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KOGAS anchors Korea's energy strategy in age of AI, uncertainty Editor's Note: This article is the 27th installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - As artificial intelligence reshapes global energy consumption patterns, the Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) is placing a bold wager on liquefied natural gas. The state-run energy company reported this week that the first shipment of LNG from the Canada LNG project — in which it holds an ownership stake — is en route to South Korea. The milestone marks a strategic shift as the company looks to reposition LNG as a central pillar of the AI-powered economy. The Canadian cargo, expected to be cheaper than current imports from the Middle East, Australia, and the United States, underscores KOGAS’s efforts to diversify its sourcing amid intensifying geopolitical instability. The three regions currently account for more than 70 percent of the company's LNG portfolio. Executives are also weighing possible participation in the long-delayed Alaska LNG project, a move that could broaden supply lines while offering diplomatic leverage in trade talks with the United States. But the project remains mired in uncertainty, with industry analysts citing unresolved questions around financing, cost competitiveness, and commercial viability. Previous withdrawals by energy majors such as ExxonMobil and BP have raised red flags about its long-term potential. Founded in 1983 to ensure stable natural gas supplies, KOGAS began operations three years later at its Pyeongtaek terminal. The company has since grown into one of the world’s largest LNG importers, boasting the highest global storage capacity — 11.47 million kiloliters — and supplying about 80 percent of South Korea’s LNG needs. Over the decades, KOGAS has built a sprawling import network. It began sourcing from Qatar in 1999, followed by Oman, Yemen, Indonesia, and Australia. More recently, the company added supplies from Mozambique, expanding its footprint into Africa. Today, that diversification is more than an operational strategy; it is a geopolitical hedge. As energy markets become increasingly exposed to conflict, sanctions, and trade restrictions, KOGAS is seeking to secure supply lines for what it sees as a new kind of energy demand — one driven not by households. At a company-hosted forum on July 11, CEO Choi Yeon-hye laid out a vision for LNG in the age of artificial intelligence. “We will actively reflect the opinions provided by experts through the KOGAS Forum to further strengthen future energy security and drive innovation in the natural gas industry,” she said. Choi highlighted the potential for LNG-powered distributed generation to support data centers — a critical infrastructure layer as AI accelerates electricity consumption. To that end, the company is constructing a major LNG terminal in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province. When completed in 2030, the facility will include 10 storage tanks and a full suite of port infrastructure. The first tank — at 270,000 cubic meters, the largest in South Korea — was topped off in May. Choi described the site as an “energy hub for the west coast” and a key component of national energy policy. Still, the company’s financial results reflect the shifting terrain of the global energy market. In the first quarter of this year, KOGAS reported revenue of 12.73 trillion won (about $9.24 billion), a modest year-over-year decline of 77.9 billion won. Sales volumes rose due to colder weather and industrial demand, but lower international prices weighed on returns. Operating profit fell by 87.7 billion won to 833.9 billion won, and net income declined to 367.2 billion won. Overseas projects, including those in Mozambique, helped cushion the blow. As the world balances the dual imperatives of energy security and digital transformation, KOGAS’s strategic pivot offers a glimpse into how traditional energy firms are adapting. By betting on LNG as a transitional fuel in a digital-first economy, the company is positioning itself not only as a supplier — but as an enabler of South Korea’s broader technological ambitions. 2025-07-17 10:23:37
Viet Nam's top leader To Lam to visit South Korea for summit with President Lee SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - General Secretary To Lam, the top-ranking official in Viet Nam's Communist Party, is set to visit South Korea in August for a summit with President Lee Jae-myung, diplomatic sources confirmed Wednesday. Lam is expected to arrive on August 10. Both sides are now working to schedule a summit meeting for the following day, August 11. This will be Lam's first visit to South Korea and the first by a Vietnamese general secretary in 11 years, following Nguyen Phu Trong’s trip in 2014. During the summit, President Lee and General Secretary Lam are expected to explore ways to expand bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors, including high-speed rail and nuclear power. The talks will be framed under the two countries' existing comprehensive strategic partnership. On July 4, Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong sent a joint message congratulating President Lee on his election and inauguration. "We look forward to enhancing the relationship between Viet Nam and South Korea in a more practical, effective, and