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Polysilicon Prices Surge in China Despite U.S. Import Restrictions Despite the United States tightening import regulations on polysilicon and related products, prices for polysilicon in China have surged.According to Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) on August 17, the price of N-type recovery polysilicon rose by 0.95 yuan to 40.4 yuan per kilogram, while N-type dense polysilicon increased by 1 yuan to 40 yuan.On August 14, polysilicon prices jumped by 23.8%, recovering to around 39,000 yuan per ton, which has led to a price increase across the entire solar value chain, including wafers, battery cells, and solar glass.The immediate cause of this price surge is the Chinese government's supply reduction policy. The Chinese solar industry has been experiencing prolonged price competition, with products being sold below cost due to oversupply. In response, the Chinese government has intervened this year to encourage production cuts in the solar sector. The government is tightening energy consumption standards and pushing for the exit of outdated production capacities.Eight major polysilicon manufacturers in China announced earlier this month that they would stop selling below cost and strictly adhere to energy consumption standards. These companies account for over 90% of China's effective polysilicon production capacity, suggesting a significant impact from the supply reduction.In the stock market, Chinese solar stocks have shown strong upward momentum. Since July 21, the solar index on the Chinese stock market has risen by more than 14%, with some stocks recording increases of over 40%.Meanwhile, the recent surge in polysilicon prices in China is considered unrelated to the recent U.S. import restrictions. On August 6, President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing a minimum import price and imposing an additional 15% tariff on polysilicon and related products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. This measure is set to take effect on December 4.The U.S. has already imposed high tariffs on Chinese polysilicon and other solar products, applying regulations related to forced labor to limit the entry of Chinese products into the U.S. market. As Chinese polysilicon products are effectively not being imported into the U.S., the impact of this measure on Chinese companies is expected to be minimal.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 10:12:00
Chip rally pushes KOSPI past 7,200 SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI opened 3.3 percent higher on Tuesday, led by SK hynix and Samsung Electronics, which extended a two-week rally driven by foreign investors, even as most stocks on the main board declined. The index opened at 7,211 on Tuesday, up 233.06 points, in its first session since Friday after Monday's substitute holiday for Liberation Day. Decliners outnumbered advancers 630 to 234, even as the large-cap KOSPI 200 rose 4 percent. The divergence highlights the narrow nature of the rally, with gains concentrated among a handful of large-cap stocks while most shares declined. Foreign investors have concentrated their buying in a narrow set of names. Over the week to Friday they bought a net 6.75 trillion won (US$4.78 billion) in Seoul shares, of which SK hynix took 2.45 trillion won ($1.73 billion) and Samsung Electronics 2.29 trillion won ($1.62 billion). Individuals sold a net 7.40 trillion won ($5.24 billion) over the same week, taking profit into the advance. SK hynix traded at 1,786,000 won ($1,264.87), up 141,000 won, a gain of 8.6 percent. Samsung Electronics traded at 287,500 won ($203.61), up 13,000 won, or 4.7 percent. SK square, the holding company whose main asset is its SK hynix stake, rose 8.9 percent to 1,257,000 won ($890.23). The semiconductor sector gained 6.3 percent, the strongest industry group on the main board. Shipping followed, with HMM up 6.4 percent. Outside the chip complex, the market was red. Among the largest listed companies, Hyundai Motor slipped 0.2 percent to 452,000 won ($320.11), LG Energy Solution fell 2.8 percent to 359,000 won ($254.25), and Samsung Biologics lost 1.7 percent to 1,522,500 won ($1,078.26). Foreigners bought a net 904.0 billion won ($640.2 million) in the opening 40 minutes, against 917.6 billion won ($649.9 million) of individual selling. The advance did not reach smaller names. The KOSDAQ slipped 0.3 percent to 862.30. Seoul is also moving against the overnight trend. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5 percent and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.3 percent on Monday in New York. Traders viewed Tuesday's gains as a catch-up to last week's strength in memory chip stocks rather than a fresh signal from Wall Street. The main index in Seoul has now risen more than 20 percent from its late July low, marking what is generally considered a technical bull market. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 traded at 69,025.70, down 0.3 percent. The won traded at 1,412 per dollar, stronger than Friday. 2026-08-18 10:10:42
