Taihan targets North American grid investment with HVDC and subsea cables Taihan Electric Wire said it is stepping up its push into the North American power-infrastructure market, highlighting high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and subsea cable technologies. The company said Tuesday it is taking part in the 2026 IEEE PES T&D exhibition in Chicago from May 4 to 7. The event is the largest U.S. gathering in the transmission and distribution sector, bringing together power-equipment makers, utilities and related organizations. Taihan said it is featuring HVDC cables, subsea cables and technologies for replacing aging power grids, focusing on areas where it sees strong project potential as electricity demand rises, renewable energy expands and existing grids age across North America. HVDC was the main focus. Citing its experience supplying 320kV-class HVDC cables in the United States, Taihan introduced solutions for 525kV-class underground and subsea HVDC cables. It also put forward a 525kV-class HVDC subsea cable that it said could be applied to South Korea’s “West Coast Energy Highway” project, underscoring its ability to serve long-distance, large-capacity transmission needs. The company also outlined plans to expand its subsea cable business. Taihan shared its domestic and overseas order track record and provided an update on construction of its second subsea cable plant in Dangjin, which it is pursuing with a target completion in 2027. It also introduced the “Palos” cable-laying vessel dedicated to offshore wind projects and its subsea cable installation subsidiary, Daehan Ocean Works, emphasizing end-to-end capabilities from manufacturing to installation. Solutions for replacing aging grids were also highlighted. Taihan said the technology can increase transmission capacity while using existing conduits, making it suitable for the U.S. market, where demand for grid reinforcement is high. The industry expects demand for related equipment to rise quickly as AI data centers expand and electrification increases pressure to add grid capacity in the United States. Industry observers also say regional transmission bottlenecks are worsening as AI data centers concentrate in areas including Virginia and Texas, potentially accelerating demand for extra-high-voltage cables and substation equipment replacements. For Taihan, securing U.S. references could serve not only to win orders but also as a prequalification factor for future utility tenders, the company said. Song Jong-min, Taihan’s vice chairman, visited the exhibition and met with major North American utilities and business partners. The company said Song reviewed ongoing business with local subsidiary staff and discussed ways to expand cooperation. “North America is seeing rapid market growth as grid investment expands and renewable energy spreads at the same time,” Song said. “Based on the experience and references we have built in the United States, we will continue to expand results in key areas such as HVDC, subsea cables and solutions for aging power grids.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:34:09

South Korea launches joint task force to support victims of digital sex crimes The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Korea Communications Commission and the National Police Agency have launched a joint government task force to strengthen a unified response to digital sex crimes. The ministry said it held a plaque-hanging ceremony on May 6 at the Government Complex Seoul, attended by Gender Equality and Family Minister Won Min-kyung, Korea Communications Commission Chairman Kim Jong-cheol, acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-sung and Jeong Jeong-ok, senior presidential secretary for gender equality and family. The task force will be led by the ministry’s director general for safety and human rights policy, serving concurrently as chief. It will include one deputy chief (a ministry director-level official) and seven members, for a total of eight. The Central Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center will cooperate by conducting initial analysis of platforms where collected illegal filming materials are distributed. Authorities have faced limits in responding quickly because even clearly illegal filming materials generally required review procedures before access could be blocked. Officials have also pointed to persistent harm from overseas server-based illegal sites, where administrative sanctions are difficult and operators refuse to delete content or repost it repeatedly. According to the “2025 Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Report” published by the ministry and the Korea Women’s Human Rights Institute, 10,637 victims received support last year, up 3.2% from 10,305 the year before. New victims fell 10.3%, while the number of victims receiving continued support rose 26.3%. To build a victim-centered, cross-government response, the government decided to establish the task force within the ministry under a directive issued by the prime minister. The task force plans to conduct in-depth analysis of distribution routes for illegal filming materials, as well as the operating methods and revenue structures of sites where content is repeatedly reposted. Based on that work, it will coordinate with relevant agencies on requests for investigations, fines, rapid blocking and international cooperation. For cases involving clearly illegal filming materials, it will seek swift access blocks through telecommunications operators. It will also directly handle urgent or serious cases — including mass victimization — that