POSCO Future M CEO says LFP cathode mass production to start this year, targeting EV slowdown Eom Gi-cheon, CEO of POSCO Future M, outlined the company’s LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cathode material plans on March 11, speaking with reporters ahead of the opening of InterBattery 2026. “Major domestic battery materials companies plan to roll out mass-produced LFP cathode products within this year,” Eom said. He said POSCO Future M will complete its production line by July or August, go through certification in the third quarter, and supply mass-produced products to domestic customers by year’s end. Eom said battery makers’ utilization rates have fallen as growth in the electric vehicle market has slowed. But he said demand is shifting as markets such as energy storage systems and AI data centers “are opening up on a larger scale than EVs.” Eom also voiced confidence that solid-state battery technology could help South Korea’s battery industry overtake China. “Solid-state batteries are a next-generation technology that can allow Korea’s battery industry to surpass China in the future,” he said. He added that the company has made an equity investment in solid-state battery startup Factorial, and said POSCO Future M’s cathode materials could potentially be used in solid-state batteries for supercars. As chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association, Eom stressed the need to strengthen competitiveness across the sector. “K-battery is facing a crisis due to global supply chain restructuring and the spread of protectionism,” he said. He said materials, parts and equipment companies will work as “one team” on technology development and process innovation, while coordinating closely with the government to boost competitiveness. Eom said Europe’s recently announced industrial acceleration policy and North American automakers’ strategies to build supply chains less dependent on China could create opportunities for South Korea’s battery industry. He said the industry will strengthen its global competitiveness based on technology, quality and reliability. The Korea Battery Association is holding InterBattery2026 from March 11 to 13 at COEX in Seoul. The exhibition theme is “Original Innovator, Creating the Future of Energy.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 09:37:36

Renault Group Targets 36 New Models by 2030, Pushes Electrification and Global Growth Renault Group has laid out a mid- to long-term strategy targeting 36 new vehicle launches by 2030 and annual sales of 2 million units. The plan centers on accelerating the shift to electrification, led by electric and hybrid models, while expanding in global markets. Renault Korea said March 11 that the group announced the “Future Ready Plan” on March 10 local time at its headquarters in France. Built around key brands including Renault, Dacia and Alpine, the plan calls for 36 new models from this year through 2030. The group also set targets of a 5% to 7% operating profit margin and average annual cash flow of more than 1.5 billion euros, aiming to fund new-model development and electrification investment. Renault Group has been pursuing restructuring under its “Renaulution” strategy announced in 2021. The Future Ready Plan is seen as the next phase, moving more fully into electrification and global business expansion. The Renault brand aligned its priorities with the group plan around three drivers: strengthening its position in Europe, expanding electrification across its lineup, and boosting markets outside Europe. It set a goal of launching 26 new models by 2030 and selling more than 2 million vehicles a year across Europe and other markets. In Europe, Renault plans to introduce 12 new models by 2030, expanding electric and hybrid offerings not only in its core A and B segments but also in the C and D segments. Its electrification push will be led by both battery-electric vehicles and its E-Tech hybrid lineup. Renault said it will keep its hybrid lineup in Europe even after 2030. Renault also introduced a new RGEV Medium 2.0 platform aimed at the European C and D segment EV market. The modular architecture is designed to cover B-plus through D segments and support multiple body types. The company said it features extended driving range, an 800-volt architecture for ultra-fast charging, advanced technology and optimized efficiency. Renault said it aims to sell more than 2 million vehicles annually by 2030, with half of that volume coming from outside Europe. It added that it will maximize the potential of five global hubs: South Korea, India, Morocco, Turkey and Latin America. Under its International Game Plan 2027, Renault said it will add 14 new models in markets outside Europe by 2030, following five models already introduced: Kardian, Duster, Grand Koleos, Boreal and Filante. It also said it will continue developing vehicles tailored to market conditions by actively using strategic partnerships, including with Geely Group. 2026-03-11 09:36:00

LIG Nex1 Gives Elementary School Entry Gifts to Employees’ Children LIG Nex1 said Wednesday it delivered congratulatory gifts to employees’ children who are entering elementary school this year. The program, launched in 2010 as part of the company’s family-friendly management efforts, has provided entry gifts to a total of about 2,000 children through this year. The company said it is meant to mark the milestone and show support for children’s growth. For about 150 children starting elementary school in early March, the company delivered a set of 27 school supplies focused on items schools typically ask students to bring, along with a congratulatory message from the CEO. In the message, CEO Shin Ik-hyun said, “Congratulations on entering elementary school, filled with excitement and anticipation,” adding that he hopes the children “can freely pursue your bright dreams, like your parents who keep our country safe.” One employee who received the gift said the set was made up of supplies the child needed for school and made the employee feel the company was paying close attention to its workers. LIG Nex1 said it also runs other programs to strengthen a family-friendly workplace culture, including a flexible start-time system, the L-Fresh leave program and Family Day. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 09:33:31

