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Samsung Begins Pre-Sales for Galaxy Z8 Series with Double Storage and AI Subscription Benefits Samsung Electronics has announced the start of pre-sales for its eighth-generation foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8, along with the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9. The company aims to attract initial demand by offering free storage upgrades, artificial intelligence (AI) subscription services, and accessory discounts.The pre-sales will take place from July 28 to August 3, with the official launch scheduled for August 7. Customers who pre-order will be able to receive and activate their devices starting August 4.A key benefit for pre-order customers is the 'Double Storage' offer. Those purchasing the 256GB models of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, and Flip8 will receive a free upgrade to the 512GB model. Customers buying the 512GB models of the Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 can upgrade to the 1TB model for an additional 310,700 won, which is about half the price difference compared to the standard pricing.However, the 1TB models of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Fold8, as well as the 512GB model of the Galaxy Z Flip8, will not be available for pre-sale.Pre-order customers will also receive a 10% discount coupon for the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9, as well as a 30% discount coupon for accessories, redeemable on Samsung.com. Additionally, various subscription benefits will be offered, including a six-month subscription to Google AI Pro, a three-month subscription to Willa, and access to gaming content in the Galaxy Store.New accessories designed specifically for the products will also be available. The Fold8 Ultra and Fold8 will feature carbon, silicone, and clear magnet cases, as well as standing cases, while the Flip8 will have flip suits and silicone ring magnet cases. The popular mother-of-pearl design from Galaxy Buds accessories will also be expanded to include foldable-specific magnet cases.Alongside the pre-sales, Samsung will launch the 'New Galaxy AI Subscription Club.' Subscribers will be guaranteed up to 50% of the residual value when returning devices and will receive benefits such as Samsung Care+ and accessory discounts. This three-year product offering, previously introduced with the Galaxy S26 series, will now be applied to the Galaxy Z series, with added loss compensation.The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 will also be available for pre-sale during the same period. Customers will receive two 50% discount coupons for exclusive bands and a six-month subscription to the TimeFlick watch face. Samsung will also host a 'Watch Customization Challenge,' where participants can win a watch clear case, and outstanding participants will receive running gear.Jung Ho-jin, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Korea, stated, "We hope customers will be the first to experience the Galaxy Z Fold8 lineup, which features new form factors. We aim to enhance customer satisfaction with various benefits such as 'Double Storage' and the 'New Galaxy AI Subscription Club.'"* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:32:00 -
Toss Introduces 'FacePay' at 5,000 Local Grocery Stores Nationwide Toss's facial recognition payment system is expanding beyond large retail chains to local grocery stores. On July 27, Toss announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with TogetherS, a company specializing in POS solutions for small and medium-sized grocery stores. As a result, the FacePay service will be gradually introduced to small and medium-sized grocery stores across the country. TogetherS holds the largest market share in the domestic retail POS sector, making this the first partnership for Toss in this field. The two companies plan to implement Toss Pay payments at over 5,000 small and medium-sized grocery stores using TogetherS's POS system and will sequentially install Toss Front for FacePay. Customers will be able to make payments using only facial recognition, even when their hands are full with groceries, without needing a wallet or smartphone. Merchants will also benefit from being able to operate multiple payment methods—including cash, cards, mobile payments, and NFC—through a single device, reducing operational burdens. The two companies plan to gradually expand joint promotions and marketing activities starting with the introduction of FacePay. A Toss representative stated, "Grocery stores are spaces that customers visit most frequently, making them ideal locations for experiencing the convenience of FacePay in everyday life. We will continue to enhance the payment experience by broadening our partnerships." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:32:00
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Samsung Electronics Launches Electric Heating Era with Apartment Heat Pump Demonstration Samsung Electronics has begun a demonstration of its high-efficiency heat pump heating and cooling system, 'EHS All-in-One,' targeting apartment and multi-family housing environments. The initiative aims to verify the performance and energy-saving effects compared to traditional gas boilers, with the goal of expanding the adoption of heat pumps.On July 27, Samsung announced the installation of the 'EHS All-in-One' at its residential performance research center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The company plans to comprehensively verify the heating, cooling, and hot water performance, energy efficiency, user convenience, power consumption, and noise levels in an environment identical to that of