frontline support agencies have difficulty managing. The government also plans to work with information and communications service providers to prevent further spread, encourage reporting by the public and businesses, and pursue legal and institutional improvements to cut off criminal proceeds. Won said more fundamental measures are needed to stop the “endless copying and spread” of sexual exploitation materials that threaten daily life. She said the government will go beyond deletion support by quickly cutting distribution routes and using all available means to hold offenders accountable for repeated distribution and refusal to delete content. Kim said the communications commission will thoroughly inspect and manage compliance with obligations to prevent distribution of illegal filming materials, strengthening accountability for businesses. He said the commission will work closely with the ministry and police to eradicate digital sex crimes. Yoo said digital sex crimes are serious offenses that leave lasting pain, and police will track down perpetrators who hide behind technology and bring them to justice. He said the task force will help combine advanced investigative techniques with the blocking capabilities of related agencies to uproot the “distribution-circulation-consumption” crime ecosystem under a zero-tolerance approach.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:30:18

Korea Football Association to Appeal Ruling Upholding Ministry’s Call to Discipline Chung Mong-gyu The Korea Football Association has decided to appeal a court ruling that found the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s request to discipline KFA President Chung Mong-gyu was lawful. The KFA said it made the decision at its fourth board meeting of 2026, held Tuesday at the association’s headquarters in Seoul’s Jongno district, and will file an appeal of the first-instance administrative ruling tied to the ministry’s special audit. On April 23, the Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 5, led by Presiding Judge Lee Jeong-won, ruled against the KFA in its lawsuit seeking to overturn the ministry’s notice of audit findings and its demand for corrective measures. The court said the ministry’s findings were supported, including violations in the process of appointing a national team head coach, improper management of subsidies for the national football center construction project, and the handling of what the ministry described as unjustified pardons for soccer figures. “While some of the pointed-out matters were improper, that alone did not make the (ministry’s) demand for measures unfair or unlawful,” the court said, adding that the level of disciplinary request fell “within the scope of discretionary authority.” The court also said that under the Public Audit Act, the association is not obligated to comply unconditionally with the ministry’s demands, and that even if it does not comply, the ministry can only conduct another audit and has no direct means to impose discipline or force implementation. The KFA board said it still needs an appellate court’s judgment on both fact-finding and legal interpretation. Chung did not take part in the discussion because he is an interested party. Lee Yong-soo, a KFA vice president who led the meeting in Chung’s place, said, “Despite the decision to appeal, we take the court’s first ruling seriously and feel a deep sense of responsibility to meet the stern demands of soccer fans.” He added that the appeal was not intended to use the World Cup as a shield or to delay matters, but was a difficult decision aimed at seeking further review within legal procedures. The KFA said it will continue work to strengthen administrative transparency and pursue internal reforms, and will also do its best to support the World Cup with about a month remaining.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:28:14

Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon vows 130,000 public homes by 2031, expands long-term lease housing Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party’s candidate for Seoul mayor, said he would supply about 130,000 public housing units by 2031 and expand long-term lease housing designed to reduce fears of jeonse fraud. Oh announced the pledge Tuesday as part of what his campaign called a comprehensive plan to strengthen a “housing mobility safety net.” The plan focuses on three pillars — expanding housing supply, boosting financial support and lowering housing costs — to stabilize housing for residents without homes, his camp said. It is aimed at countering rising jeonse prices and a shrinking number of listings through more supply and financing support. Under the slogan “the answer to the housing problem is overwhelming supply,” Oh said he would provide 123,000 public rental units and 6,500 public for-sale units by 2031. For the public for-sale portion, he pledged to introduce a “Baro Nae Jip” model that includes land-lease apartments priced at about half of nearby market levels and installment-plan apartments requiring a 20% upfront payment, to lower barriers to homeownership. He also said long-term lease housing would expand to 106,000 units by 2031 from 37,000 now. Oh also pledged to restore what he called Seoul residents’ “sovereignty” over housing funds. His campaign said Seoul residents have contributed about 25 trillion won to the national Housing and Urban Fund through subscription savings, but only about 10 trillion won has been invested in housing projects in Seoul. Oh said he would seek to expand the fund and strengthen support for private-sector housing supply, including land purchases