitive margins Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have spent a decade securing. According to data from market research firm Trackline, LG Electronics currently holds a 24.3 percent share of the American refrigerator sector, a position now vulnerable to this sudden shift in trade costs. This pressure on consumer goods arrives alongside a parallel shock in the biotechnology sector. While the United States has moved to impose a 100 percent default tariff on patented pharmaceuticals to dismantle foreign medical dependencies, South Korea has managed to secure a preferential 15 percent rate. This narrow reprieve is the result of the bilateral trade agreement reached in July 2025, which designated South Korea as a trade deal country. However, the path to a zero percent tariff is strictly conditional; Seoul must agree to onshore production facilities and adopt Most Favored Nation pricing to fully escape the duty. For manufacturers in South Korea, the 15 percent weight threshold on appliances creates a technical dilemma that cannot be solved through simple logistics. Most modern laundry and kitchen units rely on steel chassis for durability, meaning that to avoid the 25 percent metal derivative tariff, companies would have to fundamentally redesign their product lines or move their entire assembly operations to American soil. While Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics already operate significant manufacturing plants in South Carolina and Tennessee, those facilities do not yet have the capacity to replace the high-volume imports arriving from overseas hubs. The 180-day grace period offered to smaller firms provides little comfort to these conglomerates, which must reconcile their global production schedules with a July 31 compliance deadline. The White House maintains that these measures are necessary to prevent what it describes as gamesmanship by foreign exporters who have historically underreported the value of metal components. By shifting to a weight-based calculation, Washington is attempting to close loopholes that allowed finished goods to bypass the broader steel and aluminum tariffs of previous years. This effectively forces South Korea to choose between maintaining its domestic industrial base and keeping its share of the American consumer market. The new tariff regime on metal derivatives and pharmaceutical products is scheduled to take official effect on April 6, 2026. 2026-04-03 15:03:50

Flautist Han Ji-hee to Release Debut Reinecke Album With Lang Lang, Royal Philharmonic Universal Music said Thursday that flutist Han Ji-hee will release her debut album, “Carl Reinecke: Works for Flute,” on April 24. The album features three works by Carl Reinecke. Han recorded the “Flute Concerto in D major” and the “Ballade in D minor for Flute and Orchestra” with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko. She also recorded the flute-and-piano sonata “Undine” with pianist Lang Lang. The album will be released on the Deutsche Grammophon label, and the first movement of “Undine” will be released in advance via streaming on April 3. Han said, “When I was 13, I fell in love with Reinecke’s music,” adding, “The flute concerto and ‘Undine’ were the most important repertoire of my student years. My master’s thesis was also on Reinecke’s flute concerto.” She said that while planning the repertoire for her first recording, she thought of those two works along with Reinecke’s final piece, the “Ballade,” leading to an album devoted entirely to his music. Lang Lang, who recorded with Han in Paris, said, “Han Ji-hee poured her whole heart into this challenging repertoire,” adding, “I’m very happy to be part of this wonderful project.” Han said the experience strengthened her resolve “more than ever” to introduce classical music, art and culture to people, especially young people today. “I believe helping them come to love this great art will be the most important work for me,” she said. Han is an artist with SM Entertainment’s classical and jazz label, SM Classics. She studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and earned a doctoral degree from Seoul National University’s graduate school. She continues to perform actively as a member of the chamber ensemble PACE and as a soloist, and is scheduled to hold a concert marking the new release on April 29. 2026-04-03 14:36:18

South Korea to allow in-city tax refunds for cruise tourists starting April 6 SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) - Cruise tourists visiting South Korea will be eligible for in-city tax refunds starting April 6, allowing them to reclaim value-added tax (VAT) and other domestic taxes on purchases made at downtown duty-free shops, the Korea Customs Service said Friday. Under South Korea’s tax refund program, foreign visitors can receive refunds on VAT and individual consumption tax included in purchases made at designated duty-free stores when goods are confirmed for export at departure. However, cruise passengers — who enter under a separate shore-excursion permit rather than standard immigration procedures — have faced difficulties using immediate or in-city refund services due to their short stay. The customs agency said it will link its vessel arrival reports and passenger manifest data to the refund system, allowing operators to verify eligibility for cruise tourists. With the number of cruise visitors expected to reach 2 million this year, the measure is expected to shorten waiting times for customs clearance and make tax refunds more convenient. Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Myung-koo said the change would allow cruise tourists to enjoy both shopping and tax refund benefits during their brief stay. He added that the agency will continue working with relevant authorities to further streamline refund procedures for foreign visitors. 2026-04-03 14:25:44

