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  • Seo Young-kyo Questions Noh Kyung-pils Inquiry to Supreme Court Nominees
    Seo Young-kyo Questions Noh Kyung-pil's Inquiry to Supreme Court Nominees As calls for the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae arise within the Democratic Party, Seo Young-kyo, Chair of the Judiciary Committee, pointed out on August 21 that "Noh Kyung-pil, Director of Court Administration, may have asked each of the four nominees recommended by the selection committee about their willingness to resign."In a phone interview with YTN Radio's 'Jang Sung-cheol's News Myung-dang,' Seo stated, "Noh must have discussed this with Chief Justice Cho."Regarding Noh's clarification that he did not convey a request for resignation, Seo remarked, "What is the difference between saying the committee can be reconstituted and asking for resignations? It doesn't add up."Seo also countered claims that the nomination is solely the Chief Justice's prerogative, asserting, "Recommending four candidates is not the Chief Justice's authority. The Chief Justice selects one from the nominees chosen by the committee, and the President appoints them with the National Assembly's consent." She emphasized that discussions should have occurred since the President holds the appointment power.Additionally, Seo criticized Chief Justice Cho, stating, "He was appointed by former President Yoon Suk-yeol and attempted to disqualify candidates through a retrial before the 21st presidential election but failed. If it were during Yoon's administration, nominations would have been made immediately."Seo also condemned Cho for convening an emergency meeting just one hour before the National Assembly lifted the state of emergency on December 3, discussing the transfer of jurisdiction to the emergency command.Meanwhile, Representative Kim Min-seok took a cautious stance on the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho during a party meeting the previous day, stating that while impeachment is possible, greater public consensus is necessary.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:56:00
  • Doosan Enerbility Wins $930 Million Contract for Oman Misfah Gas Power Plant
    Doosan Enerbility Wins $930 Million Contract for Oman Misfah Gas Power Plant Doosan Enerbility announced that it has secured a contract for the construction of the Misfah gas power plant in Oman. The total contract amount is approximately 930 billion won.In this project, Doosan Enerbility has formed a consortium with SEPCO-3, a specialized power plant construction company, to undertake the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. The company will also directly supply key equipment, including steam turbines and generators.The Misfah gas power plant is expected to have a capacity of 1,700 MW and is targeted for completion in April 2029. Once operational, the plant is anticipated to contribute to meeting the growing electricity demand and stabilizing energy supply in Oman.Oman is projected to see an increase in electricity demand in the medium to long term due to the development of industrial complexes and the expansion of new industries such as hydrogen. Market research firm Mordor Intelligence forecasts that Oman's power generation capacity will grow from 14.33 GW this year to 21.61 GW by 2031.The project is commissioned by a consortium of global developers, including Qatar's Nebras Power, UAE's EUDC, and Oman’s Bahwan Infrastructure Services (BIS).Lee Hyun-ho, head of Doosan Enerbility's Plant EPC BG, stated, "Our successful project execution capabilities and differentiated strategies demonstrated in neighboring Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have led to this contract win. We will work with our partners to build a top-tier power plant that contributes to stabilizing electricity in Oman."Meanwhile, Doosan Enerbility has been expanding its business in the global gas power market, recently securing contracts for projects in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, in addition to the Misfah project in Oman.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:56:00
  • Producer Prices Decline for First Time in 11 Months as Gas Prices Fall
    Producer Prices Decline for First Time in 11 Months as Gas Prices Fall Due to a decline in international oil prices, producer prices in South Korea fell for the first time in 11 months last month. While agricultural prices rose due to a heat wave and poor harvests, significant drops in petroleum products and electricity rates contributed to the overall decrease in prices.According to the Bank of Korea's preliminary Producer Price Index for July, the index stood at 129.39, a 0.4% decrease from the previous month. This marks the first decline in producer prices since September of last year.By category, industrial goods fell by 0.5% compared to the previous month, influenced by lower international oil prices. Coal and petroleum products dropped by 5.1%, while chemical products decreased by 1.3%.Electricity, gas, water, and waste management services also saw a 0.6% decline from the previous month, largely due to a reduction in residential electricity rates by 11.8% as a result of eased summer billing tiers.In contrast, agricultural, forestry, and fishery products rose by 1.5% from the previous month, driven by a 2.4% increase in agricultural prices due to the heat wave and poor harvests. The service sector experienced a 0.4% decline, with financial and insurance services dropping by 7.1%.Notably, spinach prices skyrocketed by 115.8% compared to the previous month. Other