Hyundai Motor Group to expand plug-and-charge EV network in South Korea SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group said on Thursday it will begin a large-scale expansion of its plug-and-charge (PnC) electric vehicle charging network next year, aiming to make EV charging more convenient and secure for drivers. Plug-and-charge is an international standard that automatically manages user authentication, charging and payment when a vehicle is connected to a charger, the automaker said. Unlike conventional EV charging systems that require drivers December 18, 2025

K-Sure provides $1.7 billion financing for Verizon's purchase of Samsung devices SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Korea Trade Insurance Corp. (K-Sure) said on Thursday it will provide $1.7 billion in financing for a project under which Verizon Communications Inc., the largest telecommunications operator in the United States, will purchase mobile devices from Samsung Electronics. Verizon, which K-Sure said has about 150 million subscribers and the largest share of the U.S. telecom market, will use the entire amount to buy Samsung-made communications devices, includ December 18, 2025

Hanwha Systems to supply cockpit displays for F-15 jets in deal with Boeing SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - South Korea's Hanwha Systems said on Thursday it has secured its first foothold in the U.S. defense market by winning a contract to export digital avionics equipment to Boeing. The South Korean defense company said it has signed a deal to supply Boeing with a large-area multifunction display, known as the enhanced large-area display (ELAD), for F-15K fighter jets and the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX aircraft. The display integrates information December 18, 2025

Samsung C&T advances Australian energy push with HVDC transmission deal SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Samsung C&T Corp.’s construction unit said on Thursday it has won a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project in Australia. The company said it signed a contract with Marinus Link, a government-backed company established by Australia’s federal government and the state governments of Victoria and Tasmania, for the Marinus Link HVDC project. The project involves the engineering, procurement and construction of a 750-meg December 18, 2025

Naver seeks to complete acquisition of Spain's Wallapop, steps up European expansion SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - South Korean internet company Naver Corp. is entering the final stages of its acquisition of Wallapop, Spain’s largest consumer-to-consumer marketplace, accelerating its expansion into Europe, industry sources said on Thursday. Naver said the deal is aimed at strengthening its position in the global consumer market while enhancing services through the integration of its core artificial intelligence technologies. Naver said on Tuesday that it wil December 18, 2025

Korea's Doosan Corp. named preferred bidder for wafer maker SK siltron SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Heavy-equipment-strong South Korean conglomerate Doosan Group has moved closer to the chipmaking segment after being named the preferred bidder to acquire SK siltron, the world’s third-largest maker of silicon wafers. SK Inc. said in a regulatory filing Wednesday that it had notified Doosan Corp. of its selection as the preferred negotiating partner for the sale of its stake in SK siltron. SK Inc. holds 70.6 percent in the wafer entity. Given December 18, 2025

LG Energy Solution ends $6.5 bn deal with Ford amid EV slowdown SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) -South Korea's LG Energy Solution said Wednesday it has terminated an electric vehicle battery supply contract with Ford Motor worth an estimated 9.6 trillion won ($6.5 billion), after the U.S. automaker decided to halt production of some EV models amid shifting policy conditions and a softer demand outlook. In a regulatory filing after the stock market closure, the South Korean battery maker said the termination followed formal notice from Ford, which December 17, 2025

Hanwha to develop radar for South Korea's next-generation missile shield SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems said it has secured a contract worth about $135 million to develop a multifunction radar for South Korea’s next-generation Cheongung-III missile defense system. The contract is part of the M-SAM Block-III program, led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and will run through June 2030, the company said on Wednesday. The project represents the first full-scale development of the Cheongung-III system since the upgrade of C December 17, 2025

South Korea's Doosan Enerbility wins new US gas turbine order for data center SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Doosan Enerbility said on Wednesday it has signed a contract to supply three large gas turbines to a major U.S. technology company. Under the deal, Doosan Enerbility will supply three 380-megawatt gas turbines for use at the customer’s data center, with one unit scheduled for delivery in 2027 and the remaining two in 2028. The company did not disclose the name of the customer or the contract value. The latest agreement follows an earlier deal December 17, 2025

Korea's shipbuilders to extend order growth streak in 2026 Editor's Note: This is the second 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 17 (AJP) - South Korea's shipbuilding industry is expected to extend its growth streak into 2026 after posting record shipments in 2025, although slowing global orders and intensifying competition from Chinese yards are emerging headwinds, according to forecasts compiled by December 17, 2025