and construction costs. “Seoul has been building a housing promotion fund for the past year and now holds about 5 trillion won,” Oh said. “If I become mayor, I will press the government more strongly to increase it to 10 trillion won.” The plan also calls for life-stage housing cost support. Oh said the city would raise the ceiling for interest-free deposit loans under the Long-term Relief Housing program to up to 70 million won, and subsidize loan interest for newlywed couples living in public rental housing for up to 12 years. He pledged to extend youth rent support to 12 months from 10 and broaden eligibility to include single-parent families and victims of jeonse fraud. For middle-aged residents without homes, he proposed a new “matching savings account” program that would combine rent support with city-backed savings to help participants build a 10 million won nest egg. Oh also pledged a three-step protection system to prevent jeonse fraud. It would include a pre-contract risk screening service, an “safety manager” with a licensed real estate agent credential to accompany tenants when signing contracts, and post-contract support such as subsidies for jeonse deposit return guarantee insurance. For vulnerable groups including young people, he said the city would guarantee 100% coverage through deposit return guarantees. Oh on Tuesday also formally launched the “Real Estate Hell” civic task force. “I will go deeper into the field and step up efforts to deliver, in citizens’ own voices, the hardships faced by residents without homes, including turmoil in the monthly and jeonse rental markets,” he said. 2026-05-06 15:23:42

BBQ Sales Jump 34% in Seoul Tourist Districts as Foreign Visitors Boost K-Chicken Demand As more foreign tourists visit South Korea, demand for Korean-style fried chicken is helping boost sales for major chains. Genesis BBQ Group, which operates the BBQ chicken franchise, said Tuesday that it posted sales growth in key Seoul commercial districts that draw large numbers of overseas visitors. The company said cumulative first-quarter sales this year in major areas such as Myeongdong and Hongdae rose 34.4% from a year earlier. By district, Hongdae sales climbed 61.8%, the fastest growth, while Myeongdong sales increased 25.8%. Sales also rose in other tourist-heavy areas including Seongsu, Gangnam and Jamsil. BBQ said the expansion of larger stores of 30 to 40 pyeong or more in major districts contributed to the increase, and it also cited a recent rise in tourist traffic to Seoul’s main shopping areas. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said 4.76 million foreign visitors entered South Korea in the first quarter, up 23% from the same period last year. In a 2025 global survey on Korean food consumption released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institute, “Korean-style fried chicken” ranked as the most preferred Korean dish among overseas consumers. “We will continue to strengthen our space and menu competitiveness, focusing on core districts with strong access to global customers,” a BBQ official said. BBQ is also expanding overseas. The company operates about 700 stores in 57 countries, including the United States, Europe, China and Southeast Asia. In March, it opened a store in China’s Hunan province as part of a push into inland markets in central China. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:22:44

Honda Freezes Canada EV Plant Plan Indefinitely as North America Outlook Shifts Honda has decided to freeze indefinitely its plan to build an electric vehicle and battery manufacturing complex in Canada, as uncertainty grows in North America amid slowing U.S. EV demand and a policy shift by President Donald Trump’s administration. Nikkei reported Tuesday that Honda has effectively halted the project in Ontario and has begun talks with the Canadian government. The company is also said to be considering scrapping the plan altogether depending on the policy environment in North America. The project, which includes an EV plant and a battery plant, was valued at 15 billion Canadian dollars (about 16 trillion won). It was planned to have annual capacity of about 240,000 vehicles, and land acquisition and discussions on government support were largely underway. Honda had aimed to start operations in 2028, but delayed the start by about two years in May last year as EV growth fell short of expectations. It has now opted for an open-ended freeze. The move signals a broader reset of Honda’s North American EV strategy. In March, Honda announced it would stop developing a flagship EV for the U.S. market and said it planned to book losses of up to 2.5 trillion yen (about 22 trillion won), while formally shifting emphasis away from EVs and toward hybrid vehicles. This time, the pullback extends to production-site investment. The shift is also affecting partnerships. Sony Group’s EV joint venture with Honda, Sony Honda Mobility, announced in March that it would halt development of its standalone EV, the Afeela. On April 21, it decided to reassign about 400 employees back to the two parent companies. Nikkei said the venture judged profitability would be difficult as Honda revised its EV strategy, describing the effort as a reorganization that is effectively “starting over.” Disappearing U.S. IRA benefits Nikkei pointed to U.S. policy changes as a key factor. The previous Joe Biden administration spurred North American EV investment competition after introducing EV purchase tax credits under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. But President Trump abolished the EV tax credit and, late last year, eased average