HD Construction Equipment Hits Intraday Record on Europe Generator Engine Deal Hopes HD Construction Equipment climbed more than 7% intraday and set a record high after news of a supply contract for generator engines in Europe. According to the Korea Exchange, shares were up 12,600 won, or 7.58%, at 177,500 won as of 2:30 p.m. The stock touched 178,000 won during the session, its highest level on record. The gains were widely attributed to expectations the company will expand its push into the European market. The company said the previous day it signed a contract to supply 264 units of its G2 engine for generators to Portuguese generator maker Grupel. The deal is aimed at meeting rising demand for mobile generators in Europe and replacement demand driven by tighter emissions rules. The G2 is a small engine that meets Europe’s Stage V emissions standards and features a high-pressure fuel injection system and fuel-efficiency improvements designed to boost performance and durability. HD Construction Equipment said it plans to pursue additional orders for mid-sized engines such as the DX05 and DX08. It aims to lift European power-generation engine sales from 40 billion won to 67 billion won by 2030, and to expand total power-generation engine sales to about 770 billion won from 370 billion won in 2025. Market watchers also point to growth in Europe’s generator market. Research firm Mordor Intelligence forecasts the European diesel generator market will grow from $3.87 billion in 2026 to $4.74 billion in 2031, an average annual increase of 4.18%. Brokerage analysts have also maintained a positive outlook on the stock as industry conditions improve. Samsung Securities analyst Han Young-soo said, “As the global construction equipment market enters a rebound phase, HD Construction Equipment, which has a large base effect, is expected to grow faster,” adding that demand tied to U.S. dealer inventory buildup, stabilization in Europe, firm raw material prices and the industry cycle point to a continued recovery. 2026-04-21 14:55:23

Naver, Krafton and Mirae Asset Seek Up to 1 Trillion Won for India Tech Fund Naver, Krafton and Mirae Asset are moving to make a large-scale technology investment push in India, aiming to identify promising information technology companies through a “Unicorn Growth Fund (UGF)” that could reach up to 1 trillion won. Naver said it introduced the UGF to local companies and venture capital firms at a briefing held April 21 in New Delhi. The event was arranged in connection with President Lee Jae-myung’s trip to India. Attendees included Industry and Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan; Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon; Krafton CEO Kim Chang-han; Krafton India head Son Hyun-il; Mirae Asset India Vice Chairman Swarup Mohanty; and Punit Kumar, CEO of Mirae Asset Venture Investment India. “India is rapidly expanding its AI industry on the back of abundant IT talent and a dynamic startup ecosystem, growing into a center of global digital innovation,” Choi said. She said the UGF will invest in high-growth technology companies in areas including AI, fintech and content, and serve as a platform to create strategic synergies by combining the three firms’ capabilities. Kim said India is emerging as the world’s fastest-growing gaming market and a hub for technological innovation. He said Krafton will be a mid- to long-term partner that supports promising companies’ global expansion through the UGF. Choi met April 20 with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to explain the fund’s vision and plans, and the two sides were reported to have formed a positive consensus. The UGF was formed early this year after Krafton committed 200 billion won, and began operations at more than 500 billion won including contributions from Naver, Mirae Asset and outside investors. The fund could later expand to as much as 1 trillion won, the companies said. The fund follows the Asia Growth Fund (AGF), jointly created by Naver and Mirae Asset. The AGF invested in major unicorns including India’s food delivery platform Zomato and Southeast Asia’s largest mobility company, Grab. Separately, Naver said it signed a memorandum of understanding the same day with Tata Consultancy Services, the IT arm of India’s Tata Group, to expand cooperation in AI, cloud and B2C services as it steps up its India strategy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:54:27

