Industry

  • LG Elec profit slumps in 2025 on restructuring costs, media business losses
    LG Elec profit slumps in 2025 on restructuring costs, media business losses SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - LG Electronics reported a sharp decline in operating profit in 2025, as hefty one-off restructuring costs and persistent weakness in its media and entertainment business weighed heavily on earnings, overshadowing steady growth in its core home appliance and vehicle component units. The South Korean electronics maker said its annual operating profit fell 27.5 percent from a year earlier to 2.48 trillion won ($1.8 billion), after slipping into an operating January 30, 2026
  • Samsung SDI signs major battery deal in US, possibly with Tesla
    Samsung SDI signs major battery deal in US, possibly with Tesla SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - Samsung SDI has signed a large battery supply contract in the United States for energy storage systems, the company said on Friday. Samsung SDI said details of the contract, including its value and duration, will remain confidential until Jan. 1, 2030. The counterparty was not also disclosed, but industry officials widely view Tesla as the leading candidate. Tesla has been actively securing battery supplies for ESS, including a 6 trillion won contract January 30, 2026
  • Hyundai Rotem posts record profit on K2 tank exports to Poland
    Hyundai Rotem posts record profit on K2 tank exports to Poland SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyundai Rotem surpassed 1 trillion won in annual operating profit for the first time, driven by strong export contracts including K2 battle tanks for Poland. In a regulatory filing on Friday, the company said revenue rose 33.4 percent from a year earlier to 5.84 trillion won, while operating profit surged 120.3 percent to 1.01 trillion won. Fourth-quarter revenue increased 12.8 percent to 1.6 trillion won, and operating profit climb January 30, 2026
  • Korean Economy/Business Calendar
    Korean Economy/Business Calendar SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - Feb 2 (Mon) 4Q 2025 & Annual Results - Samsung SDI Feb 3 (Tue) Jan. 2026 Consumer Price Index (CPI) - Ministry of Data and Statistics Feb 4 (Wed) 4Q 2025 Results - Hanwha Ocean Feb 5 (Thu) 4Q 2025 Results - Hanwha Systems Feb 5–6 (Thu–Fri) 4Q 2025 Results - NAVER Feb 6 (Fri) Dec. 2025 Balance of Payments (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea Feb 8 (Sun) 4Q 2025 Results - HD Hyundai Heavy In January 30, 2026
  • Koreas finance minister touts AI, new growth sectors in talks with Moodys
    Korea's finance minister touts AI, new growth sectors in talks with Moody's SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol met with a delegation from Moody’s Investors Service on Friday, outlining the country’s plan to bolster medium- and long-term competitiveness through artificial intelligence and new growth industries. Koo met the Moody's team, which included Anushka Shah, a director overseeing sovereign ratings, at the Government Complex Seoul to discuss recent economic develo January 30, 2026
  • KG Mobilitys cumulative sales in Turkey top 50,000 vehicles
    KG Mobility's cumulative sales in Turkey top 50,000 vehicles SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korean automaker KG Mobility (KGM) said on Friday that cumulative vehicle sales in Turkey, one of its key export markets, exceeded 50,000 units through last year. The company said it maintained strong momentum through improved product competitiveness and aggressive marketing, exporting 11,122 vehicles to Turkey in 2024 and 13,337 in 2025. Turkey was KGM’s largest export market over the 2024–2025 period and accounted for 19 percent of i January 30, 2026
  • Daewoong Pharma inks $20.5 million Nabota supply contract for Mexico
    Daewoong Pharma inks $20.5 million Nabota supply contract for Mexico SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korea's Daewoong Pharmaceutical has signed a 29.5 billion won ($20.5 million) export contract to supply its botulinum toxin product Nabota to Mexico. With the agreement, Nabota has entered Mexico as well as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile — the five largest aesthetic and plastic-surgery markets in Latin America, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Daewoong said it has expanded Nabota’s pres January 30, 2026
  • HD Korea Shipbuilding wins order for liquefied CO2 carriers
    HD Korea Shipbuilding wins order for liquefied CO2 carriers SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering said on Friday it has secured an order to build two liquefied carbon dioxide carriers. The company said it recently signed a contract with Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. to construct two LCO₂ carriers with a cargo capacity of 12,000 cubic meters each. The vessels will be built at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan and delivered to the shipowner in stages by the secon January 30, 2026
  • UPDATE: Koreas factory output strongest in four months in December, slows for full 2025
    UPDATE: Korea's factory output strongest in four months in December, slows for full 2025 *Updated with additional information and market response SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s factory output grew at its fastest pace in four months in December, driven by chip-led exports and a sharp rebound in construction, though growth slowed for full-year 2025 amid prolonged weakness in building activity. Mining and manufacturing production rose 1.7 percent from the previous month, rebounding from two consecutive contractions and accelerating from a 0.8 pe January 30, 2026
  • Buldak boom powers Samyang to record revenue, profit
    'Buldak' boom powers Samyang to record revenue, profit SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korean noodle company Samyang Foods said it surpassed 2 trillion won in annual revenue for the first time since its founding, doubling sales in just two years on the back of strong overseas demand for its "Buldak" brand. In a regulatory filing on Friday, the company reported preliminary consolidated revenue of 2.35 trillion won for last year, up 36 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit jumped 52 percent to a record 523.9 bi January 30, 2026