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Hana Asset Management Launches Hyundai and Kia ETF Amid AI Focus "Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, has declared that the next phase of AI is 'Physical AI.' As we enter the era of Physical AI, South Korean companies with global manufacturing competitiveness, particularly Hyundai and Kia, are increasingly standing out in the market," said Kim Tae-woo, CEO of Hana Asset Management, during a press conference on June 9 in Seoul. Investor interest has recently shifted from major semiconductor stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to the Hyundai Group. As Physical AI emerges as the next growth axis in the AI industry, the launch of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) featuring Hyundai and Kia is gaining momentum. On this day, Hana Asset Management launched the '1Q Hyundai Kia Bond Mixed 50' ETF. This product invests 25% each in Hyundai and Kia, totaling 50%, while the remaining 50% is allocated to government bonds and monetary stabilization securities with a maturity of six months or less. It tracks the 'KEDI Hyundai & Kia Bond Mixed 50 Index' and has a total expense ratio of 0.10% per year. The structure of the ETF is also notable for targeting retirement pension investors. While the investment in risk assets is limited to 70% in retirement pension accounts, this product, as a second-generation bond mixed ETF reflecting retirement pension supervision regulations, is not subject to risk asset investment limits, allowing for a maximum 100% allocation within retirement pension accounts. Additionally, when investing alongside stock ETFs like 1Q 200 Active, the stock exposure in retirement pension accounts can be increased to as much as 85%. Kim Seung-hyun, head of the ETF and Quant Solutions Division, emphasized, "At this point, the core of the AI wave is Physical AI. The Hyundai Group, with its global manufacturing competitiveness, particularly Hyundai and Kia, is at the center of this development." He further described the product as one that combines the advantages of stocks and bonds by investing in both companies and short-duration bonds. As the perception of Hyundai Group as a leading beneficiary of Physical AI spreads, competition among asset management firms to launch ETFs is intensifying. On the same day, Samsung Asset Management also launched the 'KODEX Hyundai Robotics Value Chain TOP3 Plus' ETF, which includes Hyundai, Kia, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai AutoEver, and Hyundai Glovis.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 15:51:00 -
LG's Chloe and AI Worker Showcase Advances in Physical AI Technology A white robot, about the height of a person, extended its fist and formed a heart shape with its hands. As it moved its head from side to side toward the audience, attendees captured the moment on their phones. This was LG's robot, Chloe, showcased to demonstrate its ability to recognize its surroundings and interact with people. The launch event for the Physical AI Development Project took place on June 9 at LG Science Park in Magok, Seoul. The event featured next-generation technologies poised to lead South Korea's physical AI industry. Following Chloe's demonstration, the semi-humanoid robot AI Worker, developed by Roboteers, made its appearance. This time, the focus was on its operational capabilities. Wearing a VR headset, an operator moved their hands, and the AI Worker mimicked those movements with its robotic arm from several meters away. The robot picked up an object from a table, moved it to another location, and set it down, demonstrating its dexterity with fingers that adjusted grip strength to handle the object. The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation (IITP) to officially launch the Physical AI Development Project and share the direction of related technology development. Physical AI is a key mission of the national innovation project "K-Moonshot," announced by the government earlier this year. While generative AI focuses on creating text and images, Physical AI is seen as the next-generation technology that enables AI to perceive, judge, and act in real physical environments, potentially transforming the manufacturing, logistics, mobility, and robotics industries. The Ministry plans to reduce reliance on foreign physical AI simulation platforms and secure independent world model technology through this project. World models help AI learn the physical laws and environmental changes of the real world in a virtual space, serving as a crucial foundation for implementing next-generation physical AI foundation models. Ryu Je-myung, Deputy Minister of Science and ICT, stated, "Korea is at a pivotal moment where it can lead the Physical AI era, possessing both manufacturing competitiveness and AI capabilities. We believe this is a golden opportunity, and the government is focusing its policy efforts on establishing strategies and fostering ecosystems related to this field." He added, "In the future, general models will evolve beyond simple task execution to become agents that can independently assess situations and achieve goals. To achieve this, securing synthetic data and world model technology that can replace and supplement real-world data is essential." The project will be led by LG Electronics, with participation from ten organizations, including Mind AI, Holiday Robotics, Roboteers, CrowdWorks, Alchera, KT, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Seoul National University, and the Korea Information and Communication Technology