TWICE Nayeon sports new identity in "Wear Yourself" campaign with GROVE SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - Nayeon of South Korean girl group TWICE under JYP Entertainment joined fashion brand GROVE in its third campaign. The “Wear Yourself” campaign is built around the idea of dressing in a way that reflects one’s true self, offering a message of personal expression through fashion. The brand presented styles completed in individual ways by combining timeless basics with statement pieces. Nayeon, who serves as Grove’s ambassador for Korea and China, visited the newly renovated GROVE Apgujeong Store to mark the opening of the refreshed space and the launch of the third season. Visitors can also see Nayeon’s own interpretation of the “Wear Yourself” style at the store. 2026-04-21 14:53:15

Korea Finance Union Seeks 8% Pay Raise, 4.5-Day Workweek Ahead of Local Elections The Korea Finance Union has launched this year’s industrywide bargaining, raising its demands for higher pay and shorter working hours. With June local elections approaching and politicians courting labor support, analysts say the union’s voice is growing louder. According to the financial sector on April 21, the union recently held its “2026 first delegation bargaining session” and began full talks with the Financial Industry Employers Association. Its key demands include an 8.0% increase in total wages, adoption of a 4.5-day workweek, raising the retirement age to 65 while scrapping the wage-peak system, and blocking relocation of headquarters outside the capital area. The two sides plan to hold main bargaining talks on May 27. For its 2026 wage proposal, the union is seeking an 8.0% increase in total wages — about 2.5 times last year’s agreed raise of 3.1%. The union said the figure reflects projected economic growth of 2.0% and consumer inflation of 2.2%, as well as a 3.8% decline in real wages over the past five years. A 4.5-day workweek without pay cuts is also a central issue. The union says it will not accept reductions tied to shorter hours, while management argues some adjustment is needed, leaving the issue unresolved. Yoon Seok-gu, the union’s chairman, said, “It’s time for workers to receive fair compensation,” adding, “Just as spring does not come on its own, our rights must be won through a fierce struggle.” In and outside the industry, some see the election calendar as strengthening the union’s bargaining position. The union has about 100,000 members, including workers at major commercial and state-run banks, and has drawn political attention during election seasons. The article noted that the union formed a policy alliance with the Democratic Party during last year’s presidential election, fueling expectations that the ruling camp will find it difficult to ignore labor demands. The union’s standing has also been bolstered by recent political messages urging labor to take a more active role. President Lee Jae-myung told a labor event to “fight hard for workers’ rights,” and Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae said, “Make more noise at worksites,” according to the article. Still, the union’s demands may struggle to win broad public support. Average annual pay for employees at the four major banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana and Woori — was 122.75 million won last year, up 4.03% or 4.75 million won from 118.00 million won a year earlier. By contrast, the average total pay for regular workers last year was 50.61 million won, less than half the level for bank employees. A financial industry official said the union has in recent years proposed high wage increases and shorter hours and, if management refuses, moved toward strikes. “This year as well, the domestic and external business environment is not good, so difficult labor-management talks are expected,” the official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:50:16

Shinhan Bank Launches SOL Trip & J Debit Card With Japan Travel Perks Shinhan Bank said Tuesday it has launched the SOL Trip & J debit card with Shinhan Card, adding Japan-focused benefits to its travel card lineup. The card expands Shinhan Bank's SOL Travel debit card line and is billed as the financial industry's first debit card issued under the JCB brand, aimed at improving ease of use in Japan. It includes the existing SOL Travel benefits of 100% exchange-rate preferential treatment and waived overseas payment fees. Cardholders also receive 5% discounts at major merchants including Don Quijote and convenience stores in Japan, as well as at UNIQLO, MUJI and ABC Stores in Guam and Hawaii. Through JCB Special Offers, the card provides additional partner discounts, free access to JCB airport lounges and discounts at Hoshino Resorts, with no annual fee. To mark the launch, Shinhan Bank will run a promotion from Tuesday through May 29. Among customers who newly issue the card and apply for the event, the first 2,000 will receive 5,000 My Shinhan Points. Separately, 1,000 customers who make purchases of 10,000 won or more per transaction during the event period will be selected by drawing to receive a 10,000-won Olive Young gift card. A Shinhan Bank official said the card was designed to improve convenience and deliver practical benefits as demand for travel to Japan grows, adding that the bank will continue expanding travel financial services linked to overseas payments, remittances and partner offerings centered on the SOL Travel debit card.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:46:46