an actual apartment.The demonstration model is a product currently sold in Europe. It provides air cooling (A2A) and floor heating and hot water (A2W) simultaneously with a single outdoor unit. Unlike existing domestic heat pumps that only support floor heating and hot water, requiring a separate air conditioner, this system enhances efficiency by addressing both heating and cooling needs in one solution.A key feature is the 'heat recovery' technology designed for energy savings. It recycles waste heat generated during cooling in the summer to produce hot water, reducing power consumption. This allows for the utilization of more than double the thermal energy compared to previous models. Additionally, the refrigerant used is R32, which has a global warming potential (GWP) approximately 68% lower than the conventional R410A, enhancing its eco-friendliness.With the recent push for carbon neutrality in the building sector and the government's transition to electric heating, securing real operational data within multi-family housing has emerged as a key challenge. Samsung plans to use the data from this demonstration as foundational material for the future deployment of heat pumps in multi-family housing.Lim Sung-taek, Vice President of Samsung Electronics' DA Division, stated, "This demonstration is a project to verify whether heat pumps can practically replace gas boilers in multi-family housing. Based on the data obtained, we will continue to expand technology development and deployment to achieve carbon neutrality."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:32:00
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Naver Secures $1 Billion Investment from Nvidia Amid AI Expansion Naver has secured a $1 billion (approximately 1.48 trillion won) equity investment from Nvidia. The company is also moving forward with plans to retire about 1 trillion won in its own shares.On July 27, Naver announced that it will issue 7,241,564 common shares to Nvidia through a third-party allocation. The issue price is set at 204,500 won per share, with expected proceeds amounting to 1,480,899,983,000 won.The payment date is scheduled for October 30, and the new shares are expected to be listed on November 20.Naver stated that the funds raised will be invested in new AI factory-related projects. As a prerequisite for the capital increase, the company has committed to securing a minimum of $9 billion in computing infrastructure, excluding the funds from the capital increase.Naver will lead the acquisition and operation of data center sites, while Nvidia will supply graphics processing units (GPUs). The plan includes securing 55 megawatts (MW) of infrastructure in the first half of 2027, increasing to 100 MW by the end of that year, and reaching 200 MW by 2028, with long-term goals for gigawatt (GW) scale expansion.The initial operational base will be Naver's hyperscale data center, 'Gak Sejong.' Future expansions are planned beyond the Asia-Pacific region to Europe and the Middle East, with the introduction of Nvidia's next-generation infrastructure platform, 'DSX.' Discussions are ongoing with Brookfield Asset Management regarding project financing for the $9 billion computing infrastructure.Additionally, Naver plans to retire 4,901,094 of its own shares on August 3, with the expected amount based on the closing price from July 24 being 1,016,977,000,000 won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:32:00
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Daishin Securities Lowers Target Price for Hyundai Rotem Amid Delayed Polish Orders Daishin Securities announced on July 27 that some revenue from Hyundai Rotem's second contract for K2 tanks in Poland is expected to be deferred to 2028, prompting a reduction in the target price to 240,000 won. However, the investment rating remains a 'Buy.'Choi Jeong-hwan, a researcher at Daishin Securities, stated, "The expected orders have not been canceled, but rather delayed," adding that "Hyundai Rotem's investment points remain valid." For the second quarter, Hyundai Rotem reported consolidated sales of 1.606 trillion won, a 13.3% increase from the same period last year, while operating profit fell 9.7% to 232.4 billion won. Although sales fell short of market estimates, operating profit met expectations, with an operating margin of 14.4%.Choi projected that the production and revenue recognition of 64 K2PL tanks for Poland would occur between 2027 and 2028, leading to a portion of the previously concentrated 2027 results being deferred to 2028. Consequently, he adjusted the defense solutions performance estimates for 2027 and lowered the target price.However, he noted that if the Peru tank project secures a main contract, it could significantly fill the gap left by the deferred Polish orders. Additionally, while the Iraq tank project has been delayed due to the situation in the Middle East, business activities are expected to resume in the second half of the year, and the Romanian project is anticipated to ramp up starting in 2027.The rail division was also viewed positively. Choi forecasted that production for the profitable Morocco project would begin in earnest in 2027, leading to rail solutions revenue of 3.3 trillion won, a 34.2% increase from the previous year, with an improvement in operating margin from 0.6% to 1.7%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:28:00