comprehensive way," the message read. "This will serve the interests of both peoples and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world. We are ready to work with President Lee and the Republic of Korea to make that happen." President Cuong followed up with a phone call on June 12, less than two weeks after Lee took office. During the call, he wished President Lee a successful term. Thuong was the fifth foreign head of state to speak with Lee after calls from U.S. President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. President Lee noted the progress in bilateral relations since diplomatic ties were established in 1992. He pointed to growth in trade, investment, and human exchanges, and expressed hope for deeper cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership. President Cuong welcomed Lee’s remarks and emphasized Viet Nam’s interest in strengthening ties with South Korea, calling it a trusted and essential partner in Viet Nam’s economic development and modernization. Both leaders agreed to advance cooperation in strategic industries such as high-speed transportation and energy. President Lee also requested support for South Korean businesses operating in Viet Nam. President Thuong responded positively. Cuong invited Lee to visit Viet Nam. Lee said he looked forward to the visit and added that he hoped for continued high-level exchanges between the two countries, including through forums such as APEC. 2025-07-16 16:45:26
Ex-President stalls probe, seeks injunction against detention SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol has refused to comply with questioning over his botched martial law debacle late last year. Independent prosecutors on Wednesday once again failed to bring him in for questioning related to his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, following two previous attempts, as Yoon, who has been detained at a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province since last week, continues to stall, citing health reasons. Yoon, who claims he is willing to be questioned at the prison, criticized the prosecutors' requests as mere attempts to "publicly humiliate" him. According to his lawyers, Yoon has also filed an injunction disputing the legality of his detention, with a court scheduled to decide at a hearing on Friday. Meanwhile, prosecutors, who have prohibited all visitors except Yoon's lawyers from seeing him, are reportedly considering indicting him without further questioning if he continues to refuse to cooperate, rather than seeking an extension of his detention. Yoon's current detention period ends on Saturday. 2025-07-16 16:24:46
[[K-Tech]] Hanwha brings 3D printing to US shipyard in push for LNG, naval market share SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - Hanwha is rolling out advanced 3D printing technologies at Philly Shipyard, part of a sweeping plan to transform the historic U.S. shipbuilding site into a hub for high-value commercial and military vessels. Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems, which jointly acquired the Philadelphia-based facility in 2023, have begun deploying metal additive manufacturing processes to fabricate complex components directly on-site — a shift that marks a departure from traditional shipbuilding methods, which typically depend on third-party suppliers for precision parts. The initiative is central to Hanwha’s strategy to boost efficiency, localize production in the United States, and expand into premium sectors such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and naval vessels. Company officials say in-house production of selected parts could shorten construction timelines and improve responsiveness in time-sensitive defense and energy projects. “By integrating additive manufacturing with digital production tools, we’re redefining how ships are built in the U.S.,” a Hanwha spokesman said in a statement. The project draws on experience from Hanwha’s South Korean shipyards, where 3D printing is already being used to produce engine components like bellmouths, prechambers and custom pipe fittings. The company plans to replicate and scale those practices in Philadelphia, adapting them to meet U.S. regulatory standards and operational requirements. To facilitate the transition, Philly Shipyard has launched a series of workforce training programs covering additive manufacturing design, 3D printer operations, and digital systems integration. The company is also digitizing its parts catalog, introducing augmented reality training modules, and installing a centralized control system that leverages satellite-based positioning for real-time assembly tracking. At the heart of Hanwha’s commercial ambitions is the growing demand for LNG carriers in the United States. The company projects that 11 vessels will be needed by 2028, representing a market opportunity of roughly $2.8 billion, based on an estimated $255 million per ship. Beyond the commercial market, Hanwha is eyeing a broader role in U.S. naval shipbuilding. Philly Shipyard is currently participating in U.S. government pilot programs — partnering with the Navy, defense contractors, and research institutions — to qualify 3D-printed components for use on active-duty vessels. To meet the stringent demands of U.S. military contracts, Hanwha has implemented a robust testing regime that includes ultrasonic and x-ray inspection and fatigue testing in simulated maritime conditions. The company is also incorporating digital twin models and AI-powered predictive maintenance systems to monitor the real-time performance of ship components throughout their lifecycle. 2025-07-16 16:11:37
