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BGF Retail Opens Largest Logistics Center in Busan, Strengthening Global Supply Chain BGF Retail has launched its largest logistics center in the domestic convenience store industry in Busan, aiming to enhance its global logistics competitiveness.The opening ceremony took place on September 16 at the Busan Logistics Center, located in the Busan International Industrial Logistics City in Gangseo-gu. Key attendees included Hong Seok-jo, Chairman of BGF Group; Hong Jeong-guk, Vice Chairman of BGF Retail; Oh Jeong-hu, Head of the Strategic Innovation Division at BGF Retail; and Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan, along with other local officials.The Busan Logistics Center spans approximately 14,300 pyeong (about 47,186.8 square meters) with a total floor area of around 38,700 pyeong (about 128,072.65 square meters). The investment of approximately 260 billion won marks the largest single logistics infrastructure investment by BGF Retail to date.BGF Retail initiated the construction of the Busan Logistics Center to respond to the growing number of CU stores and expand its product offerings while improving logistics efficiency. Following an investment agreement with Busan City in 2021, construction began in 2024 and was completed in July after about two years of work. Currently, a cold storage center is operational, with plans to complete the temperature-controlled center by the end of the year.The new logistics center will efficiently reorganize the delivery system for Busan and the Yeongnam region, serving as a key hub for supplying products to CU stores nationwide. Its strategic location near Busan New Port will also facilitate export and import logistics to countries such as Mongolia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Hawaii.The center features automated systems, including a shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), auto labelers, and a digital picking system (DPS), enhancing the efficiency of product handling and reducing worker strain. This has earned it a preliminary certification of Grade 1 as a smart logistics center from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.Additionally, the center is equipped with solar power facilities capable of generating up to 2,700 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually. BGF Retail anticipates that the operation of the logistics center will contribute to job creation and economic revitalization in the Busan area.Hong Seok-jo, Chairman of BGF Group, stated, "The Busan Logistics Center will elevate CU's logistics competitiveness and solidify its status as a leading company in the industry. It will strengthen the competitiveness of franchise stores through stable product supply while serving as a growth engine for expanding into global markets."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-16 17:12:10 -
Pine Tech Faces Delisting Risk Despite Samsung Display Contract Worth 19.5 Billion Won Pine Tech, a display equipment manufacturer, is on the brink of being delisted from the KOSDAQ market. Despite a stock consolidation aimed at stabilizing its share price and enhancing corporate value, its market capitalization has dwindled to 11.2 billion won. A recent contract with Samsung Display worth 19.5 billion won has not alleviated the situation.According to the Korea Exchange, Pine Tech was designated as a management stock on September 8 due to its market capitalization falling below the required threshold. The exchange had previously warned on August 31 that Pine Tech's market cap had remained below 20 billion won for 25 trading days, leading to the current designation.The company's stock continues to struggle, closing at 1,291 won, down 10 won (0.77%) from the previous trading day. Its market capitalization stands at 11.214 billion won, significantly below the 20 billion won threshold needed to avoid delisting. Based on its total shares outstanding (8,686,316 shares), the stock price would need to rise approximately 78.3% to reach the delisting escape threshold of about 2,302 won.Pine Tech, established in 2008 and listed on the KOSDAQ in 2015, produces manufacturing equipment and components for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and secondary batteries. Despite its market cap dropping to the 10 billion won range, the company has secured a substantial order volume. As of the end of June, its cumulative order total for display and secondary battery manufacturing equipment reached 50.64143 billion won, with an order backlog of 28.37130 billion won, which is 2.5 times its current market cap.In July, Pine Tech signed a contract with Samsung Display Vietnam for the supply of OLED manufacturing equipment worth 19.5 billion won, exceeding its current market cap by about 8.3 billion won.However, these secured orders have not yet translated into significant performance improvements. For the first half of the year, Pine Tech reported a consolidated net loss of 3.13404 billion won, widening from a loss of 2.76874 billion won during the same period last year. As of the end of June, the company's capital was 25.52886 billion won, with liabilities of 49.31168 billion won, resulting in a debt ratio of 193.2%. Its retained earnings were recorded at a negative 74.12038 billion won.To enhance