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  • Seoul, Washington inching closer to 1st investment project under bilateral trade deal
    Seoul, Washington 'inching closer to 1st investment project' under bilateral trade deal SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - South Korea and the U.S. are discussing an energy-sector project that could become the first investment under their bilateral trade deal, with an announcement expected as early as late next month or in September. Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Kim Jung-kwan made the remarks after arriving in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for a four-day visit to discuss investment and trade issues with U.S. officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. "We prefer projects that can generate stable cash flows," Kim told reporters. "From that perspective, energy-related projects appear to be more suitable, and our discussions with the U.S. are focused on those projects." Seoul and Washington have been discussing specific investment projects under the trade deal reached last fall, which includes Seoul's commitment to invest US$350 billion in the U.S., with an annual investment cap of $20 billion. "We are almost in the final stage," Kim said. "If we reach agreements on key issues, I think we may be able to make an announcement by late August or September." Kim added that the two countries have been in "very close" discussions to ensure the investment benefits both sides, stressing that commercial viability would be a key factor in selecting projects. "We will do our best to achieve a win-win outcome for South Korea and the U.S.," he said. During his stay in Washington, Kim is also scheduled to attend an opening ceremony on Thursday for a center established under the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Initiative (KUSPI). 2026-07-23 09:06:09
  • SK Magic Supplies Air Purifiers to Woori Bank Branches Nationwide
    SK Magic Supplies Air Purifiers to Woori Bank Branches Nationwide SK Magic has supplied air purifiers to Woori Bank branches across the country and will also provide regular maintenance services. The company is expanding its business-to-business (B2B) air management operations by combining product sales with installation, filter replacement, and parts inspection.On July 23, SK Intellix, the health platform brand of SK Magic, announced the completion of air purifier installations at Woori Bank branches nationwide.The installed product is the 'All Clean Air Purifier.' SK Magic assessed the size and internal structure of each branch beforehand to optimize the placement of the units for maximum air purification efficiency.The All Clean Air Purifier features a 360-degree design that allows it to draw in air from all directions, including near the floor, to quickly purify fine dust and contaminated air within the branches.The internal structure of the product allows for the disassembly and cleaning of key components, ensuring ongoing hygiene in bank branches that see a high volume of customers.SK Magic plans to utilize its nationwide service infrastructure to provide regular filter replacements and inspections of essential components, maintaining consistent performance of the air purifiers at each branch.This supply marks an addition to SK Magic's B2B air management business, providing both product installation and after-sales service to nationwide facilities.The All Clean Air Purifier has surpassed cumulative sales of 100,000 units within just one year of its launch. SK Magic aims to expand its supply to financial institutions and multi-use facilities by leveraging its sales experience and nationwide management network.An SK Intellix representative stated, "As banks are multi-use facilities frequented by many customers, maintaining a pleasant indoor environment is crucial. We will provide optimal air purification solutions based on our nationwide management infrastructure and systematic services."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 09:04:00
  • Qualcomm Expands Partnership with Samsung to Include New Galaxy Smartphones, Watches, and Intelligent Eyewear
    Qualcomm Expands Partnership with Samsung to Include New Galaxy Smartphones, Watches, and Intelligent Eyewear Qualcomm is expanding its collaboration with Samsung Electronics beyond smartphones to include smartwatches and intelligent eyewear. The strategy involves applying the next-generation Snapdragon platform across the Galaxy ecosystem to connect AI features across devices.At the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 23, Qualcomm announced that the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8 will be equipped with the 'Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5' for Galaxy.The Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 will feature the 'Snapdragon Wear Elite' platform, marking the first time this technology is used in Samsung smartwatches. The next-generation intelligent eyewear being developed by Samsung and Google will incorporate the 'Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1.'The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a mobile platform that combines Qualcomm's Oryon CPU with next-generation graphics processing and neural processing units. Qualcomm stated that it has improved power efficiency while processing camera, gaming, and connectivity features in real-time on foldable smartphones.Snapdragon Wear Elite analyzes user activity and health status by combining signals from multiple sensors. This allows the Galaxy Watch to continuously monitor users' routines and provide personalized health information and behavioral guidance.The intelligent eyewear represents an extension of the collaboration between Samsung, Qualcomm, and Google's Android XR into smart glasses. Products designed in collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker are expected to be unveiled sequentially starting this fall.This partnership is significant as it broadens Qualcomm's semiconductor supply for Galaxy devices from a smartphone focus to include watches and smart glasses.Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm's CEO, stated, "We will implement on-device AI experiences that understand user contexts through the latest Galaxy smartphones, watches, and intelligent eyewear."Choi Won-jun, head of Samsung Electronics' MX Business Development and Chief Operating Officer, remarked, "We have optimized the Snapdragon platform for each Galaxy form factor, ensuring a consistent Galaxy experience across smartphones, watches, and smart glasses." 2026-07-23 09:00:00
  • Research Validates Social Performance Compensation Proposed by Choi Tae-won, Published in International Journal
    Research Validates Social Performance Compensation Proposed by Choi Tae-won, Published in International Journal The research on Social Performance Compensation (SPC), supported by the Center for Social Value Studies (CSES), has been published in an international social science journal, providing academic evidence for the policy effects of SPC.According to industry sources, SPC is a compensation system that measures the social value created by social enterprises in monetary terms and provides incentives proportional to their performance. This concept was proposed by Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, at the 2013 Davos Forum as a policy solution to address social issues, advocating for the objective measurement of social value and compensation based on market mechanisms.Since 2015, the CSES has operated the SPC program, measuring social performance and continuing experiments to provide incentives based on results. The findings of this research are included in a paper by Professor Kim Sang-jun of Ewha Womans University, titled 'Responses of Dual-purpose Organizations to Economic Compensation: an Agent-based Model Approach,' published in the international SSCI journal Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory in June 2026.This study utilized SPC data provided by the CSES to analyze the impact of SPC on the social performance (SV) and economic performance (EV) of social enterprises using an agent-based model (ABM).The research team simulated a total of 4,000 virtual companies to analyze the effects of SPC, confirming a virtuous cycle where social and economic performance grow together. Additionally, all types of social enterprises that received SPC showed increases in both social and economic performance, with the most significant effects observed in early-stage companies with initially low performance in both areas.While the study indicated that the effects of SPC tend to diminish over time, it also suggested that SPC helps delay the point of growth stagnation compared to cases without SPC. Therefore, it could serve as a protective measure to enhance the sustainability of social enterprises.This research implies that SPC is not merely financial support but functions as a policy tool that influences behavioral changes in social enterprises and fosters the simultaneous enhancement of social and economic performance.Professor Kim stated, 'Social enterprises must continuously balance between social and economic performance. This research confirms that social performance-based compensation increases the motivation for creating social value, leading to a virtuous cycle where improvements in social performance result in increased economic performance.'He added, 'While the compensation effects are not permanent, SPC can contribute to maintaining social objectives and enhancing sustainability during the growth process of social enterprises.'Na Seok-gwon, head of the CSES, remarked, 'The significance lies in the fact that the SPC data accumulated by the research institute has led to results published in an international journal. We hope this research will serve as a policy basis for future discussions on institutionalizing SPC.'Meanwhile, the CSES signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on July 9 with SK Telecom and Japan's SoftBank at SKT Tower in Euljiro, Seoul, to enhance the measurement of social value and cooperation among AI and ICT companies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 08:56:00
  • OCI Reports Q2 Operating Profit of 43.3 Billion Won, Returns to Profitability
