Former Samsung researchers indicted over chip technology leak to China SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean prosecutors said on Tuesday they have indicted five former employees of Samsung Electronics for leaking core semiconductor technology to a Chinese memory chipmaker. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said five people were detained and charged with violating South Korea’s Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act and Industrial Technology Protection Act. Five others, including engineers at China's Ch December 23, 2025

South Korea's Shinhan Card reports leak of data on 190,000 merchants Shinhan Card headquarters in Seoul/ Courtesy of Shinhan Card SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Shinhan Card said on Tuesday information on about 190,000 merchants, including store owners’ mobile phone numbers, was leaked in an incident caused by an employee rather than a cyberattack. According to financial industry sources, Shinhan Card confirmed the data leak through an internal investigation and reported the case to the country's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC). December 23, 2025

LIG Nex1 to develop core technologies for Korea's combat unmanned surface vessel SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean defense company LIG Nex1 has begun developing core technologies for a combat unmanned surface vessel (USV), in a move aimed at advancing the Navy’s manned-unmanned combined maritime combat capability. LIG Nex1 said on Tuesday it signed an agreement on Dec. 19 with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) to develop an integrated control system and an autonomous mission system for a combat USV under a packaged weapon-sys December 23, 2025

Korea's bio-health exports eye bumper year in 2026 on global growth Editor's Note: This is the fourth installment in AJP's 2026 outlook series on South Korea's key industries. SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s bio-health industry — spanning pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics — is set for a record year in 2026, with total exports expected to surpass the $30 billion mark, powered by the country’s strength in contract manufacturing and the global expansion of K-beauty. According to the Korea Hea December 23, 2025

Bank of Korea flags growing investor preference for overseas stocks SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean retail investors have been taking profits when local share prices rise while continuing to buy overseas stocks, a shift the central bank linked to differences in long-term return expectations. In its Financial Stability Report released on Tuesday, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said that from July to October — when both South Korean and U.S. equity markets were rising — individual investors were net sellers of 23 trillion won in dom December 23, 2025

POSCO invests $3 million in US humanoid robot startup in push for 'physical AI' SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - POSCO DX is making a strategic investment in a U.S.-based industrial humanoid robot startup as it seeks to accelerate automation and improve safety at heavy industrial sites such as steel mills. POSCO DX, led by Chief Executive Shim Min-seok, said on Tuesday it will invest $2 million in Persona AI and collaborate with the company on joint robot development. Including a separate $1 million investment from a fund backed by POSCO Technology Investment, the December 23, 2025

Hyundai E&C joins offshore wind farm project in $480 million deal SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) said on Tuesday it has signed a construction contract worth 668.4 billion won ($480 million) to participate in an offshore wind farm project off Sinan, South Jeolla Province, a development with a total construction cost of 2.64 trillion won. The project, led by Hanwha Ocean, calls for the installation of 26 offshore wind turbines, each with a capacity of 15 megawatts, in waters southeast of Uido December 23, 2025

Korean automaker KGM partners with Samsung SDI on developing EV battery packs SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean automaker KG Mobility (KGM) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung SDI to form a strategic partnership aimed at developing and commercializing electric vehicle battery packs. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop cylindrical nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) battery packs and cooperate closely on high-voltage battery pack development, testing and production. The project will use Samsung SDI’s cylind December 23, 2025

KAI-backed AI firm Meissa raises $7 million ahead of planned 2026 IPO SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said on Tuesday that Meissa, a drone- and satellite-based geospatial artificial intelligence company in which it is a strategic investor, has completed a 9.7 billion won ($7 million) pre-IPO equity financing round. The deal brings Meissa’s cumulative funding to 35 billion won, the company said, adding that the proceeds will be used to upgrade its business operations. Meissa is targeting an IPO in the second half o December 23, 2025

South Korea unveils roadmap to move chemical sector up global value chain SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korea will revamp public-private research and development in its chemical industry to accelerate a shift toward higher value-added and environmentally friendly production, the government said on Tuesday, aiming to lift the sector’s global standing by 2030. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said it launched a chemical industry innovation alliance at a ceremony held at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, attended by representatives fro December 23, 2025