fuel economy rules for automakers. With less pressure to expand EV output, automakers are adjusting strategies. U.S. sales data show the slowdown. Cox Automotive said U.S. EV sales last year fell 2% from a year earlier to 1.27 million vehicles, and fourth-quarter sales plunged 36% from the same period a year earlier. Hybrids have gained ground: Nikkei said hybrids accounted for a record 19% of U.S. new-vehicle sales in the fourth quarter. Honda has already formalized its pivot toward hybrids and plans to end production of its North America EV, the Prologue, in the second half of 2026. That would temporarily leave Honda without an EV in its U.S. lineup. The decision is expected to ripple into South Korea’s battery industry. Honda has been building an EV-only battery plant with LG Energy Solution, but is reported to be considering converting it for hybrid vehicles and energy storage systems. Honda is not alone. Nissan Motor has halted plans to produce two EV models in Mississippi, and Ford has announced it would stop producing a key pickup-truck EV while planning to reflect special losses of up to $19.5 billion. General Motors also decided last year to cut about 3,300 jobs at its U.S. EV and battery plants. Still, some analysts say the EV market overall has not turned down. MarkLines said global sales of EVs and plug-in hybrids last year rose 18% from a year earlier to 18.12 million vehicles. In China, more than half of new-car sales are EVs, reflecting continued growth. Nikkei said North America’s EV market has entered a stagnant phase, but the global market is still expanding, adding that how Honda rebuilds its EV competitiveness will be a key challenge.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:21:17

North Korea Revises Constitution to Define Territory, Drop Unification Clause North Korea has revised its constitution to reflect the “two states” line advanced by State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un, adding a new territorial clause that defines only the North as its territory and deleting provisions on national reunification. The revision also defines the commission chairman as “head of state” and, for the first time, specifies authority over the use of nuclear weapons. According to the text of the revised constitution disclosed at a briefing for reporters covering the Unification Ministry on Tuesday, the territorial clause was added as Kim declared in late 2023 that inter-Korean relations had become those of “two hostile states,” and as he signaled in January 2024. Article 2, newly added alongside Article 1 on the country’s name, states that the territory includes land bordering China and the Russian Federation to the north and South Korea to the south, as well as territorial waters and airspace set on that basis. Terms and concepts tied to ethnic kinship and reunification, including “the northern half,” “national reunification” and “the complete victory of socialism,” were removed from the preamble and main text of the previous constitution revised in September 2023. While the “two states” approach is broadly reflected, the revised text does not declare South Korea a “hostile state,” contrary to Kim’s earlier remarks. At the Supreme People’s Assembly in January 2024, Kim said it would be right to write into the relevant article that education and indoctrination should be strengthened so South Korea is regarded “thoroughly as the No. 1 hostile state” and an “unchanging principal enemy.” The revision is also seen as strengthening the commission chairman’s authority and status. In the ordering of state institutions, the commission chairman appears first and is defined as “head of state.” It is the first time the chairman has been placed ahead of the Supreme People’s Assembly in the constitution. The constitution also, for the first time, spells out the chairman’s exclusive command authority over nuclear forces and adds a clause providing a basis for delegation. Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said the changes make clear a separation line by stating that the southern half of the Korean Peninsula is South Korean territory and the northern half is the territory of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He said there is no international legislative precedent for defining another country as a hostile state, and that North Korea appeared to have considered the possibility of international isolation if it codified South Korea as such. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:19:19

Seongnam’s Sangdaewon 2 Redevelopment Sets Member Forum as Builder Dispute Nears Turning Point A court fight over replacing the builder has deepened divisions in the Sangdaewon 2 redevelopment project in Seongnam, south of Seoul, prompting the union to switch from an ouster meeting to a members’ forum. The move comes as a court ruling has cast doubt on both the builder change and the validity of a key vote, forcing the parties to reassess next steps. Industry officials said Tuesday that the Sangdaewon 2 Housing Redevelopment Union notified members it will hold a “members’ forum to normalize the project” on May 9. May 9 had originally been set for an extraordinary general meeting to vote on removing the union head and executives. The change follows a court decision on April 29 granting DL E&C’s request for an injunction to suspend the effect of a union vote, effectively halting the impact of a general meeting held April 11 to pass an agenda item terminating DL E&C’s construction contract. The court said there was room to believe “a significant number” of written consent forms may have been forged. With the injunction