Association. The Ministry plans to invest a total of 34 billion won over two years to achieve world-class performance in a short period. The goal is to enhance the simulation performance of world models and the transfer performance to robotic foundation models, aiming to improve the success rate of actual robot final actions by 20 percentage points compared to scenarios without world model application. To achieve this, a demonstration pipeline will be established that connects "world model learning → robotic foundation model linkage → demonstration and performance evaluation → case analysis and re-learning" within the shortest timeframe, with four rounds of repeated verification over two years. In the final stage, the project aims to generate commercially viable outcomes through demonstrations in manufacturing and logistics settings. 2026-06-09 15:51:00 -
Korea Textile Industry Association Appoints Byeon Yeong-man as New Executive Vice President The Korea Textile Industry Association (KTIA) announced on June 9 that it has appointed Byeon Yeong-man, former policy planning director of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as its new Executive Vice President. Byeon will officially take office on June 15, with a term of three years. Byeon graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in public administration and earned a master's degree in business administration from San Francisco State University. He also completed a doctoral program in business administration at Soongsil University and entered public service through the 35th National Examination for Public Officials. He has held various positions, including director of investment policy at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, director of the Technology Regulation Response Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, ministerial policy advisor, and policy planning director. Most recently, he served as the Executive Vice President of the Korea Iron and Steel Association, addressing industry issues. KTIA expects Byeon to leverage his administrative experience and understanding of the industry in areas such as industrial policy, technology regulation, and investment planning to strengthen the competitiveness of the textile and fashion industry. Byeon stated, "I feel a great sense of responsibility in taking on the important role of Executive Vice President of KTIA. I will do my utmost to enhance the competitiveness of the textile and fashion industry and promote sustainable development, drawing on my over 30 years of experience at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 15:48:00 -
Samsung Biologics Faces Labor Conflict Amid Record Growth Samsung Biologics, which has been achieving record performances through its "super gap" strategy, is facing increasing labor risks. As tensions escalate between management and labor, the union is exploring a separate path by seeking to withdraw from the Samsung Group's super labor union. According to industry sources on June 9, the Samsung Biologics union plans to hold a general meeting from June 16 to 18 to clarify its future direction. Following this, a vote on whether to withdraw from the Samsung Group's super labor union is scheduled for June 24 to 28. If more than half of the union members participate and two-thirds of those vote in favor, the withdrawal will be realized. Park Jae-sung, chairman of the Samsung Biologics union, stated, "Due to the differing interests among the Samsung Group's affiliates, it has been difficult to push through common agendas. As we strategize our negotiations, we have decided to move towards withdrawal from the super labor union, and we plan to conduct an electronic vote in the fourth week of this month." The union believes this move will strengthen its solidarity and secure an independent status. Samsung Biologics has not provided a specific stance regarding the withdrawal from the super labor union. However, they expressed a commitment to "work diligently to conclude negotiations promptly." There are also views suggesting that the union's decision may not significantly impact future negotiations. Park Jong-sik, a researcher at the Korea Labor Institute, noted, "The super labor union has not engaged in any notable joint activities, and the strengthening of solidarity within the Samsung Biologics union is a separate issue from the withdrawal." Negotiations between Samsung Biologics and the union have been ongoing since December of last year, with 13 rounds of discussions held until March of this year. However, they have been unable to narrow their differences regarding wage increases. Ultimately, negotiations were officially declared unsuccessful in March, and the gap between the two sides remains wide. Legal disputes between management and labor are also ongoing, with no additional hearing dates set for the injunction related to labor disputes. The court has requested both parties to submit written statements by July 3. The prolonged labor risks pose a significant burden on CEO John Lim. He has been credited with elevating Samsung Biologics to a leader in the global contract manufacturing organization (CMO) market during his tenure, successfully securing a third term. The company has consistently broken its own records for performance, driven by expanded production capacity and large orders, realizing its "super gap" strategy. However, concerns are growing that prolonged internal labor conflicts could hinder growth strategies. The contract manufacturing business for biopharmaceuticals relies heavily on customer trust and production stability, meaning potential strikes or production disruptions could impact global customer relations. Critics argue that the union's justification for its actions is weak, given that Samsung Biologics maintains industry-leading compensation and job security. In fact, the company's turnover rate was just 1.9% last year, one of the lowest among major manufacturing and biopharmaceutical companies in South Korea. An industry insider remarked, "John Lim is in a position where he must simultaneously address the challenges of 'super gap growth' and 'labor stability.' The resolution of labor relations will be a crucial variable for the long-term growth trajectory of Samsung Biologics."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 15:45:00 -
