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  • SK Hynix Reports Record Pre-Tax Profit of 122 Trillion Won
    SK Hynix Reports Record Pre-Tax Profit of 122 Trillion Won SK Hynix has achieved record pre-tax profit and corporate tax figures following a record operating profit in the second quarter. On July 29, SK Hynix announced that its pre-tax profit for the second quarter reached 122.7 trillion won, marking the highest quarterly figure in the history of the KOSPI for a single company. This figure more than doubles the pre-tax profit of 58.8 trillion won reported by Samsung Electronics in the first quarter, just one quarter prior.The record pre-tax profit was significantly influenced by non-operating income, which exceeded 62.2 trillion won. This includes proceeds and valuation gains from the sale of SK Hynix's shares in Japanese semiconductor company Kioxia (formerly Toshiba Memory), which were reflected in the second quarter's non-operating income.As a result of the astronomical pre-tax profit, SK Hynix's corporate tax expense also reached an all-time high. The company reported a corporate tax expense of 28.8 trillion won for the second quarter, a staggering 1,567% increase compared to the same period last year.This amount is more than double the 11.6 trillion won corporate tax reported by Samsung Electronics in the first quarter, making it the highest quarterly tax amount among domestic companies.With its substantial pre-tax profit and cash reserves, SK Hynix plans to accelerate the establishment of a production system for next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM).SK Hynix stated, "We will aggressively pursue proactive facility investments, including the early operation of the Cheongju M15X and the first phase of the Yongin semiconductor cluster." 2026-07-29 10:03:00
  • SK Hynix Reports Progress on HBM4 Production and Quality
    SK Hynix Reports Progress on HBM4 Production and Quality SK Hynix announced during its second-quarter earnings conference call on July 29 that it began mass production of HBM4 for major customers starting in the second quarter. The company stated that the current production yield and quality are nearing the maturity levels of the previous generation HBM3 products. It is also expanding its supply capacity steadily.The company noted that development is progressing smoothly according to schedule, with plans for the next-generation HBM4E targeting full-scale production in 2027.Regarding HBM competitiveness, SK Hynix emphasized that the strength of HBM4 lies in its ability to meet customer performance requirements while ensuring stable yields and quality for mass supply. The company has consistently demonstrated this capability, highlighting that its accumulated competitiveness in terms of market launch timing, product performance, production yield, quality, and customer trust is a unique differentiator that cannot be easily replicated in a short period.The company is also accelerating the development of next-generation HBM technology. It is working on IHBM technology to effectively manage heat issues in next-generation products like HPM5, which is expected to reduce thermal resistance by over 30% through internal cooling solutions. This advancement aims to enhance system stability and operational efficiency in high-performance, high-density AI environments.Looking ahead, SK Hynix expressed confidence in maintaining its leadership in the HBM market, leveraging its early joint development experiences and long-term partnerships to reliably supply products that meet customer demands while leading the transition to next-generation technologies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 10:00:00
  • Dong-A Socio Group Launches AI Drug Development Platform
    Dong-A Socio Group Launches AI Drug Development Platform Dong-A Socio Group is accelerating its research and development (R&D) innovation by launching its own artificial intelligence (AI)-based drug development platform.On July 29, Dong-A Socio Group announced that its IT subsidiary, DAI, and Dong-A ST have jointly developed the AI Drug Discovery Platform (AIDDP), which integrates AI and bio-data, and will begin full-scale operations.AIDDP is a comprehensive platform that allows for the entire process of drug candidate design, prediction, analysis, and result management to be conducted in a single environment. Previously, various analytical tools and data had to be used separately, but this platform enables the organic connection of key research workflows.The platform incorporates the drug development experience and computer-based analytical capabilities accumulated by Dong-A ST's research team, allowing for efficient execution of initial research, including candidate substance exploration, binding potential with target proteins, and structural stability assessments.Key features include single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data visualization, AI-based new compound design, binding affinity predictions between candidate substances and target proteins, docking and molecular dynamics simulations, and integrated management of research data and analysis history.Dong-A Socio Group plans to accumulate the research data, analysis results, and researcher