HanmiGlobal, KEPCO team up with UK firm on overseas nuclear projects SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - South Korea's HanmiGlobal said Monday it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Korea Electric Power Engineering & Construction and U.K.-based project management firm Turner & Townsend to jointly pursue nuclear power projects overseas. The agreement follows a nuclear cooperation MOU signed last year between HanmiGlobal and KEPCO E&C. The three companies will build an integrated advisory package covering nuclear plant design, eng January 12, 2026

Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold wins top honors at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said Monday its Galaxy Z TriFold device won top honors at CNET’s Best of CES 2026 Awards, taking the overall “Best Product” prize as well as the “Best Mobile Tech” award. CNET, a U.S.-based technology outlet and an official partner of the Consumer Technology Association, works with the CTA to select winners from products unveiled at the annual CES. More than 40 technology experts evaluated entries showca January 12, 2026

Kia unveils EV2 compact SUV at Belgium motor show SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Kia Corp. on Monday unveiled the EV2, a new compact electric sport-utility vehicle, making its global debut at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show in Belgium. Inside, the vehicle features a wide digital display layout comprising a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 5-inch climate control display and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Kia retained physical buttons for key controls and added ambient lighting and a column-mounted shift-by-wire system. The EV2 GT Line in January 12, 2026

South Korea's HMM installs wind-assist propulsion system on oil tanker SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - HMM said Monday it has become the first South Korean shipping company to deploy a Wing Sail wind-assist propulsion system, as vessel operators seek to curb fuel costs and comply with tightening environmental rules. Wind-assist propulsion systems harness wind power to supplement conventional engines and are regarded as an environmentally friendly technology. They are typically installed on vessels without deck cargo and have been adopted primarily by bul January 12, 2026

SK On pushes into LFP batteries for early lead in Korea's energy storage market SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - South Korean battery maker SK On is moving forward with plans to establish a lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, battery production system for energy storage applications at its Seosan facility, according to industry officials on Monday. The company could place orders for LFP battery manufacturing equipment as early as the first quarter of this year, the officials said. It is expected to install an energy storage system, or ESS, battery production line in t January 12, 2026

Coupang financial units come under scrutiny as Seoul widens probe SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) -South Korean regulators are moving to investigate Coupang’s financial units as part of pan-government scrutiny following the country’s largest-ever data leak, amid criticism over what is seen as a lack of response from the company’s U.S.-based headquarters as its customer base remains largely intact. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will begin parallel formal inspections of Coupang affiliates that handle financial services . Offici January 11, 2026

Samsung heir Lee Ji-ho assigned to Navy mine warfare unit as interpreter officer SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) -UL — Ensign Lee Ji-ho, the eldest son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, has been assigned to the South Korean Navy’s 5th Mine Countermeasures and Amphibious Operations Flotilla, according to military and industry sources on Saturday. Lee will serve as an interpreter officer in the flotilla’s information and operations staff office. The unit, which operates directly under the Navy Operations Command, specializes in mine w January 11, 2026

Korea's instant-noodle exports top $1.5 billion, doubling in three years S​​​​EOUL, January 11 (AJP) -South Korea’s ramyeon exports topped US$1.5 billion last year, extending a long-running rise as the product becomes a leading item in the country’s food exports. Preliminary Korea Customs Service data released Sunday showed ramyeon exports rose 21.8 percent from a year earlier to a record US$1.521 billion (about 2.2 trillion won). Exports were US$952 million in 2023, below US$1 billion, but climbed by more than US$500 million i January 11, 2026

Musk says Tesla's humanoid robot could outperform top surgeons within three years SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk said humanoid robots could surpass the world’s best human surgeons within three years, arguing that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics will transform healthcare faster than many expect. Musk made the remarks on the “Moonshots” podcast hosted by U.S. physician and engineer Peter Diamandis, outlining his vision for Tesla’s Optimus robot and the future of medical care. “Right now there& January 10, 2026

South Korea's second ESS tender nears as Samsung SDI leads and rivals press safety pitch SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - With just three days left until the proposal deadline, South Korea’s major battery makers are stepping up efforts to win contracts in the second round of the country’s centralized energy storage system (ESS) tender, highlighting safety and technology as key selling points. Industry sources said on Friday that LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On will all submit bids for the tender, with proposals due by Jan. 12 and final selections expected January 10, 2026