Kia EV5 Outperforms Tesla Model Y in German Electric SUV Comparison Kia announced that its electric SUV, the EV5, has secured the top spot in a comparison evaluation conducted by the German automotive publication Auto Motor und Sport, surpassing Tesla's bestselling Model Y, as well as the Chinese electric vehicles Xpeng G6 and MG S6 EV.Auto Motor und Sport, a trusted automotive media outlet in Germany, is known for its influence among European consumers, and its evaluations serve as a significant benchmark for vehicle purchases.This comparison is particularly noteworthy as it took place at a time when Tesla's Model Y is aiming to dominate the German market with the launch of a new budget trim. The test highlighted whether the competitively priced Model Y could maintain its edge against rival electric SUVs from Korea and China. The EV5 demonstrated superior market competitiveness, outshining the Model Y.Auto Motor und Sport evaluated the EV5, Model Y, Xpeng G6, and MG S6 EV across seven categories: body, safety, convenience, powertrain, driving performance, eco-friendliness, and economy.The EV5 achieved a total score of 404 points in the body and safety categories, significantly outpacing the Model Y, which scored 337 points, by 67 points. In the final overall score, which included eco-friendliness and economy, the EV5 earned 588 points, surpassing the Model Y's 557 points by 31 points.The Xpeng G6 ranked third with 541 points, while the MG S6 EV came in fourth with 528 points.Notably, the EV5 excelled in four of the seven evaluation categories: body, safety, convenience, and driving performance, achieving a substantial score advantage over the Model Y.In the body category, the EV5 scored 100 points, compared to the Model Y's 76 points, giving it a 24-point lead. Auto Motor und Sport praised the EV5 for its high seating position and elongated hood, which provide a distinctive SUV openness, along with spacious and comfortable seating and ample second-row and cargo space.The safety category showed the largest score difference between the two models. The EV5 scored 89 points, while the Model Y only managed 60 points, a 29-point gap. This was attributed to the EV5's impressive braking performance, achieving the shortest stopping distance of 35.1 meters under cold and warm conditions, while the Model Y recorded longer distances of 39.3 meters and 38.2 meters, resulting in deductions in the safety category.In the convenience category, the EV5 scored 66 points, outpacing the Model Y's 55 points by 11 points. In driving performance, the EV5 scored 69 points, leading the Model Y by 9 points. The publication noted that the EV5 allows drivers to directly control regenerative braking intensity and one-pedal driving through steering wheel paddles, enhancing operational convenience. It also provided the most stable handling over road irregularities among competitors, showcasing a high-quality driving experience.While the Model Y maintained advantages in the powertrain, eco-friendliness, and economy categories, the EV5's performance in four categories ultimately established its overall competitiveness.A Kia representative stated, "Receiving high scores in braking performance and operational convenience, which are crucial for everyday drivers, is significant. We will continue to prioritize practicality and safety to build customer trust."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 10:08:00
K-Beauty Expands into North America with Local Creators As South Korean cosmetics expand into the North American market, efforts to engage local creators for consumer outreach are intensifying.Different Millions, a beauty creator IP solution company, announced on August 18 that it is supporting the entry of domestic K-Beauty brands into the North American market through a network of over 1,200 global creators.The company focuses on connecting brands with creators who are familiar with local language, culture, and content consumption habits, aiming to enhance product awareness and purchasing opportunities. This strategy seeks to lower cultural barriers that domestic brands may face when entering the local market through creator-generated content.The growth of K-Beauty in North America is evident. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, South Korea's cosmetics exports are projected to reach a record $11.43 billion in 2025, a 12.3% increase from the previous year. Notably, exports to the United States are expected to rise by 15.1% to $2.19 billion, making it the largest export market for South Korean cosmetics, surpassing China for the first time.In line with this market trend, Different Millions participated in VidCon 2026, securing a collaborative network of over 1,200 global creators, with more than 21,000 visitors attending their booth during the event. They curated and introduced around 30 K-Beauty brands to local creators and consumers.With an existing network of approximately 950 creators in South Korea, Different Millions can connect over 2,000 domestic and international creators. They plan to support brands through content creation, large-scale seeding, online and offline campaigns, and product development tailored to each brand's entry stage and target market.Specifically, they will offer content collaboration across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, mass viral seeding using multiple creators on TikTok, and integrated online and offline campaigns linked to local events and digital channels. They will also assist in developing collaborative products that combine creator influence with brand identity.Different Millions aims to expand its business by not only recruiting creators but also by connecting brands with local awareness and product experiences. CEO Lee Heon-joo stated, "The biggest challenge in entering the North American market is connecting with creators who can convey the brand in the local language. We will support K-Beauty brands in establishing a stable presence in the North American market based on our global creator network and proven campaign execution capabilities." 2026-08-18 10:00:10
Hanwha Life Launches 'Dementia Care MMT' to Cover Care Costs Upon Diagnosis Hanwha Life announced the launch of its 'Dementia Care MMT (Flexible Trust Account)' on August 18, designed to protect customers' assets and cover care costs in the event of a dementia diagnosis. The Dementia Care MMT is a product that combines an existing MMT with a rider for moderate to severe dementia. Customers can use it freely like a regular MMT, but if they develop moderate to severe cognitive impairment (CDR score of 2 or higher), the rider activates, and trust funds are disbursed. At the time of enrollment, customers can pre-determine the trust manager and the method of fund disbursement. The options include a one-time payment ('lump-sum payment'), monthly payments over a specified period ('regular payment'), or reimbursement for actual costs incurred at hospitals or care facilities ('special payment'). Customers can also set the percentage of the MMT balance to be used for each payment method in advance. No additional rider costs are incurred until a dementia diagnosis is made. While healthy, the account operates like a standard MMT, and the rider fee begins once a diagnosis certificate is submitted to initiate the care fund disbursement service. Hanwha Life designed the product to prevent the assets of dementia patients from being effectively frozen, allowing them to use their funds for care. The Low Birthrate and Aging Society Commission estimates that the scale of 'dementia money' in South Korea will grow from 154 trillion won in 2023 to 488 trillion won by 2050. The product can be enrolled in at Hanwha Life customer centers nationwide. Lee Jong-ho, head of Hanwha Life's marketing division, stated, “We will provide a practical financial safety net that supports asset management after a dementia diagnosis.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 10:00:00
Who is Kim Geun-sik, set to be released in 2027? Overview of his sexual assault case involving minors Kim Geun-sik, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against minors, is set to be released back into society in October 2027, raising renewed concerns about his past crimes and the implications of his release.On August 17, various online communities and social media platforms highlighted Kim's criminal history as his release date approaches.According to available records, Kim was convicted in 2006 for sexually assaulting minors in the Incheon and Gyeonggi regions between May and September. Reports indicate that he was charged with assaulting 11 or 12 minors during this period, with incidents occurring in multiple locations across the metropolitan area, including Incheon and Gyeonggi cities such as Goyang, Siheung, and Paju.Kim was scheduled for release on October 17, 2022. However, on October 16, a previously unsolved case of child molestation emerged, leading to his re-arrest.The prosecution conducted a thorough investigation of unsolved sexual crime cases held by police in the Gyeonggi and Incheon areas, confirming that Kim's DNA matched that of the perpetrator in a child molestation case from 2006 that had remained unsolved for 16 years.This additional case has reignited public debate over the risks of recidivism among sex offenders and the management of their reintegration into society.During the trial, prosecutors requested that Kim undergo chemical castration treatment for sexual impulses, but the court denied this request. The appellate court ruled that the mere possibility of reoffending was insufficient to meet the criteria for such treatment, stating that a significant likelihood of committing sexual violence must be established.Prior to Kim's 2022 