Kia CEO Song Ho-sung: EV2 to Debut This Year; 13 EV Models Planned by 2030 Kia said it will step up its push into the global auto market this year with a strategy aimed at making electric vehicles more widely adopted. The automaker made the remarks at its 82nd annual shareholders meeting held Friday morning at its headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul. In opening comments, Kia President Song Ho-sung said, "We will strengthen our leadership in the EV market by launching the EV2 this year." The EV2, unveiled in January at the Brussels Motor Show, is Kia’s compact electrified model designed for city driving, with interior space and convenience features that exceed expectations for its class. Kia said it is expanding its EV lineup by adding the EV2 this year, following the launch of the EV3 in 2024 and the EV4 and EV5 last year. The company plans to roll out a total of 13 EV models by 2030 to broaden consumer choice, while moving step by step to improve products, boost accessibility and strengthen its supply chain. Kia’s purpose-built vehicle (PBV) program calls for the PV7 next year and the PV9 in 2029. Song said Kia will optimize its EV supply chain by diversifying production bases by region, centered on domestic plants and expanding across Europe, the United States and emerging markets. Kia said it completed the Hwaseong EVO Plant EAST last year and plans to complete the WEST facility by next year to produce the PV7. By 2027, the company plans to introduce a next-generation software-defined vehicle (SDV) combining AI-based user experience and connectivity. It said it will secure autonomous driving technology in stages through cooperation with Motional and 42dot. In the U.S. market, Kia said it will strengthen a strategy centered on hybrids and sport utility vehicles. It plans to expand sales by launching new versions of the Telluride and Seltos and adding to its hybrid lineup. Song said cost burdens are rising due to the impact of U.S. tariffs and intensifying global competition. Still, he said Kia will bolster product competitiveness with hybrids in the United States and EVs in Europe, while expanding its portfolio for broader EV adoption. At the meeting, Kia put forward proposed amendments to its articles of incorporation, including adopting electronic shareholders meetings, introducing cumulative voting, expanding directors’ duty of loyalty, strengthening the audit committee’s composition and renaming outside directors as independent directors. The company also reappointed Chief Financial Officer Kim Seung-jun as an inside director. It reappointed Jun Chan-hyuk, chairman of Cesco, as an outside director, and reappointed Shin Jae-yong, a professor of business administration at Seoul National University, as an outside director serving on the audit committee. 2026-03-20 10:45:21

South Korea braces for supply disruptions after Iran's attack on Qatari energy complex SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - The government is reviewing additional measures to cope with supply chain disruptions as the prolonged conflict in the Middle East affects supplies of naphtha and other petrochemical products, Cheong Wa Dae said on Friday. The remarks came after Iran's attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex, which accounts for about 20 percent of global supply. According to a senior Cheong Wa Dae official, South Korea is unlikely to face supply disruptions as it has alternative sources of gas. He added, "When it comes to liquefied natural gas supplies from Qatar, there is no problem with supply, as Qatar accounts for just 14 percent of imports this year and alternative sources are available." But the government is keeping a close watch on naphtha supply and prices to prepare for any potential disruptions. It also plans to implement measures to minimize overseas outflows of naphtha. QatarEnergy, Qatar's state-run petroleum company, said the previous day it may have to declare force majeure due to the attack on its LNG facilities earlier in the week, affecting long-term supply contracts with South Korea and other countries for up to five years. Force majeure is a measure taken to avoid liability when fulfilling a contract becomes difficult due to war, natural disasters, or other events. 2026-03-20 10:38:55

Hanwha Aerospace Hosts IISS Global Security Strategy Roundtable in Seoul Hanwha Aerospace said Thursday it held a “Global Security Strategy Roundtable” with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a global think tank, to discuss key international issues. The event was held Wednesday at Hanwha Building in Janggyo-dong, Seoul. Attendees included Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il and senior executives from Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean, the group’s three defense companies. The IISS delegation included Director-General Bastian Giegerich; Senior Adviser Lee Jung-min; Rami Kim, the institute’s Korea Chair; and Rosamund de Sibel, head of advisory services, Hanwha Aerospace said. It was the first visit by IISS leadership to Hanwha headquarters since the Korea Chair was established at IISS last year, the company said. The two sides exchanged views on the rapidly changing security environment and global defense industry trends. Hanwha executives outlined their global business vision, while IISS shared its research and advisory work and plans for the Korea Chair, the company said. Discussions also covered major security issues including rising defense demand in Europe and the need to strengthen air defense capabilities in the Gulf region, it said. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1958, IISS is a leading defense and security think tank. It hosts the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest security forum, and publishes The Military Balance, a widely used annual assessment of global military capabilities. The Korea Chair is a permanent research post jointly sponsored by Hanwha and the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KF). Hanwha said it is the first Korea-focused position established at a major European security think tank. The inaugural chair, Dr. Rami Kim, is based at IISS headquarters in London and leads research on advanced technology and defense and security issues, the company said. “Hanwha aims to be a ‘trusted industrial partner’ that grows with partner countries through technology transfer, joint investment and local production, not simply a defense exporter,” Son said. “Strategic cooperation with IISS will be an important foundation for realizing that vision.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 10:27:24

