‘Number One’ reunites Jang Hye-jin and Choi Woo-shik after ‘Parasite’ Every production holds many perspectives. Even in the same place and time, directors and actors can experience the moment differently. “Choi Song-hee’s B-Cut” looks beyond the on-screen “A-cut” to the vivid record of what happened off camera. By weaving together interviews with directors and actors, it reconstructs the “B-cut” moments that were often more intense than the finished frame. <Editor’s note> Reunions can be risky, inviting complacency. But on the set of the film “Number One,” familiarity appeared to fuel growth. Jang Hye-jin and Choi Woo-shik, who played mother and son in “Parasite,” worked together again, while director Kim Tae-yong reunited with Choi a decade after “Giant” (2014). Instead of easing into old rhythms, they leaned into new demands, including the challenge of speaking in the Busan dialect and pushing through emotionally difficult scenes. Jang said the second collaboration with Choi brought comfort — and a new respect for him as a fellow professional. "People might think that’s why he was cast, but I think that’s a separate issue," Jang said. "Because it’s our second time meeting, there’s a comfort in thinking we know each other well. We don’t have to go through the process of getting to know each other like you do with actors you meet for the first time. Watching Woo-shik again, I thought he’d gained a lot of know-how. There were moments when I was watching the monitor and the thought popped into my head: ‘I want to do it like that.’ He also seemed to feel more responsibility for the set and looked after people around him. And he really looks like my real son, which helped me immerse myself. He really does!" Choi said Jang’s voice reminded him of his own mother, helping him connect more deeply in scenes where the two exchange emotions and dialogue more often than before. "She kind of resembles my mom. Even her voice tone is similar, so it was easy to immerse myself while acting," Choi said. "This time we had a lot more scenes where we traded emotions and lines, so it felt like we got closer, and I saw sides of her I hadn’t seen before. I think I’m just lucky. I’ve known the director since ‘Giant,’ and I’ve been close with Jang since ‘Parasite.’ The subject matter can be heavy, but on set we laughed a lot and had a really fun shoot." For viewers who remember “Giant,” the reunion between Kim and Choi carries added weight. Choi recalled meeting the director when Kim was 27 and Choi was 24, and said the director recognized how much he had changed over 10 years. "When we met on ‘Giant,’ the director was 27 and I was 24," Choi said. "Back then we shot with almost no rules, and it was really hard, but it was still enjoyable. This time I went in expecting a lot. The difference is we’re about 10 years older. The director would say, ‘You’ve grown so much, you’re all grown up, now you’re an actor.’ I think it’s because I didn’t have any of that back then. I had a pure heart that wasn’t worn down by the world, and that makes me trust him more." Jang described Kim as candid and upbeat, and said she would work with him again. "The director is honest and keeps the mood light," Jang said. "Because it’s a story about people, his own story inevitably comes through. ‘Giant’ reflected how he felt then, and now it’s reached ‘Number One.’ If he asks to do another project next time, I think I could do it anytime. It was a really good set." Behind the warm reunion, both actors faced a major hurdle: the Busan dialect. Choi said using the dialect while playing intense emotions felt daunting, but he wanted to challenge himself and relied on guidance on set. "I was most worried about the Busan dialect," he said. "I thought it would be really hard to use it while doing emotional acting. This time I wanted to challenge myself. A dialect has to tell you how that person has lived. Having to go to intense emotions on top of that honestly felt scary. When I actually did it, it was really hard, but thankfully the director and my senior were there, and a lot of people watched over me." Jang, who is from Busan, said the hardest part was balancing authenticity with clarity for viewers. She also pointed to costume details that helped complete her character, Eun-sil, including a light-blue fleece left behind by her son in Busan. "Because I’m from Busan, people told me that if I spoke in a real dialect they couldn’t understand it," Jang said. "The hardest part was adjusting how understandable to make it. I worried people might say, ‘You’re from Busan and that’s all you can do?’ But regional emotion is in your body, so I tried to go naturally. Costumes helped a lot, too. I wanted to keep the setup that Eun-sil comes out wearing the light-blue fleece her son left behind in Busan." Choi said he had long avoided what he called a “jinx” around heavy emotional scenes, fearing sadness would linger. On “Number One,” he said, Jang’s performance helped him face it directly. "I actually have a jinx about emotional acting," Choi said. "I avoided filming sad things because I felt like I’d fall into a swamp and become unhappy. But I couldn’t avoid that scene. Watching the mother change because of Ha-min was really hard. But Jang guided me well, so I just had to receive the emotion. I think that’s why the acting could come out naturally." The film’s foundation, they said, is the trust built over years — not the comfort of familiarity, but a shared willingness to test limits. Their reunion, shaped by long working relationships and new challenges, became less a return to the past than a push forward.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-10 16:15:25

Volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung named Asian winner of IOC's annual award SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - Volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung has been named one of the recipients of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) annual awards, which recognize efforts to promote gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in sport, along with winners from other continents. The Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions awards are presented annually across continents with one at the world level and one each for Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania, honoring individuals who have made outstanding contributions to "gender equality, diversity and inclusion in and through sport across the areas of participation, leadership, safe sport, portrayal and resource allocation." According to the IOC, Kim was chosen as the winner in the Asia region in recognition of her efforts, even after retiring as a professional player, to expand women's participation in sports, strengthen leadership, and promote a safe and fair sporting environment. The IOC said the former captain of South Korea's national volleyball team has continued to "advance gender equality and athlete welfare through her leadership off the court," while working to "expand opportunities for girls and young women in sport by addressing financial and structural barriers to participation." "Through mentoring, athlete advocacy and public engagement, also supports leadership development for women in sport and promotes safe, fair and inclusive sporting environments," it added. During her career, Kim helped elevate South Korea's standing in women's volleyball and grow public interest in the sport, participating in three Olympics — London in 2012, Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020. Since retiring, Kim has established a foundation to nurture prospective athletes through scholarships, equipment support, youth clinics, and other training programs. "It is very meaningful that Kim's dedication and achievements have been recognized internationally," said Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. Meanwhile, former captain of India's men's national volleyball team Abhijit Bhattacharya was named the global winner in recognition of his large-scale, inclusive grassroots sports program for children. 2026-03-10 16:13:48

BTS comeback D-11: Extra tickets to open as Seoul prepares for massive crowds SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) — Organizers of BTS’s comeback concert in central Seoul will release an additional 7,000 tickets this week, expanding the official audience capacity as authorities and nearby institutions brace for crowds that could swell to around 260,000 people in the Gwanghwamun area. BigHit Music said Tuesday that an additional round of tickets for “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG” will go on sale at 8 p.m. Thursday through the NOL ticket platform. The newly added viewing zone will stretch from Sejong-daero Intersection toward Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 and City Hall Station on Line 1, where fans will watch the performance on large LED screens installed along the boulevard. The expansion will increase official capacity to about 22,000 spectators, according to the agency. Authorities expect far larger crowds beyond the ticketed audience as fans gather across the Gwanghwamun district, one of Seoul’s busiest civic corridors. Preparations are already altering daily operations across the area. KT Corp. said it will close its Gwanghwamun headquarters on the day of the concert, citing safety concerns as massive crowds are expected to gather near the venue. Employee access will be restricted and commercial facilities inside the building will suspend operations. Several cafés and bakery outlets inside the complex are also expected to close, while nearby businesses are reviewing operating hours ahead of the surge in visitors. Cultural institutions surrounding Gwanghwamun Square are adjusting schedules as well. The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History said it will temporarily close on March 21 for safety reasons. The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts has cancelled or rescheduled several performances scheduled that day due to anticipated congestion around the square, though the art exhibition “The Fourth Wall” by actor and painter Park Shin-yang will remain open. Historic landmarks nearby will also suspend operations. Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Palace Museum of Korea said they will temporarily close to prevent safety incidents and reduce inconvenience to visitors as crowds gather around the district. Transportation across central Seoul will also be significantly adjusted. City officials said subway stations near the venue — Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2), and Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) — may allow trains to pass through without stopping for several hours during the event to prevent dangerous crowd congestion. Access to certain station exits may also be restricted depending on real-time conditions. Seoul plans to deploy more than 3,400 personnel for on-site safety management, operating a dedicated civil safety headquarters coordinating crowd control, medical support and emergency response. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will deploy about 4,800 officers, including riot police and counterterror units prepared to respond to potential threats. Organizers are also tightening measures against ticket scalping and fraudulent entry. BigHit Music said it will monitor online resale postings and strengthen identity verification procedures for attendees. Ahead of the concert, BTS will release its fifth studio album “ARIRANG” at 1 p.m. on March 20, one day before the performance. The comeback concert will also be streamed globally on Netflix. 2026-03-10 16:13:12

Korea’s Internet Banks Gear Up for Check Cards for Kids as Young as 7 Competition among South Korea’s internet-only banks and fintech firms is intensifying as the minimum age for getting a check card is set to drop, effectively opening the market to children in the so-called Alpha generation, born in 2010 or later. The Financial Services Commission is pushing a 시행령 revision in May to improve youth access to financial services by lowering the eligible age for check card use to 7 and older, from 12, the financial industry said Monday. In response, the country’s three internet-only banks are expanding teen-focused products and promotions. The goal is to move beyond a model in which parents open and manage cards and savings accounts for their children, and instead let teens experience everyday money management directly through app-based services. KakaoBank, for example, has been running a “Teens Bonus” promotion since March 5 through its youth service, “KakaoBank mini.” It offers three daily random cash-back benefits for payments at teen-friendly merchants such as Daiso, Artbox and Mega MGC Coffee. K Bank is leaning into gamification, promoting services such as “Money Mission,” which pays rewards when users complete in-app tasks, aiming to boost motivation and engagement among young customers. Toss plans to introduce a “youth mydata” service, the first such offering in the fintech industry, it said. Toss said teens accounted for 12% of its customers as of 2025. Its affiliate Toss Bank offers an under-14 “Youth Card” and “Youth Home,” with features such as an allowance ledger and a digital piggy bank designed for easy use. Financial companies see teen adoption of internet banks and fintech platforms as a way to secure “future customers,” betting that a first finance app used in adolescence can carry into adulthood. Overseas firms are also moving aggressively into the teen market. In Canada, RBC runs the allowance-management app Mydoh, which lets parents assign chores and pay allowances when children complete them. RBC also encourages customers ages 6 to 14 to transition over time to student and then adult accounts. In the United States, fintech firm Greenlight goes beyond savings and check cards by offering access to stock and exchange-traded fund, or ETF, accounts, positioning it as an early investing education tool. “Today’s youth are a generation whose daily routines — from taking the bus to buying meals and going to after-school academies — are all tied to financial transactions,” an official at an internet-only bank said. “The younger they start building structured economic education and financial experience, the better, so competition in services will only intensify.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-10 16:12:00

Choreographer Sharon Eyal on ‘Jakie’: ‘Come with an open mind and feel it’ “Come with an open mind and feel it.” Choreographer Sharon Eyal said at a March 10 talk at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts that dance is about “freedom, connection and emotion.” “Movement makes us better people and brings better things,” she said, adding, “Everyone needs dance.” The Sejong Center will present the Seoul Metropolitan Ballet’s first program of its 2026 season as a double bill: Johan Inger’s “Bliss” and “Jakie” by Eyal and Gai Behar, staged at the Sejong M Theater. “Jakie,” which premiered in 2023 at Netherlands Dance Theater (NDT), will be performed for the first time for audiences in South Korea through the Seoul company. It is Eyal’s first time working with Korean dancers, though she said nationality is not central to her process. “My work is with people. It’s about working with new people — nationality doesn’t matter much,” she said. Still, she said she appreciates that Korean dancers “respect rigor,” and added that drawing out emotion “could be a challenge.” Eyal said she has made small adjustments for this production. “I tailor it little by little to each individual,” she said. “Rather than keeping the Korean audience in mind, I look for what can bring out the dancers’ sincerity in this moment. I believe that’s how communication happens.” Calling herself a “dreamer,” Eyal repeatedly pointed to “life” when asked what inspired “Jakie” and whether the title refers to a specific person. “I don’t make works for the sake of making works. I drew inspiration from life. (‘Jakie’) is an extension of life,” she said. She said the answer to what “Jakie” is meant to be remains open. “You can think of Jakie as a bear. You can think it’s not a person,” she said. “Rather than explaining it, I want you to feel it directly. I don’t like reading a plot summary before going to the movies — I want to experience it. I hope audiences do, too.” The program runs March 14-22 at the Sejong M Theater for seven performances. There are no performances on March 16, 17 and 21.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-10 15:51:21