Korea, France summits to work on normalizing Hormuz SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed Friday to strengthen cooperation in securing maritime shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, as disruptions from the Middle East war continue to threaten global energy supply. Speaking at a joint press statement following their summit at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said the two leaders aligned on a coordinated response to the economic and energy fallout from the conflict. “President Macron and I agreed to share policy experience and strategies to jointly respond to the economic and energy crisis caused by the Middle East war, and to work together to reduce global economic uncertainty,” Lee said. The two sides also agreed to deepen cooperation in nuclear power and offshore wind to bolster energy security. On trade, Lee noted that bilateral exchanges reached a record $15 billion last year but stressed the need to expand further. “We cannot be satisfied with that,” he said, setting a target of $20 billion by 2030. He highlighted a $3.5 billion investment by French industrial gas company Air Liquide in South Korea last year and expressed hope that expanded investment in emerging industries would help double employment at firms with bilateral ties from about 40,000 to 80,000 over the next decade. The summit produced 14 agreements spanning advanced industries and cultural cooperation. Among them was a memorandum of understanding between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and French firms Orano and Framatome to strengthen cooperation in the global nuclear market and secure stable fuel supplies through closer integration of the nuclear fuel supply chain. Additional agreements covered artificial intelligence, semiconductors and offshore wind. The two countries also revised their working holiday program to raise the eligible age to 18–35 from 18–30, alongside a letter of intent on language assistant exchanges and an MOU on cultural heritage cooperation. Lee said the nuclear partnership would help ensure stable fuel supplies for South Korea while laying the groundwork for joint expansion into overseas nuclear projects. On the Korean Peninsula, Lee said France — a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council — has consistently supported Seoul’s policy approach, adding that both leaders “deeply agreed” peace on the peninsula is critical to global stability. He said he outlined South Korea’s efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue and pursue peaceful coexistence, with Macron reaffirming France’s continued support for stability in the region. Macron also formally invited Lee to attend the Group of Seven summit in June in Evian, France. Lee said he expects France, as G7 chair, to lead efforts to address global economic imbalances and reform international partnerships, adding that South Korea will play a constructive role. Lee expressed hope for closer cooperation with France “for the next 140 years,” marking the long-standing bilateral relationship. 2026-04-03 13:55:07

Seoul waives duties on freight surge to curb inflation spillover SEOUL, April 3 (AJP) — South Korea will waive customs duties on extraordinary freight cost increases for imports from the Middle East, as the crippling of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to spill into domestic prices and broader inflation. The emergency measure, announced Friday by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, allows companies to exclude surging shipping costs incurred from longer alternative routes when calculating import duties. The move comes as tanker freight rates on Middle East–China routes have soared 608 percent from a year earlier, with the chokepoint effectively sealed by Iranian forces. Customs duties are typically levied on the total value of imports, including freight. By excluding the recent spike in shipping costs, the government aims to ease the burden on importers and contain pass-through inflation. “U-turn cargo” — shipments originally destined for the Middle East but forced to return — will face minimal inspections, while key imports such as energy and raw materials will be granted pre-arrival clearance to ensure immediate domestic supply upon arrival. Administrative procedures for supply-sensitive items will also be streamlined. For raw materials used in paint and polyethylene (PE) resin, firms will be allowed to submit testing plans in place of full toxicity data, cutting approval timelines from more than three months to a fraction of that period. In the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, a fast-track review system will prioritize essential items such as IV solutions, sanitary pads and injection needles. On-site Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspections required for facility changes will be replaced with document-based reviews. To preempt shortages in daily necessities, quality inspections for items such as municipal trash bags will be reduced from 10 days to one. The 100 million won ($66,000) cap on direct purchases by local governments will also be temporarily lifted. For asphalt, where prices have climbed alongside crude oil, authorities will advise local governments to delay non-urgent road maintenance projects. In the case of automotive urea, the government will facilitate inter-company trading and may release public stockpiles if needed. Fertilizer-grade urea supply will be stabilized through the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup). “Eight of the 13 measures will take effect immediately, with the remaining regulatory revisions to be completed within two weeks,” First Vice Finance Minister Lee Hyung-il said. “We will maintain these temporary exemptions until the emergency subsides, while closely monitoring for potential side effects.” 2026-04-03 13:29:28