corporate value, Pine Tech implemented a stock consolidation. In March, the company decided to consolidate five shares with a par value of 500 won into one share with a par value of 2,500 won, aiming to stabilize its stock price and improve corporate value. This reduced the number of shares outstanding from 43,431,583 to 8,686,316.Following the management stock designation, the company released a letter to shareholders outlining its plans for recovering corporate value. Pine Tech stated, "Recent tightening of listing maintenance requirements and capital concentration in the market have prevented the intrinsic value of our technology and business from being adequately reflected in our stock price."The company pledged to strengthen its core business competitiveness, secure new growth drivers, improve its financial structure, enhance communication with shareholders, and restore market confidence to escape the management stock designation and enhance corporate value. Specifically, it plans to address the reasons for the management stock designation promptly through a task force focused on selling non-operating assets and improving profitability.CEO Kang Won-il acknowledged the seriousness of the management stock designation but emphasized the company's focus on enhancing corporate value through improved business competitiveness and financial structure. He stated, "We will repay the trust of our shareholders with improved performance and restored shareholder value."Being designated as a management stock does not automatically lead to delisting. If Pine Tech can recover its market cap within a specified period after the designation, it can exit management stock status. However, failure to meet this requirement could result in delisting.Market observers believe that Pine Tech's recovery hinges on whether the corporate value enhancement measures announced will lead to actual performance improvements.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-16 17:08:10 -
Coupang Rejects Compensation Proposal for Data Breach Victims Coupang has decided not to accept a proposal from the Korea Consumer Agency's Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee to compensate victims of a data breach that occurred last year, offering 100,000 won per person.On September 11, Coupang submitted a written statement to the Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee indicating its refusal to accept the proposal.Coupang stated, "We carefully reviewed the proposal but ultimately determined that acceptance was not feasible. We have implemented a voluntary compensation plan amounting to 1.68 trillion won and have strengthened our data protection efforts, with no confirmed secondary damages to date." The company added that the decision was made after considering its proactive measures and the potential impact of accepting the proposal.The mediation process began when 50 victims filed a group dispute mediation request against Coupang in December last year, seeking damages. The committee initiated mediation in April and decided in July to award each victim 100,000 won in cash or Coupang cash.The committee based its decision on the fact that the leaked information included personal details such as names, emails, addresses, as well as sensitive information like shared entrance passwords and order histories. It noted that the data breach persisted for a significant period from April to November last year, and some customers received emails directly from hackers, indicating a real risk of misuse. Consequently, the committee concluded that Coupang was responsible for compensating the victims for their emotional distress.If Coupang had accepted the proposal, it could have led to compensation for victims who did not participate in the group mediation under the same criteria. With 33.7 million customers affected by the data breach, the total compensation could have reached approximately 3.7 trillion won.Previously, Coupang implemented its own compensation plan, providing affected customers with purchase vouchers worth 50,000 won each, totaling 1.68 trillion won. 2026-09-16 17:08:00 -
Hong Ji-sun Promises Rapid Housing Supply Until Market Stabilizes Hong Ji-sun, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has proposed 'rapid supply' as a solution for stabilizing the housing market. She indicated that the decision on whether to extend the land transaction permit zones in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, set to expire at the end of this year, will be made based on market conditions. She also expressed her willingness to explore the possibility of supplying housing for youth and future generations on the Yongsan Park site. During her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on September 16, Hong stated, "I will achieve housing stability that the public can feel," adding, "I will swiftly promote housing supply until the market feels sufficiently supplied in the areas desired by the public." Hong emphasized that her focus will not only be on increasing supply but also on reducing the time it takes for residents to move in. Drawing from her experience working in local governments, she said, "I will enhance policy implementation by resolving on-site challenges such as delays in permits and approvals." When asked by Kim Eun-hye, a member of the ruling