Hyundai launches self-driving taxi service with Uber in Las Vegas SEOUL, March 15 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group's Ioniq 5-based robotaxis can now be hailed through ride-hailing app Uber in Las Vegas, Nevada. Motional, the automaker's autonomous driving joint venture, said Sunday it has launched a pilot robotaxi service with Uber in the city. The service area includes hotels and shopping districts along the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, with coverage expected to continue expanding. The Ioniq 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle, certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, capable of handling all aspects of driving, monitoring, and emergency response without human intervention within specific areas or conditions. Riders can request a trip through the Uber app, set "ride preferences" to prioritize robotaxis, or choose to be assigned to a non-robotaxi vehicle. Fares are the same as standard Uber rides. ​When the robotaxi arrives, riders use the Uber app to unlock the doors and board. After getting in, audio messages provide a greeting and safety reminders, such as fastening seat belts. Riders who need assistance during the trip can connect to a support agent through the app. During the pilot period, a vehicle operator remains in the driver's seat for safety. Motional said it wants to improve the service by gathering feedback from riders and begin fully driverless operations by the end of the year. "Motional is ready to put our extensive ride-hail experience to work with Uber again," said David Carroll, a Motional executive. "We've tested the Ioniq 5-based robotaxi on public roads in urban areas like Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Singapore. And, in Las Vegas, we've conducted over 100,000 public rides with overwhelming customer satisfaction and zero at-fault incidents," the automaker said in a press release. "Las Vegas hotel and casino owners have also allowed Ioniq 5-based robotaxis to practice passenger pick-ups and drop-offs, which is a challenging, but critical, skill for robotaxis." 2026-03-15 12:20:11

Renault Korea Launches 2027 Arkana Coupe-Style SUV Renault Korea said Sunday it has launched the 2027 model-year Arkana, a coupe-style sport utility vehicle. For the model-year update, the company consolidated both the Hybrid E-Tech and 1.6 GTe versions into a single Iconic trim to streamline specifications. Front-row ventilated seats are now standard, and the price of the optional Camel Brown synthetic leather seat package has been lowered, Renault Korea said. The 2027 Arkana comes standard with 17-inch dark gray alloy wheels, which the company said improves fuel efficiency. The Hybrid E-Tech is rated at 17.4 kilometers per liter in combined fuel economy, while the 1.6 GTe is rated at 13.6 kilometers per liter. Renault Korea said the Hybrid E-Tech incorporates hybrid know-how from Renault Group’s F1 cars and is expected to deliver real-world fuel economy above the official rating. Driver convenience features were also upgraded. The OpenR Link navigation system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto and provides real-time Tmap navigation information. Advanced driver assistance systems are included as standard equipment. To mark the launch, Renault Korea is offering a “New Start” special support program to buyers this month. The benefit applies if the buyer or a family member has had a birth, school enrollment, marriage or newly obtained driver’s license since Jan. 1, 2026. The company is also running a new-model promotion that includes up to three years of interest-free installments for the Arkana 1.6 GTe. Pricing, based on the reduced individual consumption tax, starts at 33,129,000 won for the Hybrid E-Tech (with eco-friendly vehicle tax benefits applied) and 26.4 million won for the 1.6 GTe. 2026-03-15 11:09:16

Kim Gil-li, Lim Jong-eon win gold at ISU Short Track World Championships Kim Gil-li of Seongnam City Hall and Lim Jong-eon of Goyang City Hall won gold medals at the 2026 International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Championships. Kim won the women’s 1,000-meter final in 1:28.843 at Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal, Canada, on March 15 (Korea time). She sealed the title with a late comeback. Skating patiently until the closing laps, Kim moved to third with two laps left by going to the outside, then passed out of the final corner and stretched her left foot at the line. She beat runner-up Sandra Felzebur of the Netherlands (1:28.852) by 0.009 seconds. Also in the women’s 1,000, Shim Suk-hee of Seoul City Hall finished fourth in her semifinal heat. Lee So-yeon of Sports Toto was eliminated in the quarterfinals. In the men’s 1,500-meter final, Lim delivered a late rally to win in 2:14.974. With three laps remaining, Lim was running third when the leaders jostled in a corner. He moved to the outside, took the lead and held on to cross first. In the men’s 1,500, Shin Dong-min of Hwaseong City Hall and Hwang Dae-heon of Gangwon Province Office were eliminated in the semifinals.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-15 10:57:00

