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  Trump's Germany troop cut, EU tariff hike fuel concerns in Seoul SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany and raise tariffs on EU vehicles starting next week is raising concerns in Seoul over whether Washington could use similar pressure against South Korea. The moves come amid growing tensions between the U.S. and its allies over their response to the Iran war. The Pentagon said Friday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 U.S. troops f May 2, 2026
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  Krafton's Unknown Worlds sets May 15 early access launch for Subnautica 2 SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the creative studio under South Korean gaming giant Krafton, confirmed that its underwater survival sequel Subnautica 2 will enter early access on May 15 for PC and Xbox Series X|S, priced at $30. The title has held the top spot on Steam's global wishlist ranking for about nine consecutive months since September 2025, amassing an estimated 3.8 million wishlists and cementing its status as one of the most anticipated games of 20 May 1, 2026
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  Apple's incoming CEO signals new products as quarterly revenue hits record SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Apple's incoming chief executive John Ternus voiced strong confidence in the company's product pipeline, hinting at new categories on the horizon as the iPhone maker posted record fiscal second-quarter revenue. Speaking on a conference call on Thursday (local time) after Apple reported results for the January-March quarter, Ternus, who takes the helm in September from Tim Cook, said the company had "an incredible roadmap" ahead and was prepari May 1, 2026
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  UPDATE: Samsung Biologics union demands immediate talks as first-ever strike begins SEOUL, May 1 (AJP) - Samsung Biologics, the world's largest contract drug manufacturer by volume, was rocked on Friday by the first full-scale walkout in its 15-year history, with the union demanding management return to the bargaining table at once and the company warning of losses of up to 640 billion won ($434 million). The Samsung Biologics chapter of the Samsung Group labor union launched the strike on Friday, Labor Day, after 13 rounds of wage talks since December collap May 1, 2026
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  Samsung Elec flags prolonged AI-driven memory crunch as orders stretch to 2027 SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said surging artificial intelligence demand is likely to keep memory markets exceptionally tight well into next year, with orders now extending as far as 2027, underscoring the depth of the current supply squeeze. The company, already swamped with orders stretching into next year, said the extraordinary tightness will persist and that production will remain unaffected even if labor action proceeds. “Our capacity far lags behind April 30, 2026
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  Hanwha Aerospace posts solid Q1 earnings, record-high order backlog SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace reported solid first-quarter earnings on the back of improved performance in its aerospace division and key subsidiaries, while its order backlog reached a record high amid steady growth in overseas contracts. The company said Thursday that its consolidated revenue rose 5 percent year-on-year to 5.751 trillion won ($3.9 billion) in the January–March period, while operating profit climbed 21 percent to 638.9 billion won. By segment, t April 30, 2026
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  Krafton posts record Q1 on surging PUBG franchise revenue SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Krafton, the South Korean gaming giant behind the PUBG franchise, posted record first-quarter results as its flagship battle royale series and a newly consolidated advertising subsidiary propelled revenue to all-time highs. The company reported through regulatory filings Thursday consolidated revenue of 1.37 trillion won ($924 million) and operating profit of 561.6 billion won for the three months ended March, up 56.9 percent and 22.8 percent from a year earl April 30, 2026
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  LG Chem swings to Q1 operating loss amid EV slowdown, chemical headwinds SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - LG Chem, South Korea's largest chemical maker, reported a first-quarter operating loss of 49.7 billion won ($33.4 million), swinging from a profit a year earlier, as weakening demand across its core businesses and raw material cost volatility eroded margins. The company posted consolidated revenue of 12.25 trillion won for the January-March period, down 2.6 percent from a year ago, but up 6.2 percent from the preceding quarter, according to a regulatory f April 30, 2026
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  Korean Economy/Business Calendar SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - May 6 (Wed) Apr. 2026 Consumer Price Index (Preliminary) - Ministry of Data and Statistics May 8 (Fri) Mar. 2026 Balance of Payments (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea May 13 (Wed) Apr. 2026 Employment Trends - Ministry of Data and Statistics Mar. 2026 Money and Liquidity - Bank of Korea May 15 (Fri) Apr. 2026 Export/Import Prices + Trade Indices (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea May 19 (Tue) Q1 2026 Household Credit (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea April 30, 2026
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  LG Energy Solution posts second straight loss, bets on ESS pivot SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - LG Energy Solution reported its second consecutive quarterly operating loss in the first three months of 2026, hit by shrinking U.S. battery subsidies and weak electric vehicle demand. The nation's largest battery maker posted a consolidated operating loss of 207.8 billion won ($139.7 million) for the January to March period, reversing an operating profit of 374.7 billion won a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday. Revenue slipped April 30, 2026