Hormuz halt deepens crisis for Korea's petrochemical makers SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - South Korea's petroleum refining and petrochemical industries are bracing for a deepening "compound crisis" as the Middle East war sends crude oil, naphtha and liquefied natural gas prices surging while new labor regulations threaten to complicate urgently needed restructuring. The prolonged conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has sharply disrupted energy supply chains across Asia, with tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz grinding to a halt after Iran shut down the strategic waterway following joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. For South Korea — one of the world's largest importers of energy and petrochemical feedstock — the shock is hitting an industry already weakened by Chinese overcapacity and falling margins. About 54 percent of the country's naphtha imports and roughly 70 percent of its crude oil typically pass through the strait, leaving domestic refiners and petrochemical producers acutely exposed to a prolonged blockade. Naphtha prices have surged about 55 percent since the conflict escalated, jumping to $883.4 per metric ton on March 9 from $568.55 on Feb. 23, according to the Naphtha FOB Fujairah Cargo Assessment compiled by S&P Global Platts. Oil markets have also experienced extreme volatility. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate traded around $89.96 per barrel after swinging within a roughly $28 range, while global benchmark Brent crude stood at $88.87, sharply below an intraday peak of $119.50 reached earlier in the conflict. The disruption has pushed the East-West naphtha spread above $50 per ton for April contracts, more than $30 higher since the start of the year, reflecting mounting concerns over reduced Middle Eastern supply into Asia, which normally receives roughly 40 percent of global naphtha exports from the Gulf region. Forward structures have tightened sharply as well, with April–May timespreads widening by about $20 per ton in both Asian and European benchmarks, approaching levels last seen at the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. The market is increasingly pricing in shortages as buyers scramble to secure replacement cargoes from Europe and the United States. The supply shock is already forcing petrochemical producers to cut operating rates. Lotte Chemical plans to reduce utilization at its Daesan naphtha cracking center from about 80 percent to 70 percent, while also moving forward scheduled maintenance at its Yeosu plant by two weeks. LG Chem is lowering operating rates at its Daesan facility from 69 percent to about 54 percent and trimming output at its Yeosu complex. Korea Petrochemical is reviewing a reduction from 80 percent to roughly 75 percent at its Onsan plant. Yeochun NCC — a joint venture between Hanwha Solutions and DL Chemical and one of South Korea's largest ethylene producers — declared force majeure on March 4, warning customers that naphtha deliveries for March would be significantly delayed. Industry executives warn that the next month could prove decisive. Petrochemical companies typically maintain around one month of naphtha reserves, meaning prolonged disruptions could force deeper production cuts or temporary plant shutdowns. The squeeze is intensified by a structural pricing trap: surging feedstock costs cannot easily be passed on to buyers because persistent Chinese oversupply continues to depress prices for ethylene and downstream petrochemical products. Analysts say the pattern echoes the early phase of the Russia-Ukraine war, but the impact could prove more severe given Asia's heavier reliance on Middle Eastern feedstock. "If the war is not resolved within the next week, further price spikes are inevitable as inventories deplete and panic buying intensifies," said Yoon Jae-sung, an analyst at Hana Securities. "Should the disruption extend beyond two weeks, we could see a wave of plant shutdowns globally. Companies with lower dependence on Middle Eastern feedstock will be in a stronger position." LNG shock adds further energy pressure Energy costs are rising across the broader industrial system. Qatar, which accounts for about 20 percent of global LNG supply, halted production at its Ras Laffan facility after Iranian drone and missile strikes on March 2 and declared force majeure on exports two days later. Spot LNG prices surged 46 percent following the disruption. South Korea imports roughly 20 percent of its LNG from the Middle East, largely under long-term contracts, but replacement volumes on the spot market are now significantly more expensive. "It is the global supply-demand balance that determines