Jeju Air Marks 17 Years of International Flights, Averaging 27.5% Annual Growth Jeju Air said Thursday it has marked the 17th anniversary of its international service, reporting 62.85 million cumulative international passengers and average annual growth of 27.5%. The airline began scheduled international flights on March 20, 2009, launching the Incheon-Osaka route as South Korea’s first low-cost carrier to operate a regular international service. After about 159,000 passengers in its first year, Jeju Air expanded steadily. In 2012, it carried about 1.19 million international passengers, ushering in what it called the “1 million annual international passengers” era. As it added routes to Japan, Southeast Asia and greater China, the airline’s cumulative international passenger total surpassed 10 million in 2016 and topped 50 million in 2024. As of the end of February this year, cumulative international passengers stood at about 62.858 million, maintaining average annual growth of 27.5% since 2009, the company said. Jeju Air also increased its network from seven weekly flights on the Incheon-Osaka route in 2009 to 58 international routes now, serving destinations including Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia and greater China. Japan routes carried more than 4 million passengers last year, the company said, its best result on record. Southeast Asia routes also posted their strongest performance since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 360,000 foreign tourists using the services. The Incheon-Osaka route, Jeju Air’s first international service, has grown from one daily flight at launch to seven a day. The company said that is the highest frequency among airlines operating Korea-Japan routes. Passenger traffic on the route rose from about 73,000 in 2009 to about 574,000 in 2025. A Jeju Air official said the carrier has helped shift the market toward consumers and broaden access to air travel over the past 17 years, adding that it aims to strengthen South Korea’s aviation competitiveness through “healthy competition.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 10:12:09

Toss Bank Launches Companywide Hiring Push to Boost Data, Tech Capabilities Toss Bank said on the 20th it will carry out a large-scale hiring drive this year across all job groups. Openings span product planning and design, business, engineering, data, security and corporate support, with plans to recruit talent for more than 60 positions across the company. The bank will also operate a “special recruitment talent pool for veterans” to expand career opportunities for people eligible for veterans benefits who have served the country. The hiring process will proceed from document screening to a job interview, a culture-fit interview and reference checks. Toss Bank said the recruitment is aimed at improving customers’ financial experience while strengthening data- and technology-based competitiveness and further advancing security, risk and compliance capabilities. A Toss Bank official said the hiring is intended to sustain service innovation while raising the bank’s core stability and trust. The official added the company hopes many applicants will bring their expertise, see problems through to the end and help build a better financial experience.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 10:06:00

Mercedes-Benz Korea Expands Airport Vehicle Care Service to Gimpo International Airport Mercedes-Benz Korea said on the 20th it is expanding its premium vehicle storage and care program, “Mercedes-Benz Airport Service,” from Incheon International Airport to Gimpo International Airport for customers traveling by air. Under the program, customers drop off their vehicles at a designated location before departure. The company stores the vehicles in an indoor parking facility and, if requested, provides inspection and care services. Vehicles are returned to customers according to their arrival schedule. The expansion to Gimpo is aimed at easing inconvenience from parking congestion and wait times as airport traffic increases, the company said. The service is offered up to three times during the free service period to customers who bought a new Mercedes-Benz vehicle on or after Nov. 1, 2023. Customers who bought a fully electric vehicle during the same period can use it without a limit on the number of times. Customers must book in advance through the customer contact center and hand over the vehicle at the designated location. Vehicles are stored indoors to avoid exposure to fine dust and heavy rain. By request, customers can also receive maintenance services such as regular inspections and replacement of consumable parts. “Airport Service is a premium vehicle care program that goes beyond simple storage, keeping customers’ vehicles in top condition while they travel,” said Tolsten Schtrein, executive vice president and head of customer service. “We will continue to expand differentiated premium service experiences tailored to customers’ lifestyles.” The service operates year-round from 4 a.m. to midnight. Vehicle cleaning and EV charging are available only at Incheon International Airport. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 09:54:16

