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Hanwha chairman visits Jeju space center, underscores private space ambitions SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn visited the firm's Jeju Space Center on Thursday, underscoring the conglomerate’s push to build a private-sector space industry ecosystem. The Jeju center, located in Seogwipo on Jeju Island, is a key base for the group's space business. Kim toured satellite production and testing facilities and received briefings on this year’s business plan and Hanwha’s broader space operations. “ January 8, 2026
Shinsegae Casa completes acquisition of Jaju, targets 500 bln won in revenue this year SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Shinsegae Casa said on Wednesday it has completed the acquisition of the operating business of lifestyle brand Jaju, finalizing the transaction on Dec. 31 as it moves to broaden its portfolio beyond furniture. The company said the deal will help expand its business scope from home interiors to everyday lifestyle categories such as household goods and fashion, reducing earnings volatility tied to housing cycles and construction market conditions. Shinse January 8, 2026
Samsung Electronics record Q4 may be just the start of red-hot streak SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ record fourth-quarter results may mark the start of a two-digit, billion-dollar earnings run, as AI infrastructure — from data centers to humanoid robots — drives memory prices into uncharted territory. In preliminary earnings guidance released Thursday, the South Korean tech giant said operating profit for the October–December period reached 20 trillion won ($14 billion), more than tripling from a year earlier January 8, 2026
South Korea's K Bank targets 85 trillion won assets by 2030 SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Choi Woo-hyung, CEO of South Korea's digital lender K Bank, said on Thursday the bank aims to become a “comprehensive digital finance platform” by 2030, targeting 26 million customers and 85 trillion won ($59 billion) in assets. Choi unveiled the mid- to long-term growth strategy at the bank’s 10th anniversary event. For this year, K Bank set a goal of reaching 18 million customers, supported by three growth pillars: platform- January 8, 2026
K-food finds lasting appeal in China through social media, localization SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Walking through university districts and busy shopping streets in major Chinese cities, signs for Korean-style food are increasingly hard to miss. Advertisements for “Korean-style lunch boxes,” “Korean fried chicken” and rabokki — ramyeon cooked with tteokbokki rice cakes — line storefronts catering to young consumers. Convenience stores prominently stock Shin Ramyun and Buldak Bokkeum Myun with Chinese-language label January 8, 2026
Energy projects drive Hyundai E&C to record-breaking orders in 2025 SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - Hyundai Engineering & Construction said on Thursday it secured 25.5 trillion won ($17.6 billion) in new orders last year, up 39 percent from 2024 and the highest annual total in the company’s history. Hyundai E&C said it was the first South Korean builder to surpass 25 trillion won in annual orders, attributing the performance to a strategic shift beyond traditional construction into energy-transition projects. At a “CEO Inves January 8, 2026
South Korea's finance chief warns won's volatility remains high, vows swift action SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - South Korea’s deputy prime minister and finance minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Thursday that volatility in the foreign exchange market “remains high," pledging swift follow-up measures to stabilize overall conditions. Koo made the remarks at a policy coordination meeting attended by Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong, Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin and Financial Services Commission Vice Chairman Kwon D January 8, 2026
[CES 2026] Hyundai Mobis deepens future mobility push with Boston Dynamics, Qualcomm ties LAS VEGAS, January 08 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyundai Mobis has announced a series of strategic partnerships at CES 2026 in Las Vegas aimed at expanding its role in future mobility, including a robotics supply deal with Boston Dynamics and a technology cooperation agreement with Qualcomm. As part of Hyundai Motor Group’s push to build an artificial-intelligence-driven robotics ecosystem, Hyundai Mobis said it has established a cooperation framework with Boston Dynamics a January 8, 2026
South Korea urged to diversify strategic mineral sourcing amid China risks SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) - China’s curbs on exports of strategic minerals, including rare earths, are intensifying calls for South Korea to accelerate efforts to stabilize its supply chain, with business and academic circles urging the government to diversify sourcing and offer stronger incentives for refining and processing. South Korea’s government-led drive to secure strategic minerals has largely stalled for more than a decade. While trading houses and materials c January 8, 2026
Samsung Elec estimates best-ever income $14 bn for Q4 and $30 bn for full 2025 SEOUL, January 08 (AJP) -Samsung Electronics reported record 20 trillion won ($14 billion) in operating profit for the quarter ended December and 43.5 trillion won for full-year 2025 — driven by the so-called “hyper bull” cycle in memory chips amid widening artificial intelligence adoption. In its earnings guidance released Thursday, the South Korean tech giant said it is estimated to have raked in 20 trillion won in operating profit for the October–Decemb January 8, 2026