release, there was considerable public outcry. At that time, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to monitor him 24/7 through electronic tracking devices, assign dedicated probation officers, and impose restrictions on his movements. As community concerns grew, police formed a dedicated team to enhance safety measures in the area.There was also controversy surrounding Kim's potential residence upon release. Reports indicated he might stay at a rehabilitation facility in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, which sparked backlash from local residents. However, the Ministry of Justice clarified that a specific residence had not yet been determined.As of now, details regarding Kim's living arrangements and management after his 2027 release remain undecided. Given the previous controversies surrounding his release and community safety, discussions on recidivism prevention and community protection are expected to intensify as the release date approaches.Online, there is a strong wave of concern and criticism. Some users have questioned whether it is appropriate for him to re-enter society, expressing doubts about his potential for rehabilitation.With approximately one year remaining until Kim's release, attention is focused on what measures will be implemented for probation and recidivism prevention, especially considering his history of re-offending just before a previous release.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 10:00:00
Brain tumor chip predicts which drug works for each patient SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - Patients with the deadliest form of brain cancer usually learn whether a drug works by taking it and waiting for the next scan. A South Korean research team has built a chip that can run that test first, outside the body, using cells taken from the patient's own tumor. The waiting is not free. Glioblastoma kills most patients within 15 months of diagnosis even after surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, and fewer than five percent live five years. Four months spent on a drug that never reaches the tumor is a third of what a patient has left. KAIST said Tuesday that a team led by mechanical engineering professor Ahn Song-ih built a patient-specific chip that predicted how three glioblastoma patients would respond to treatment, and that those predictions closely tracked how the patients actually fared. The work was done with Sungkyunkwan University's Ahn Jung-ho, neurosurgeon Lim Jae-joon at Bundang CHA Medical Center and CHA University's Kang Youn-jung, and appeared June 27 in the journal Small. Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults and among the hardest to treat. It does not sit as a neat lump a surgeon can lift out. Its cells crawl outward into healthy brain tissue, and that ragged edge, called the tumor margin, is where the disease resists treatment most stubbornly and where it comes back. The KAIST chip models the margin rather than the center of the tumor. Getting a drug to that edge is the second problem. The brain is walled off from the bloodstream by the blood-brain barrier, a lining of tightly sealed vessel cells that keeps harmful substances out of brain tissue. It keeps most cancer drugs out as well. When a tumor takes hold, it remodels the vessels around it. The wall turns leaky in some places and stays shut in others, and how leaky it gets, and where, differs from one patient to the next. That variation has been largely invisible to the tests doctors use now. Predictions about who will respond to what rest mostly on the tumor's genes and biomarkers, which describe the cancer cells and say nothing about the road a drug has to travel to reach them. The chip closes that gap by building the road. Inside a small transparent device threaded with fluid channels, the researchers grew tumor cells taken from newly diagnosed patients alongside human brain vessel cells and astrocytes, the star-shaped support cells that make up much of normal brain tissue. The vessel cells line an upper channel and stand in for a blood vessel. The tumor cells and astrocytes sit below in a three-dimensional network and stand in for the brain the tumor is invading. A porous membrane separates the two, so a drug delivered into the vessel channel has to cross the barrier the way it would in a patient. The design leaves room to add immune cells and the cells that wrap around blood vessels. The team made three chips, one from each of three patients, and dosed them with two drugs. Temozolomide is the standard chemotherapy given after surgery and attacks the cancer cells directly. Bevacizumab goes after the supply line, blocking the growth of the new blood vessels a tumor needs to keep expanding. Gene testing had suggested the three patients would respond in much the same way. On the chips, they did not. Each barrier behaved differently, and so did the response to each drug. Set against the treatment records