Three Candidates for National Assembly Leader Clash Over Party Direction Kim Do-eup and Sung Il-jong, candidates for the next National Assembly leader from the People Power Party, emphasized the need for a change in party direction, while Jung Jeom-sik focused on internal unity.On June 9, first- and second-term lawmakers held a meeting at the National Assembly to hear the candidates' evaluations of the June 3 local elections, their causes, and future strategies, followed by a question-and-answer session.In his opening remarks, Kim Do-eup highlighted the need for a shift in the party's direction, stating, "I will make this a party that no longer hears the term 'pro-Yoon (Yoon Suk Yeol) party.'"He added, "If our party had responded to public sentiment and the requests of many lawmakers by changing its direction, more comrades could have had the opportunity to work for national and local development alongside electoral victories. I am running for the National Assembly leader to change the party's image and lay the groundwork for my successor to lead the next general election to a resounding victory."Sung Il-jong also expressed the necessity for change, stating, "The registration for preliminary candidates for the National Assembly begins on December 14 next year. We have very little time. We must present ourselves as a clear opposition party to restore hope to the public. Otherwise, we will face a crushing defeat in the 2028 elections."He stressed the importance of sending a clear signal to the public that the party is changing through the National Assembly leader election, stating, "Now is not the time for factional battles between pro-Han (Han Dong-hoon) and pro-Yoon (Yoon Suk Yeol) factions. They must disappear."Sung also promised, "If I become the National Assembly leader, I will thoroughly reform the Yeouido Institute, transforming it into a dynamic organization where youth and women thrive, and I will change the party's rules so that the top candidate becomes the party leader, while the second, third, and fourth place candidates join the Supreme Council to ensure it earns the public's trust and can work effectively."Jung Jeom-sik, classified as a party establishment figure, emphasized the need to rebuild public trust and unify the party's fragmented strength, stating, "Restoring the public's trust and unifying our internal strength is a pressing task that the People Power Party and the National Assembly leader must accomplish now."He noted, "While rigorous analysis and healthy criticism are necessary to find a way forward for the party, we must ensure that the intense deliberations over resignation or recovery do not lead to further division among us."Jung asserted, "The public's stern mandate is to prevent the arrogant unilateralism of the ruling party and to fulfill the role of a minority opposition party that provides checks and balances. Upholding this public sentiment, the path to our resurgence lies in restoring public trust and achieving solid internal unity."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 15:42:00 -
OpenAI Files for Confidential IPO as Capital Raising Accelerates OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, along with other global artificial intelligence (AI) companies, is moving to list on U.S. stock exchanges. This trend appears to be driven by the need to secure substantial funding for AI infrastructure investments. Similarly, domestic AI startups are preparing for initial public offerings (IPOs) to enhance their business competitiveness and corporate value. According to reports from Bloomberg and others, OpenAI has submitted a confidential registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and has selected Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley as lead underwriters, with plans to consider an IPO this fall. Market analysts predict that OpenAI's valuation could reach as high as $1 trillion. Earlier, Anthropic, the company behind the AI model Claude, also filed a confidential IPO application with the SEC on June 1. During its recent fundraising efforts, Anthropic was valued at approximately $96.5 billion. The push for IPOs by these global AI giants is interpreted as a strategy to secure stable funding for astronomical infrastructure investments. In South Korea, the atmosphere for AI companies preparing for IPOs is also intensifying. Among domestic startups, Upstage is moving quickly and plans to unveil its strategies for domestic and international business expansion, investment, and IPO direction next week. Upstage aims to leverage funds raised through its IPO to respond to the emerging era of AI agents based on its own large language model (LLM). Many startups are also preparing for IPOs. Natural language processing company Muhayu is progressing with plans to go public early next year. Spatial AI firm Deepfine has completed its selection of an underwriter and expects to secure additional investment this month. Other companies, including StradVision, Madup, and Big Wave Robotics, are also reportedly pursuing IPOs. Among domestic AI service companies, Lutton Technologies has stated that it will focus on expanding its business foundation rather than pursuing an IPO for the time being. Despite experiencing a 15-fold increase in revenue last year, the company plans to consider going public only after establishing sufficient market dominance. 2026-06-09 15:42:00 -
