SK hynix files for US IPO listing SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - SK hynix has begun taking steps for a U.S. stock-market listing, the chipmaker said on Wednesday. It filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the previous day, seeking a listing on a U.S. stock market via American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). ADRs allow non-U.S. companies to trade their shares on U.S. stock exchanges through depositary banks rather than by listing shares directly, making it easier f March 25, 2026

Little-known Korean tanker bet pays off as Hormuz crisis turns VLCCs into liquid gold SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - A little-known South Korean shipowner has emerged as one of the biggest winners of the Persian Gulf crisis, as a wartime chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz transforms oil tankers into highly profitable floating storage — and draws takeover interest from the world’s largest container carrier. Janggeum Maritime, the tanker arm of Sinokor Merchant Marine Group, has struck an investment deal with Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), under March 24, 2026

Samsung Electronics showcases joint HVAC solutions with newly acquired FläktGroup at MCE 2026 SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions jointly with FläktGroup at the MCE 2026 exhibition in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday. The event marks the first joint showcase since Samsung's acquisition of the climate control firm in November. Samsung is displaying a centralized HVAC system that connects FläktGroup's five indoor units with its own outdoor units, such as the DVM S2+, managed March 24, 2026

Gov't mulls export restrictions on naphtha amid supply disruptions SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - The government is considering imposing restrictions on exports of naphtha amid supply shortages as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East drags on. At a press briefing at the government complex in the administrative city of Sejong on Tuesday, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, "We are discussing with relevant ministries steps to take, which would include restrictions on exports and a ban on hoarding." Naphtha, a primary raw materia March 24, 2026

Beyond HBM: The next AI memory race is already underway DAEJEON, March 24 (AJP) - High bandwidth memory (HBM) is what enabled the current artificial intelligence boom, giving chips the speed needed to train large-scale models. But as AI shifts from training to real-world deployment, the industry is running into a different constraint — not speed, but scale. That shift is beginning to redefine the competitive landscape. The next phase of the AI chip race may hinge not on HBM itself, but on what comes after it: high bandwidth flas March 24, 2026

Samsung SDI signs mid-to-long-term LFP cathode supply deal with L&F SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Samsung SDI said it has signed a mid-to-long-term supply agreement with domestic battery materials maker L&F to secure lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials outside of China, as it accelerates its push into the North American energy storage system (ESS) market. Under the agreement announced Tuesday, Samsung SDI will procure about 1.6 trillion won ($1.06 billlion) worth of LFP cathode materials from L&F over three years beginning next year for March 24, 2026

HMM marks 50th anniversary with new vision, growth strategy SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - South Korean container shipping giant HMM unveiled a new corporate vision and growth strategy as it marked the eve of its 50th founding anniversary, signaling fresh ambitions to expand beyond its core shipping business. At a ceremony held at the company's headquarters Tuesday in Yeouido, Seoul, Chief Executive Choi Won-hyok and about 100 employees gathered to formally launch the vision statement "Move Beyond Maritime," which the company describe March 24, 2026

Celltrion to invest 1.2 trillion won in new Songdo plant, expanding drug substance capacity to 571,000 liters SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Celltrion announced plans to invest about 1.23 trillion won ($821 million) to build two new drug substance manufacturing plants at its Songdo campus in Incheon, as it moves to meet rising global demand for its biosimilar and novel drug products. The new Plants 4 and 5 will add 180,000 liters of drug substance (DS) production capacity to Celltrion's existing network, the company said Tuesday. Combined with a separately announced expansion at its Branchb March 24, 2026

Korea's PPI extends gains for sixth month in Feb; war-driven pressure yet to hit SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) — South Korea’s producer prices rose for a sixth straight month in February, as higher energy and commodity costs lifted input prices across the board, pointing to building import-driven inflation pressure even before the full impact of war-related shocks. The producer price index (PPI) stood at 121.36 (2020=100) in February, up 0.6 percent from a month earlier, according to preliminary data released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) on Tuesday. On a March 24, 2026

Samsung Electronics and union reopen talks, strike risk lingers SEOUL, March 23 (AJP)-Management at Samsung Electronics and its labor union held an unexpected executive-level meeting Monday, signaling a possible thaw in tensions after the union abruptly canceled a planned rally outside Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s residence. Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun, who leads the critical Device Solutions (DS) division, met a four-member delegation from a joint protest committee that includes representatives of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSE March 23, 2026