    OCI Reports Q2 Operating Profit of 43.3 Billion Won, Returns to Profitability OCI has successfully returned to profitability in the second quarter of this year, driven by increased sales of petrochemical products and improvements in its semiconductor materials business.On July 22, OCI announced that its consolidated revenue for the second quarter of 2026 reached 535 billion won, with an operating profit of 43.3 billion won. The rise in sales volume and prices of petrochemical products, along with improved performance in the semiconductor materials sector, significantly boosted profitability compared to the previous quarter.Examining the performance by business segment, the basic chemicals division, which includes semiconductor materials, saw improved profitability due to price increases in certain items, recording sales of 209.5 billion won and an operating profit of 18.1 billion won. The end of scheduled maintenance contributed to a base effect, while increased demand for products like chlor-alkali (CA) and TDI led to higher sales volumes. Additionally, supply disruptions caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict resulted in increased prices for TDI, further enhancing performance.The semiconductor materials division anticipates significant growth, supported by expanded sales of polysilicon for semiconductors and increased operating rates for key products like hydrogen peroxide.In the carbon chemicals division, strong oil prices led to an expanded spread for BTX products, resulting in sales of 331.5 billion won and an operating profit of 31 billion won, maintaining solid performance in the second quarter. Looking ahead to the third quarter, a decrease in oil prices due to easing geopolitical risks is expected to stabilize the BTX product spread.For the second half of the year, OCI plans to continue expanding investments in its new semiconductor materials business. The company aims to enhance its competitiveness in advanced materials used in next-generation sectors such as AI infrastructure and secure future growth drivers.To this end, OCI is entering the wafer recycling business for semiconductor packaging, diversifying its semiconductor materials portfolio. By acquiring OCI Specialty, the company plans to leverage existing production infrastructure to improve investment efficiency in the recycling wafer business and expedite commercialization.This new venture will involve collecting wafers used by semiconductor packaging customers, cleaning and recycling them, and supplying them back to customers. The facility is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027, with plans for additional expansion to meet future market demand after commercial sales begin.OCI has also recently completed an expansion of conductive carbon black, a key material used in high-voltage cables, and began initial shipments to major customers in early July. This expansion has added an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons, establishing a supply system to meet the growing demand for high-voltage power grid construction.Kim Yoo-shin, Vice Chairman of OCI, stated, "OCI has continued to achieve sustained profit growth in the second quarter, following the first quarter, thanks to improved market conditions for basic chemical products and growth in the semiconductor materials business. We will continue to enhance our business portfolio by expanding investments in high-value-added advanced materials and strengthen our growth foundation in line with the growth of the AI and semiconductor industries."Meanwhile, OCI is accelerating the enhancement of its profit structure by increasing the proportion of semiconductor materials and advanced materials for AI and power infrastructure, moving away from its traditional focus on basic chemicals.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 08:40:00
  • Bithumb Introduces Video Call Verification for Seniors to Protect Vulnerable Users
    Bithumb Introduces Video Call Verification for Seniors to Protect Vulnerable Users Bithumb announced the implementation of an additional identity verification process using video calls for users aged 80 and above on July 23. As non-face-to-face financial transactions become more common, the risk of financial crimes targeting the elderly, such as identity theft, account lending, and cryptocurrency investment scams, continues to rise. This is particularly concerning for seniors with limited experience in digital financial services, who are at a higher risk of having their accounts opened or misused by third parties, necessitating careful protective measures.Since April, Bithumb has been conducting video calls with members aged 80 and older immediately after new registrations or periodic customer verifications to confirm their identity. If the user is verified during the video call and expresses a willingness to use the service, normal transactions can proceed.Conversely, if it is determined that the account is not being used by the legitimate owner, access is immediately blocked. The company attempts to connect via video call up to four times, and if the call is not answered, withdrawal and transfer functions are temporarily restricted.Since the introduction of this system, there have been instances where Bithumb proactively restricted transactions after identifying that elderly members were unaware of their account usage or transaction history, effectively preventing potential harm.A Bithumb representative stated, "While this procedure is not legally mandated, it has been proactively implemented as a safety measure to prevent financial crimes targeting the elderly and to protect member assets."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 08:40:00
  • Fire Breaks Out at Coupang Logistics Center in Incheon
    Fire Breaks Out at Coupang Logistics Center in Incheon A fire broke out at the Coupang Logistics Center No. 15 in Hyangdong 7-ga, Jemulpo District, Incheon.According to Yonhap News, the fire started around 6:55 a.m. on July 22 at the logistics center.Fire authorities responded to a report from a center official stating that the fire ignited beneath the rental area of the frozen storage on the sixth floor and was initially extinguished with a fire extinguisher.As of now, there have been no confirmed injuries.Fire officials plan to investigate the extent of the damage and the cause of the fire once it is fully extinguished.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 08:36:00