People Power Party, to evaluate the current government's real estate policies, Hong responded that it is too early to assess the effects of the policies since their impact does not manifest immediately. She explained that housing policies need to be pursued steadily over the medium to long term. Hong remarked, "Policies must have predictability and consistency to ensure their effectiveness over time." Regarding the potential extension of the land transaction permit zones, which were designated last year under the October 15 measures, Hong took a cautious stance. The government had designated all of Seoul and 12 areas in Gyeonggi Province as land transaction permit zones until the end of this year. In response to Kim Jung-jae, another member of the People Power Party, who pointed out that the implementation of the land transaction permit system has led to reduced transaction volumes and rising prices, Hong acknowledged, "Every policy has its pros and cons," and assured that she would closely monitor the situation. Hong also left open the possibility of supplying housing on some of the returned Yongsan Park land, which is being considered as a candidate site for urban development. However, she stressed the need to preserve the core areas of the park and indicated that public discourse and opinion gathering would be necessary before any legislative procedures. She noted that amending the Yongsan Park Special Act, which defines the nature of the returned land, would be required. On the topic of the returned U.S. military base land in Yongsan, she reiterated that "the principle is to turn it into a park," but added that while no specific development plans have been established, she would assess the potential for housing supply for youth and future generations in the surrounding areas. Hong expressed agreement with the need to connect the 5th and 3rd special metropolitan transportation networks with local city and village transportation systems. However, she showed reluctance to support a request to include the extension of the GTX-B line to Chuncheon in the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan, stating, "Currently, all GTX A, B, and C lines are facing complaints from local governments," and that it would be difficult to address the B line separately. She pledged to discuss solutions with local governments and financial authorities to enhance mobility for vulnerable populations and residents in underserved areas, while also planning to reduce the public's transportation costs by expanding benefits from the 'Everyone's Card.' Hong committed to expediting the second relocation of public institutions, describing balanced development as a "matter of national survival." She expressed her intention to support mega-projects to establish advanced industrial hubs in regions and to develop the administrative capital and Saemangeum as key regional centers. In terms of safety policies in construction and transportation, she emphasized a focus on prevention rather than post-accident recovery. She plans to establish a safety management system centered on prevention by identifying risks on-site and ensuring that delivery, transportation, and construction workers are treated fairly in a safe environment. Meanwhile, in response to concerns that her purchase of an apartment worth 1.05 billion won, financed by loans and family borrowings totaling 537 million won, was a speculative investment, Hong stressed that she bought the property for actual residence after living in five rental homes. She stated, "The most challenging aspect of renting was having to move every 2 to 4 years due to circumstances beyond my control," adding that the costs incurred from moving and brokerage fees were substantial. She continued, "After four years, when the lease renewal contract ended, I had no choice but to move again, and at that time, nearby rental prices exceeded 900 million won. I could have purchased a home for around 1 billion won just a little further out, and since I would need to take out a loan for a rental anyway, I decided to borrow a bit more to buy a home." 2026-09-16 17:08:00 -
Lee proposes new 'Silk Road' partnership with Central Asian countries SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday called on the five Central Asian nations to build a "new Silk Road," proposing deeper cooperation in trade, critical minerals and infrastructure as Seoul hosted the first multilateral summit with leaders from the region. Speaking at the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit in Seoul, Lee said the region's rich reserves of lithium, uranium and other critical minerals could be combined with South Korea's advanced manufacturing capabilities to compete in global markets. "We need to strengthen full-cycle cooperation in critical minerals, going beyond simple raw-material trade to exploration, smelting, high-value-added materials processing and finished-product manufacturing," Lee said. He added the government would support joint research and development and training for specialists through rare-metals centers being established at key locations in Central Asia. He also called for closer infrastructure cooperation in transportation, energy and logistics, describing South Korean companies as well suited to participate in the region's infrastructure development. Lee