3,000 Small Business Owners Rally at National Assembly, Demand Minimum Income Guarantee About 3,000 small business owners gathered in front of the National Assembly to demand guarantees for their survival rights. They called on the government and the legislature to establish a "Presidential Small Business Committee" and implement a "minimum income guarantee system" for small business owners. The Small Business Association, along with the National Merchants Association, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises, and the Korea Restaurant Association, held a rally titled "Protecting Survival Rights and Urging a Major Shift in Employment Policy" on June 9 in Yeouido. Song Chi-young, chairman of the Small Business Association, emphasized the need for a presidential committee, stating, "The 7.9 million small business owners have been reduced to recipients of charity rather than being seen as key players in economic policy. The president must listen to the voices of small business owners." He also highlighted the importance of introducing a minimum income guarantee for small business owners, saying, "If workers have a minimum wage, then small business owners protecting local markets should also have a guaranteed minimum income." He urged for a restructuring of the social safety net, the establishment of a small business welfare law, and the immediate creation of an employment stability fund. Additionally, he called for the provision of 23 trillion won so that 2.3 million small business owners can access 10 million won each. According to a report by the Korea Labor Institute titled "Self-Employment and Self-Employment Policy," two-thirds of self-employed individuals earned less than 1.6 million won per month as of 2023, falling below the minimum wage. The number of business closures in 2024 is projected to exceed 100,828, according to the Small Business Association. Song expressed frustration over the 6.2% wage increase agreed upon by labor and management at Samsung Electronics last month, stating, "While large corporate unions demand astronomical bonuses through strikes, small business owners are left in tears. The value of labor for small business owners, who cannot even afford to pay part-time wages and work tirelessly without holidays, is completely disregarded." On June 4, he criticized the minimum wage proposal calculated by the labor sector for special employment workers, which amounted to 4.74 million won per month for delivery workers, and called for the immediate abolition of the outdated weekly holiday pay system established 73 years ago. He also criticized the National Assembly's ongoing "Basic Law for Workers" initiative, stating that applying labor standards to special employment workers and freelancers would incur an additional annual cost of 5.05 million won per worker, arguing, "If the government wants to provide that money, it should do so directly, as small business owners have no capacity to pay it." Song further criticized the plan to allow early morning deliveries by large supermarkets, stating that if the legislation passes, they would initiate a nationwide protest along with a constitutional complaint. Before concluding the rally, Song participated in a head-shaving ceremony. He remarked, "The cries of small business owners who have set aside their livelihoods to come to the capital represent a legitimate voice of the public. If the government and the National Assembly ignore the demands of small business owners and push through their issues unilaterally, we will mobilize for a nationwide uprising of small business owners."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 15:39:00 -
Special Prosecutors Charge Kim Dae-ki and Lee Sang-min Over Presidential Residence Relocation The special prosecutors investigating the relocation of the presidential residence under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration have charged four individuals, including Kim Dae-ki, the former chief of staff, and Lee Sang-min, the former Minister of the Interior and Safety.On June 9, the second special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, announced that they have indicted Kim Dae-ki and Yoon Jae-soon, the former presidential secretary for general affairs, on charges of abuse of power, while Lee Sang-min and Kim O-jin, the former presidential secretary for management, were indicted without detention. This marks the first indictment since the special prosecutor's office was established on February 25.The four are accused of misappropriating a budget of 2.09 billion won (approximately $1.6 million) to pay for construction work by 21 Gram, a company not qualified for work on the presidential residence, from May to July 2022. They allegedly directed government officials from the Government Buildings Management Office and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to approve and execute the budget misappropriation without objective justification.Kim Dae-ki is also facing charges for falsifying and executing a cooperation request