items that saw price increases included certain fish (15.5%), DRAM chips (8.4%), and beef (3.2%). Conversely, gasoline prices fell by 11.3%, diesel by 9.8%, polyethylene resin by 10.2%, and silver bullion by 14.0%.Including imports, the domestic supply price index, which reflects price changes for goods and services supplied in the country, decreased by 1.8% from the previous month. Raw material prices fell by 7.7%, while intermediate and final goods dropped by 1.7% and 0.2%, respectively. Among final goods, capital goods decreased by 0.5%, and consumer goods fell by 0.9%.The total output price index, which includes exports, also declined by 0.2% from the previous month. While export prices for agricultural, forestry, and fishery products fell by 0.7%, domestic shipment prices rose by 1.5%, resulting in an overall increase of 1.4%. For industrial goods, export prices increased by 0.3%, but domestic shipment prices fell by 0.5%, leading to a 0.2% decrease overall.However, in August, international oil prices and city gas rates may exert upward pressure on producer prices.Lee Heung-hoo, head of the Bank of Korea's price statistics team, stated, "International oil prices, increases in wholesale prices for industrial gas, and instability in the Middle East are likely to exert upward pressure on producer prices in August. Additionally, the base effect from discounts on communication fees by some companies last August may raise the year-on-year producer price increase rate by about 0.2 percentage points." 2026-08-21 08:52:00
  • Shinbo and IBK Bank Offer 200 Billion Won in Preferential Guarantees for Young Startups
    Shinbo and IBK Bank Offer 200 Billion Won in Preferential Guarantees for Young Startups The Credit Guarantee Fund announced on August 21 that it has signed a financial support agreement with IBK Industrial Bank to promote promising youth startups.The agreement aims to invigorate the youth startup ecosystem and reduce the financial burden on early-stage companies. The two institutions will introduce preferential financial products specifically for promising youth startups.The Credit Guarantee Fund will provide a total of 200 billion won in guaranteed loans to promising youth startups led by individuals aged 39 and under. These companies will benefit from a guarantee rate of up to 100% for five years, with a reduction of up to 0.7 percentage points in guarantee fees.For companies with a total guarantee amount, including existing balances, of 300 million won or less, a fixed guarantee fee rate of 0.3% per year will apply, regardless of credit rating. IBK Bank will also offer interest rate discounts of up to 1.5 percentage points to companies utilizing the guaranteed loans.A representative from the Credit Guarantee Fund stated, “We will support promising youth startups to operate their businesses more stably and continue to provide policy support so that young entrepreneurs can grow as key players in innovative growth.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:52:00
  • Samsung Securities Maintains Buy Rating for KCC, Sets Target Price at 650,000 Won
    Samsung Securities Maintains Buy Rating for KCC, Sets Target Price at 650,000 Won Samsung Securities announced on August 21 that it has presented a more proactive shareholder return policy for KCC through its corporate value enhancement plan, maintaining a 'buy' rating and a target price of 650,000 won.In a report released that day, analyst Jo Hyun-ryeol stated, "KCC has disclosed its corporate value enhancement plan for this year, highlighting a shift from last year by expressing its intent to utilize investment assets such as Samsung C&T. The methods of utilization include plans for sales and the redistribution of received dividends."Jo explained, "The plan for financial asset liquidity has been formalized, and prior to any sales, KCC plans to redistribute more than 50% of the special dividends (total dividends per share minus 2,500 won per share) received from Samsung C&T."He further noted, "The estimated dividends per share (DPS) for KCC are projected to be 15,000 won for both 2026 and 2027, and 23,200 won for 2028, with dividend yields estimated at 3.2%, 3.2%, and 4.9%, respectively. However, the current consensus on Samsung C&T's dividends does not fully reflect the dividends expected from Samsung Electronics, suggesting that KCC's dividend yield could be adjusted upward from its current level."Additionally, he remarked, "While investors may not have expected dividends, considering the scale of investment assets, a complete sale in the short term is challenging. Therefore, establishing a plan for investors to benefit during the holding period is a positive development. This could lead to more in-depth discussions between investors and the company regarding shareholder return strategies."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:48:00
  • Celltrion Launches Stekima IV in Japan, Expanding Crohns Disease Indication