Hana Financial, Standard Chartered Sign Pact on Global Business and Digital Assets Hana Financial Group said March 15 it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Britain’s Standard Chartered Group to cooperate in global financial business and digital assets. The companies said the agreement is aimed at strengthening global competitiveness and pursuing new growth opportunities by combining their overseas networks and financial capabilities amid rapid changes in the global financial environment. The signing ceremony was held March 13 at Hana Bank’s headquarters in central Seoul, attended by Hana Financial Chairman Ham Young-joo, Standard Chartered Group Chairman Bill Winters and other executives. They discussed cooperation in global financial markets and digital assets, the company said. Under the pact, the two groups plan to broaden collaboration across international finance, including investment banking, money markets and foreign exchange. They also said they will explore ways to create synergies in future-oriented areas such as digital assets. “The partnership between Hana Financial and SC Group, built on broad global networks and diverse financial know-how, will be a strong competitive advantage in global finance,” Ham said. “We will create new growth opportunities by generating synergies in future financial areas, including digital assets.” Winters said, “Korea is a key hub in Asia’s financial markets, and cooperation with Hana Financial, which has strong global capabilities, will be an important milestone for our global network business.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-15 10:51:40

Hyundai Motor Group Unmanned Firefighting Robot Video Tops 30 Million Views Hyundai Motor Group said March 15 that a video it co-produced with the National Fire Agency introducing its unmanned firefighting robot technology, titled “A Safer Way Home,” surpassed 30 million views in 12 days. The video, released March 3 on Hyundai Motor Group’s YouTube channel, first highlights the dedication of firefighters who run into flames at personal risk. It then shows an unmanned firefighting robot deployed in high-risk sites that are difficult for people to enter. The video has logged more than 45,000 likes and 841 comments. Hyundai Motor Group said the video has drawn strong interest overseas as well. Of the 30 million views, more than half — 17.21 million — came from the English-language version. Viewers by country were South Korea at 43%, the United States at 12%, Italy at 5%, Spain at 4.4%, France at 4% and the United Kingdom at 2%. Commenters expressed surprise at robotics technology, including physical AI, being used to protect people and thanked firefighters. Comments included: “I hope this technology helps protect more firefighters’ lives. Thank you, Hyundai Motor Group,” “Thank you that Hyundai’s technology can serve as a shield for firefighters. It’s moving to see innovation used to save lives,” and “Robot technology: a powerful shield protecting our heroes.” A Hyundai Motor Group official said the company will continue corporate social responsibility efforts for “uniformed heroes” who help keep society safe and will keep a safety-first philosophy at the center of advances in physical AI and robotics technology.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-15 10:51:15

Netflix Unveils Main Poster for BTS Comeback Live Stream Netflix has released the main poster for the group BTS’ comeback live show, fueling anticipation among fans worldwide. The poster for “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang,” unveiled by Netflix on the 15th, highlights the group’s presence and adds to expectations for a full-group return. Netflix has said it will exclusively livestream “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang” from the area around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, delivering the event to fans around the world in real time. The company said the broadcast is also its first live event and music performance transmitted from South Korea to a global audience. Netflix, known for films, series and unscripted programming tailored to members’ tastes, said the livestream will expand its entertainment offerings by presenting a way for viewers worldwide to experience the same stage at the same time. The show will be overseen by director Hamish Hamilton, described as a leading live-event director whose credits include the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, the U.S. Super Bowl halftime show, the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, and performances by Madonna, Beyonce and Rihanna. Netflix said the production aims to offer a new way to watch a live concert, beyond a standard broadcast. The event will be exclusively livestreamed worldwide on Netflix at 8 p.m. on the 21st.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-15 10:24:14

Uber Riders in Las Vegas Can Now Request Motional Ioniq 5 Robotaxis Hyundai Motor Co.’s Ioniq 5-based robotaxis will be available to hail through the Uber app in Las Vegas. For now, a vehicle operator will ride in the driver’s seat, but the service is set to move to fully driverless operation at SAE Level 4 by the end of this year. Motional, the autonomous driving joint venture of Hyundai Motor Group, said March 15 that it has launched a pilot robotaxi service with Uber in Las Vegas. The service area includes Resorts World Las Vegas, hotels around the Las Vegas Strip, downtown and the Town Square shopping district. Motional said the coverage area will be expanded over time as it begins autonomous service within designated zones in the city’s complex road environment. Riders can request a trip as usual through the Uber app. If the route falls within the pilot zone, an Ioniq 5 robotaxi will be automatically dispatched. Riders can also ask to be reassigned to a standard vehicle. Fares are the same as regular Uber rides. When the robotaxi arrives, passengers unlock the doors through the app and get in. After boarding, audio messages provide a welcome and reminders such as fastening seat belts. Riders can connect to a support agent through the app if they need help during the trip. Motional said its Ioniq 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, meaning it can handle all driving within set areas and conditions without driver intervention. During the pilot phase, a vehicle operator will ride in the driver’s seat to help ensure safe operation. Motional said it plans to use user feedback to refine the service and begin fully driverless robotaxi operations by the end of this year. “Through AI-based autonomous driving technology, Motional can safely and smoothly drive the wide range of routes requested by Uber users,” said David Carroll, Motional’s vice president of commercialization. Motional and Uber are working to broaden access to autonomous driving services under a 10-year strategic partnership signed in 2022. Earlier that year, they ran a pilot Uber Eats delivery service in Los Angeles, and later conducted a ride-hailing pilot program in Las Vegas. Hyundai said it plans to apply the Level 4 operating know-how and safety validation systems accumulated through the Las Vegas commercialization process to advance the group’s software-defined vehicle development. 2026-03-15 10:15:16

