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  • Hana Financials Home Pension Surpasses 330 Billion Won in First Year
    Hana Financial's 'Home Pension' Surpasses 330 Billion Won in First Year 하나금융그룹의 민간 주택연금 상품인 '하나더넥스트 내집연금'이 출시 1년 만에 총 가입금액 3300억원을 넘어섰다. 하나금융그룹은 지난 8일 서울 중구 명동사옥에서 민간 주택연금 상품인 '하나더넥스트 내집연금' 출시 1주년 기념 '내집연금 손님 감사의 날' 행사를 개최하고 이 같은 성과를 냈다고 9일 밝혔다. 행사에는 함영주 하나금융그룹 회장을 비롯한 그룹 임직원과 내집연금 가입 고객 50여명이 참석했다. '하나더넥스트 내집연금'은 지난해 5월 출시된 민간 주택연금 상품으로, 하나은행의 담보신탁과 하나생명의 종신연금 기능을 결합한 그룹 협업 모델이다. 연금 수령액이 주택 가치를 초과하더라도 평생 연금을 지급하는 구조를 적용한 것이 특징이다. 또한 하나금융은 지난 4월 재건축·재개발 사업이 진행 중인 주택까지 가입 대상을 확대하고, 연금 수령 한도를 5억 원·7억 원·10억 원·13억 원·15억 원 등으로 세분화해 고객 맞춤형 설계를 강화했다. 가입 대상은 가입자와 배우자 중 연소자 기준 만 55세 이상으로, 2년 이상 보유한 주택에 실거주하는 조건을 충족해야 한다. 현재까지 누적 가입자는 260여명으로, 가입자의 평균 연령은 76세였다. 최고령 가입자는 92세로 집계됐다. 함 회장은 "소중한 노후 자산을 믿고 맡겨주신 고객들에게 감사드린다"며 "앞으로도 든든한 노후와 행복한 미래를 함께하는 금융 동반자가 될 수 있도록 최선을 다하겠다"고 말했다. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 09:36:00
  • SK AX rolls out full-stack robotics service to build self-running factories
    SK AX rolls out full-stack robotics service to build self-running factories SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - SK AX announced it is launching a full-stack robotics service designed to steer South Korean manufacturers toward autonomous factories that can sense, decide and act on their own. The push, branded "Manufacturing RX" for robot transformation, aims to tackle chronic labor shortages and sagging productivity on factory floors by knitting robots, manufacturing execution systems and equipment data into a single, self-directing operation. SK AX's service spans the entire journey, from virtual vetting before a single robot is deployed to on-site autonomous control and plant-wide orchestration, with a digital twin first recreating floor plans. It later moves onto equipment layouts and material flows in a virtual space, running thousands of driving and task scenarios to flag collisions, bottlenecks and charging schedules in advance. Robots then run on physical AI built on a "vision-language-action" model, letting them read unexpected obstacles and adjust on the fly rather than repeat fixed motions. SK AX said it is already validating the digital-twin and robot-control systems in the semiconductor industry and is extending the projects into shipbuilding, with plans to widen the service to other sectors using proven pilot models. "The robot transformation of manufacturing is no longer about simply buying hardware but about the operational capability to keep robots running reliably and connected to the whole factory," said Kim Kwang-soo, head of SK AX's manufacturing service division, adding the company would help clients evolve into autonomous factories that never stop. 2026-07-09 09:33:23
  • KOSPI Rises Over 3% in Early Trading, Reclaims 7480 Level
    KOSPI Rises Over 3% in Early Trading, Reclaims 7480 Level The KOSPI index rebounded more than 3% in early trading, recovering the 7480 level, driven by bargain hunting following recent declines and a rebound in U.S. semiconductor stocks. Investor sentiment showed signs of recovery as perceptions of excessive losses spread after the U.S. stock market saw gains in semiconductor shares overnight.As of 9:27 a.m. on July 9, the KOSPI was up 241.22 points (3.33%) at 7488.01. The index opened at 7486.64, up 239.85 points (3.31%), and continued to rise.In the securities market, individual investors sold a net 1.3694 trillion won, while foreign and institutional investors bought a net 470.4 billion won and 912.3 billion won, respectively, contributing to the index's increase.Among the top market capitalization stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 3.96%, SK Hynix increased by 8.91%, SK Square was up 8.66%, Samsung Electro-Mechanics gained 6.09%, LG Energy Solution rose 0.63%, Samsung C&T increased by 4.94%, and KB Financial Group was up 2.28%. In contrast, Hyundai Motor fell 2.38%, Samsung Life Insurance dropped 2.31%, and Samsung Biologics was down 0.07%.At the same time, the KOSDAQ index rose 12.20 points (1.55%) to 797.20, having opened at 792.99, up 7.99 points (1.02%), and continued to expand its gains.In the KOSDAQ market, institutions bought a net 47 billion won, while individuals and foreigners sold a net 20.5 billion won and 30.5 billion won, respectively.Among the top KOSDAQ stocks, Alteogen rose 1.12%, EcoPro BM increased by 1.60%, EcoPro was up 1.67%, Rainbow Robotics gained 2.45%, JUSUNG Engineering rose 6.19%, Kolon TissueGene increased by 2.30%, HLB was up 1.20%, Rino Technology rose 1.01%, and Wonik IPS increased by 2.34%.Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "Today, the domestic market is expected to recover from the recent three-day decline due to concerns over the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, perceptions of excessive losses, the rebound in U.S. semiconductor stocks, and the strength of KOSPI 200 night futures."He added, "The recent series of declines has been more influenced by weakened investor sentiment and supply-demand factors than by deteriorating fundamentals. Given that the KOSPI has fallen to levels comparable to those during the financial crisis, the potential for further declines is limited, and a strategy of selective buying in sectors with excessive losses, such as semiconductors, MLCCs, and power equipment, is effective."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 09:32:00