capabilities generated by AIDDP as core digital assets. The accumulated data will be utilized for enhancing AI models and discovering new candidate substances. Additionally, the group aims to reduce reliance on external solutions and strengthen its foundation for securing proprietary technology and intellectual property (IP).In the future, the company plans to add large-scale compound virtual screening, AI-based search functions for papers, patents, and research information, and gradually introduce autonomous research support features using 'agentic AI.' Long-term, the goal is to develop an advanced AI research platform that supports everything from exploration to analysis and decision-making.Jung Jae-hoon, CEO of Dong-A ST, stated, "We have laid the groundwork to improve the time and success rate of candidate substance optimization in the early stages of drug development," adding, "We will enhance our research competitiveness through platform advancement."Meanwhile, major subsidiaries of Dong-A Socio Group reported growth in their performance for the second quarter of this year. Dong-A Socio Holdings improved both its scale and profitability, driven by strong performances from Dong-A Pharmaceutical and Yongma Logistics, while Dong-A ST achieved record-high quarterly sales.Specifically, Dong-A Socio Holdings reported consolidated sales of 412.4 billion won for the second quarter, an 18.9% increase from 346.9 billion won in the same period last year, and an operating profit of 39 billion won, up 38.3% from 28.2 billion won year-on-year.Key subsidiaries Dong-A Pharmaceutical and Yongma Logistics led the overall performance. Dong-A Pharmaceutical achieved sales of 228.2 billion won, a 25.7% increase from the same period last year, and an operating profit of 30.2 billion won, up 26.6%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 10:00:00
  • BYD, the Worlds Leading Electric Vehicle Maker, Enters Humanoid Robotics
    BYD, the World's Leading Electric Vehicle Maker, Enters Humanoid Robotics BYD, the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, is entering the humanoid robotics industry. Given BYD's strong manufacturing base, significant disruption is expected.On July 29, BYD announced that it plans to unveil a humanoid robot in early August, stating, "A new friend wants to meet you." In June, BYD Vice President Li Ke mentioned in an interview with local media that the company is currently developing humanoid robots. He stated, "Our goal is to place two to three humanoids at BYD vehicle showrooms, where they will assist with customer service and product demonstrations, making BYD stores more attractive." He also predicted that sales assistant humanoids could be commercialized within one to two years.Li noted, "The competition in humanoid robotics will ultimately be a battle of which company has the strongest manufacturing capabilities. Since automotive companies already possess strong manufacturing capabilities, it will be relatively easy to apply them to robotics." He added that it is not necessary to develop 100% of the humanoid's software and hardware in-house, stating, "BYD will build an open platform and may collaborate with other companies to develop robots." He further mentioned that if they develop home-use humanoids, they will sell these products through BYD's sales network. Li predicted, "As we age, there will be three humanoids in every home—one for cleaning, one for cooking in the kitchen, and one for conversing and walking with people." 2026-07-29 09:57:00
  • Jung Cheong-rae Calls Conflict with Lee Jae-myung a Fabrication
    Jung Cheong-rae Calls Conflict with Lee Jae-myung a Fabrication Jung Cheong-rae, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party, reaffirmed on July 29 that the "Myeongcheong conflict"—the dispute between President Lee Jae-myung and himself—is a fabrication. However, he stated that he is open to the "Seokcheong conflict" with fellow candidate Kim Min-seok.During an appearance on CBS Radio's "Park Seong-tae's News Show," Jung questioned, "How can I fight with President Lee?" He added, "What benefit would I gain from fighting with him? A high approval rating for the president and the party is good for me as well." He emphasized that this situation is a product of media division and framing.Regarding the recent controversy involving Shincheonji, Jung described it as "extremely inappropriate" and insisted that evidence must be provided. If not, he stated, a sincere apology is necessary. He characterized the issue as a serious matter that requires prompt investigation and action from the party. After Jung threatened legal action against the allegations, Kim clarified that he was merely raising an internal party issue and not targeting any specific candidate.Additionally, Jung criticized National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik for his comments at a press conference the previous day, where Cho stated that the re-election of a sitting president depends on the will of the electorate. Jung remarked, "It seems that Speaker Cho is weak on details. He should have responded that it is impossible according to Article 128 of the Constitution."In response to the ensuing controversy, Cho expressed regret for any misunderstandings caused by his remarks, explaining that he intended to convey that constitutional amendments, including changes to the power structure, require consensus among political actors and the choice of the people.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 09:57:00