also urged the two sides to broaden trade and investment into consumer goods, biotechnology and digital industries. Seoul plans to establish "Korea Desks" in all five Central Asian countries to help South Korean companies address difficulties in doing business there. The business gathering followed the inaugural summit attended by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as well as business leaders. The meeting marked the elevation of a regional cooperation framework that began with the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum in 2007 from the ministerial to the leaders' level. Lee also presented each of the five Central Asian leaders with Samsung Electronics' latest foldable smartphone to commemorate the summit. Cheong Wa Dae said the handset was selected to symbolize South Korea's commitment to mutually beneficial and future-oriented cooperation with Central Asia. Each phone was engraved with the recipient leader's name in his country's own language as a gesture of respect. The leaders' spouses received South Korean beauty products and cosmetics devices. Cheong Wa Dae said the gifts were intended to showcase the country's industrial technology and consumer products while helping pave the way for South Korean companies to expand into the rapidly growing Central Asian market. AJP Takeaways - President Lee Jae Myung called for a "new Silk Road" linking South Korea and Central Asia through trade, infrastructure and technology. - Lee proposed full-cycle cooperation in critical minerals, from exploration and refining to advanced materials and finished products. - The inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit elevated regional cooperation to the leaders' level, with Seoul also highlighting Korean technology through symbolic gifts. 2026-09-16 17:04:11 -
Only 250 Out of 1,200 Applicants Eligible for Relief, Minister Says Only about 250 students are expected to receive relief after failing to submit applications for the 2027 college admissions cycle due to a system outage. Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin stated that not all 1,200 applicants who did not submit will be granted relief; only those with verified computer log records will be considered. During a meeting of the National Assembly's Education Committee on September 16, Minister Choi reported on the application system failure. He explained that, despite an extension of the application deadline, the number of students who will receive actual relief based on objective data is expected to be around 250, which represents about 20% of the total non-submitters. The significant reduction in the number of eligible students is due to the strict 'three criteria for relief' set by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Association of Private University Presidents. To filter out simple non-submitters, the Ministry has established rigorous standards: the existence of error logs at the time of the system failure (5:50 PM on September 11), a record of actual application attempts (including writing, saving, submitting, and payment attempts) at the university where relief is sought, and acknowledgment of the last submission if multiple application attempts exist. Minister Choi reiterated that relief procedures are only being conducted for cases where it can be objectively confirmed that the application was not completed. This policy aims to address concerns about fairness and equity following the extension of the deadline, which led to allegations of 'gaming the system' by applicants trying to switch to less competitive programs. He emphasized that the primary principle of this relief measure is to ensure fairness among applicants and the integrity of the admissions process, explaining that the need for strict criteria was unavoidable to quell concerns about fairness.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-16 17:04:10 -
Korea and Uzbekistan Collaborate on Key Mineral Supply Chain and Advanced Industries Economic cooperation between South Korea and Central Asian countries is expanding into key mineral supply chains, advanced industries, infrastructure, and finance. The government plans to establish a cooperation platform for processing, manufacturing, and supply chain of key minerals with Uzbekistan, and will initiate feasibility studies for additional high-speed train vehicles and the establishment of bio-research facilities. In Kazakhstan, export financing will be expanded to support local entry of domestic companies.The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on September 16 that it has signed four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan during the first summit between South Korea and Central Asia, aiming to promote follow-up projects. This cooperation focuses on three areas: key mineral supply chains, advanced industries, and industrial cooperation.First, the Korea Export-Import Bank, the Uzbekistan Reconstruction and Development Fund (UFRD), the Uzbek state-owned enterprise TMK, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed an MOU to establish a cooperation platform for processing, manufacturing, and supply chain of key minerals.This initiative links Uzbekistan's mineral resources with South Korea's processing and refining technology, along with financial support from the Export-Import Bank and