Industry

  • Memory price surge spreads from DRAM to NAND, analysts say
    Memory price surge spreads from DRAM to NAND, analysts say SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Memory chip prices are expected to continue rising in the first quarter, with momentum that began in DRAM now spreading to the NAND flash market as supply struggles to keep pace with demand, according to industry analyses. Counterpoint Research forecasts NAND flash prices will rise more than 40 percent quarter-on-quarter in the January–March period, following sharp gains already seen in DRAM during the fourth quarter amid tight supply conditions. February 3, 2026
  • Korean millionaire exodus doubles on mounting tax burden
    Korean millionaire exodus doubles on mounting tax burden SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) -South Korea saw the number of millionaires leaving the country double to 2,400 in 2025 from a year earlier, making it the world’s fourth-largest source of wealthy outflows, claimed a business lobby group to reiterate call for an overhaul of the notoriously-high inheritance tax payment system. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) released a study Tuesday projecting that inheritance tax revenue would surge from 9.6 trillion won ($6.63 bill February 3, 2026
  • Upbit operator probed over unlisted share trading practices
    Upbit operator probed over unlisted share trading practices SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Dunamu, operator of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, is under investigation by the country’s antitrust regulator over suspected unfair practices in the unlisted-share trading market. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Tuesday it recently conducted an on-site inspection at Dunamu’s headquarters in Seoul to examine allegations that the company restricted trading of its own shares to a single platform while denying si February 3, 2026
  • KT advances quantum internet push with enhanced encryption system
    KT advances quantum internet push with enhanced encryption system SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - South Korean telecom operator KT said Tuesday it has developed a quantum key distribution (QKD) device capable of generating 300,000 encryption keys per second, or 300 kilobits per second (kbps). The system is designed to prevent eavesdropping on physical communication lines by using quantum-mechanical properties that make encryption keys impossible to copy with current technology, the company said. KT previously developed a 150 kbps system in 2024 an February 3, 2026
  • Hyundai Steel produces lower-carbon steel sheet for Hyundai Motor, Kia
    Hyundai Steel produces lower-carbon steel sheet for Hyundai Motor, Kia SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Hyundai Steel said Monday it has begun mass production of lower-carbon steel sheet that reduces carbon emissions by about 20 percent compared with conventional blast-furnace products, marking a key step in the company’s transition toward greener steelmaking. The company said it conducted extensive pre-verification work to stabilize operations and secure product quality ahead of launching its electric arc furnace–blast furnace hybrid product February 3, 2026
  • LG Chem moves to halt Chinese firms operations in Korea over cathode patent dispute
    LG Chem moves to halt Chinese firm's operations in Korea over cathode patent dispute SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - LG Chem has filed for a court injunction against JaeSe Energy, the South Korean subsidiary of Chinese cathode materials producer Ronbay, seeking to halt alleged patent infringement, industry sources said Monday. If granted, the injunction could effectively suspend JaeSe Energy’s domestic operations, which have annual production capacity of 70,000 tons. According to the sources, LG Chem submitted the injunction request on Jan. 16. JaeSe Energy February 3, 2026
  • Celltrion seeks nod from Europe and Korea for Herceptin biosimilar SC formulation
    Celltrion seeks nod from Europe and Korea for Herceptin biosimilar SC formulation SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) -South Korea's biosimilar giant Celltrion said it has successfully completed the pivotal regulatory clinical trial for Herzuma SC (CT-P6 SC), a subcutaneous formulation of its breast cancer biosimilar trastuzumab, and plans to submit marketing authorization applications in Europe and South Korea within the next three months. In a press release on Monday, the company said the trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating pharmacokinetic equivalence to the February 3, 2026
  • Why Korean rockets are finding buyers on Russias European doorstep
    Why Korean rockets are finding buyers on Russia's European doorstep SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Norway’s decision to select South Korea’s Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) for its Long Range Precision Fire System (LRPFS) program reflects a broader recalibration under way among European and NATO militaries bordering Russia — one shaped less by brand loyalty than by timelines, industrial resilience and operational flexibility. The contract, signed by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency with Hanwha Aerospace, covers 16 Chu February 2, 2026
  • Krafton bridges PUBG universe with Korean traditional crafts
    Krafton bridges PUBG universe with Korean traditional crafts SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Krafton unveiled Monday a collection merging its flagship battle royale IP "PUBG: Battlegrounds" with traditional Korean craftsmanship through a state-led cultural initiative. The project, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and managed by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, aims to reimagine traditional assets within modern industries. Design studio Superposition reinterpreted the game's iconic "Blue Zone" February 2, 2026
  • Hyundai Motor Group drops buyback option for Russian plant
    Hyundai Motor Group drops buyback option for Russian plant SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group has decided not to exercise an option to repurchase its former manufacturing plant in Russia, effectively confirming its exit from the Russian market. It will only maintain support services for existing customers, according to industry sources on Monday. The group allowed the buyback option for the St. Petersburg facility to expire at the end of last month, choosing not to reacquire the plant. Hyundai Motor Group sold its enti February 2, 2026