Shinhan Bank to Open Regional Finance Support Hubs in Busan and Gwangju Shinhan Bank said Sunday it will set up a regional finance-support platform, the Shinhan SOL Cluster, in Busan and Gwangju as it aligns with the government’s national balanced-growth strategy. The Shinhan SOL Cluster is the bank’s regional hub designed to provide both growth-oriented and inclusive finance tied to local specialized industries. It consolidates corporate screening, consulting and financing functions into a headquarters-level support unit and assigns staff with expertise tailored to each region’s industries. In the southwest, Shinhan will establish the “Gwangju AI Specialized Cluster” to support artificial intelligence and convergence-focused industries. The bank plans to place specialized staff for screening and business development and to provide customized lending to meet companies’ funding needs. In the southeast, it will set up the “Busan Naval Vessel MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) Cluster” to support the shipbuilding and defense value chain. Shinhan said it will strengthen financing linked to the naval vessel MRO industry and expand supply-chain finance for regional anchor companies and their partner small and midsize firms. Shinhan also said it will expand consumer protection and community support alongside the regional hubs, including a customer counseling center to help prevent voice-phishing scams and a hiring preference for local talent. It plans to broaden digital financial education by creating a new “Haki-jae” site in Gwangju and upgrading existing programs, and to expand support for local small businesses and regional universities through its delivery app “Ttaenggyeoyo” and the student platform “HeyYoung Campus.” A Shinhan Bank official said the bank will build on the group’s financial hub in Jeonbuk Innovation City and the new southwest and southeast hubs to gradually expand support to areas with relatively limited access to financial services, including Gangwon and Jeju, to promote industrial growth and revitalize local economies. 2026-03-15 10:06:00

More South Koreans airlifted from Saudi Arabia amid escalating Middle East conflict SEOUL, March 15 (AJP) - More than 200 South Korean nationals are on their way home from Saudi Arabia after being evacuated amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. A multipurpose aerial tanker and transport aircraft carrying 204 South Koreans and seven foreigners departed from Riyadh on Saturday and is expected to arrive at a military air base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Sunday afternoon, according to the foreign and defense ministries. They had been staying in Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia before boarding the KC-330 Cygnus in Riyadh. Though some commercial flights are still operating to and from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, the unprecedented move comes after President Lee Jae Myung instructed in a cabinet meeting earlier this week that military aircraft should be "considered" to safely evacuate South Korean nationals stranded there. The Air Force operates four Cygnus aircraft, and this marks the seventh time one has been used to transport South Koreans overseas. The most recent mission was in 2024, when a Cygnus flew to Lebanon during Israel's ground operation against Hezbollah, evacuating 96 South Koreans and others. Earlier this month many South Koreans returned home from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar on chartered flights, amid thousands of others who still remain in the Middle East. The Middle East conflict, which began on Feb. 28 with joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, has escalated into a broader regional war. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for roughly one‑fifth of the world's oil supply, to vessels it deems hostile. As U.S.-led strikes and Iranian retaliatory attacks continue, U.S. President Donald Trump has called on countries "affected" by the closure of the strategically vital waterway to dispatch warships to keep it open, singling out China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, while also threatening to bomb Iran's shoreline and target Iranian vessels. 2026-03-15 09:10:59

Hyundai Steel, Hyundai E&C to Develop Floating Offshore Wind Platform Model Hyundai Steel is teaming up with Hyundai Engineering & Construction to strengthen competitiveness by expanding its presence in the steel market for offshore wind power. Hyundai Steel said March 15 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai E&C on March 13 at its training center in Dangjin to jointly develop a proprietary model for floating offshore wind power. Under the agreement, the companies will jointly pursue development of a proprietary hybrid floating structure combining steel and concrete and aim to obtain approval in principle, or AIP, certification from Norwegian classification society DNV in 2027. Floating offshore wind power generates electricity using structures that float on the sea rather than being fixed to the seabed, allowing installation in deeper waters farther offshore and making it easier to build large-scale wind farms. The hybrid floater the companies plan to develop will apply Hyundai Steel’s high-strength, corrosion-resistant steel along with concrete, a combination they said can improve durability while also enhancing cost efficiency. Hyundai Steel said it has already begun joint research with Hyundai E&C to build competitiveness in the next-generation offshore wind market and has filed joint patent applications related to the proprietary model. A Hyundai Steel official said the company will "successfully develop the proprietary model" and expand its share of the offshore wind market based on its experience supplying steel for offshore wind projects at home and abroad. 2026-03-15 09:09:15