  • Over 10.7 Million Foreign Tourists Visited South Korea in First Half of 2026
    Over 10.7 Million Foreign Tourists Visited South Korea in First Half of 2026 In the first half of 2026, South Korea welcomed 10.71 million foreign tourists, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This figure represents a 21.3% increase compared to the same period last year and is 26.9% higher than the first half of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.According to the Korea Tourism Organization's 'June 2026 Korea Tourism Statistics' released on July 23, the number of inbound tourists from January to June reached 10.71 million. This marks a 21.3% rise from the same period last year and is 126.9% of the number recorded in 2019.In June alone, the number of visitors was 199,312, an increase of 23.1% from the same month last year, and it has recovered to 135.0% of June 2019 levels.By country, China led with 649,582 visitors, followed by Japan with 348,216, Taiwan with 223,127, the United States with 177,744, and Hong Kong with 65,690. Year-over-year growth rates for June showed increases of 36.2% for China, 35.3% for Taiwan, 21.3% for Japan, 17.1% for Hong Kong, and 6.9% for the United States.Compared to pre-pandemic figures, Taiwan showed the most significant recovery, reaching 188.4% of its June 2019 numbers. The United States followed at 168.6%, China at 136.8%, Japan at 123.3%, and Hong Kong at 106.4%. Regionally, the North American market was at 147.0% of 2019 levels, while the Asia and Middle East market stood at 116.8%.In contrast, the number of South Koreans traveling abroad decreased. In June, 2,004,723 citizens traveled overseas, a 10.0% decline from the same month last year. However, the cumulative number of outbound travelers for the first half of the year reached 14.96 million, recovering to 99.7% of the levels seen in the same period of 2019. 2026-07-23 08:36:00
  • Hankuk Securities Lowers YG Entertainments Target Price Amid Q2 Performance Concerns
    Hankuk Securities Lowers YG Entertainment's Target Price Amid Q2 Performance Concerns 와이지엔터테인먼트가 2분기에는 시장 기대치를 밑도는 실적을 기록하겠지만, 하반기 빅뱅과 베이비몬스터를 앞세운 공연 확대에 힘입어 실적 개선이 본격화될 것이라는 전망이 나왔다. 송지원 흥국증권 연구원은 23일 와이지엔터에 대해 투자의견 '매수(BUY)'를 유지하고 목표주가를 기존 6만5000원에서 5만8000원으로 하향 조정했다. 업종 밸류에이션 하락과 연간 실적 추정치 조정을 반영했다. 송 연구원은 와이지엔터의 2분기 연결 매출액을 1069억원, 영업이익을 88억원으로 전망했다. 이는 전년 동기 대비 각각 6.4%, 5.5% 증가하는 수준이지만 시장 컨센서스인 영업이익 96억원에는 못 미치는 수치다. 블랙핑크 미니 3집의 높은 기저효과와 투어 종료, 공연 회차 감소 등이 실적 부담으로 작용한 것으로 분석했다. 다만 하반기에는 실적 모멘텀이 크게 강화될 것으로 내다봤다. 빅뱅의 20주년 월드투어와 신보 발매를 비롯해 베이비몬스터 월드투어, 트레저 팬콘서트가 집중되면서 공연 매출이 확대될 것으로 예상했다. 특히 빅뱅 월드투어는 현재 공개된 일정만으로도 최대 약 174만명 규모의 관객을 수용할 수 있으며 실제 모객은 약 130만명 수준으로 추정했다. 공연 확대는 MD(상품) 매출 증가로도 이어질 것으로 전망했다. 송 연구원은 베이비몬스터와 빅뱅 공연이 집중되는 하반기 MD 매출이 상반기 대비 140% 이상 성장할 것으로 예상했으며, 4분기 데뷔 예정인 신인 보이그룹도 중장기 성장 기반을 강화할 것으로 평가했다. 그는 올해 연간 매출액 6000억원, 영업이익 748억원을 기록할 것으로 전망하며 "2분기 실적은 다소 아쉽지만 실적의 무게중심은 하반기에 있다"고 평가했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 08:32:00
  • Samsung Electronics Tops U.S. Consumer Satisfaction Rankings with Six Awards from J.D. Power
    Samsung Electronics Tops U.S. Consumer Satisfaction Rankings with Six Awards from J.D. Power Samsung Electronics has been recognized as the 'most awarded brand' in the U.S. consumer satisfaction survey for home appliances, securing the top position in six categories.According to industry reports on July 23, Samsung ranked first in the '2026 Home Appliance Consumer Satisfaction Study' conducted by J.D. Power in categories including French door refrigerators, top freezer/bottom freezer refrigerators, side-by-side refrigerators, clothes dryers, over-the-range microwaves, and dishwashers.J.D. Power evaluates consumer satisfaction based on a comprehensive assessment of seven criteria—durability, performance, ease of use, design, and reliability—gathered from 15,000 consumers who purchased products in the past year.In the refrigerator category, the top freezer/bottom freezer model received the highest scores across all criteria, maintaining its number one position for five consecutive years. The French door and side-by-side refrigerators also received high marks for ease of use, design, and durability.The innovative 'Zero Clearance' technology, which allows for a 4mm gap on either side, and the 'Ice Maker' that offers four types of ice, have been praised for enhancing space efficiency and convenience.In the clothes dryer category, Samsung achieved the highest scores in all seven criteria. Features such as 'AI Dry+,' which customizes drying, 'Multi Steam,' which reduces wrinkles, and 'Steam Sanitize+,' which eliminates pollen, received positive feedback. The dishwasher excelled in performance and value for money, while the over-the-range microwave ranked highest in durability and performance.Michael McDermott, an executive at Samsung Electronics America responsible for consumer electronics, stated, "This result acknowledges the exceptional quality and convenience of Samsung appliances in the demanding U.S. market. We will continue to lead the North American premium market through ongoing technological innovation."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 08:32:00