of the patients the chips were built from, the chip results lined up. Three patients make a signal rather than a proven test. The comparison was also made against outcomes already recorded, not in a study designed to put the chip's predictions on the line before treatment began. Nothing here has yet shown that a chip can safely steer a real treatment decision, and the researchers said the platform has to be checked against a far larger group of patients first. Ahn said Tuesday in a statement released by KAIST that growing patient tumor cells together with the barrier makes it possible to "evaluate treatment responses that differ from patient to patient in a way that is close to reality." She said the team hopes to develop the work into a preclinical platform for personalized treatment strategies and drug development. The first authors are Ryoo Min-su, a doctoral student in KAIST's mechanical engineering department, and Lee Ga-eun, a doctoral student at Sungkyunkwan University. Small selected the paper for its front cover. The second use is further from the clinic and potentially larger. Brain cancer drugs fail for two separate reasons, either because they cannot kill the cells or because they never arrive. A candidate that looks powerful against tumor cells in a dish can be worthless in a person, and that failure usually surfaces late, after years and hundreds of millions of dollars. Regulators have begun pushing toward exactly this kind of testing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's roadmap for reducing animal testing, released in April 2025, named organ-on-a-chip systems among the methods it wants to see take the place of animal studies. The agency put its reasoning in one line. More than 90 percent of drugs that clear animal safety testing go on to fail in humans. (Reference Information) Journal/Source: Small Title: Human Blood-Brain Tumor Barrier on a Chip to Investigate Personalized Treatment for Glioblastoma Patients Link/DOI: 10.1002/smll.202506712 2026-08-18 09:59:40
Seongnam Cultural Foundation to Celebrate 140th Anniversary of Korea-France Diplomatic Relations with 'Lacrima' Performance The Seongnam Cultural Foundation will host the Korean premiere of the play 'Lacrima' by the National Theatre of Strasbourg to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. The performances are scheduled for October 2 and 3 at the Seongnam Arts Center Opera House.According to the foundation on the 18th, 'Lacrima' has been featured on major stages including the Avignon Festival, the Odéon Theatre in Paris, and the Barbican Centre in London since its debut in 2024.The play uses the fictional creation of a royal wedding dress as a backdrop to explore the realities faced by workers in Parisian fashion houses, lace workshops in Alençon, and embroidery studios in Mumbai.It sheds light on the long hours, tight schedules, and imbalanced relationships in outsourced production that reveal the darker side of the global fashion industry.'Lacrima,' which means 'tear' in Latin, focuses on the lives and craftsmanship of workers hidden behind the beautiful end products.Director and playwright Caroline Guiela Nguyen combines video and stage elements to create a unified space representing the work environments of Paris, Alençon, and Mumbai.The production features a tripartite video and utilizes various languages, including French, English, and Tamil, to connect labor scenes from around the world.As the Korean premiere approaches, citizens and audiences are expressing interest in the value of labor behind glamorous fashion and the unique visual direction of the play. Responses highlight the thought-provoking nature of the labor involved in creating a single dress and the impressive combination of video and theater.A foundation representative stated, “In celebrating the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations, we are pleased to introduce contemporary French theater to domestic audiences. We hope this work prompts reflection on labor, craftsmanship, and globalization.”Following the Seongnam performances, 'Lacrima' is set to continue its run in major Asian cities, including Istanbul and Taipei.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 09:56:00
