POSCO, Hyundai Steel unions urge relief on power and carbon costs, warn of industry crisis "South Korea’s steel industry is standing on the edge of a cliff. This is not a simple downturn. It is a national industrial security emergency." Labor unions at POSCO and Hyundai Steel held a joint news conference March 19 at the National Assembly press center, urging the government to ease the burden of industrial electricity rates and carbon-related costs. The unions called for measures including relief on industrial power bills, improvements to the carbon emissions-permit system and expanded financial and infrastructure support for shifting to cleaner processes such as hydrogen-based steelmaking. Kim Seong-ho, chair of the POSCO union under the FKTU-affiliated Korea Metal Workers’ Federation, said the industry is being squeezed by sharply worsening profitability, stronger protectionism in advanced economies and what he described as astronomical carbon-emissions costs. He said the government should step in with practical support. Kim said it was the first time in POSCO’s 57-year history that its union had joined Hyundai Steel in a coordinated response, underscoring the severity of the crisis. Song Jae-man, head of Hyundai Steel’s Pohang branch under the KCTU-affiliated Korean Metal Workers’ Union, said industrial electricity rates have risen about 85% over the past five years while steel output has dropped sharply, pushing the industry to its limits. He said plant downsizing and job insecurity are becoming reality and are weighing on local economies. The unions also cited added pressure from war risk involving Iran, saying the steel industry relies heavily on imported raw materials, making it vulnerable to higher oil prices and exchange-rate swings. A union official said even a small rise in the exchange rate can sharply increase fixed-cost burdens, and that weak market conditions combined with energy costs have pushed worksites to the brink. On the government’s recently announced electricity-rate overhaul, the unions said steelmaking is a continuous, 24-hour process and could be hit harder by higher nighttime rates than helped by lower daytime rates, limiting any real relief. Lawmakers attending the event included Rep. Lee Sang-hwi of the People Power Party, Rep. Kwon Hyang-yeop of the Democratic Party and independent lawmaker Kim Jong-min, who voiced support for a joint response to the steel industry’s challenges. 2026-03-19 13:27:20

Naver to bolster AI tools to block abusive comments ahead of local elections SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - Naver will enhance its artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to detect abusive comments ahead of local elections in early June, South Korea's largest online portal said on Thursday. It plans to introduce a feature dubbed "Cleanbot" by April that will automatically prevent users from leaving comments on certain articles such as politically sensitive or election-related stories, months ahead of the June 4 elections to elect mayors and governors across metropolitan and provincial governments. Naver is also considering extending the feature to all news articles throughout the official campaigning period including election day. Users will also be restricted from posting comments on certain news stories and sections to prevent any impact on or influence over voters, and will be limited to a maximum of three comments per article after verifying their accounts. Cleanbot, first introduced in 2019, has been continuously upgraded to detect not only explicit or violent language but also hateful and discriminatory expressions. "We will continue our efforts to serve as a trustworthy platform for news as well as a healthy space for communication," said Kim Su-hyang, a Naver executive. 2026-03-19 11:18:23