    Celltrion Launches 'Stekima IV' in Japan, Expanding Crohn's Disease Indication Celltrion has launched the intravenous (IV) formulation of its autoimmune disease treatment, Stekima (ustekinumab), in Japan. Stekima is the only biosimilar of ustekinumab available in both IV and subcutaneous (SC) formulations in the country.On August 21, Celltrion announced that it completed the local launch of the Stekima IV formulation approximately four months after receiving product approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in April. The company has significantly expanded its treatment scope by adding Crohn's disease (CD) to the existing indications of psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Celltrion's Japan subsidiary plans to leverage its sales expertise gained from existing autoimmune products like Remsima (infliximab) and Yuflyma (adalimumab) to ensure the early market penetration of Stekima.Currently, Celltrion's products hold a dominant market share in Japan. As of May this year, Remsima and Yuflyma recorded market shares of 46.9% and 19.5%, respectively, maintaining their positions as the top prescribed biosimilar products.Stekima is the only biosimilar of ustekinumab available in both IV and SC formulations in Japan.Patients can initiate treatment in the early stages of the disease with the IV formulation and manage the condition long-term using the SC formulation.Celltrion's Japan subsidiary plans to actively promote the competitive advantages of Stekima to healthcare professionals at major conferences, including the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JDDW) and the Japanese Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (JSIBD), scheduled for the second half of the year.A Celltrion official stated, "With the launch of the Stekima IV formulation, we now possess both formulations, giving us a differentiated advantage over competitors. We expect this will increase preference among Japanese healthcare professionals and patients."The official added, "We will actively utilize the human network built through our existing product sales to facilitate the early market establishment of Stekima, thereby enhancing Celltrion's influence in the Japanese autoimmune disease market."Meanwhile, Seo Jung-jin, Chairman of Celltrion Group, has embarked on a global management initiative this August to expand sales in key overseas markets, including Europe, the United States, Canada, and Japan.Chairman Seo departed for Paris, France, on August 10 and is visiting major European countries before checking in on key overseas subsidiaries in the U.S., Canada, and Japan to review sales and revenue plans for the second half of the year. The company explained that this trip focuses on verifying the sales execution capabilities necessary to achieve the second-half revenue targets, rather than merely visiting overseas subsidiaries.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:44:00
  • Market Preview: U.S. Stocks Decline Amid Rising Interest Rates; KOSPI Focuses on Semiconductor and Foreign Investment
    Market Preview: U.S. Stocks Decline Amid Rising Interest Rates; KOSPI Focuses on Semiconductor and Foreign Investment The U.S. stock market fell across the board due to rising U.S. Treasury yields, a surge in international oil prices, and concerns over consumer slowdown following disappointing earnings from Walmart. However, semiconductor stocks showed strength following Micron's announcement of a significant investment in artificial intelligence (AI). As the domestic market has seen a recent drop, attention on August 21 will be on foreign investment and sector-specific trends.On August 20, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 703.84 points (1.32%) at 52,759.21. The S&P 500 fell 66.82 points (0.87%) to finish at 4,641.16, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 263.93 points (1.00%) to close at 26,067.17.The primary factor weighing on the U.S. market was the renewed rise in long-term Treasury yields. After a brief stabilization following the U.S. Treasury's announcement to expand its buyback program, yields turned upward again. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond rose to 5.24%, an increase of about 4 basis points, while the 10-year yield climbed to 4.70%.Although the Treasury hinted at the possibility of further buyback expansions, the ongoing rise in long-term rates has heightened concerns about structural supply pressures due to budget deficits, increased Treasury supply, and rising corporate bond issuance linked to big tech's AI investments.International oil prices also increased, with Brent crude for October delivery and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September rising by 2.36% and 2.33%, respectively, to $93.78 and $87.83 per barrel. Prolonged oil price increases could reignite inflationary pressures, complicating the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.Concerns over a slowdown in U.S. consumer spending further dampened investor sentiment. Walmart reported its lowest same-store sales growth in six years for the second quarter, leading to a 9.15% drop in its stock price. Rising oil prices are signaling constraints on consumer spending, raising fears of an economic slowdown.In contrast, semiconductor stocks performed relatively well. Micron announced a large-scale AI investment plan, resulting in a 4.0% increase in its stock, which supported overall investor sentiment in the semiconductor sector. Nvidia's stock only dipped by 0.3%.The domestic market is expected to open lower, influenced by rising U.S. long-term rates and weakness in the New York market.As of 8:38 a.m. on August 21, shares of Samsung Electronics were down 0.7%, and SK Hynix fell 0.1%. Other major semiconductor and tech stocks, including SK Square (-2.2%) and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-3.0%), also showed weakness.However, the domestic market's earnings momentum and low valuations are seen as factors supporting a floor. As of August 20, the consensus for KOSPI's operating profit for 2026 and 2027 was estimated at 986 trillion won and 1,311 trillion won, respectively. Analysts noted that despite rising interest rates, energy costs, and currency pressures in August, profit forecasts have not been significantly damaged.Additionally, the KOSPI's forward price-to-earnings ratio (PER) is only around 5.5 times, indicating that the valuation burden from rising rates is relatively manageable. Expectations for increased shareholder returns from large-cap stocks, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, are also expected to act as a buffer for the domestic market.Market analysts suggest that while the upward trend in long-term rates may continue, it is essential to prepare for increased volatility. However, they believe that unless there is a sharp rise in rates, the likelihood of a repeat of the market instability seen in July is low. They are also watching for a rotation into sectors that have underperformed amid ongoing foreign investment.Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "Concerns over consumer slowdown due to Walmart's poor earnings, rising international oil prices, and renewed interest rates have put pressure on the U.S. market. The domestic market is expected to open lower, influenced by rising U.S. market rates and Nasdaq weakness, but sector differentiation will unfold based on foreign investment." She added, "While the 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields remain high, market participants have been adapting to the high-rate environment throughout the year. The key factor is the speed of rate increases rather than the absolute level. Given the KOSPI's solid earnings momentum and a forward PER of only 5.5 times, a split-buy strategy focusing on large-cap stocks, including semiconductors, remains valid even if further adjustments occur."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:44:00
  • Hyundai Workers Begin Full Strike, Halting Production in Ulsan, Jeonju, and Asan
    Hyundai Workers Begin Full Strike, Halting Production in Ulsan, Jeonju, and Asan The Hyundai Motor Workers' Union (Metal Workers' Union Hyundai Branch) has initiated a full strike for the first time in a decade due to stalled wage negotiations. The production losses from previous strikes have already exceeded trillions of won, and the ongoing strike is expected to push this year's production losses beyond 3 trillion won.According to the automotive industry on August 21, in accordance with the union's strike guidelines, technical workers in the morning shift, who typically start work at 6:45 a.m., did not report for duty. The afternoon shift, starting at 3:30 p.m., also did not show up. As a result, all production lines at the Ulsan, Jeonju, and Asan plants have come to a complete halt.With both morning and afternoon shifts striking for 8 hours each, the production lines will be inactive for a total of 16 hours. Approximately 39,000 union members, including both production and office staff, are participating in the strike.The union has conducted partial strikes of 2 to 6 hours daily since the initial negotiations began on May 6, but this marks the first instance of an 8-hour strike. Notably, this is the first full strike since September 26, 2016, during wage negotiations.Union leaders and delegates are also participating in a joint strike rally organized by the Metal Workers' Union in front of the Hyundai Motor Group headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, to apply direct pressure on the company.As a result of the full strike, the cumulative strike hours for the Hyundai union this year have reached 60 hours, leading to a production halt of approximately 120 hours. Considering Hyundai's production rate of about 460 vehicles per hour, the cumulative production loss is estimated to be around 55,200 vehicles, with the associated revenue loss exceeding 2.3 trillion won.The union has announced plans for additional 4-hour partial strikes on August 24 and 25, indicating that production disruptions are likely to continue.The Hyundai management and union are at an impasse in their negotiations. The union is demanding a basic salary increase of 149,600 won, a 30% performance bonus based on last year's net profit, an increase in the bonus payment rate from 750% to 800%, an extension of the retirement age, and the reinstatement of dismissed workers.In contrast, management has proposed a basic salary increase of 89,000 won, a performance bonus equivalent to 350% of the monthly base salary plus an additional 10 million won, and the issuance of 15 shares of company stock. Regarding the extension of the retirement age, management suggested discussing it further if legal changes occur. They also stated they would review the conditions for reinstating dismissed workers based on the individuals' wishes.In a press release the day before, the union argued, "The retained earnings, which were 11.4 trillion won in 2007, have increased ninefold to 101.3 trillion won as of 2025, yet the fixed wage ratio for union members is only 54.8%, making a 50% increase in bonuses a reasonable demand."Regarding the extension of the retirement age, the union emphasized, "There is a growing social consensus on extending retirement ages, including gradual increases for public sector employees, yet the company is avoiding discussions by claiming it requires legal amendments. Our union has a history of extending retirement ages through collective bargaining, independent of legal changes."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:36:00
  • KOSPI Surges 381 Points Thanks to SK Hynix, Reclaims 6800 Level
