Samsung says foldables have arrived — now AI is the real race SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said foldable smartphones have entered the mainstream, shifting the competitive battleground from hardware form factors to artificial intelligence as it expands its Galaxy Z8 lineup and pushes agentic AI across its device ecosystem. Speaking to reporters after Galaxy Unpacked in London, TM Roh, Samsung Electronics' chief executive and head of the Mobile eXperience (MX) division, said the newly unveiled Galaxy Z8 series marked a new st July 23, 2026

US House passes defense bill tightening guardrail against USFK troop cuts SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a fiscal 2027 defense policy bill that would strengthen congressional guardrails against any move to reduce the number of American troops stationed in South Korea below 28,500. The House approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday in a 216-212 vote, advancing a $1.15 trillion defense policy package that authorizes military programs and sets national security priorities for the July 23, 2026

Naver exports smart-building tech to Tokyo tower in first commercial deal SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Team Naver, the consortium of Naver affiliates including Naver itself and Naver Cloud, announced it has deployed the smart-building technology behind its "1784" headquarters at a major Tokyo commercial complex. Working with NTT East and Mitsui Fudosan, the company revealed Thursday that it has fitted Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, a mixed-use office and retail tower in central Tokyo, with the autonomous robots, cloud-based control systems and digital-twin infr July 23, 2026

GM Korea reaches tentative wage deal with labor union SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - GM Korea has reached a tentative wage deal with its labor union after weeks of negotiations, the automaker said on Thursday. The tentative deal includes a 92,000 South Korean won (about US$60) increase in monthly base pay and a total of 15 million won in lump-sum payments including bonuses and performance-based incentives. The deal reportedly also includes plans to assign new vehicle models to its plants in South Korea by the third quarter of next year. G July 23, 2026

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. "W July 23, 2026

Samsung Biologics posts 30% jump in second-quarter revenue SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Samsung Biologics reported a 30 percent rise in second-quarter revenue to 1.32 trillion won ($894 million), lifted by full utilization of its first four plants and a favorable won-dollar exchange rate, the South Korean contract drugmaker said. According to regulatory filings released Thursday, operating profit climbed 23 percent from a year earlier to 586.4 billion won. The robust growth came despite the company's first-ever full walkout, a five-day str July 23, 2026

Samsung's foldables share spotlight with AI eyewear at Galaxy Unpacked SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Wednesday unveiled three new foldable smartphones and detailed its first AI-powered smart glasses, expanding the Galaxy ecosystem as it seeks to make artificial intelligence a more proactive part of consumers’ daily lives. At its Galaxy Unpacked event in London, the South Korean technology giant introduced the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8, marking the first time it has offered three distinct models in i July 22, 2026

New joint military academy campus could take decade to build, ministry says SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Building a new campus in Daejeon for South Korea’s planned joint military academy could take about 10 years, the Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday, raising the possibility that a temporary facility may be used before construction is completed. Kim Hong-chul, head of the ministry’s defense policy office, told reporters after a policy forum at the Korean Constitutional Association in Seoul that construction of the new campus would take &ldq July 22, 2026

AMCHAM launches program connecting South Korean firms with US lawmakers SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - A new program launched by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) will give South Korean businesses direct access to senior U.S. policymakers, the U.S. business lobby in Seoul said on Wednesday. According to AMCHAM, the program, called "K-Doorknock," made its debut with its annual visit to Washington, D.C., from July 13 to 16. A delegation from about a dozen companies led by AMCHAM chairman James Kim held more than 30 meetings with Whit July 22, 2026

Exclusive: Samsung brings ChatGPT Enterprise into prized chip business SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is set to deploy ChatGPT Enterprise into its prized and heavily coveted semiconductor business by the end of July, signaling a strategic shift as artificial intelligence enters one of the company's most security-sensitive operations. The rollout marks a notable turn for Samsung's Device Solutions (DS) division, which oversees its semiconductor operations and has maintained some of the company's toughest restrictions on extern July 22, 2026