granted, DL E&C’s builder rights remain in place for now. On the same day, the court dismissed the union side’s request to block a planned April 30 meeting to remove the union head. The emergency committee then decided to postpone the ouster meeting to May 9. But three days before that date, the union leadership and the emergency committee agreed to hold a forum instead. The shift comes after GS Engineering & Construction participated alone in the first bidding round and gained preferred bidder status, while the court’s ruling that the termination of DL E&C’s contract was invalid further complicated the process. Union leaders, including Chairman Jeong, had pushed through the contract-termination agenda to sign a construction contract with preferred bidder GS E&C. The emergency committee, however, has argued DL E&C should keep the job. Under the earlier plan, if the ouster agenda passed, DL E&C would begin construction as scheduled in June; if it failed, the union leadership would move to hold a general meeting on May 23 to select a builder. As the dispute over the builder change and union management drags on, delays, higher financing burdens and the risk of additional lawsuits appear unavoidable. Separate from the injunction, DL E&C’s main lawsuit seeking to invalidate the general meeting resolution is also underway, leaving legal uncertainty likely to persist. Some members have already faced cases of “self-paid interest,” in which they must pay interest in advance on relocation loans. That has occurred because a gap opened between interest due dates and loan disbursement dates as financing was delayed amid the builder uncertainty. DL E&C and GS E&C are closely watching the union’s internal discussions. “The court found the general meeting result invalid due to procedural flaws, so talks on selecting a builder have returned to square one,” an industry official said. “Only after the union leadership and the emergency committee reach an agreement will a result on the builder follow.” The Sangdaewon 2 redevelopment project calls for building a 5,090-home complex on a 242,000-square-meter site in Sangdaewon-dong, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam. Construction costs are projected at about 1 trillion won. After signing a contract with DL E&C in 2021, the sides clashed over whether to apply the company’s high-end “Acro” brand.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:18:24

Park Ji-hoon to Star in TVING’s ‘The Legendary Cook Soldier,’ Premiering May 11 Actor Park Ji-hoon, who joined the ranks of so-called “10 million actors” after drawing 16.8 million moviegoers with the film ‘The Man Who Lives With the King,’ is taking on a new role — this time with a wok in hand. A production presentation for TVING’s original series ‘The Legendary Cook Soldier’ (written by Choi Ryong, directed by Jo Nam-hyung) was held Tuesday afternoon at the Pullman Ambassador Seoul East Pole in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Director Jo and cast members Park, Yoon Kyung-ho, Lee Hong-nae and Lee Sang-yi attended. Based on a popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, the drama follows private Kang Sung-jae (Park), who wears an apron instead of ammunition belts and pushes through the hardships of military life through cooking, eventually becoming a “legendary cook soldier.” Jo said the key difference from the original is how food will be portrayed on screen. “If there’s a big difference from the webtoon, it’s the vivid expression of taste,” he said, adding that the dishes will look “far more appetizing than in drawings” and stimulate viewers’ senses. The series has drawn attention as Park’s next project after ‘The Man Who Lives With the King.’ Park said he tries not to dwell on expectations. “I always think I can’t be loved all the time,” Park said. “My motto is to do my best in each moment. I think it’s my duty to do my best at what I’m given.” Asked about pressure from the “10 million actor” label, he said, “I’m not the type to feel burdened. I thought more about what I could express in the work and what kind of energy I could share with senior actors. I think I was nervous, but I didn’t feel pressure.” Jo said he saw Kang’s potential in Park while watching the actor’s previous work ‘Weak Hero,’ pointing to the strength in Park’s eyes. “Like many people, I got to know Ji-hoon after watching ‘Weak Hero,’” Jo said. “His eyes were really good. Sung-jae starts off unfamiliar and awkward, but inside he’s resolute and moves clearly toward his goals. I cast him because I thought he could express that well.” Park said the new series lets him step away from the heavier tone of his earlier work and try comedy. “I think my strength is an ambiguity that moves back and forth between Kang Sung-jae and Park Ji-hoon even within comedy,” he said. “It’s not just about being funny — I think the point is being cute while still making people laugh.” Co-star Yoon praised Park’s transformation, focusing again on his eyes. “When I first saw him at a meeting, I fell into his eyes,” Yoon said. “They’re incredible — to the point I thought there wasn’t another male actor with eyes like that. Watching ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ and other works, I felt everything is contained in his eyes. In this series, the appealing part is the helpless, unsure look that’s unique to a new recruit. You can look forward to a mischievous charm that’s different from his previous work.” Another point of interest is that Park, who has not served in the military, plays a private. The production team said it wanted the fresh awkwardness of an actor without firsthand