Amazon’s New Anthropic Commitment Sharpens Split Market View Ahead of IPOs Market sentiment is sharply diverging over two AI giants expected to pursue IPOs, a split underscored by Amazon’s latest move involving Anthropic. Amazon has agreed to a conditional commitment of up to $25 billion in additional investment in Anthropic, according to the IT industry on Monday. The amount is more than triple Amazon’s existing $8 billion investment, but it is not a finalized disbursement. Investor demand for Anthropic has already become visible. In February, the company ran a $30 billion funding round that drew subscriptions more than six times its initial target, leaving demand outstripping supply. Some venture capital firms have also been reported to have approached the company with interest based on an $80 billion valuation. Driving the rush is competition to secure stakes ahead of a potential IPO. Anthropic is widely seen as likely to list on U.S. markets in the fourth quarter of this year. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley have been mentioned as potential underwriters, and Chris Liddell, described as a former Microsoft chief financial officer, has joined the board. The fundraising target is more than $60 billion; if completed, it would be the second-largest IPO on record after SpaceX, the report said. That prospect is pushing institutions to seek pre-IPO shares. OpenAI is also aiming for a fourth-quarter listing, but its internal situation differs. The report said there are disagreements between the CEO and CFO over timing, and some observers believe the IPO could slip to 2027. The market’s temperature toward the two companies is diverging most clearly on valuation. Industry sources said OpenAI would need a post-IPO valuation of at least $1.2 trillion to justify investment, while Anthropic’s current valuation is $380 billion. That implies OpenAI’s threshold for investors to recoup their money is more than three times Anthropic’s valuation. Signals from the private market have been more direct. Bloomberg reported on March 1 that about six large institutions, including hedge funds and venture capital firms, approached the over-the-counter market seeking to sell $600 million worth of OpenAI shares. Some of that stock was said to be difficult to sell. By contrast, demand for Anthropic shares has been described as close to unlimited. Amazon’s positioning adds another layer. Amazon, Anthropic’s largest shareholder since it began investing in 2023, also struck a deal in February involving a $50 billion investment in OpenAI and a $10 billion AWS cloud contract. The latest Anthropic commitment is being read not as a bet on a single model, but as an extension of a cloud strategy to capture AWS infrastructure demand regardless of which company wins. Anthropic, through the deal, has agreed to spend more than $100 billion on AWS over the next 10 years. 2026-04-21 14:45:59

The Cross Singer Kim Hyeok-geon Says He Had Articles Deleted After Paralysis Diagnosis The turbulent life story of The Cross vocalist Kim Hyeok-geon has been revealed. A video titled, “From a promising genius vocalist to becoming vegetative, Kim Hyeok-geon — what happened that day?” was posted Sunday on the YouTube channel “Special Report World - The Person From Back Then.” Kim, who was diagnosed with full-body paralysis after an unexpected traffic accident in 2012, shared an update on his life, saying he now relies on an AI system for assistance. He said he teaches social welfare courses at a university and works as a lecturer. Kim said he was preparing a comeback album after completing military service when he was in a traffic accident while traveling by motorcycle after practice. The crash damaged his cervical spine and left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. “Nothing moved, so I thought I’d become a vegetative person,” Kim said. “I was conscious, but I thought I’d have to live with my eyes open and unfocused, and I kept thinking, ‘Why did I wake up?’ I cried inside endlessly.” Kim said he hated the term “quadriplegia.” “I kept rejecting (my condition). I couldn’t accept it, and I called each newspaper and had all the articles deleted,” he said. “I tried everything I could. I even tried stem cell treatment six times. After trying everything, I came to accept it.” Kim said his father, who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, devised a machine to help his son sing again by pressing the abdomen to support diaphragmatic breathing. The device was built with help from a university research team, and Kim said he was able to sing again. He said the strong pressure from the machine also caused pain, including broken ribs and blood appearing in his urinary catheter. “I’m a rocker, so if I don’t sing, I don’t know what kind of person I am,” Kim said, describing his commitment to music.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:45:06