HD Korea Shipbuilding issues $1.57 bn in exchangeable bonds, sparking valuation re-rating hopes SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has launched a 2.37 trillion won ($1.57 billion) exchangeable bond issuance targeting shares of its flagship subsidiary HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, a move analysts say could dismantle the holding company discount that has long weighed on its stock. The company disclosed the EB issuance on March 31, later revising the total from an initially announced 3.03 trillion won. The bonds are exchangeable into a 4.3 percent stake in HD Hyundai Heavy Industries at a conversion price of 523,125 won per share, with exchange requests eligible from June 14. The offering crystallizes a plan first floated at a January management briefing, where executives acknowledged that HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' thin free float had become a bottleneck for unlocking shareholder value. "The company had announced it had no plans to sell its stake, but by issuing exchangeable bonds, it has effectively liquidated its HD Hyundai Heavy Industries holdings in a way that minimizes market shock," said Kim Yong-min, an analyst at Yuanta Securities. By opting for exchangeable bonds rather than a block deal, the shipbuilder chose to cushion the market from a sudden supply shock. Instead of offloading a large tranche of shares in one sweep, the structure allows a gradual expansion of circulating stock as bondholders exercise their conversion rights over time. For HD Korea Shipbuilding, monetizing a long-dormant subsidiary stake could serve as a springboard for valuation re-rating, with the parent's standalone net cash position projected to swell to nearly 5 trillion won. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, by contrast, faces near-term headwinds on the supply side. EB investors are widely expected to engage in hedge trading — shorting the underlying shares to manage risk — which could exert downward pressure on the stock in the coming weeks. Market attention has now turned squarely to how the war chest will be deployed. Given that both companies already sit on ample liquidity, analysts view the fundraising as a preemptive move to finance large-scale strategic investments rather than a routine cash buffer. Potential targets include establishing a naval defense foothold in the United States and pursuing mergers and acquisitions in next-generation green maritime technology, particularly as Washington has signaled its desire to deepen cooperation with South Korean shipbuilders. No concrete spending plans have been finalized, however, leaving a degree of uncertainty. "This fundraising will give HD Korea Shipbuilding's overseas expansion and M&A pursuits significant momentum. It could serve as a catalyst for narrowing the valuation gap with rival shipbuilders," said Jeong Dong-ik, an analyst at KB Securities. As of 11:20 a.m. Friday, KOSPI-listed HD Korea Shipbuilding traded 7.42 percent up at 376,500 won per stock. 2026-04-03 11:22:44

Asian stocks rebound as Hormuz passage hopes ease war fears SEOUL, April 3 (AJP) — Asian markets continued to seesaw with each development in the Iran war, but moved higher in early Friday trading on rising hopes for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.08 percent to 53,029.41, while China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.21 percent to 3,927.59. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was closed from Friday through April 6 for the Easter holiday. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rebounded at the open after a sharp sell-off in the previous session, when geopolitical fears triggered a sidecar trading curb. As of 10:51 a.m., the index rose 2.71 percent to 5,376.08, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ gained 1.02 percent to 1,067.08. In currency markets, the Korean won strengthened slightly against the U.S. dollar, with the exchange rate falling to 1,509.40 won from 1,519.7 in the previous session. Sentiment was supported by reports that Tehran is drafting a post-war maritime protocol with Oman to guarantee safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially including transit fees instead of a full blockade. Overnight on Wall Street, major indexes ended mixed after recovering from early losses tied to war concerns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.13 percent, while the S&P 500 rose 0.11 percent and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.18 percent. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index and the Russell 2000 also posted modest gains. Oil prices remained volatile. U.S. West Texas Intermediate briefly surged toward $114 per barrel following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, before paring gains on Iran-Oman negotiation headlines, reflecting persistent uncertainty over supply risks. Brent crude futures for June delivery settled at $109.03 per barrel, up 7.8 percent from the previous session. All major stocks in Seoul traded higher in early deals, with gains seen across sectors. Tech and chipmakers led advances, with Samsung Electronics rising 3.64 percent to 184,900 won and SK Hynix jumping 5.60 percent to 876,500 won. Autos and mobility stocks also traded higher, with Hyundai Motor up 2.04 percent at 475,000 won and Kia gaining 1.93 percent to 153,500 won. Hyundai Mobis rose 0.64 percent to 392,000 won. Energy and industrials advanced, as LG Energy Solution added 0.62 percent to 407,000 won, Hanwha Aerospace rose 1.20 percent to 1,434,000 won, Doosan Enerbility gained 2.88 percent to 96,300 won, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries climbed 4.21 percent to 457,500 won. HD Hyundai Electric rose 1.81 percent to 898,000 won, while Hanwha Ocean advanced 1.84 percent to 121,500 won. Among biopharmaceutical stocks, Samsung Biologics climbed 0.44 percent to 1,592,000 won and Celltrion gained 0.61 percent to 197,900 won. Financials edged higher, with KB Financial Group rising 0.96 percent to 147,900 won, Shinhan Financial gaining 1.96 percent to 93,500 won, Samsung Life climbing 3.69 percent to 225,000 won, and Mirae Asset Securities advancing 3.73 percent to 63,900 won. Other large caps also moved higher, with Samsung C&T rising 1.52 percent to 268,000 won and SK Square gaining 2.56 percent to 481,500 won. The combination of overnight gains in U.S. tech shares, a firmer won and stronger futures points to a short-term technical rebound in Korean equities, though lingering geopolitical risks ahead of the weekend are likely to cap further upside. 2026-04-03 11:18:26