LNG prices," said Roh Nam-jin, senior researcher at the Korea Energy Economics Institute. "Even though South Korea relies relatively less on Middle Eastern LNG compared with oil, a broad increase in LNG prices will inevitably affect the domestic energy market." About half of South Korea's imported LNG is used for electricity generation, which accounts for roughly 30 percent of national power output, meaning higher LNG costs could eventually push up industrial electricity prices. Restructuring gains momentum but faces new obstacles The crisis comes as the petrochemical sector is already undergoing a painful restructuring. Hanwha Solutions and DL Chemical recently agreed to shut down two of Yeochun NCC's three plants, reducing ethylene capacity from 2.3 million tons annually to about 900,000 tons. The remaining operations will later merge with Lotte Chemical's Yeosu complex, which has annual capacity of 1.23 million tons, to form a new joint venture expected this year. Hanwha Solutions, DL Chemical and Lotte Chemical are negotiating an equal 33 percent ownership structure, while Hanwha and DL have pledged 500 billion won to cover Yeochun NCC's outstanding borrowings. The restructuring follows the government-backed "Daesan No.1 Project," which merged operations between Lotte Chemical and HD Hyundai Chemical with a 2.1 trillion won ($1.42 billion) support package. Yeochun NCC's financial position had deteriorated rapidly even before the war. Its operating losses widened from 150.3 billion won in 2024 to 198.9 billion won in the first nine months of 2025, leaving the company close to default last year. The government approved financial support for the Daesan restructuring on Feb. 25 and is expected to extend similar backing for the Yeosu plan. Labor law adds uncertainty to industry overhaul But the restructuring process now faces a new complication. South Korea's revised labor union law — widely known as the Yellow Envelope Law — takes effect Tuesday, expanding the scope of legally permissible labor disputes to include corporate restructuring and business reorganization. The law also allows subcontractor unions to demand collective bargaining directly with parent companies, a provision that could complicate plant closures or workforce reductions at petrochemical complexes that rely heavily on subcontracted labor. Industry officials warn that the convergence of war-driven feedstock shocks, structural overcapacity and regulatory uncertainty leaves the sector with limited room to maneuver. If the Hormuz blockade persists and feedstock inventories run out, utilization rates at domestic naphtha cracking centers could fall below 60 percent, with ripple effects spreading across downstream industries including electronics, automotive manufacturing, construction materials and consumer goods. 2026-03-10 15:46:15

Samsung Heavy secures new order for three crude oil tankers SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries has won an order for three crude oil tankers from a Bermuda-based shipowner, the shipbuilder said on Tuesday. The order, worth 400.1 billion Korean won (about US$290 million), is scheduled for delivery by February 2029. The deal brings the shipbuilder's cumulative orders for this year to 11 vessels worth $2.1 billion, reaching 15 percent of its annual target of $13.9 billion. By ship type, the orders consist of three liquefied natural gas carriers, two ethane carriers, two container ships, and four crude oil tankers. "With an order backlog of 137 ships worth $29.5 billion, we will continue to focus on profitability in securing new projects," a company spokesman said. 2026-03-10 15:05:07

BYD Korea Unveils City Pop-Inspired Digital Film Campaign for Dolphin EV BYD Korea said Tuesday it is releasing a digital film campaign with a City Pop feel to mark the launch of its compact electric hatchback, the BYD Dolphin. The campaign departs from conventional car ads, presenting a content-driven digital film series that blends animation and music. BYD Korea plans three videos themed around driving range, a surround-view system and interior space, aiming to convey the Dolphin’s mood and lifestyle appeal and make the brand and model feel more approachable. The series uses City Pop music and an animation style associated with 1980s and 1990s urban sensibilities, designed to resonate with people in their 20s and 30s. Rather than emphasizing performance directly, it focuses on storytelling centered on everyday city life, music and emotion. The Dolphin is the first model in BYD’s “Ocean Series,” inspired by marine life, and is positioned as a small hatchback aimed at broadening EV adoption. It starts at 24.5 million won, and with subsidies the purchase price can fall to the 21 million won range. Built on the dedicated EV e-Platform 3.0, the Dolphin has a 2,700mm wheelbase to secure roomy interior space. Standard features include a panoramic glass roof and a 360-degree surround-view system, among other convenience and safety specifications. It also earned five-star top ratings in Euro NCAP and Green NCAP assessments, BYD Korea said. “This digital film was produced so it can be enjoyed as content rather than as a car advertisement,” a BYD Korea official said. “We wanted to expand touchpoints with younger generations by expressing the Dolphin’s light and free image through City Pop sensibilities and animation.” The videos are available on BYD Korea’s official YouTube and Instagram channels and will be released sequentially across other media platforms, including Megabox theater advertising, the company said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-10 14:57:18