ADB. The two countries plan to jointly identify high-value-added processing and manufacturing projects, supporting domestic companies' participation in resource development and securing key minerals.In the advanced industry sector, a feasibility study for the establishment of the 'Biome Center,' a national research facility for genomic analysis and cell storage, will begin in Uzbekistan's Tashkent pharmaceutical cluster. This project will incorporate domestic companies' AI-based gene interpretation and analysis algorithms. The feasibility study will continue until the second half of 2027, after which a project review will determine whether to approve the loan.Policy consulting to foster Uzbekistan's semiconductor and electronics industry will also be pursued. The government plans to provide policy advice for establishing a new industry research and development (R&D) center through the Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP). In Kazakhstan, support will be provided for establishing a master plan for low-carbon energy transition and intelligent smart grid construction through the Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP).In transportation infrastructure, a feasibility study for the additional introduction of eight high-speed train sets, totaling 56 cars, will be conducted in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has previously introduced South Korean high-speed trains with EDCF support, which have been operating on the Tashkent-Samarkand route since May of this year. This study will continue until the first half of 2027, after which a project review will determine loan approval.Financial cooperation will also be expanded. The Korea Export-Import Bank will provide a $70 million export financing limit to Forte Bank, one of Kazakhstan's five major commercial banks. This financing will allow local financial institutions to lend to companies importing South Korean products for import payments or operating funds.The government plans to support the expansion of exports of domestic machinery, equipment, consumer goods, and beauty products that are in demand in Central Asia.A systematic approach will also be established to identify cooperative projects centered on six national strategic industries with Uzbekistan, including key minerals, AI and digital technology, smart cities, transportation and logistics, industrial complexes, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and food, beauty, and culture. Policy financing support will be sought for identified projects.The government aims to connect the projects initiated during this summit to actual contracts and increased investment and trade for companies. A cooperation model will be created that combines domestic companies' technological capabilities with the resource and infrastructure needs of Central Asian countries, with plans to expand this model to other Central Asian nations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-16 17:04:00 -
China Expands Air Routes as Low-Cost Carriers Launch New Flights As travel between South Korea and China increases, domestic airlines are expanding their routes to China. Low-cost carriers (LCC) such as Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, and Jin Air, along with regional airports, are entering major Chinese routes. This expansion is driven by the influx of Chinese tourists allowed to enter without a visa and the rising demand for South Koreans to visit China.According to Eastar Jet, the load factor for its Incheon-Shanghai route reached 96% as of August. The load factor for the Yantai route also increased from 66% in October of last year to around 94% in August. The Zhengzhou route saw a rise from the 80% range in April to 95% in just four months.The increase in passenger demand between South Korea and China has been significantly influenced by the visa-free policy implemented by both governments. The introduction of visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists has boosted demand for travel to South Korea, while more South Koreans are traveling to major Chinese cities, creating a greater incentive to expand seat availability on these routes.In fact, the number of passengers on routes to mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) in the first half of this year totaled 9,544,512, marking a 22.3% increase compared to the same period last year. This figure is the second highest on record, following the first half of 2016. If this trend continues in the second half of the year, the total number of passengers on routes to China is expected to exceed 20 million for the first time.In response to this demand recovery, the government has laid the groundwork to increase flights to China. On the same day, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport allocated operating rights for 25 international air routes to 10 national airlines after a review by the Air Traffic Advisory Committee. With the recent expansion of passenger demand between South Korea and China, the focus has been on increasing international flight supply to major Chinese cities.Notably, the entry of LCCs and new airlines into major Chinese routes is significant. By adding operators to routes that were previously dominated by full-service carriers (FSC), the supply of flights is increased, and consumers have more