Hyundai Motor Group sees China sales rebound SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor’s operations in China are showing signs of recovery, supported by rebounding domestic sales and a strategy to turn its Chinese plants into export hubs. The pickup in vehicle production is also lifting parts maker Hyundai Mobis, which is on track to surpass 4 trillion won in China revenue for the first time in five years. Beijing Hyundai Motor, Hyundai’s China joint venture, sold 12,016 vehicles in November, up 71.7 percent December 19, 2025

SK hynix wins Intel certification for 256GB DDR5 server DRAM module SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - SK hynix said on Thursday it has obtained Intel Data Center certification for its 256GB DDR5 registered dual in-line memory module (RDIMM), becoming the first supplier to validate a 32Gb-based high-capacity DDR5 module on Intel’s latest Xeon 6 server platform. The module is built on the company’s fifth-generation 10-nanometer-class (1b) 32Gb DRAM and is designed for data center servers that require higher memory density as artificial intellig December 18, 2025

Hyundai Motor still at the starting line as Tesla races toward autonomous finish SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Tesla’s shares surged to a record high last Tuesday on CEO Elon Musk’s renewed push toward fully autonomous robotaxis — a breakthrough that drew cool look at Hyundai Motor’s lag in self-driving technology. Tesla has been testing its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas since early this year. What began as supervised trials has moved further, with Musk signaling over the weekend that vehicles are now operating without a driver in the December 18, 2025

Samsung tests LPDDR-based server memory as AI data centers seek lower power alternatives SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is testing a new LPDDR-based server memory module as artificial intelligence data centers increasingly prioritize power efficiency over raw performance, signaling a potential shift in how memory is deployed in next-generation AI infrastructure. The company said it has begun sampling its second-generation SOCAMM (Small Outline Compression Attached Memory Module), a server memory module built on low-power LPDDR technology, to global cus December 18, 2025

K-steel strains to stay afloat amid prolonged slump and gov't relief Editor's Note: This is the third installment in AJP's 2026 outlook series on South Korea's key industries, based on forecasts by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) -Stagnation is set to extend into 2026 for Korean steelmakers as demand remains sluggish and global markets stay flooded with low-priced Chinese exports — a downturn severe enough to draw legal protection for the industry. According to data compiled by the KCC December 18, 2025

South Korea's Daesang to buy German amino-acid maker for $36 million SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - South Korea's Daesang Corp. said on Thursday it will enter the pharmaceutical biotechnology sector through the acquisition of AMINO GmbH, a German company specializing in pharmaceutical-grade amino acids. In a regulatory filing, Daesang said it will acquire a 100 percent stake in AMINO for about 50.2 billion won ($36 million). The company said it is in the process of securing the necessary regulatory approvals and aims to complete the transaction b December 18, 2025

South Korean government backs Korea Zinc's US smelter plan SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - The South Korean government has given a positive assessment of Korea Zinc's plan to invest in a smelter in the United States, raising expectations that key procedures such as permits and financing could move more quickly. The investment is also expected to strengthen Korea Zinc’s global footprint and deliver tangible progress in South Korea–U.S. cooperation on critical minerals, the government said. Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan t December 18, 2025

Foreign jobs hit record high in South Korea, exceeding 1.1 million SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Foreign employment in South Korea has exceeded 1.1 million for the first time, driven by a sharp increase in international students and nonprofessional workers, government data showed on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics’ 2025 survey on foreign employment, the resident foreign population stood at 1.692 million this year, up 132,000, or 8.4 percent, from a year earlier. The rate of working foreign residents rose 1.4 percentage points December 18, 2025

Hyundai Motor Group conducts executive reshuffle, naming 4 new presidents SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday carried out its regular executive reshuffle, promoting four senior executives to the rank of president. Manfred Harrer was promoted to president and continues to serve as head of the research and development divisions at Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. Born in 1972, Harrer holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Munich University of Applied Sciences and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the U December 18, 2025

CJ CheilJedang brings Bibigo brand to Netflix's Culinary Class Wars Season 2 SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang said Thursday it has supplied a branded pantry stocked with Korean food products for Netflix's cooking competition series Culinary Class Wars Season 2 expanding its global marketing push following a similar tie-up with Squid Game Season 2. The food giant provided a dedicated Bibigo-branded pantry that appeared in episodes released on Dec. 16, featuring ingredients ranging from basic condiments to signature ready-to-eat products for compe December 18, 2025