document under the name of the presidential office to create the appearance of a separate remodeling project to secure additional funding.The investigation revealed that the accused ignored opposition from officials at relevant agencies and directed illegal budget reallocations while attempting to evade responsibility by making it seem as if the reallocations were made independently by each agency. They also publicly announced that the construction would be completed using contingency funds.Additionally, it was found that they retaliated against a manager from the Government Buildings Management Office who opposed the illegal budget reallocations.Jin Eul-jong, the special prosecutor, stated, "We are currently conducting additional investigations into collusion related to the illegal budget reallocations and will do our utmost to clarify the public concerns raised regarding the presidential residence during the remaining investigation period."The special prosecutor's team is also looking into allegations of involvement by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in the illegal budget reallocations. On June 8, they conducted searches at the residences of four individuals, including the former head of the Budget Office and the former economic and financial secretary to the president.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 15:36:00 -
Chipmakers emerge as best companies to work for among job seekers as tech firms lose ground SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - South Korea's two major chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics were voted the best companies to work for by job seekers, recruitment portal Job Korea said on Tuesday. In a recent survey of about 3,287 job seekers conducted by Job Korea, SK hynix ranked first among companies for which respondents said they would "start work immediately," followed by Samsung Electronics. Internet, IT and platform companies that once dominated such rankings have slipped behind semiconductor and manufacturing firms, as companies like Naver, Toss, Hyundai Motor, AmorePacific, Google, Kakao, Nexon, and Hybe rounded out the top 10. In a similar survey about five years ago, Kakao ranked as the most preferred employer but fell to eighth place this year. SK hynix, which stood at fifth place in 2022, rose to the top spot, while Samsung Electronics has steadily remained within the top two. The changes in the rankings appear to be driven by skyrocketing salaries and benefits amid the recent artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chip boom. Respondents, in fact, cited high salaries and bonuses as their biggest reason when choosing a company to work for, accounting for 32 percent. Perks and other benefits accounted for 15 percent, followed by opportunities for career growth at 13 percent. Meanwhile, a separate survey by the portal revealed the growing financial burden facing university graduates preparing for jobs. A survey of some 485 young job seekers found that they spent an average of 4.55 million won (US$3,000) last year on prep courses to land a job. The amount rose sharply from an annual average of 2.27 million won in 2022, up 2.28 million won over the past three years, meaning spending increased by roughly 200,000 won per month. The largest portion of their spending went to obtaining certifications related to their field of study, followed by English proficiency tests, IT and computer-related skills, and other consulting services. Many respondents also said they were forced to take part-time jobs while preparing for employment in order to make ends meet. 2026-06-09 15:34:15 -
NongHyup Bank Transitions to AI-Driven Operations NH NongHyup Bank is accelerating its transition to artificial intelligence (AI) operations. The bank aims to go beyond simple efficiency improvements by enabling employees to create AI agents and applying AI across all customer financial services to transform its operational framework.On June 9, NH NongHyup Bank held its 'NH Agentic AI Bank Vision Day' at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, attended by employees and representatives from partner companies in the AI ecosystem.Agentic AI refers to technology that understands goals and makes independent judgments and actions, moving beyond traditional generative AI that merely responds to human commands. It is gaining attention as a next-generation competitive advantage in the financial sector.During the event, Kang Tae-young presented a holographic vision speech, outlining the future vision of an 'Agentic AI Bank that realizes customer desires' and revealing three key strategies to achieve this.The three strategies include: 1) Building an AI agent system using the AI platform 'NHAIS'; 2) Implementing full banking services powered by AI; and 3) Creating a future AI financial ecosystem through acquisitions and partnerships with AI companies.The event also marked the launch of the AX Frontier, an organization dedicated to executing the AI transition. The AX Frontier consists of 77 members tasked with identifying internal AI transition projects and leading their practical application in operations. Additionally, a ceremony was held to commemorate the acquisition of the AI technology company Agile Soda and to select collaboration partners for the 2026 'NH Open Business Hub'.Kang Tae-young stated, "The competitiveness of finance lies not in the technology itself but in how deeply we can connect with and execute for our customers. We will set a new standard for finance in South Korea through AI innovation." 2026-06-09 15:33:00