    KOSPI Surges 381 Points Thanks to SK Hynix, Reclaims 6800 Level ◆Major News from Ajou Economy▷KOSPI rebounds 5.89% to reclaim the 6800 level thanks to SK Hynix- After a sharp drop of 5.80% the previous day, the KOSPI index surged 5.89% in a single day, recovering the 6800 level, reflecting extreme volatility with a two-day fluctuation exceeding 700 points.- Foreign investors led the rebound with a net purchase of 2.28 trillion won, triggering a buy-side circuit breaker in the securities market at 9:06 AM, while the KOSDAQ also rose by 1.99%.- The rebound was primarily driven by large-cap semiconductor stocks, with SK Hynix soaring 12.73% on plans for a 40 trillion won share buyback and cancellation. Samsung Electronics also rose by 9.49% amid expectations of significant shareholder returns.- Global investment banks positively assessed SK Hynix's large-scale shareholder return, stating it could lead to a reevaluation of corporate value without undermining its AI investment capacity, maintaining their target prices and investment ratings.- Analysts predict that the expansion of shareholder returns among large semiconductor stocks will support the lower end of domestic market valuations, and combined with the stabilization of U.S. Treasury yields, the upward trend may continue for the time being.◆Key Reports▷Gradual decline around 1400 won - The won-dollar exchange rate is expected to face limited upward pressure around 1400 won for the time being, as concerns over further interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve diminish due to slowing U.S. economic indicators, supporting a weaker dollar and a decline in the exchange rate.- The domestic dollar supply effect from export companies' negotiations and foreign currency exchanges that drove the won's strength in July has weakened in August, but the reduction in foreign net selling of domestic stocks and inflows into Korean memory semiconductor ETFs are favorable for the won.- The key drivers of the recent exchange rate have shifted from domestic supply and demand to expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve monetary policy and global dollar flows, making a sustained rise in the won-dollar exchange rate unlikely unless U.S. employment, consumption, and inflation indicators show significant improvement.- The U.S. Treasury's expansion of its bond buyback program is also seen as a factor that could ease upward pressure on long-term interest rates and reduce the attractiveness of dollar-denominated assets, limiting the upper range of the exchange rate.- With expectations of early interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan stabilizing yen weakness, the overall conditions for Asian currencies are also favorable for the won, suggesting that the won-dollar exchange rate is likely to fluctuate gradually within the 1370-1430 won range rather than experiencing a one-sided decline.◆Major Announcements After Market Close (August 20)▷Sanil Electric signs a reactor supply contract worth 51.2 billion won▷IBK Industrial Bank reports a 9.4 billion won financial fraud incident◆Fund Trends (as of August 19, excluding ETFs)▷Domestic equity funds: +34 billion won▷Overseas equity funds: +9.8 billion won◆Key Schedule for Today (August 21)▷South Korea: Producer Price Index (July)▷Japan: Consumer Price Index (July), Manufacturing PMI preliminary (August), Trade Balance (July)▷Germany: Manufacturing and Services PMI (August)▷Eurozone: Manufacturing and Services PMI (August), Consumer Confidence Index (August)▷United States: Manufacturing and Services PMI (August)* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:28:20
  • LG Electronics Demonstrates Design Excellence, Winning IDEA Award
    LG Electronics Demonstrates Design Excellence, Winning IDEA Award LG Electronics has proven its design competitiveness by winning awards at the IDEA, one of the world's top three design competitions, following its successes at the Red Dot and iF awards. The company is expanding its design capabilities beyond product design to include packaging, enhancing the overall customer experience.On August 21, LG announced that it received a total of 17 awards at the 'IDEA 2026' event organized by the Industrial Designers Society of America, including 5 bronze awards and 12 merit awards. When combined with the 55 awards it previously received from the Red Dot and iF design awards, LG has secured a total of 72 awards from the world's three major design competitions this year.The bronze awards included the 9mm thick wireless wallpaper TV 'LG Signature OLED W' and the 'LG Therma V' air source heat pump indoor unit. Other winners included the LG Smart Monitor Swing and LG Puricare Aeromini.Twelve products, including the home robot 'LG Cloid,' the LG Puricare system air purifier, and the LG Gram Pro, received merit awards. Notably, some products, such as Cloid and the Signature OLED W, achieved recognition at all three design awards, earning them triple honors.In packaging design, the Xboom series and LG Sound Suite were also recognized. This highlights LG's commitment to expanding its design competitiveness beyond product form to include packaging and brand experience.As LG continues to win awards at the world's top design competitions, experts evaluate that its design strategy, which emphasizes product differentiation, harmony with living spaces, and user convenience, is yielding positive results.Jung Wook-jun, Executive Vice President of LG's Design Management Center, stated, "This recognition reflects our design competitiveness that harmonizes with customers' living spaces while enhancing convenience and aesthetics. We will continue to provide differentiated customer experiences through innovative, customer-centric design."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-21 08:28:10