Industry

  • HD Korea Shipbuilding lands $1 billion ultra-large LNG carrier deal
    HD Korea Shipbuilding lands $1 billion ultra-large LNG carrier deal SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore said on Tuesday it has secured its first order of the year, signing a contract to build four ultra-large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers worth a combined 1.5 trillion won ($1.03 billion). Each vessel will have a cargo capacity of 200,000 cubic meters and measure 294.8 meters in length, 48.9 meters in width and 26.7 meters in height. The ships will be built at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan and delivered in January 6, 2026
  • Koreas growth reliant on IT sector as inflation risks linger: BOK chief
    Korea's growth reliant on IT sector as inflation risks linger: BOK chief SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s economy would grow just 1.4 percent this year if the information technology sector were excluded, the country’s central bank chief said Friday, warning that uneven recovery across industries could leave households feeling worse off than headline growth figures suggest. Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong said in a New Year’s message that overall economic growth is projected at 1.8 percent this year, up from 1 percent last year and clo January 2, 2026
  • Koreas exports hit record $709.7 billion in 2025 as chip shipments surge to all-time high
    Korea's exports hit record $709.7 billion in 2025 as chip shipments surge to all-time high SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s exports hit an all-time high in 2025, surpassing $700 billion for the first time, driven by record semiconductor shipments despite weakening demand in key overseas markets. According to data released Thursday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, exports rose 3.8 percent from a year earlier to $709.7 billion, topping the previous record set in 2024. Average daily exports also reached a historic high of $2.64 billion. Semiconductor exports January 1, 2026
  • MASGA shipbuilding push lifts outlook for Korean yards
    MASGA shipbuilding push lifts outlook for Korean yards SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is expected to gain momentum next year as a bilateral initiative with the United States aimed at revitalizing American shipbuilding moves toward full implementation, industry officials said on Wednesday. The project, dubbed MASGA, short for “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again,” is designed to support Washington’s efforts to rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity. South Korean yards are widely seen as key December 31, 2025
  • New nuclear reactor in Ulsan gets green light for operation
    New nuclear reactor in Ulsan gets green light for operation SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The government committee for nuclear energy on Tuesday gave a green light to the operation of a nuclear reactor in Ulsan, ahead of its commercial launch scheduled for sometime next year. The committee said it approved the operation of the Saeul-3 reactor, formally known as Kori, in Ulju, Ulsan, after a meeting in which five of six members voted in favor, following safety reviews by the state-funded Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety as well as prior assessments by othe December 30, 2025
  • US softens export curbs on chip equipment for Samsung, SK hynix plants in China
    US softens export curbs on chip equipment for Samsung, SK hynix plants in China SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The United States has decided to partially ease planned restrictions on shipments of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix plants in China, helping the South Korean chipmakers avoid immediate and significant operational disruptions, industry officials said on Tuesday. Washington had been preparing to revoke the companies’ broad export authorization status and require case-by-case approvals for each shipment of U.S.-made equipm December 30, 2025
  • UPDATE: Koreas factory output rebounds on chips, domestic front remains slack
    UPDATE: Korea's factory output rebounds on chips, domestic front remains slack *Updated with additional information and market response SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s factory output rebounded in November after two consecutive monthly contractions, supported by a sharp pickup in semiconductor production and increased facility investment linked to AI-driven chip demand, government data showed Tuesday. Mining and manufacturing output rose 0.6 percent from the previous month, reversing declines of 4.2 percent in October and 1.0 percent in September, according December 30, 2025
  • In AI power game, China has the edge — at least for now, as U.S. makes energy a top priority
    In AI power game, China has the edge — at least for now, as U.S. makes energy a top priority Editor’s Note AI is no longer defined solely by algorithms. As large-scale deployment accelerates, data centers and power infrastructure have become decisive constraints. AJP examines how energy capacity is reshaping the U.S.–China AI rivalry — and what lessons South Korea must draw as time tightens in the global race. SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - AI is no longer constrained mainly by algorithms or chips. As data centers scale to industrial size, electricity has emerged as the d December 29, 2025
  • South Korean shipbuilders regain 20 percent market share despite global slump
    South Korean shipbuilders regain 20 percent market share despite global slump SEOUL, December 28 (AJP) - South Korean shipbuilders have successfully defended their order books this year, regaining a 20 percent global market share despite a sharp downturn in worldwide vessel orders, industry data showed Sunday. South Korea currently stands as one of the world's two dominant shipbuilding nations, locked in a fierce rivalry with China. While China often leads in sheer volume, South Korea has carved out a stronghold in the market for high-value, high-technology vessels, December 28, 2025
  • South Koreas Mirae Industries signs $7.5 million chip equipment supply deal
    South Korea's Mirae Industries signs $7.5 million chip equipment supply deal SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Mirae Industries, a South Korean manufacturer of semiconductor back-end process equipment, said on Monday it has signed an additional supply contract worth $7.5 million with Unimos Micro Electronics for semiconductor inspection equipment. In a regulatory filing, the company said the contract is equivalent to 37.7 percent of its 27 billion won in revenue recorded last year. Mirae Industries said the latest order reflects the results of its efforts to expand overseas m December 22, 2025