BTS to drop 'Come Over' on 'Arirang' deluxe vinyl SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) - BTS will release a new single, "Come Over," as part of a deluxe vinyl edition of its fifth studio album "Arirang," its agency BigHit Music said Friday. The deluxe LP will include all 14 tracks from the original album along with the new song, bringing the total to 15. The track will be available exclusively on the deluxe vinyl edition. Suga participated in producing the track, while RM and J-Hope are credited as songwriters. According to the agency, Come Over blends elements of stadium anthem and pop and is dedicated to the group’s fandom, ARMY. BTS is set to kick off its "BTS World Tour Arirang" in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on April 9, with the tour scheduled to continue in major cities worldwide through 2027. 2026-04-03 11:14:51

Woori Bank to Turn Branch Idle Space Into Community Platform With Goodwill Store Woori Bank said Thursday it will convert idle space at branches nationwide into a social-contribution platform aimed at supporting local communities. As some branches scale back operations, the bank will bring in Goodwill Store outlets that sell donated goods. The pilot “Goodwill Branch Yeoju” has continued to provide essential financial services for local residents while also creating jobs for vulnerable groups and encouraging local donations, the bank said. Woori Bank said it plans to expand various community-focused branch models tailored to local conditions and welfare needs. It said the effort will center on three goals: improving access to financial services, supporting vulnerable groups and strengthening ties with local communities. “Finance has a public function and should grow together with local communities, beyond simply providing services,” Shin Young-cheol, head of Woori Bank’s social contribution department, said. He said using idle space would allow customers to access banking services nearby while communities benefit from jobs and welfare support.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-03 11:03:00

Korea and France hold summit to elevate ties to strategic partnership SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) -South Korea and France are elevating bilateral ties to a “global strategic partnership” during French President Emmanuel Macron’s two-day state visit — his first to Korea since taking office in 2017 and the first by a French president in 11 years — which began Friday amid mounting geopolitical tensions. Macron arrived in Seoul on Thursday for a two-day visit following a trip to Japan, in what French officials described as an effort to expand France’s strategic and economic role in the Indo-Pacific at a time of “strong international and regional tensions.” The two are set make a joint declaration after the summit with President Lee Jae Myung, focused to formalize the upgrade from the “comprehensive partnership for the 21st century” established in 2004, 22 years ago, the presidential office in Seoul said. “President Lee plans to strengthen strategic communication with France … and build a future-oriented partnership,” senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. France, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a key European Union country, is seen by Seoul as a critical partner in addressing global security and economic challenges. The two leaders are expected to discuss expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space, nuclear energy, trade and investment, as well as education, culture and people-to-people exchanges. In a contribution to French daily Le Figaro, Lee said bilateral ties must evolve beyond a traditional partnership into “strategic collaboration” encompassing key innovation sectors such as artificial intelligence and nuclear energy. The meeting marks the third in-person exchange between Lee and Macron, following talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada last June and the G20 summit in South Africa last November. South Korea and France were among some 40 countries that joined a videoconference hosted by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Thursday, aimed at coordinating joint action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The talks followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday that the strait could reopen “naturally,” adding that countries reliant on the waterway should take responsibility for securing it. “Just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves,” he said. Speaking in South Korea on Thursday, however, Macron dismissed the idea of a military seizure as “unrealistic.” “It would take an indefinite amount of time, and it would expose all those who venture through this Strait to coastal risks from the Revolutionary Guards, as well as ballistic missiles,” he said. 2026-04-03 11:01:57