  • Choi Tae-won Visits U.S. for SK Hynix Nasdaq Listing, Engages with Big Tech CEOs
    Choi Tae-won Visits U.S. for SK Hynix Nasdaq Listing, Engages with Big Tech CEOs Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, is traveling to the United States to attend the Nasdaq listing ceremony for SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADR). He is expected to engage with global investors and discuss expanding artificial intelligence (AI) memory collaborations with key clients.According to Yonhap News on July 9, Choi will participate in the Nasdaq listing ceremony for SK Hynix's ADR on July 10 in New York, alongside key executives including CEO Kwak Noh-jung.This event marks the celebration of SK Hynix's entry into Nasdaq. During the ceremony, Choi and the management team are anticipated to present SK Hynix's competitiveness and long-term growth strategies directly to global investors.The scale of SK Hynix's ADR is approximately 43 trillion won, with a maximum of 17.79 million new shares being issued, representing about 2.5% of the total shares. The funds raised will be used for the construction of the first phase of the Yongin semiconductor cluster, the Cheongju P&T7 advanced packaging fab, and the acquisition of machinery, including extreme ultraviolet (EUV) scanners.Choi's direct participation in this event is seen as a move to actively promote SK Hynix's AI memory competitiveness and growth potential to global investors. The ADR listing was pursued to ensure that SK Hynix, a key player in the expansion of AI infrastructure, receives proper valuation in the global capital markets.Earlier this year, Choi noted in his book 'Super Momentum,' which details SK Hynix's success story with High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), that the market still perceives SK Hynix as a 'commodity' manufacturer and has not recognized its higher value. He expressed the belief that SK Hynix should grow tenfold from its current size.This reflects Choi's determination to elevate SK Hynix from a mere memory supplier to a provider of customized AI memory solutions, thereby enhancing its corporate value.Meanwhile, there are expectations in the business community that Choi may meet with executives from major tech companies such as Nvidia and Tesla during his visit to the U.S.In February, Choi met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Silicon Valley to discuss long-term collaboration on HBM, next-generation server memory modules, NAND flash, and AI data center construction. They reaffirmed their partnership during Huang's visit to Korea last month.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 09:32:00
  • Heavy Rain Causes Road Closures in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam
    Heavy Rain Causes Road Closures in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam Heavy monsoon rains have led to road closures across Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam.According to Yonhap News on July 9, the Geumgang Flood Control Center issued a flood warning at 6 a.m. for the Yongsu Stream at the Doam Bridge in Sejong City. This action was taken as the water level reached 2.98 meters, approaching the warning threshold of 3.3 meters.Shortly after, at 6:50 a.m., a flood advisory was issued for the Nonsan Stream at the Pukgaedari point in Nonsan City, where the water level was recorded at 3.99 meters, nearing the advisory threshold of 4.5 meters.Earlier, at 5:33 a.m., two individuals were rescued by emergency services after being trapped in a vehicle due to flooding in the Jaundong area of Yuseong District, Daejeon.Additionally, a landslide has caused road closures near an apartment complex in Songgang-dong, Yuseong District.The Daejeon city government reported that the road leading to the Daejeon direction near the Gapcheon Expressway in Shinil-dong is also flooded and closed.Furthermore, the road in the direction of Daejeon at the Mati Tunnel in Gongju City has been closed, and a disaster alert was issued for the area near the Dungok Tunnel in Geumnam-myeon, Sejong City, due to heavy rainfall.In Chungnam, 69 locations, including the Dunchi parking lot and the Sewol Bridge, have been closed, and 85 residents from hazardous areas have been evacuated to safer locations such as community centers.Meanwhile, the expected rainfall for the day is between 30 to 80 mm in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, 50 to 100 mm in inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, and 5 to 50 mm along the eastern coast of Gangwon. In the Chungcheong region, Daejeon, Sejong, and southern Chungnam and northern Chungbuk are expected to receive 80 to 150 mm, while northwestern Chungnam and northern Chungbuk are forecasted to receive 50 to 100 mm.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 09:28:00
  • SK hynix ADR oversubscribed by 7 times, Chey to ring opening bell