Kencoa Aerospace Signs Deal to Supply Embraer C-390 Sheet-Metal Parts to European Defense Firm Kencoa Aerospace said Tuesday it has signed a large contract with a European aerospace defense manufacturer to supply major sheet-metal parts for Embraer’s C-390 program. The company said it secured the order after completing capital spending last year to expand its sheet-metal production facilities. Under the agreement, Kencoa will supply key sheet-metal components for the C-390. It did not disclose the customer, contract value or other terms, citing a confidentiality clause. Kencoa said it aims to complete development and deliver initial parts for the project this year. It said technical talks are underway under a detailed schedule and preparations are being made to build prototypes, while a mass-production system is being put in place. The company said additional requests for quotes from global firms have followed the contract, raising expectations for more orders. Kencoa said it has made major equipment investments to strengthen high-precision, high-quality aircraft sheet-metal production, including automated equipment and quality-control systems to meet stringent international certification requirements in aerospace and defense. It called the Czech order its first visible result. The C-390 is a next-generation tactical transport aircraft seeing rising demand globally, including in Europe. The aircraft has also been selected as a model for the South Korean Air Force’s second large transport aircraft program, the company said. Chief Executive Officer Lee Min-gyu said the deal goes beyond parts supply and reflects renewed recognition of Kencoa’s process technology and quality competitiveness in the international defense market. He said the company will strengthen cooperation with overseas partners through continued investment in technology and quality innovation. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-10 14:51:16

South Korea fines Mercedes-Benz for allegedly hiding EV battery supplier information South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission ordered Mercedes-Benz to take corrective steps and pay a penalty surcharge of 11.339 billion won, accusing the automaker of deliberately omitting and concealing information about electric-vehicle battery cells. Mercedes-Benz Korea denied wrongdoing and said it is considering an administrative lawsuit to contest the decision. On the 10th, the commission said Mercedes-Benz installed Farasis battery cells in many EV models, including the EQE and EQS, but failed to disclose that fact. Instead, it allegedly created “vehicle sales guidelines” that dealers used in marketing, making it appear that all of its EVs used cells from CATL, described as the world’s No. 1 battery cell maker. The FTC said that amounted to deceiving consumers and imposed the corrective order and the 11.339 billion won penalty surcharge. Separately, the FTC said it found grounds to believe Mercedes-Benz Korea and the German headquarters were directly or indirectly involved in the violations and decided further investigation was needed. It referred the case to prosecutors. Under current law, penalty surcharges for unfair trade practices can reach up to 4% of related sales. The FTC said its order against Mercedes-Benz applied the maximum 4% rate. According to the FTC, Mercedes-Benz instructed dealers to promote sales by highlighting CATL’s strengths without mentioning Farasis. But the FTC said that, contrary to the guidance, Farasis cells were installed in four of six EQE models and one of seven EQS models that Mercedes-Benz released. Information on the battery cell manufacturer is a key factor for consumers choosing an EV, the FTC said. It said dealers, relying on the company’s sales guidance, marketed and sold vehicles as equipped with CATL batteries. The FTC said about 3,000 EVs with Farasis cells were sold from June 8, 2023, when Mercedes-Benz notified dealers of the sales guidance, until Aug. 12, 2024, when disclosure of battery cell makers began after an apartment underground parking garage fire in Incheon’s Cheongna district on Aug. 1, 2024. The FTC put sales at about 281 billion won. Mercedes-Benz Korea said it did not violate the law and called the FTC’s conclusion unfair. In a statement, the company said it respects the FTC’s decision but disagrees with its judgment and will present its position through legal procedures, including an administrative lawsuit. “We operate our business with a high level of corporate ethics and responsibility and in compliance with laws and regulations,” the company said, adding that it has cooperated faithfully with authorities since the early stages of the investigation and that compliance is a core part of its corporate culture. It also said it has always provided correct and accurate information to the media and customers and will continue to state its position through legal procedures, including filing an administrative lawsuit. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-10 14:45:20