experience. “I think the director wanted new reactions that come through when someone who hasn’t served acts it,” Park said. “They seemed to like how everything feels awkward and how he wonders what to do and whether he should just stand still. I’m actually a military fan, so I knew some things, but while filming I newly felt, ‘So this is the atmosphere — this is how life would be.’” By contrast, Lee Hong-nae and Lee Sang-yi, both of whom have served, joked about how closely they match their roles. Lee Hong-nae, who said he likes the military enough to have taken the Air Force Academy exam, put his “sync rate” at 80% and said he tried to show a character closely tied to him “just because it’s a military drama.” Lee Sang-yi, who said he served in a police unit’s promotional team, said, “I didn’t serve as an Army soldier — I served as auxiliary police and spent two years dancing, singing and doing magic. My sync rate is 0%.” Lee Sang-yi said he began as a special appearance but ended up joining promotional events as his filming days increased. “I started because they said it would end quickly, but the number of shoots kept increasing,” he said. “I grew more attached to the character and ended up staying until the end. I came to today’s production presentation because I want to go on ‘Pinggyego’ and chat.” In closing remarks, Yoon said viewers will get to see “the ‘Dan-jong oppa’ from ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ become a private,” and urged audiences to look forward to the series. Park said filming began in sweaty heat and wrapped as the weather turned cold. “We practiced closely and filmed happily during that time,” he said. “I hope our good energy is delivered well to viewers.” TVING’s original series ‘The Legendary Cook Soldier’ premieres at 8:40 p.m. on May 11 on TVING and tvN. It will air every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m. thereafter.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 15:16:21

Prosecutors, firms clash in court over alleged $677.6 billion won KEPCO GIS bid-rigging Prosecutors and power-equipment makers clashed in court over whether a Korea Electric Power Corp. gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) case amounts to a long-running, structural cartel, as a trial over alleged bid rigging worth about 677.6 billion won moved forward. The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 32, led by Presiding Judge Ryu Kyung-jin, held the first hearing Tuesday for eight companies — including Hyosung Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Electric, LS Electric and Iljin Electric — and current and former employees charged with violating the Fair Trade Act. The court discussed the trial schedule and evidence procedures and also held bail hearings for some defendants indicted in custody. Prosecutors allege the defendants coordinated expected winners and bid prices in advance in 145 KEPCO tenders from 2015 to 2022, forming a cartel involving about 677.6 billion won in contracts. Prosecutors estimate illegal gains at at least 160 billion won. GIS is a key device used at power plants and substations to cut excessive current and protect electrical facilities. Prosecutors say major suppliers, including the four companies, controlled about 90% of the market and divided up orders over an extended period. The companies deny collusion and argue the indictment does not specify the alleged agreements in sufficient detail. A lawyer for Hyosung Heavy Industries said prosecutors claim there was an overarching agreement but have not identified when or how it was reached. In a bid-rigging case, the lawyer said, prosecutors must specify who communicated in each tender and how winners were decided. The lawyer also said the indictment includes tenders Hyosung did not participate in, arguing it is hard to accept treating nonparticipation — due to production issues or sanctions — as part of collusion. Other companies likewise said they submitted bids normally based on their own standards and judgment and did not preselect winners or prices. Prosecutors countered that the case was brought to cover an overall collusive structure under the Fair Trade Act and involves dominant firms restricting competition for years. Prosecutors also said they found indications of defendants reversing statements after acknowledging collusion and argued there remains a risk of evidence destruction. At the bail hearings, defense lawyers for detained defendants said the case is expected to take a long time, the defendants have fixed residences, and most objective evidence has already been secured, asking that they be tried without detention. Prosecutors opposed bail, citing the scale and seriousness of the alleged conduct and arguing the risk of evidence destruction remains, including because defendants are responding jointly through the same lawyers. Some defendants also raised questions about the legality of the investigation. Iljin Electric said materials covered by attorney-client privilege were included in searches and seizures and said it would challenge their admissibility. The Fair Trade Commission last year ordered corrective measures and imposed a total of 39.1 billion won in fines on 10 companies, including Hyosung Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Electric, LS Electric and Iljin Electric. Six of the companies were referred to prosecutors. An administrative lawsuit over the FTC’s measures is also pending at the Seoul High Court. How the criminal court defines the scope of collusion and each defendant’s involvement is expected to affect related civil and administrative cases. 2026-05-06 15:15:18