    SK hynix ADR oversubscribed by 7 times, Chey to ring opening bell SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - SK hynix's American depositary receipt (ADR) offering attracted demand exceeding seven times the shares on offer ahead of pricing, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The offering drew interest from global long-term institutional investors, technology-focused funds, sovereign wealth funds and Asia-focused investment firms, according to the report. Orders totaled about $171.5 billion, based on subscription demand. The company is expected to raise about $24.5 billion if the offering is priced based on SK hynix's Thursday closing share price, down from earlier estimates of around $29 billion following a decline in the chipmaker's stock. At that level, the deal would rank as the second-largest U.S. listing by a foreign company after Alibaba's $25 billion initial public offering. SK hynix shares were up 7.23 percent at 2.226 million won as of 9:42 a.m. Seoul time on Thursday as investors reacted to reports of strong demand for the company's ADR offering. Bookrunners closed the order book at 4 p.m. New York time on Tuesday, with the final offering price expected to be determined later on Wednesday. SK hynix shares have fallen about 30.5 percent since reaching a record high of 2.987 million won on June 25, reflecting broader concerns over the semiconductor sector. Rival Micron Technology has also retreated during the same period. Bloomberg previously reported that investors including Baillie Gifford, Coatue Management and Situational Awareness Partners had indicated interest in purchasing up to $7 billion worth of the ADRs. The transaction is being led by Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, with nine additional securities firms participating. The ADRs are scheduled to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker SKHYV on July 10 before transitioning to regular settlement trading on July 13. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung will take part in the listing ceremony on Friday. 2026-07-09 09:25:18
  • KT Discusses Responsible AI and Trust Infrastructure at UN-ITU Global Event
    KT Discusses Responsible AI and Trust Infrastructure at UN-ITU Global Event KT participated in a global event co-hosted by the United Nations (UN) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to discuss responsible artificial intelligence (AI) and global AI standard cooperation.According to KT, the company took part in the 'AI for Good Global Summit' roundtable session titled 'AI Foundations: Digital Trust and AI Infrastructure for All' held on July 7 in Geneva, Switzerland.The session was organized by the ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB), a specialized agency of the UN. Industry, government, and standards organization representatives gathered to discuss building digital trust and AI infrastructure in the era of agentic AI.KT proposed measures to secure 'Trust Primitives' necessary for the agentic AI era. Trust Primitives include 'Identity' for verifying the agent's identity, 'Consent' indicating the scope of permissions, and 'Verifiability' to prove outcomes.KT explained that while previous interactions focused on traffic between humans and systems, AI agents will become the primary actors in the future. To ensure agents operate safely, a system of Trust Primitives is essential. This system should be based on open, interoperable standards and neutral trust infrastructure that transcends specific platforms and can be utilized across companies and nations.On the same day, KT also attended the 'Global AI Governance Dialogue' hosted by the UN, where best practices and international cooperation in AI governance were discussed.During the session on 'Respecting, Protecting, and Promoting Human Rights: Transparency, Accountability, and Human Involvement,' KT emphasized the need to uphold the human rights principles established by the UN, even as AI technology advances. The company introduced its own AI policies and governance framework, which it applies to its services, including the Genie TV AI agent. KT expressed its commitment to building a preventive, protective, and monitoring system for AI safety in collaboration with the UN.Park Wan-jin, Senior Vice President of KT's AX Future Technology Institute, stated, "In an era where agents replace humans, it is crucial to ensure technological innovation while safeguarding human rights and building interoperable digital trust. KT will responsibly contribute to global AI standard discussions as a provider of neutral trust infrastructure while developing AI models directly."The summit runs from July 7 to 10 at the Palexpo Convention Center in Geneva, Switzerland. The event features demonstrations of the latest AI technologies, including agentic AI, edge AI, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), and robotics, along with discussions on AI strategies and governance. Key topics include the future of AI and labor, healthcare, environment, agriculture, health, quantum technology, and international standardization.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 09:24:00
  • SK Telecom Collaborates with SoftBank to Measure AIs Social Value