  • Siheung City Wins Top Award for Community Parking Initiative
    Siheung City Wins Top Award for Community Parking Initiative The Shincheon-dong Community Council in Siheung City has been awarded the top prize at the Gyeonggi Province Community Governance Excellence Case Competition for its initiative to alleviate parking shortages in the old city center. The council facilitated the opening of unused parking spaces at schools, religious facilities, and commercial areas for local residents.According to the city, the Shincheon-dong Community Council represented Siheung at the '2026 Gyeonggi Province Community Governance Excellence Case Competition' held on July 28 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office's Dasan Hall, where they presented their project titled 'Transforming Daily Life: Shincheon-dong Shared Parking' and received the highest award.The Gyeonggi Province Community Governance Excellence Case Competition is held annually to share and disseminate projects that community councils and committees have developed to identify and solve local issues. The selection process combines scores from written evaluations and on-site presentations.This year, 15 out of 29 participating cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province advanced to the finals after passing the initial written evaluation. They presented their projects focusing on implementation processes, community participation, sustainability, and the impact on local communities.The Shincheon-dong Shared Parking initiative was developed in response to the challenges of securing new public parking spaces in a densely populated area. It allows residents to share parking lots at schools, churches, and commercial establishments during off-peak hours.The Shincheon-dong Community Council actively identified available parking spaces and persuaded facility managers to participate. They also addressed potential issues related to operating hours, user eligibility, safety management, and maintaining order, laying the groundwork for the project's sustainability.Notably, the initiative received high praise for utilizing existing spaces without the need for large-scale facility development or land acquisition, thereby reducing inconveniences for residents. The community council's involvement in every aspect of the project, from identifying issues to negotiating facility use and managing users, was particularly commended.As a result of this award, Siheung City will receive 10 million won in project funding, and the Shincheon-dong Community Council plans to enhance the operation of the shared parking initiative and pursue follow-up projects to ensure its continued success in the community.In the Daeya and Shincheon areas of Siheung City, both a resident priority parking system and shared parking are in operation, allowing residents to apply for parking spaces based on their residence and business locations. The city is working to improve the utilization of existing parking spaces by combining time-limited openings with resident priority parking.The event also featured a talk concert with representatives from four towns that have won awards in the Gyeonggi Province Community Governance Excellence Case Competition multiple times over the past five years. Siheung's Jeongwang 2-dong shared its experiences in promoting resident participation and managing projects with other regions.Previously, in 2023, Siheung City won the top award at the Gyeonggi Province Community Governance Excellence Case Competition for a resident participation-based educational governance project led by the Jeongwang 2-dong Community Council, which successfully connected schools and local institutions to address educational issues in the community. At that competition, Siheung also secured the top prize among 15 finalists.Kim Jae-sung, head of Siheung City's Administrative Bureau, stated, "The award for the Shincheon-dong Community Council exemplifies the value of community governance, showcasing how residents can identify and address issues in their daily lives through collaboration with the local community. We will continue to provide necessary support to empower residents as key players in solving local problems and to further enhance community governance."Meanwhile, Siheung City has maintained a record of winning awards at the Gyeonggi Province Community Governance Excellence Case Competition for 11 consecutive years. The city plans to utilize exemplary cases from Shincheon-dong and Jeongwang 2-dong in community governance education and sharing events to support the discovery and dissemination of resident-led projects tailored to the characteristics of each district. Gyeonggi Province is also operating educational and consulting programs to expand participation among residents and youth and to develop customized governance models for different regions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 09:54:00
  • Rokit Healthcare Shares Plunge Nearly 20% After Nasdaq Listing Withdrawal