South Korea gears up for APEC summit in Gyeongju this fall SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - South Korea is ramping up its preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, scheduled for October in the southern historical city of Gyeongju. President Lee Jae-myung has sent invitation letters to the leaders of all 20 APEC member countries including Canada, China, Japan, Russia, Viet Nam and the U.S. for the first major multilateral summit since his inauguration early last month, his office said on Wednesday. Shortly after taking office, Lee reportedly offered a personal invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping during their first phone conversation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is on a two-day visit to Gyeongju this week to inspect key facilities and other venues for the summit, coming shortly after a similar visit last week. 2025-07-16 15:26:20
Honduran diplomat's immunity revoked over alleged sexual harassment in Busan SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - A Honduran diplomat, who has been booked for allegedly harassing and assaulting another man in South Korea, has been stripped of his diplomatic immunity by his home country. The Honduran Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it revoked his diplomatic protections due to what it cited as "a serious incident," adding that he should face "legal consequences" if any wrongdoing is found. The ministry further stated that the diplomat's passport could be confiscated upon his return, warning its diplomats to comply with the laws of host countries. According to police here, the diplomat working at the Honduran Embassy in Seoul has been under investigation after being accused of sexually harassing a man, which led to a physical assault on a subway train in the southern port city of Busan last month. The incident occurred in the early morning, with the diplomat who was reportedly drunk while on a business trip to Busan. Earlier, the Foreign Ministry here expressed serious concerns to the Honduran Embassy and requested strong measures to prevent similar incidents. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, foreign diplomats are generally granted immunity from the criminal, civil, and administrative jurisdiction of the host country. But if their home country waives this immunity, local authorities may proceed with legal actions. 2025-07-16 15:02:11
[[K-Tech]] LG challenges OpenAI, Alibaba with new hybrid AI model, EXAONE 4.0 SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - LG AI Research on Wednesday unveiled what it calls South Korea’s first hybrid artificial intelligence model, EXAONE 4.0, a system that fuses large language processing with advanced reasoning capabilities. The release marks LG’s fourth major AI launch in as many months, as the company escalates efforts to compete with global players like OpenAI, Anthropic, Alibaba, and Google. EXAONE 4.0 integrates two distinct AI functions — a large language model for fast, knowledge-based responses and a reasoning engine for complex problem-solving — within a single architecture. LG claims the hybrid system addresses a fundamental shortcoming in current AI models: language models excel at fluency and speed but struggle with logic and reasoning, while reasoning-focused systems often lack versatility and responsiveness. “By bridging the gap between language fluency and cognitive reasoning, EXAONE 4.0 marks a new chapter in Korea’s AI capabilities,” said an LG spokesperson. To demonstrate its performance, LG reported that EXAONE 4.0 passed written exams for six Korean national professional licenses, including those for medical doctors, dentists and traditional Korean medicine practitioners. The company released two configurations of the model: a 32-billion-parameter expert version designed for specialized tasks, and a lighter 1.2-billion-parameter on-device model aimed at high-efficiency use cases. According to LG, the compact version surpasses OpenAI’s GPT-4o mini in mathematics, coding, and science benchmarks, while operating with half the parameters of its predecessor, EXAONE 3.5. In a move toward openness and collaboration, LG released the model with open weights on the Hugging Face platform, enabling academic and research use. With this step, LG joins a growing group of global tech firms — including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Alibaba — embracing transparency in AI development. The company plans to embed EXAONE 4.0 across its product ecosystem, from home appliances and smartphones to automotive systems and robotics. LG will present additional details and future plans at its upcoming “LG AI Talk Concert 2025,” scheduled for July 22 at LG Science Park in Magok, Seoul. 2025-07-16 14:28:59