Asian stocks turn lower on Fed inflation warning, oil surge SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) — Asian stock markets opened lower on Thursday as a renewed surge in oil prices driven by escalating Middle East tensions and a more hawkish Federal Reserve outlook weighed on investor sentiment. Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field on Wednesday, marking its first attack on the country’s energy infrastructure in retaliation for the killing of senior intelligence and military officials. The escalation sent Brent crude up 6.1 percent to $109.75 per barrel, with Citi warning prices could climb further toward $120. Investor sentiment was also pressured by hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve. The Fed held its benchmark interest rate at 3.50–3.75 percent and refrained from offering forward guidance amid uncertainty stemming from the Middle East conflict. However, markets interpreted its upgraded inflation outlook as a hawkish signal. All three major U.S. stock indexes fell more than 1 percent overnight. The Korean won weakened sharply, with the one-month non-deliverable forward (NDF) rising to 1,508.25 per dollar. In onshore trading, the won fell to 1,500.20 per dollar from a previous close of 1,483.1. Technology heavyweights declined, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix down around 3 percent and 4 percent, respectively, partially erasing their previous gains of 7.53 percent and 8.87 percent. The declines tracked overnight weakness in global chip stocks, with Nvidia down 0.84 percent and ASML falling 2.45 percent, pushing the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index down 0.53 percent. Losses were broad-based across sectors. Automakers declined, with Hyundai Motor down 3.85 percent to 524,000 won and Kia falling 2.11 percent to 171,400 won. Battery and industrial shares also weakened. LG Energy Solution slipped 2.35 percent to 374,500 won, Samsung C&T fell 2.68 percent to 291,000 won, and SK Square dropped 3.65 percent to 60,700 won. Shipbuilders and defense-related stocks moved lower, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries down 3.73 percent to 568,000 won and Hanwha Aerospace falling 1.80 percent to 1,365,000 won. Financials traded lower, with KB Financial down 1.36 percent to 152,600 won and Shinhan Financial falling 1.89 percent to 93,200 won. Biopharmaceutical shares also slipped, with Celltrion down 3.34 percent to 202,500 won and Samsung Biologics falling 1.66 percent to 1,599,000 won. Brokerages said near-term volatility may increase, though a recovery remains possible. Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said energy-driven inflation uncertainty has reinforced the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance. She added that a stabilization in geopolitical conditions could shift markets into a more supportive phase, noting that markets have often rebounded after initial declines during past conflicts. As of 10:07 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI fell 2.72 percent to 5,764.10, while the KOSDAQ declined 1.88 percent to 1,142.52. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 2.59 percent to 53,806.16 in morning trading, as rising energy costs threatened corporate earnings in import-dependent Japan while Fed-driven rate concerns further dampened sentiment. 2026-03-19 10:46:35

AutoInside Relocates and Expands Gwangju Direct Store to Grow Honam Reach AutoHands’ direct-run and certified used-car platform, AutoInside, said on the 19th it has opened an expanded and relocated Gwangju direct store to strengthen its presence in the Honam region. The Gwangju store moved to the second floor of the “M Plus Complex Auto Sales Center” in Seo-gu, Gwangju. The company said the new location, near the Honam Expressway and the Songam, Seochang interchanges, improves access for customers across Honam. With the move, the store secured a larger display area to showcase a wider range of vehicles. It also added more comfortable consultation and lounge space and offers one-stop service covering both vehicle purchases and sales, the company said. To mark the reopening, AutoInside said it will temporarily expand benefits under its trade-in program. Through the end of April, customers who sell their current vehicle to AutoInside and then buy a direct-run or certified used car will receive additional benefits of up to 400,000 won on the purchase price, depending on the vehicle’s condition. “Many consumers considering a vehicle change feel burdened by complicated procedures, so we prepared additional benefits through the trade-in program to help them sell and buy more quickly and conveniently,” an AutoInside official said. AutoInside operates five showrooms nationwide, including the Gwangju store. The company said it runs the full process — from vehicle purchasing and inspection to sales and extended warranties — through a direct management system. AutoInside’s certified used-car program, officially launched in February last year, sells only accident-free vehicles that are less than eight years old with under 100,000 kilometers and that pass a 205-point inspection, the company said. Buyers receive a free warranty for six months from the purchase date or up to 10,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. Kim Seong-jun, CEO of AutoHands, said the expanded relocation is intended to improve convenience for Honam customers and provide more consistent, high-quality service across the buying and selling process. “We will continue to build a used-car purchasing environment customers can trust, based on a thorough direct management system,” he said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-19 10:39:18

BOK hints at intervention as USD/KRW hits above 1,500 after Fed hold SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea (BOK) vowed to take "stabilization actions" upon signs of volatility in domestic financial markets in renewed interventionist rhetoric Thursday after the local currency's spiral past its de facto defense line of 1,500 versus the U.S. dollar. "Uncertainties in the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy path have escalated," said BOK senior deputy governor Ryoo Sang-dai during an emergency Task Force (TF) meeting addressing the fallouts from the Fed’s FOMC meeting and the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. This marks the third emergency session this month since the launch of U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran in late February. The won’s weakness has intensified as hopes for a narrowing interest rate differential faded with the Fed's latest hold. The dollar has shot up to 1,505.9 in early Thursday session in Seoul, up sharply from 1,483.1 previous close. Since the rhetoric, the dollar has eased to 1,499.2 won. Market volatility has been exacerbated by the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Crude oil prices have surged by over 40 percent in March, fueling inflationary pressures and weighing heavily on the trade-dependent South Korean economy. As of Thursday 9:40 a.m., Brent crude reached $110.6 per barrel, a surge of more than 52 percent compared to February 27, just before the conflict erupted. This comes amid escalating fears of actual disruptions in production and supply, following Israel's bombardment of South Pars, Iran’s largest gas field, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against facilities across the region, including in the UAE. "With external risks such as the persistent instability in the Middle East remaining high, the central bank is closely monitoring the situation" and "will take timely stabilization measures" when deemed necessary, he said. 2026-03-19 10:30:02