    Rokit Healthcare Shares Plunge Nearly 20% After Nasdaq Listing Withdrawal Rokit Healthcare's shares fell nearly 20% in early trading following the announcement that its U.S. subsidiary has voluntarily withdrawn its Nasdaq listing application.As of 9:39 a.m. on July 29, Rokit Healthcare's stock was trading at 31,450 won, down 7,700 won (19.67%) from the previous trading day, according to the Korea Exchange.The decline in share price is attributed to a correction notice regarding significant management matters of its subsidiary, Rokit America, Inc., which stated that it had withdrawn its application for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market.According to the company, Rokit America decided to pursue a Nasdaq listing in April through a board resolution and submitted its application. However, on July 27, it received official notification from Nasdaq that the application had been voluntarily withdrawn.This withdrawal reflects Nasdaq's concerns that the expected free float ratio post-listing would be around 10%, potentially leading to increased stock price volatility. Rokit America explained that it withdrew the existing application to explore options for increasing the free float ratio.The company noted that this withdrawal concludes the current listing process, and Nasdaq also communicated that it does not impose restrictions on future listing applications.Initially, Rokit Healthcare planned to raise approximately $25 million through the Nasdaq listing of its subsidiary, Rokit America.As disclosed on May 11, Rokit America had submitted a Form S-1 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and was undergoing Nasdaq listing review, with the underwriter, Maxim Group LLC, set to fully underwrite the offering.Based on the midpoint of the proposed offering price range of $9.50 per share, 2,631,579 new shares were to be issued, resulting in a total of 27,631,679 shares post-listing, with an estimated market capitalization of approximately $262.5 million (about 380 billion won). The underwriter also planned to allow for an over-allotment option of 394,737 shares to be exercised within 45 days post-offering, as part of the specific procedures for the U.S. stock market listing.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 09:54:00
  • Han Byeong-do Calls for Swift Action on Allegations of Shincheonji Infiltration
    Han Byeong-do Calls for Swift Action on Allegations of Shincheonji Infiltration Han Byeong-do, the acting leader of the Democratic Party, stated that allegations regarding the infiltration of Shincheonji members ahead of the August 17 party convention must be addressed swiftly and rigorously. He also announced plans to create a more effective National Assembly through proposed amendments to shorten the fast-track review period.During a Supreme Council meeting on July 29, Han said, "There are suspicions that Shincheonji members have collectively joined the party to influence the internal primaries." He emphasized that the joint investigation team should act quickly and decisively to clarify these allegations.Han cautioned against using these allegations as a political weapon in the race for party leadership, while also stressing the need for a transparent convention.He remarked, "We must not inflate unverified suspicions for political attacks, nor should we dismiss the possibility of external interference in the primaries. I propose that once the convention concludes, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Election Commission, and all political parties collaborate on institutional improvements and a transparent system."Furthermore, Han pledged to ensure that the upcoming convention reflects the true will of party members through a fair and transparent election process. He urged all party members to be vigilant and avoid any operational errors.Han also mentioned the proposed amendments to the National Assembly Act, which are set to be discussed in the full meeting of the National Assembly's Operations Committee. He declared his commitment to creating a more functional National Assembly.He stated, "While it is called a fast-track agenda, it paradoxically takes a year to process. We will rectify this contradiction and restore the system to its original purpose. We will actively pursue any measures that can expedite the processing of livelihood-related bills, including discussions among ruling and opposition parties. We will fulfill our responsibilities as the ruling party by creating a working National Assembly."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 09:54:00
  • SK Telecom Unveils 688B AI Model A.X K2 to Support Industrial AI Transition