Hyundai Motor Group Tops Volkswagen in Operating Profit, Ranks No. 2 Globally Hyundai Motor Group posted last year’s operating profit high enough to overtake Germany’s Volkswagen Group, marking its first entry into the global top two automakers by profitability, industry data showed. Despite the impact of U.S. auto tariffs, the group was seen as protecting margins through steps such as adjusting local production volumes, diversifying markets and moving quickly to reduce inventories. According to the industry on Tuesday, Hyundai Motor Group — Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis — sold 7.27 million vehicles worldwide last year, ranking third in global sales behind Toyota Group (11.32 million) and Volkswagen Group (8.98 million). General Motors ranked fourth with 6.18 million vehicles, followed by Stellantis with 5.48 million. While Hyundai ranked third by volume, it moved up one place to No. 2 in profitability, surpassing Volkswagen. Toyota, the global sales leader, also ranked first in key financial indicators, reporting revenue of 50.4508 trillion yen (471.2 trillion won) and operating profit of 4.3128 trillion yen (40.2 trillion won). Because Toyota uses a different accounting basis, the figures combine the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and the first through third quarters of fiscal 2025. Hyundai Motor Group reported last year’s revenue at 300.3954 trillion won and operating profit at 20.5460 trillion won. That operating profit exceeded Volkswagen Group’s 8.9 billion euros (15.3 trillion won), the first time Hyundai’s annual operating profit has topped Volkswagen’s. Volkswagen reported revenue of 321.9 billion euros (551.9 trillion won) over the same period. GM reported revenue of $185.0 billion (272.2 trillion won) and adjusted operating profit of $12.7 billion (18.7 trillion won). Stellantis posted a loss of 840 million euros (1.4 trillion won). Hyundai’s operating margin, another profitability measure, was about 6.8%, ranking second globally behind Toyota’s 8.6%. Hyundai’s margin was more than double that of Volkswagen, at 2.8%. The data also showed Hyundai bore lower tariff costs than Toyota, even though Toyota’s U.S. auto tariff rate was reduced to 15% earlier than South Korea’s. Based on tariff-cost tallies released by the companies, Hyundai Motor Group paid a total of 7.2 trillion won in tariffs — 4.1 trillion won for Hyundai Motor and 3.1 trillion won for Kia. Toyota reported total tariff costs of 1.2 trillion yen (11.2 trillion won) last year. An industry official said most automakers were hit hard by U.S. auto tariffs, but Hyundai “sold less than Volkswagen while achieving a higher operating margin,” adding that the results showed Hyundai is no longer competing only on value for money.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 09:09:17

Naver Pay Partners With Retail & Insight to Roll Out Npay Connect at 4,000 Supermarkets Naver Pay said Wednesday it signed a business agreement with cloud-based retail tech company Retail & Insight to support digital innovation in South Korea’s retail distribution market. Under the agreement, the offline integrated payment terminal “Npay Connect” is set to be adopted as the standard device at about 4,000 small and midsize supermarkets nationwide that have merchant contracts with Retail & Insight. Retail & Insight provides integrated systems for neighborhood markets through its “Tomato Solution” platform, including cloud-based point-of-sale and enterprise resource planning tools, ordering and payment apps, smart flyers and kiosks. With Npay Connect, stores will be able to offer multiple payment options, including cash, cards, simple payments, NFC and Npay’s facial-recognition payment service, “Facesign.” Shoppers will be able to leave Naver reviews immediately after paying, and apply store discount coupons directly through Npay Connect. Starting this month, Npay Connect terminals will be installed in phases at neighborhood markets using Tomato Solution, and an on-site Npay payment promotion will be held at the same time. The two companies also said they will expand data-driven cooperation. Using Tomato Solution POS and ERP data along with Npay payment data, they plan to review financial support options aimed at helping neighborhood markets grow and explore benefits that use data analysis to improve customer experience. Lee Hyang-cheol, Npay’s Pay Service lead, said the agreement would help make Npay Connect “a turning point for innovating the payment ecosystem” in South Korea’s retail distribution market. He said the company will continue to strengthen digital competitiveness for small merchants and provide a more convenient experience for store visitors.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 09:06:00