    SK Telecom Collaborates with SoftBank to Measure AI's Social Value SK Telecom (SKT) is partnering with Japan's SoftBank and the Center for Social Value Studies (CSES) to develop a joint methodology for objectively measuring the social value created by artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT).On July 9, the three companies announced that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at SKT's T Tower in Euljiro, Seoul, aimed at enhancing social value measurement and mutual cooperation. The signing ceremony was attended by Genda Yasuyuki, Corporate Officer at SoftBank, Na Seok-gwon, CEO of CSES, and Eom Jong-hwan, Head of SKT's Sustainable Management Division.AI is generating new social value across various areas, including enhancing productivity, strengthening social safety nets, promoting digital inclusion, and increasing customer benefits. At the same time, there is a growing need for a methodology to objectively measure the social utility created by companies through AI technology.The three companies aim to leverage their accumulated capabilities in social value measurement to measure the social value generated by each company's AI and ICT products and services and to jointly develop measurement standards that can be utilized globally. They also plan to collaborate on case studies, joint reports, and forums to disseminate the social value measurement methodology in global markets, including South Korea and Japan.Eom Jong-hwan, Head of SKT's Sustainable Management Division, stated, "There is a need for a system to objectively measure and explain the social utility and challenges created by AI. Through this MOU, we will promote the development of a standard methodology for measuring social value that is suitable for the AI era."Meanwhile, SK Telecom has outlined AI governance as a key management direction in its 2026 sustainability management report. Under the slogan 'Do the Good AI,' the company aims to create greater value for stakeholders based on AI technology.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 09:16:00
  • Woori Bank Provides Emergency Loans to Homeplus Suppliers Facing Bankruptcy
    Woori Bank Provides Emergency Loans to Homeplus Suppliers Facing Bankruptcy Woori Bank is stepping in to provide emergency financial support to suppliers of Homeplus, which is facing a crisis following the decision to terminate its corporate rehabilitation process.On July 9, Woori Bank announced it will implement a "Special Management Stabilization Support" program for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners experiencing operational difficulties due to the termination of Homeplus's rehabilitation process.The bank will offer new loans of up to 500 million won per company to help affected businesses secure necessary funds. For existing loans, Woori Bank will extend the maturity without requiring principal repayment.Additionally, the bank will provide preferential loan rates and fee benefits based on the scale of damages and financial circumstances of each company. For export companies, the grace period for handling export bills in default will be extended from the current 60 days to a maximum of 90 days.Baek Yeon-soo, head of Woori Bank's corporate group, stated, "We have prepared this support plan to assist partner small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners who are struggling due to sudden changes in the business environment. We will spare no financial support to help affected companies achieve operational normalization."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 09:16:00
  • Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung earns Emmy nod Beef 2
    Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung earns Emmy nod 'Beef' 2 SEOUL, July 9 (AJP) - Oscar-winning South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung has been nominated for an Emmy Award, which will be presented this fall. The U.S. Television Academy on Wednesday announced the nominees for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, with Youn receiving a nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie for her role in the second season of Netflix series "Beef." The nomination adds to Youn's long list of international accolades following her Academy Award-winning performance in "Minari" in 2021, marking another milestone in her acclaimed career. If she wins the Emmy, Youn would become the first South Korean actress to win both an Oscar and an Emmy. Directed by South Korean-American filmmaker Lee Sung-jin, the second season of "Beef" was partly filmed here and follows the success of the first season, which won eight Emmy Awards in 2024. In the series, Youn played a billionaire who acquires a country club, appearing alongside Song Kang-ho as an older married couple. Along with Youn's nomination, the series earned multiple other Emmy nods including Carey Mulligan for lead actress, Oscar Isaac for lead actor, and Charles Melton for supporting actor, as well as nominations for casting, cinematography, contemporary costumes, picture editing, sound editing, sound mixing, stunt coordination, and writing. This year's Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 14. The annual awards ceremony celebrates excellence in the television industry by recognizing outstanding achievements through awards and honors. 2026-07-09 09:14:48