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SK Innovation E&S Imports Ultra-Light Oil from Australia for the First Time SK Innovation E&S is set to import ultra-light oil sourced from the Barossa gas field in Australia, marking the first instance of a private company bringing in ultra-light oil from overseas resource development.On July 27, SK Innovation E&S announced that it plans to bring in 300,000 barrels of ultra-light oil produced at the Barossa gas field through Incheon Port in early August. The ultra-light oil secured by SK Innovation E&S from the Barossa gas field represents 1.1 million barrels of its annual production share of 3 million barrels, with the 300,000 barrels being the first shipment to the domestic market.In addition to ultra-light oil, SK Innovation E&S is also set to import 1.3 million tons of LNG from the Barossa gas field annually starting this year, contributing to the domestic natural gas supply. This amount accounts for approximately 3% of South Korea's annual LNG imports.Ultra-light oil, also known as condensate, is a lightweight liquid crude oil produced alongside natural gas. It is lighter than conventional crude oil and evaporates easily, containing significant amounts of naphtha, a key ingredient in the production of plastics and synthetic fibers, which may help stabilize naphtha supply.The imported ultra-light oil will be processed at SK Incheon Petrochemical's dedicated facilities. The naphtha extracted from this process will be utilized in the production of high-value chemical products such as paraxylene (PX) and petroleum products like gasoline and jet fuel, enhancing the company's overall cost competitiveness.The Barossa gas field is a large gas field located offshore in northwestern Australia. SK Innovation E&S has been involved in this project since 2012, participating in all stages of development, from resource evaluation to permitting and facility construction. The ownership structure of the gas field includes SK Innovation E&S with 37.5%, Santos of Australia with 50%, and Japan's JERA with 12.5%.With the Barossa project yielding results after 14 years, SK Innovation E&S will be able to import 1.1 million barrels of ultra-light oil and 1.3 million tons of LNG annually. Considering the 20-year contract period for the Barossa project, the resources secured by SK Innovation E&S will total 22 million barrels of ultra-light oil and 26 million tons of LNG.An SK Innovation E&S official stated, "The Barossa project is a case where a private company has participated in overseas resource development from a long-term perspective, connecting actual commercial production to domestic import. Utilizing LNG and ultra-light oil produced from the Barossa gas field is significant in reducing external resource dependence and supporting the stability of domestic industry supply."Meanwhile, on July 14, SK Innovation held a kickoff and boot camp for the final selected teams of its 'AI Impact Solution' project at the SK Serin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:24:00
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Bitcoin Rises to $65,000 as U.S.-Iran Tensions Ease As tensions between the U.S. and Iran show signs of easing, the prices of major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, have risen. This increase is attributed to a recovery in risk appetite, fueled by falling international oil prices and optimism about a rebound in the U.S. stock market.According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin was trading at $65,358 as of 8 a.m. on July 27, reflecting a 1.59% increase from the previous day.The price of Ethereum rose by 3.90% to $1,949. Binance Coin (BNB) and Solana also saw gains of 1.09% and 2.90%, respectively, trading at $575 and $76. Ripple (XRP) increased by 1.11% to $1.11.The easing of tensions between the U.S. and Iran has led to a slight reduction in the preference for safe-haven assets, allowing for a recovery in the appetite for riskier investments. Analysts suggest that the decline in global oil prices and a reduction in uncertainty in the financial markets have contributed to increased buying interest in major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.As of 8 a.m. on the same day, Bitcoin was trading at approximately 95,147,000 won ($65,449) on the domestic exchange Bithumb, marking a 0.74% increase from the previous day. The 'Kimchi premium' stood at -0.389%, indicating that the price of Bitcoin in South Korea is lower than that in international markets.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:24:00
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Oil Prices Plunge 5% as U.S. and Iran Halt Attacks; U.S. Stock Futures Rise International oil prices plummeted while U.S. stock index futures rose as the U.S. and Iran temporarily halted attacks for the first time in nearly two weeks.According to Investing.com, as of 7:58 a.m. Korean time on July 27, the spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by $5.48 (6.14%) to $83.76 per barrel. Brent crude futures also dropped by $4.19 (4.57%) to $87.49 per barrel.In contrast, U.S. stock index futures showed strength. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose by 230 points (0.44%) to 52,354.00. The Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 futures increased by 46.25 points (0.62%) to 7,493.75, while the Nasdaq 100 futures climbed by 336.25 points (1.19%) to 28,618.50.Over the weekend, the U.S. and Iran ceased mutual attacks, marking the first simultaneous halt to the retaliatory strikes that had been occurring daily for nearly two weeks. This development has raised hopes that diplomatic efforts by intermediary countries could lead the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table.According to the Associated Press, an anonymous regional official involved in the mediation process indicated that both sides are exploring a return to a temporary ceasefire agreement that fell through earlier this month.U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, stated in an interview with Fox News that President Donald Trump has refrained from further attacks to create some space for negotiations. He noted, "The president is allowing for a bit of room for negotiations," but did not disclose specific details.Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, told MarketWatch that the U.S. government appears to have reached a point where repeating the same type of attacks yields diminishing returns. He added, "Allowing for diplomacy may be an attempt to prevent the political burden of rising oil prices due to war risks from escalating in the U.S." 2026-07-27 08:12:00