Innocean Breaks Into Ad Age’s 2026 A-List Top 10 in the U.S. Hyundai Motor Group’s advertising agency Innocean has been named one of the top 10 marketing companies in the United States, the first South Korean ad company to make the list. Innocean said Wednesday that it was selected for the top 10 of the “2026 A-List” released by marketing trade publication Ad Age. The company called it its biggest achievement since establishing its U.S. subsidiary 18 years ago. Ad Age compiles the annual list by evaluating agencies active in the U.S. market on creative performance, business results and industry influence. Innocean attributed the recognition to capabilities built steadily by its U.S. unit. Founded in 2008, Innocean USA expanded its presence with creative work and brand experiences, including producing a Super Bowl ad in 2010, a first for a South Korean advertising company. Jeon Il-soo, Innocean’s head of global business and vice president leading the Americas regional headquarters, said the company has “consistently worked to recruit talented people, strengthen teamwork and build capabilities.” He said management efforts to broaden its client base and lay a foundation for sustainable growth were recognized by the industry. Innocean, marking its 21st anniversary this year, has also built its profile globally. It ranked No. 1 in a 2016 Super Bowl ad preference survey with the Genesis campaign “First Date,” the first time a non-U.S. company topped the survey, and it won the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for two consecutive years in 2025 before being named to the 2026 A-List. The company also reported solid business growth. Innocean USA posted 2025 revenue of $460 million, up 7.7% from a year earlier, ranking second in Southern California. Its clients include Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Hankook Tire, chicken fast-food chain El Pollo Loco, hot dog restaurant chain Wienerschnitzel and Jinro USA. CEO Kim Jeong-a said the result “goes beyond the success of a single campaign” and reflects combined strength in creativity, business and organizational competitiveness. She said Innocean will further strengthen its position as a global partner by delivering measurable business results for clients through differentiated ideas and integrated marketing capabilities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 09:03:56

ENHYPEN’s Heeseung to leave group, pursue solo career, agency says Heeseung of the K-pop group ENHYPEN is leaving the team to pursue a solo career. Belift Lab said on the fan platform Weverse on Monday that “Heeseung will become independent from ENHYPEN,” adding that the group will continue activities as six members starting with its upcoming official schedule. The agency said the members held in-depth talks about their individual futures and the group’s direction, and confirmed that Heeseung has a clear musical vision. “We decided to respect that,” it said, calling the move “a new opportunity” for both ENHYPEN and solo artist Heeseung. Heeseung also posted on Weverse, saying the past six years were “filled with moments so overwhelming and precious that I can’t put them into words.” “I had so much I wanted to show you, but I also didn’t want to put only my own desires first within the team,” he wrote. “I will prepare hard to meet you again as soon as possible.” ENHYPEN debuted through Mnet’s 2020 audition program “I-LAND” and released the mini-album “THE SIN : VANISH” in January. The group recently launched its “WALK THE LINE” world tour.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 08:36:18

BLACKPINK’s ‘GO’ Enters Billboard Hot 100, Setting K-Pop Girl Group Record BLACKPINK is drawing attention for extending K-pop records on major U.S. and U.K. charts, including Billboard and the Official Charts. According to Billboard’s latest rankings released on March 9 (local time), “GO,” the title track from the group’s third mini album, “DEADLINE,” debuted at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100. It marked BLACKPINK’s 11th career Hot 100 entry, the most ever for a K-pop female artist. The group also placed No. 13 on Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.). “DEADLINE” previously became BLACKPINK’s fifth career entry on the Billboard 200, underscoring the group’s continued presence in the mainstream pop market. In the U.K., “GO” ranked No. 44 on the Official Singles Top 100, while “DEADLINE” reached No. 11 on the Official Albums Top 100. Those results gave BLACKPINK its 12th singles chart entry and fourth albums chart entry, setting new records for the most appearances by a K-pop female artist in both categories. Sales charts also showed strong momentum. “DEADLINE” topped Hanteo’s weekly and monthly charts with just two and a half days of tracking, and it earned a triple crown on Circle Chart. The album sold 1,774,577 copies in its first week, setting a new first-week record for a K-pop girl group. Released Feb. 27, “DEADLINE” has also drawn praise from major international outlets. Rolling Stone wrote, “BLACKPINK is back at its best,” and Billboard called “GO” “the best song on the album and a track that truly represents BLACKPINK.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 08:33:32