Samsung Heavy wins another deal, boosts order backlog SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries has won an order for one liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier from an Oceania-based shipping company, the shipbuilder said on Friday. The order, worth 377.9 billion won (or about $252 million), is scheduled for delivery by April 2029. The deal brings the shipbuilder's cumulative orders for this year to 12 vessels worth $2.4 billion, reaching 17 percent of its annual target of $13.9 billion. They consist of four LNG carriers, two ethane carriers, two container ships, and four crude oil tankers. "We are taking a strategic approach to securing orders for highly profitable ships, while also responding flexibly to changes in market conditions," a Samsung Heavy spokesman said. 2026-03-20 09:51:19

David Golf’s Advancer Line Sells Out as Demand Surges for Key Models David Golf said golfers have shown strong interest in its Advancer lineup, with some models selling out shortly after release. The company said the Advancer No. 3 fairway wood sold out quickly in February, and the Advancer Max driver in the 9-degree model has also exhausted its initial supply, underscoring demand. On-course feedback has been clear, the company said, with golfers saying forgiveness and distance have improved noticeably. The lineup is being credited with reducing pressure on accuracy while still delivering stable distance in play. Kim Hyun-tae, a director at David Golf, said multiple tour professionals, including Lee Ji-hoon and Cho Young-jae — both described as KPGA two-time winners — have chosen Advancer as a new weapon for the 2026 season. He said results for players who switched clubs have improved significantly from the previous year, driving steady interest and inquiries from golfers seeking better performance. David Golf describes the Advancer lineup as a “Score Changer,” saying it was developed to focus on real results on the course — improved scores — rather than only feel at impact or psychological satisfaction. The company said it showcased the Advancer lineup at the “2026 PGA Show,” described as the world’s largest golf expo, and drew interest from global buyers. It said it is preparing to enter overseas markets and expand sales with about 100 buyers. David Golf said additional inventory of the Advancer fairway wood has arrived and sales have resumed. Preorders for the Advancer Max driver in the 9-degree model are available through the company’s official Naver Shopping store, with deliveries to begin rolling out in early April.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 09:48:00

Korea Bank Loan Delinquency Rate Rises to 0.56% in January as Bad-Debt Cleanup Slows Domestic banks’ loan delinquency rate edged up at the start of the year, the financial watchdog said. According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s preliminary report released on the 20th on won-denominated loan delinquencies at domestic banks, the delinquency rate at the end of January — based on principal and interest overdue by at least one month — stood at 0.56%, up 0.06 percentage point from 0.5% a month earlier. The increase reflected a rise in newly delinquent loans and a drop in the amount of delinquent debt resolved. New delinquencies totaled 2.8 trillion won, up 400 billion won from 2.4 trillion won the previous month. The amount of delinquent loans resolved came to 1.3 trillion won, down 3.8 trillion won from 5.1 trillion won a month earlier. The new delinquency rate rose to 0.11% from 0.10%. By category, the corporate loan delinquency rate rose to 0.67% from 0.59%, while the household loan delinquency rate increased to 0.42% from 0.38%. For household loans excluding mortgages, including credit loans, the delinquency rate climbed to 0.84% from 0.75%. Financial authorities said they will continue to encourage banks to strengthen asset quality management, including by selling off nonperforming loans and boosting loss-absorbing capacity, so delinquency rates can be kept at stable levels.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 09:39:45

Hyundai Motor Group Showcases Hydrogen Mobility at Tokyo Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo 2026 Hyundai Motor Group said it took part in the International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo 2026, held March 17-19 at Tokyo Big Sight, where it showcased hydrogen mobility. The expo is a major trade show for the hydrogen and fuel-cell industries, featuring the latest technologies and business trends. About 330 companies participated this year, and about 70,000 people visited, the company said. Hyundai Motor Group built its booth around HTWO, its hydrogen brand and business platform. It presented technologies and capabilities across the hydrogen value chain — including hydrogen mobility, fueling and storage, and industrial applications — along with real-world use cases. The group displayed the all-new Nexo, a next-generation passenger hydrogen electric vehicle model scheduled for launch in Japan in the first half of the year. It also ran a fueling demonstration using an automated charging robot and offered test drives. During the event, Lee Hyok, South Korea's ambassador to Japan, visited the booth, toured key exhibits and exchanged views with Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon on the direction of hydrogen business development in Japan. Hyundai Motor Group also joined a Hydrogen Council networking session held as part of the expo, where it discussed cooperation to expand the hydrogen ecosystem with Japanese member companies and officials from global hydrogen organizations. Jang, a co-chair of the Hydrogen Council, said the group is building a virtuous cycle by using a hydrogen model that links production and demand to reduce market uncertainty. "We will work with Hydrogen Council member companies to help accelerate the global hydrogen ecosystem," he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-20 09:33:17