news highlight

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  AI boom breathes new life into mature chips as DB HiTek orders surge SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - South Korean foundry DB HiTek is emerging as a beneficiary of tightening supplies of mature semiconductors, as booming demand from China's artificial intelligence data centers and robotics industry strains global 8-inch chip production capacity. Customer demand for DB HiTek's foundry services has risen to roughly twice its available production capacity, according to DS Investment & Securities, adding to its order backlog and strengthening e September 12, 2026
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  Korea expands espionage law as chip technology theft concerns mount SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - South Korea will broaden the scope of its espionage law from Sunday to cover spying for foreign countries, closing a decades-old legal gap as concerns grow over overseas theft of strategically important technologies including semiconductors. The revised Criminal Act, which takes effect Sept. 13, introduces a new provision allowing authorities to prosecute people who obtain, collect, disclose, transfer or broker national secrets for a foreign country or September 12, 2026
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  Chunmoo moves to the arms mainstream on the Balkan front SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Croatia’s decision to buy 18 South Korean K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers on top of its earlier order of HIMARS from the United States reflects a broader recalibration in the Western Balkans, where military modernization has accelerated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hanwha Aerospace signed a 411.8 million euro ($478 million) contract with the Croatian Ministry of Defence on Thursday to supply 18 Chunmoo launchers, ammunition carri September 11, 2026
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  Krafton, Neople win top employer honors SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korean game makers Krafton and Neople have been named top job creators by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, cited for expanded parental benefits and youth hiring. Krafton, the publisher of "PUBG: Battlegrounds," pays up to 100 million won ($74,382) over a lifetime for each child born to employees on or after Jan. 1, 2025, and has extended parental leave to as long as two years. The selection announced Friday also reflected non-cash September 11, 2026
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  AI comes at a price: $3,000 for a phone SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Apple is ready for a strong comeback after losing loyal Korean consumers to Samsung's foldables, with the iPhone's first foldable form rolling out across Korea on Oct. 23. The appeal to lure back long-term iPhone users is apparent, if form had been the sole put-off. The sole damper is the starting price tag of 3.29 million won for the entry-level 256-gigabyte model and 5.09 million won for the top-end 2-terabyte iPhone Duo. Apple has again se September 11, 2026
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  Samsung E&A lands $3.5 billion Saudi fertilizer plant deal SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) -Samsung E&A has won a $3.5 billion contract to build a major fertilizer complex in Saudi Arabia, extending its run of large overseas orders and deepening its foothold in one of its most important Middle Eastern markets. The South Korean engineering company said Friday it signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract with SABIC Agri-Nutrients for the SAN-7 project, worth about 4.7 trillion won ($3.5 billion). Samsung E&A will ca September 11, 2026
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  South Korea begins construction of new Arctic research icebreaker SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korea has begun construction of a next-generation icebreaking research vessel designed to expand the country’s access to the high Arctic and strengthen research capabilities along emerging Arctic shipping routes. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Friday that a keel-laying ceremony for the new vessel was being held at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard in South Gyeongsang Province, with around 40 officials from the ministry, Korea Pola September 11, 2026
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  Genesis puts its flagship full-size SUV on display ahead of launch SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor's luxury brand Genesis is showcasing its full-size electric sport utility vehicle (SUV), the GV90, giving South Korean customers a closer look at the vehicle ahead of its launch, the automaker said on Friday. During a two-week-long showcase running from Friday through Sept. 27 at its dealership in Suji, Gyeonggi Province, customers will be able to see the vehicle up close after the flagship SUV was first unveiled globally in San Franci September 11, 2026
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  South Korea puts SMR law into force SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korea's small modular reactor law took effect, setting up state support to bring the technology to market as artificial intelligence and data centers drive up power demand. Enacted in March, the special act and its enforcement decree require the Ministry of Science and ICT to draw up a basic plan for SMR development every five years, backed by annual implementation plans and regular progress reviews. The plan taking effect Friday must address September 11, 2026