Samyang Foods’ Buldak campaign music video tops 100 million YouTube views in two months Samyang Foods said Tuesday that the music video for its new global campaign, “Hotter Than My EX” (HTMX), has surpassed 100 million views within two months of its release on YouTube. The campaign features boy group BOYNEXTDOOR. The group reinterpreted its hit song “Earth, Wind & Fire” to fit the campaign concept and took part in producing the track, Samyang Foods said. The video reframes Valentine’s Day as a message about focusing on oneself, which the company said resonated with younger audiences. After the release, the music and concept drew positive reactions on social media and YouTube, prompting organic sharing by users, the company said. Samyang Foods said the 100 million-view milestone shows Buldak is moving beyond a food brand to become a cultural icon. The project also marks the first time the new character PEPPO has joined the Buldak universe. The company said PEPPO is helping expand touchpoints with global consumers through digital content such as music, challenges and memes. A Samyang Foods official said the campaign was designed to extend Buldak’s signature spiciness into “a means of confident self-expression.” The official said the company will continue to strengthen its position as a mega brand with innovative content that connects with global consumers’ lifestyles. 2026-04-21 14:44:31

Gwangju Mayor Bang Se-hwan Vows Continued Push to Ease Traffic, Improve Living Conditions Gwangju Mayor Bang Se-hwan said Monday the city will keep working to ease traffic congestion and improve residents’ living conditions. Bang said the city has completed a roundabout project at Gwaneum Intersection, where Local Road 338 and National Support Local Road 88 meet, to address chronic congestion. The project targeted a stretch that repeatedly backed up on weekends and holidays as more vehicles headed from Toechon toward Yangpyeong. Construction began in December last year and was recently completed, Bang said. The project used 319.59 million won in provincial funding. The city converted the signalized intersection into a roundabout to reduce unnecessary stops, encourage slower speeds and improve traffic flow, while also lowering accident risk. During an on-site inspection, Bang said Gwaneum Intersection is a key link between Toechon and Yangpyeong and has repeatedly become a weekend bottleneck, causing major inconvenience. He said the roundabout will allow vehicles to pass without waiting for signals, improving conditions for residents and convenience for visitors. Bang said the city will continue identifying and fixing traffic trouble spots to create a safer, more comfortable road environment.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:43:46

Lotte Chilsung Says It Cut Plastic Use by About 3,000 Tons Last Year Lotte Chilsung Beverage said Tuesday it reduced plastic emissions by about 3,000 tons last year by lowering the environmental impact of packaging across its production process under its ESG (environmental, social and governance) management approach. The company said its main strategy was to make containers lighter and expand the use of recycled materials. For bottled water, it introduced an ET-CAP with a lower bottle-neck height, cutting container weight by up to 12% and saving about 810 tons of plastic. It also expanded lightweighting to products including carbonated drinks, coffee, teas and soju, reducing preform weight by up to 5 grams per bottle. That led to a reduction of 1,650 tons, it said. For large-size products, it applied aseptic PET, cutting an additional 240 tons. Lotte Chilsung said it is also accelerating the shift to recycled inputs. In October last year, it launched what it called the country’s first PET bottle made with 100% recycled plastic for Chilsung Cider 500 mL. The company said the product cut plastic use by about 250 tons within two months of launch. This year, it is expanding the 100% recycled material to Pepsi Zero Sugar Lime 500 mL, Icis 500 mL and Saero 640 mL, it said. The company said it is working with the Korea National Park Service and the Korea Post’s postal service headquarters to build a “bottle-to-bottle” system that recycles used PET into food containers. Using clear PET collected at national parks as recycled feedstock, it said it has created a circular system of about 440,000 bottles a year, totaling 6.6 tons. A Lotte Chilsung Beverage official said the company is reducing environmental burdens through sustainable packaging technology while setting standards for the broader industry, and will continue linking ESG management to its business strategy to push its environmental transition. 2026-04-21 14:43:10