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  Celltrion posts record profit as new biosimilars drive sales growth SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion reported record annual earnings on Thursday as strong sales of newer, higher-margin biosimilars lifted both revenue and profitability. In a regulatory filing, the firm said consolidated revenue for 2025 rose 17 percent from a year earlier to 4.16 trillion won, while operating profit jumped 137.5 percent to 1.17trillion won. It marked the first time Celltrion surpassed both 4 trillion won in annual revenue February 5, 2026
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  Hanwha expands Middle East footprint with debut of AI-integrated defense systems SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - Hanwha is set to showcase next-generation, AI-enabled weapon systems on the global stage for the first time, signaling a major push into the Middle Eastern defense market and a deepening strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia. Hanwha aims to demonstrate South Korea’s defense competitiveness at the World Defense Show 2026 (WDS), to be held in Riyadh from Feb. 8 to 12. Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean announced Wednesday that they February 5, 2026
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  Hyundai Motor expands hydrogen truck push in Europe SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor is stepping up promotion of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in Europe and North America, as its hydrogen-electric truck fleet in Europe surpassed 20 million kilometers in cumulative driving, the company said Thursday. The milestone underscores Hyundai’s push to expand hydrogen mobility overseas as governments and logistics companies seek to cut transport emissions. Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks first entered servic February 5, 2026
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  South Korean trade minister urges swift passage of US investment bill SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - South Korea’s trade minister Yeo Han-koo on Thursday urged swift passage of a special law to support investment in the United States, warning that delays in the National Assembly risk being misinterpreted in Washington as a lack of commitment. Speaking after returning from Washington, Yeo said progress on the bill has slowed, raising concerns that the United States could see this as reluctance by Seoul to carry out agreed tariff measures. Duri February 5, 2026
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  Korean tire makers weather US tariff headwinds, turn focus to high-end segment SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korean tire manufacturers reported higher sales last year despite the impact of U.S. tariffs on auto parts, supported by solid replacement-tire demand and price increases. Hankook Tire & Technology said Wednesday its tire business recorded sales of 10.32 trillion won ($7.7 billion) last year, up 9.6 percent from a year earlier and surpassing the 10 trillion won mark for the first time. Operating profit, however, fell 4.4 percent to 1.68 trill February 4, 2026
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  South Korea's KakaoBank posts record profit in 2025, eyes overseas expansion SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korean internet-only lender KakaoBank reported record annual earnings on Wednesday with pledges to pursue overseas expansion and mergers and acquisitions to secure future growth. In a regulatory filing, KakaoBank said net profit last year rose 9.1 percent to a record 480.3 billion won ($360 million), compared with 440.1 billion won a year earlier. The bank said declining market interest rates weighed on interest income, but noninterest income pos February 4, 2026
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  Hanwha Ocean's 2025 profit nearly quadruples on LNG carrier, naval ship demand SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean's operating profit nearly quadrupled in 2025 from a year earlier, driven by strong sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and special-purpose vessels. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, the South Korean shipbuilder reported revenue of 12.69 trillion won ($9.5 billion) for 2025, up 18 percent from the previous year, while operating profit surged 366 percent to 1.11 trillion won. The company attributed the earnings improvemen February 4, 2026
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  Korea Zinc to develop next-generation battery material for drones, robots SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Korea Zinc said on Wednesday it has signed partnerships with two materials companies to develop composite copper foil, a next-generation battery component used for lightweight, high-performance batteries for drones and humanoid robots. The partnered firms are Taesung and Neo Battery Materials Korea. Korea Zinc said the three firms will jointly develop advanced battery technologies using composite copper foil for small mobility applications. Compo February 4, 2026
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  LG Electronics showcases B2B solutions at North American, European trade shows SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - LG Electronics is participating in major business-to-business trade shows in North America and Europe this week, presenting heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and commercial display solutions as it seeks to expand its B2B operations. The South Korean electronics maker exhibited HVAC solutions ranging from unitary systems to AI data center cooling technology at AHR EXPO 2026, North America's largest air conditioning trade show, which co February 4, 2026
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  Hyundai Rotem to supply vehicles for light-rail lines in Edmonton, Canada SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyundai Rotem has won a contract to supply light-rail vehicles for all light-rail transit (LRT) lines operating in Edmonton, Canada. The company said on Wednesday it signed a 320 billion won ($240 million) agreement on Monday local time with the City of Edmonton in Alberta to supply high-floor LRT vehicles. The order covers 32 trainsets, each consisting of three cars, with a maximum operating speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The tr February 4, 2026