North Korea's growing weapons programs pose 'significant threats,' US report warns SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - North Korea "remains committed to expanding its strategic weapons programs, including missiles and nuclear warheads, and to solidifying its deterrent capability," posing a threat to South Korea and its allies, a U.S. report said. According to the annual report of threat assessment released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Wednesday, North Korea's weapons of mass destruction along with its "conventional military capabilities, illicit cyber activities, and demonstrated willingness to use asymmetric capabilities to attack South Korea and the U.S. pose significant threats to the U.S. and its allies, particularly South Korea and Japan." Pointing to North Korea's deepening military ties with Russia, the report wrote, "Increased trade after the pandemic, income from selling munitions to Russia, and illicit cyber activities including cryptocurrency thefts have boosted North Korea's foreign currency revenue generation to its highest levels since before extensive sanctions were imposed in 2018." "The benefits that North Korea receives for its support for Russia in the war against Ukraine have increased North Korean capabilities. North Korean military forces have gained valuable combat experience in 21st Century warfare along with equipment," it said, but added, "North Korea is likely to remain deterred by U.S. and allied forces." The report, however, warned that China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan have been "developing an array of novel, advanced, or traditional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads," capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, and that these threats are projected to more than quadruple from the current roughly 3,000 missiles to over 16,000 by 2035. The report also said North Korea's traditional ally, China, remains its most important trading partner, though the bilateral relationship "has cooled due to Beijing's earlier opposition to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests." 2026-03-19 10:04:11

E1 Chairman Koo Ja-yong Takes Office as Head of Korea Invention Promotion Association Koo Ja-yong, chairman of E1, took office Thursday as the 21st chairman of the Korea Invention Promotion Association, an affiliate of the Korean Intellectual Property Office. At an inauguration ceremony at the Korea Intellectual Property Center in Seoul’s Gangnam district, Koo said he has “personally experienced how good ideas in the corporate field become new technologies and lead to national competitiveness.” He said he would “actively communicate with the field” based on 47 years of management experience and be “a reliable partner” so the association’s executives and staff can fully demonstrate their capabilities. The Korea Invention Promotion Association is a public institution specializing in intellectual property, established in 1973. It runs programs including invention education, strengthening companies’ intellectual property capabilities, startup support and intellectual property finance. Koo’s appointment also extends ties between the association and the LG and LS groups. Koo Ja-kyung, honorary chairman of LG Group, previously led the Korea Patent Association, the predecessor to the Korea Invention Promotion Association, and Koo Ja-yeol, chairman of LS Corp.’s board, has also served as chairman of the association.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-19 10:03:32

SK AX launches 'AXgenticWire' brand to drive agentic AI transformation in enterprise operations SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - SK AX unveiled a new integrated brand called "AXgenticWire" on Thursday, signaling a push to accelerate agentic artificial intelligence adoption across corporate operations. The brand name combines "agentic AI" — systems capable of autonomous judgment and execution — with "Rewire," reflecting the company's ambition to fundamentally redesign how enterprises operate. SK AX said the platform is built to coordinate multiple AI agents across business functions, filling a gap left by piecemeal AI deployments that boost isolated task efficiency without lifting overall productivity. At its core, AXgenticWire runs on what SK AX calls "AI-readable data," a structured data format that AI models can process and learn from immediately. The platform layers in the company's accumulated AI Ops capabilities — which automate and intelligentize IT systems — to deliver a stable operating environment tailored to each enterprise's infrastructure. "The competitive edge in the agentic AI era lies not in model performance alone, but in the architecture that makes AI judgment actually function within real business operations," said Cha Ji-won, Chief AI Innovation Officer at SK AX. "We will expand our end-to-end enterprise AI full-stack execution framework — validated on the ground in real industries — to maximize corporate decision-making and operational efficiency." 2026-03-19 09:56:30