airline options.As a result, the Incheon-Beijing route will increase from 38 to 52 flights per week, with additional operating rights allocated to Eastar Jet (7 flights) and Jeju Air (7 flights). The Incheon-Shanghai route will expand from 56 to 63 flights per week, with Parata Airlines (4 flights) and Air Premia (3 flights) receiving additional routes. The Incheon-Guangzhou and Incheon-Dalian routes will each increase from 21 to 28 flights per week.This allocation of operating rights also includes numerous routes connecting regional airports to major Chinese cities. New routes have been established, including Busan to Chengdu, Harbin, and Hangzhou; Cheongju to Dalian; Daegu to Beijing and Xiamen; Muan to Beijing, Shanghai, Yanji, and Zhangjiajie; and Yangyang to Shanghai and Hangzhou.Importantly, the expansion of routes from regional airports to China could lead to an influx of Chinese tourists into these areas. As more flights enter regional airports directly from major Chinese cities without passing through Incheon Airport, the travel routes for Chinese tourists to regions such as Busan, Chungcheong, Daegu, Jeonnam, and Gangwon could diversify.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-16 17:04:00 -
Kakao Pay Insurance Offers First Month of iPhone 18 Coverage for Just 100 Won Kakao Pay Insurance announced on September 16 that it will offer a promotional event allowing customers to pay just 100 won for the first month of mobile phone insurance, coinciding with the release of the iPhone 18 series.The event will run from September 17 until 7 p.m. on October 16. It is available for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Customers who sign up for mobile phone insurance during this period will only need to pay 100 won for the first month, regardless of their carrier, including those using self-purchased devices and budget mobile plans.Kakao Pay Insurance's mobile phone insurance is a DIY product that allows users to select their coverage options. Customers can choose the number of repairs, ranging from 2 to 5, and set their deductible between 10% and 40%, which will affect the insurance premium.Each time a repair is made, the coverage amount is not deducted, allowing users to receive benefits repeatedly within their chosen coverage limit. If a customer selects a 10% deductible, they will cover a minimum of 30,000 won, while the insurance will cover 90% of repair costs up to a maximum of 5 million won based on the original price.A representative from Kakao Pay Insurance stated, "We will continue to develop our services to ensure that we provide practical assistance when users need coverage in their daily lives."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-16 16:52:20 -
Bu Seung-chan: New Rental Housing Construction Starts at Only 4.9% of Applications Despite the government's efforts to expand the supply of newly constructed rental housing, actual construction starts remain at around 10,000 units annually, highlighting a serious supply bottleneck in the project stages. On September 16, Bu Seung-chan, a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party, revealed data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH). According to the data, the total number of applications for LH's new rental housing program last year reached 288,317 units. However, the total number of construction starts for the same year was only 14,195 units, representing just 4.9% of the applications. It is analyzed that the actual rate of construction starts for new applications within the year is even lower, as the construction figures also include applications and agreements from the previous year. The new rental housing program allows private developers to construct homes, after which LH signs a purchase agreement and buys the completed units to supply them as rental housing. The process involves reviewing location, design, land acquisition, and project feasibility before moving to the agreement and construction stages. Of the 288,317 units applied for last year, only 90,634 passed the review, and 48,771 units had actual purchase agreements signed. Among the 155,886 units that failed the review, 73.0% (113,872 units) were rejected due to 'insufficient location conditions' and 'poor design quality.' A more significant issue is that many units that successfully pass the review and sign agreements are still canceled later in the process. As of the end of July this year, 1,1755 units (13.5%) out of the 87,302 units that LH signed agreements for with developers in 2024-2025 have been canceled. The reasons for cancellation include 'land not secured' (5,563 units) and 'developer withdrawal' (3,552 units), which account for 77.5% of the total cancellations. While the number of applications is abundant, there are repeated procedural bottlenecks in selecting viable project sites and linking agreements to construction. Bu emphasized, "While over 280,000 applications are submitted, actual construction is limited to around 10,000 units annually, and even after securing agreements, many units are lost due to land issues or developer withdrawals. We must address the supply bottleneck that connects approved projects to actual construction and occupancy before simply accumulating target quantities."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-16 16:52:20