Samchully Bicycle Shares Surge Over 8% Following Buyback Announcement Samchully Bicycle's stock price has surged over 8% in early trading after the company announced a plan for a public buyback and cancellation of its shares worth 12 billion won. This move has sparked investor optimism regarding shareholder returns.According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:28 a.m., Samchully Bicycle's shares were trading at 4,640 won, up 350 won (8.16%) from the previous trading day. The stock opened at 4,880 won and briefly reached 4,905 won during the session.The sharp increase in stock price is attributed to the announcement of the buyback and cancellation plan.According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system, Samchully Bicycle plans to publicly buy back 2,408,000 registered common shares at 5,000 won per share, with plans to cancel all of them. The shares targeted for buyback represent 19.42% of the total 12.4 million shares issued, with a maximum total buyback amount of 12.04 billion won.Notably, the buyback price of 5,000 won is 22.25% higher than the closing price of 4,090 won on the day before the board resolution.Currently, Samchully Bicycle holds 392,000 treasury shares, which is 3.16% of the total issued shares. Once the buyback is completed, the treasury stock will increase to 2.8 million shares, or 22.58% of the total issued shares.The buyback period runs from today until September 10. However, the specific timing for the cancellation of the treasury shares has not yet been determined.Samchully Bicycle stated, "We believe that the gap between market value and the company's actual financial performance cannot be resolved in the short term through improvements in individual business performance. Therefore, we decided on this buyback to provide appropriate liquidity to shareholders while enhancing shareholder value and improving capital efficiency through the acquisition and cancellation of treasury shares."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 09:56:00
Hanwha Systems Expands Partnership with Austrian Drone Company for Advanced Communication Solutions Hanwha Systems is significantly expanding its strategic partnership with Austrian drone specialist Schiebel, accelerating its entry into the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) export market with advanced communication and electronic warfare equipment.On August 18, Hanwha Systems announced that it held a kickoff meeting for the development of a 'next-generation aerial communication UAV' at Schiebel's Korean office in Jongno, Seoul, attended by key officials from both companies.The aerial communication UAV is designed to establish a seamless tactical communication network between ground and air, as well as between aerial units, by equipping the aircraft with 5G base stations, airborne relay communication devices, and related electronic warfare equipment.Previously, the two companies signed an exclusive memorandum of understanding (MOU) in May in Austria for the development of the aerial communication UAV. The kickoff meeting marks the official start of concrete business development and implementation.The core of this collaboration is to combine Schiebel's proven UAV platform with Hanwha Systems' high-performance communication and electronic warfare equipment to capture the domestic and international UAV communication market.Headquartered in Vienna, Schiebel supplies UAVs to over 40 military and government agencies, as well as private sectors in countries including Italy, the UK, France, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, boasting a unique global network.Hanwha Systems aims to standardize its advanced communication, radar, and avionics equipment on Schiebel's validated platform, significantly expanding opportunities for direct entry and re-export of domestic electronic warfare equipment to overseas markets.Notably, the scope of collaboration between the two companies is expanding from a focus on naval applications to advanced research and development for army applications. Since 2023, Hanwha Systems has participated as a prime contractor in the development of reconnaissance and UAV systems for the navy and marine corps, utilizing Schiebel's S-300 rotary-wing UAV.Building on the data and expertise accumulated during naval UAV operations, the two companies plan to jointly develop next-generation technologies for aerial communication missions in land maneuver warfare. By designing army-specific mission equipment based on already validated test data, they expect to drastically reduce development time and costs compared to new platform development, thereby achieving overwhelming global price competitiveness.In particular, they will focus on securing technologies for 'electronic warfare response and communication survivability,' which have emerged as key factors in modern warfare. Hanwha Systems plans to develop ultra-small, lightweight, and high-efficiency 5G radio frequency base station modules and airborne relay communication equipment that can be mounted on small UAVs, as well as high-reliability navigation technologies that maintain the aircraft's position and attitude against strong electronic warfare attacks (jamming) and optimized solutions for maintaining communication networks in jamming situations.A Hanwha Systems official stated, 'We will strengthen our long-term cooperation with Schiebel in the rapidly changing global drone market to lead next-generation UAV technology, while validating the technological capabilities of domestic electronic warfare equipment and expanding both domestic adoption and export opportunities.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-18 09:52:00