Samsung Biologics, Eli Lilly to open Lilly Gateway Labs hub in Songdo Samsung Biologics said it will partner with U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. to establish a South Korea hub for Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL), an open-innovation program designed to select and nurture promising biotech startups. The company said Monday it signed an open-innovation partnership agreement with Lilly at its headquarters in Songdo, Incheon, aimed at supporting high-potential Korean biotechs. Under the agreement, a new LGL site will be created inside Samsung Biologics’ second Bio Campus. The company said it will be LGL’s second location outside the United States, following China. Lilly launched LGL in 2019 to identify and develop promising biotech companies. LGL provides more than office and lab space, offering R&D collaboration, expert mentoring, direct investment and support for attracting outside funding, Samsung Biologics said. Since LGL’s launch, companies in the program have raised more than $3 billion (about 4.4121 trillion won), and more than 50 drug-development programs have been accelerated, it said. Samsung Biologics said Lilly had been exploring an expansion into South Korea, citing the market’s growth potential, and decided to collaborate after assessing Samsung’s global-scale infrastructure and startup-support experience. The new LGL hub is expected to move into an open-innovation center called “C-Lab Outside,” which Samsung Biologics is building with a target completion date of July 2027. The five-story facility, with a total floor area of 12,000 square meters, is under construction at the second Bio Campus in Songdo. The two companies said they will jointly run the full process of selecting and supporting 30 promising biotechs that will be based there. Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim said the partnership will help bring a global drugmaker’s open-innovation capabilities to promising Korean biotechs. “We will expand an organic, win-win cooperation model and secure sustainable growth momentum for K-bio,” he said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 08:06:00

‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ Tops 10 Million Viewers, Reviving Korea’s Theaters A straightforward, traditional historical drama has become Korea’s latest 10 million-admissions hit. Director Jang Hang-jun’s film “The Man Who Lives With the King” crossed the milestone, becoming the first Korean movie in about two years to do so and giving a lift to a theater industry that has struggled to regain momentum. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated box office database on Monday, the film drew 203,027 viewers the previous day to remain No. 1. Its cumulative audience has topped 11,706,746. The film passed 10 million admissions at about 6:32 p.m. on March 6, its 31st day in release. It is the first 10 million-admissions film since the 2024 hit “The Roundup: Punishment,” and it is also the fourth historical drama to reach the mark, following “The King and the Clown,” “Masquerade” and “The Admiral: Roaring Currents.” Showbox, the film’s investor and distributor, said, “We sincerely thank all audiences who supported ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ and joined us in theaters.” A company official added that, with people increasingly watching movies alone, “the steps of audiences who came to the theater feel even more meaningful,” and pledged to keep working to release strong films. A Lotte Cinema official said the film’s run shows that “if a movie is well made, audiences are always ready to breathe together in theaters,” adding that the cross-generational turnout could be “a decisive turning point” for a rebound in Korea’s film industry in 2026. The Lunar New Year holiday period proved pivotal. From Feb. 13 to 18, the film drew 2,675,454 viewers and held the top box office spot for seven straight days. On Feb. 17, the day after the holiday, it attracted 661,449 viewers, setting a post-pandemic record for the highest single-day audience during the Lunar New Year period since March 2020. A theater official said Korean films including “The Man Who Lives With the King” and “Humint” reclaimed the holiday box office lead after losing it to foreign titles last year, adding that the traditional historical drama drew family audiences across age groups. Industry watchers also pointed to an unusual mix behind the film’s staying power: broad family turnout during the holiday, followed by a surge driven by actor fandom and in-person stage greetings. The cast — including Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Hae-jin, Yoo Ji-tae and Jeon Mi-do, along with special appearance Lee Jun-hyuk — took part in events that drew strong reactions, which spread through online communities and social media and encouraged repeat viewings. A female moviegoer identified by her surname Kim said she became curious after seeing the actors’ active stage greetings and the online response, adding that their sincerity was “the decisive reason” she watched the film multiple times. The milestone also marked career firsts and records for key cast members, the article said. Yoo Hae-jin, who plays village chief Eom Heung-do, now has five 10 million-admissions films. Yoo Ji-tae, who plays Han Myeong-hoe, earned his first 10 million-admissions title. Park Ji-hoon, who plays the deposed young former king Lee Hong-wi, reached the mark with his first commercial film. Film critic Kim Heon-sik called it significant as “a 10 million-admissions film nobody predicted,” saying an original historical drama expanded its audience during the Lunar New Year holiday and then gained additional momentum from voluntary fandom support. He added that theaters still show their greatest strength with films that multiple generations can watch together. The film’s run is being read as a symbolic signal for the broader market, with theaters hoping the momentum will continue in the weeks ahead.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 00:03:40