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Hanwha Investment & Securities Lowers Kia's Target Price Amid Disappointing New Car Sales Hanwha Investment & Securities announced on July 27 that while Kia's global sales competitiveness remains strong, the impact of new car launches has fallen short of expectations, prompting a reduction in the target price from 290,000 won to 280,000 won. The investment rating remains 'buy.'Kim Seong-rae, a researcher at Hanwha Investment & Securities, stated, "In the second quarter, sales reached 33.2 trillion won, aligning with market expectations, but operating profit was 2.629 trillion won, falling below consensus. Despite the expansion of eco-friendly vehicle sales and an increase in average selling prices (ASP), heightened competition in North America and Europe led to increased incentives and a disappointing mix effect from new car launches, limiting profitability improvements."Kia reported a global wholesale sales volume of 852,000 units in the second quarter, a 4.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Sales of eco-friendly vehicles surged to 296,000 units, marking a 60% increase and achieving the highest quarterly revenue. Notably, global electric vehicle sales reached 110,000 units, an 88.4% increase year-on-year, driven by the launch of the EV2.However, the increase in incentives due to intensified competition in North America and Europe amounted to 723 billion won, and despite the launch of key new models like the Telluride and EV2, a negative mix effect of 178 billion won was observed, resulting in operating profit that fell short of market expectations.Kim forecasts that sales growth and revenue increases will continue in the second half of the year, supported by an expanded new car cycle. He anticipates wholesale sales to reach 3.26 million units this year, projecting annual revenue to exceed the company's guidance at 126.9 trillion won, factoring in ASP increases and exchange rate effects. However, he noted that the mix effect from demand slowdown in North America and Europe, along with increased incentives for budget electric vehicles, may be weaker than initially expected.He added, "To achieve the annual operating profit guidance, improving the mix through increased sales of North American SUVs such as the Telluride, Sportage, and Seltos, as well as hybrids (HEVs), will be crucial in the second half. Additionally, the impact of tariffs is expected to be less significant than last year, contributing to profitability improvements."Furthermore, he mentioned, "With SoftBank's exercise of its put option, the indirect stake through HMG Global in BYD is expected to rise from 17.2% to 19.1%. The progress in the commercialization development of Atlas using RMAC in August is also expected to alleviate concerns regarding the mobility business value."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:04:00
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Hana Securities Lowers Hyundai Mobis Target Price Amid Delays in Electrification Hana Securities has reduced its target price for Hyundai Mobis from 770,000 won to 680,000 won, reflecting delays in the turnaround of its electrification division and a decline in the value of its affiliated companies. However, the firm maintained its 'buy' rating, considering the growth potential of the automotive parts business and the expansion possibilities in robotics.In a report released on July 27, analyst Song Seon-jae noted that Hyundai Mobis' second-quarter performance exceeded expectations, driven by profitability in the module and core components sectors and improved margins in the after-service (AS) segment.He stated, "In the second half of the year, cost pressures will increase due to rising raw material prices and shipping costs, as well as expanded operating losses in India. However, profitability can be defended due to increased production from clients, favorable exchange rates, and mix effects. The steady growth of the automotive parts business, the rising value of its stake in Boston Dynamics (BD), and securing future growth drivers through robotics components will support the stock's upward momentum," he analyzed.Additionally, he projected that the second half of the year will see the supply of prototype robotic actuators, the establishment of a value chain, and the construction of factories, which will positively impact the expansion of items such as grippers, sensors, and battery modules.Song also mentioned that Hyundai Mobis anticipates operating losses of around 100 billion won due to a fire in India, stating that the company plans to respond with temporary production lines and expects full normalization of operations by next year.Furthermore, regarding the robotics business, he noted that the company has secured orders for 31 types of body actuators for the BD Atlas and plans to deliver prototypes in November, while also collaborating on gripper components. The components are expected to be produced through in-house manufacturing and outsourcing to partner companies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-27 08:04:00