[[K-Tech]] LG CNS ventures into insect farming using AI-powered breeding technology SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - South Korean IT solutions provider LG CNS has begun construction on an artificial intelligence-powered insect farming complex in Gangwon Province. The groundbreaking ceremony for the facility — billed as an “insect smart factory” — was held Wednesday in the city of Chuncheon, with Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-tae and LG CNS Executive Vice President Kim Hong-keun in attendance. The factory will use advanced automation and AI-driven systems to breed, monitor, and harvest insects such as mealworms at industrial scale. By deploying its proprietary manufacturing automation platform, LG CNS aims to manage the entire production process — from breeding to quality control — through a unified, data-driven control system. At the core of the factory’s operations is an AI system designed to monitor insect growth stages in real time. The technology analyzes movement patterns and color variations to detect abnormalities or disease, identifying substandard or dead specimens before they can contaminate batches. The system is intended to solve a persistent challenge in traditional insect farming, where manual sorting is both labor-intensive and unreliable at scale. “LG CNS will deliver fundamentally differentiated value to customers by combining our automation innovation with the emerging insect industry,” said Kim, the company’s executive vice president. The Chuncheon facility is expected to produce roughly 700 tons of mealworms annually by the end of the year. The insects are widely used in animal feed, protein supplements, and biodegradable materials — key components in efforts to create more sustainable food and resource systems. While insect farming has long been touted as a potential solution to climate and food security issues, scaling production has proven difficult. LG CNS’s entry into the sector reflects a broader push among Korean tech firms to apply AI and automation to ecological and agricultural challenges. 2025-07-16 14:21:09
North Korea hails UNESCO listing of Mt. Kumgang SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - North Korean state media on Wednesday reported the country’s recent inclusion of Mt. Kumkang on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The news coverage came about three days after the decision was made at the international body's annual gathering in Paris over the weekend. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) hailed the decision, saying that the country's scenic mountain was recognized for its "exquisite harmony of cultural tradition, natural ecosystem, and beautiful scenery." With the latest addition, North Korea now has three UNESCO World Heritage sites including two previous ones - the sprawling complex of ancient Koguryo tombs in Pyongyang and surrounding provinces, and historic monuments in the southern border town of Kaesong. Meanwhile, the South's southern port city of Busan was selected to host the next gathering scheduled to take place in July 2026. 2025-07-16 14:19:41
Korea moves to establish renewable-powered industrial zone SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - South Korea is intensifying efforts to establish industrial zones powered primarily by renewable energy, part of a broader strategy to align with international sustainability standards and accelerate the country's corporate energy transition. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy convened the first meeting of a new task force at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in central Seoul. The group, composed of senior officials from multiple ministries, is charged with drafting special legislation and crafting a development blueprint for what the government is calling “RE100 industrial complex," which will operate primarily on electricity from solar, wind, and other renewable sources. Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak, who chaired the meeting, said the initiative reflects the urgency of preparing domestic industries for an era in which global supply chains are increasingly governed by sustainability standards. “RE100 is becoming an essential requirement for export-oriented companies,” Moon said. “We must treat it not as a regulatory burden, but as an opportunity — using renewable energy to promote balanced regional development and advance our energy transition.” The plan follows a senior aides’ meeting on July 10 led by President Lee Jae Myung, during which the RE100 complex project was identified as a national policy priority. The term “RE100” refers to a global corporate initiative under which companies commit to sourcing 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2050. As major multinational firms require their suppliers to comply with RE100 standards, South Korea sees the initiative not only as a matter of environmental policy but also of economic competitiveness. The task force brings together representatives from the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Environment, and other key agencies. Officials said they had agreed to coordinate efforts across several domains: developing renewable energy infrastructure, enhancing residential and educational conditions for workers and their families, and creating incentives for companies to relocate to the complexes. Among the ideas discussed were sharp reductions in electricity rates, deregulated business environments, and the provision of high-quality housing, schools, and other amenities aimed at attracting top-tier talent and investment. The task force is expected to meet biweekly, with the goal of presenting a finalized blueprint and legislative proposal by the end of the year. 2025-07-16 14:13:37