Majesty Golf launches Prestigio 14 flagship clubs, touting new Hyperion Titanium II Majesty Golf has released the Prestigio 14, the 14th model in its premium Prestigio club line. Marketed under the slogan “Quality Reinvented,” the company described the Prestigio 14 as a flagship that brings together 55 years of craftsmanship and technology development, aiming to improve distance, forgiveness, feel and design. At a new-product launch media day held March 18 at Club D Cheongdam in Seoul’s Gangnam district, Majesty Golf CEO Jeong Byeong-ho said the company has “devoted itself to making the best golf clubs for 55 years” and is “redefining what quality means in the golf world” with the Prestigio 14. “This product is the result of our team’s relentless pursuit of perfection,” he said. A key element of the new model is a premium material the company calls Hyperion Titanium II. Majesty Golf said its strength and rebound performance allow an ultra-thin face design, creating a wider, lighter area for higher ball speed. Kimura Hideki, the company’s chief product officer, said the design focused on boosting distance and making the clubs easier to hit for the South Korean market. He said Hyperion Titanium II was used to maximize high-rebound performance. Kimura said all clubs share an “Optimal Core Impact” design, with a precisely tuned sweet spot in the center of the face to produce a clear impact feel. He said it also limits performance loss on off-center hits, balancing distance and forgiveness. Majesty Golf highlighted model-specific designs across the lineup. The driver uses a “wing tail” design inspired by a phoenix’s tail feathers to increase moment of inertia and improve straight-line stability, the company said. For fairway woods and hybrids, it said a structure using tungsten across the sole places 40% to 60% of the head’s total weight in the sole to lower the center of gravity more efficiently. For irons, the company said it applied its most extensive nine-layer laminated badge to absorb noise at impact for a softer feel. The exterior adopts a “kirigane” style inspired by traditional decorative techniques, with fine laser-etched lines on a gold-colored head, it said. Kim Ja-young, a former professional golfer who serves as a Majesty Golf ambassador, said she trusts the brand because it “keeps striving and growing” to make better clubs. She said once golfers have a stable swing, getting help from equipment can be a smart choice, adding that in that sense the Prestigio 14 could be an innovative club for golfers. Majesty Golf said it will run a purchase promotion through June 30 to mark the launch. Buyers of a Prestigio 14 driver will receive logo balls and a ball case, while buyers of an iron set will receive a carrier. The company said it will also select 14 buyers by drawing and invite them to the “Majesty Invitational” tournament.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-19 09:48:00

National Library to Open Interactive Media Art Exhibit on Modern Korean Poetry The National Library of Korea said Thursday it will open a new exhibition, “Artist’s Note,” on Friday at its “Path of Knowledge” gallery space in Seocho, Seoul, turning modern Korean poems that represent the four seasons into interactive media art. The exhibition features four well-known poems adapted into hands-on content: Kim Yeong-rang’s “Until the Peonies Bloom” for spring, Lee Yuk-sa’s “Green Grapes” for summer, Yun Dong-ju’s “Boy” for fall, and Jeong Ji-yong’s “Windowpane 1” for winter. As visitors touch walls and floors or move through the space, sensors trigger different effects for each work, including peonies blooming in vivid color and clusters of green grapes appearing on branches. “Green Grapes” is rendered in a digital ink-wash style, using dynamic lines and open space to form a single completed image. “Boy” uses calligraphy to highlight the visual beauty of Hangul and convey the poem’s lyrical emotion in a more three-dimensional way. The library said “Artist’s Note” was designed to help audiences accustomed to digital video engage more easily with modern and contemporary Korean literature. After experiencing the media art, visitors can read the original texts in print at a bookshelf set up in the “Path of Knowledge” area. The library will also display “BTS’s Bookshelf” from Friday through April 12, introducing Korean literature read by the global pop group BTS. A related event will run from March 20 to 31: an “SNS visit verification” promotion that will give small souvenirs to 100 participants. Admission is free. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-19 09:37:16