    SK Telecom Unveils 688B AI Model 'A.X K2' to Support Industrial AI Transition SK Telecom (SKT) has unveiled its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) foundation model, A.X K2, aimed at supporting the transition to AI in various industries.On July 29, SKT announced the release of A.X K2, which features 688 billion parameters, on the open-source community platform Hugging Face. This new model enhances mathematical and scientific reasoning capabilities, as well as knowledge and long-text reasoning in Korean, compared to its predecessor, the 519 billion parameter A.X K1.According to SKT, A.X K2 shows an average performance improvement of 32.2 percentage points across 14 domestic and international benchmarks compared to A.X K1. Notably, it achieved an approximately 83.9 percentage point improvement in long-text comprehension and agent-related evaluations.This performance boost is supported by SKT's proprietary Sparse Gated Attention (SGA) architecture, designed to enhance accuracy and operational efficiency by selectively referencing relevant information when processing long contexts.A.X K2 has demonstrated benchmark results comparable to recent international AI models released within the last six months, including Qwen3.5-397B-A17B, DeepSeek-V4-Flash, GLM-5.1, and Kimi-K2.6.SKT plans to deploy A.X K2 across various sectors, including manufacturing, defense, and everyday life. In the manufacturing sector, SKT will apply A.X K2 to specialized AI agents for steel manufacturer KG Steel and automotive parts manufacturer Conec. A demo version of the manufacturing-focused AI agent will be tested in the cold rolling line at KG Steel's Dangjin plant and in Conec's casting and processing operations in the second half of the year.Additionally, SKT has collaborated with the Ministry of National Defense to develop three quantization models based on A.X K1. These models will be utilized by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.SKT is also exploring opportunities in the biotechnology sector. Currently, SKT is leveraging AI in collaboration with SK Biopharm to develop targeted therapies for hard-to-treat cancers. The application of SKT's AI technology has reduced the initial research period for new drug development from the typical 1-2 years to just 5 months.Furthermore, SKT plans to participate in the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'Everyone's AI' initiative. Leveraging its full-stack AI capabilities across models, services, and infrastructure, SKT aims to contribute to the widespread adoption of AI services that the public can experience.Looking ahead, SKT envisions expanding the parameter scale of future A.X K2 models to the trillion level to enhance global competitiveness. As major global models are increasingly adopting trillion-level parameters as a baseline for competitiveness, SKT aims to continuously advance the A.X model in terms of scale and performance to approach the level of big tech companies.Kim Tae-yoon, head of SKT's foundation model division, stated, "We will continue to apply and develop A.X K2 across various industries to contribute to enhancing national competitiveness."Meanwhile, the evaluation of the Ministry of Science and ICT's foundation model project is scheduled for next month.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 09:51:00
  • Walking, Running, and Yoga: Leisurely Morning Course at Gwangjin Bridge
    Walking, Running, and Yoga: 'Leisurely Morning' Course at Gwangjin Bridge The 'Leisurely Morning' program, which allows participants to walk and run at their own pace without competition or rankings, is expanding to Gwangjin Bridge.On July 29, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will operate the 'Leisurely Morning' Gwangjin Bridge course on August 2 and 9 at Gwangnaru Hangang Park and the surrounding area. This time, the program will diversify its offerings by incorporating yoga, cultural experiences, and relaxation into the existing exercise activities.The Gwangjin Bridge course is designed for participants to enjoy the scenic views of the Han River while walking at their own pace, starting from Gwangnaru Hangang Park. It is easily accessible by public transportation from Cheonho Station to Gwangjin Bridge.At the starting point, Gwangnaru Bicycle Park, participants can check their fitness levels at the Seoul Fitness Center.Notably, the 'Gwangjin Bridge 8th Street,' a multi-cultural space within the bridge's support structure, will offer programs that combine exercise with cultural and relaxation activities. A small yoga class will be held from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., accommodating 30 participants per session, with a total of seven sessions available on a first-come, first-served basis.Inside Gwangjin Bridge 8th Street, there will be photo zones and props for participants. Citizens who post photos taken on-site with a designated hashtag and tag the official account will have a chance to win souvenirs through a lottery.The city plans to continue expanding the 'Leisurely Morning' courses and content by utilizing the Han River, urban areas, and major attractions in different regions. The goal is to develop this program into a representative lifestyle sports initiative that allows citizens to experience various parts of Seoul in new ways, linking local scenery and cultural facilities.Cho Sung-ho, head of the Seoul Tourism and Sports Bureau, stated, "We have confirmed the potential for 'Leisurely Morning' to grow into a new weekend exercise culture, with 6,807 citizens participating in Yeouido and downtown Seoul. The third course at Gwangjin Bridge will provide a more diverse experience by combining walking over the Han River, yoga, and cultural experiences."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 09:48:00