• 
  Samsung mandates English for documents between overseas and Korean units SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Samsung’s major overseas units will adopt English as the sole language for documents exchanged both internally and with South Korea-based operations, part of a push to reduce inefficiencies from using multiple languages, the group said on Monday. According to an internal notice, Samsung will require documents shared between domestic and overseas operations at three key affiliates — Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display and Samsung Biologic February 2, 2026
• 
  Mobile shopping drives record online spending in South Korea SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s online shopping transactions reached a record high last year, with cross-border online trade also expanding, official data showed on Monday. According to a report from the National Data Portal, total online shopping transactions rose 4.9 percent from a year earlier to 272.4 trillion won. Mobile shopping continued to dominate spending, rising 6.5 percent to 211.14 trillion won. Food services accounted for the largest share February 2, 2026
• 
  Hanwha Aerospace signs $922mln deal to supply Chunmoo rocket systems to Norway SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - A joint effort to bolster Nordic defense reached a major milestone as Hanwha Aerospace secured a contract to supply the Chunmoo Multiple Rocket Launcher System (MRLS) to the Norwegian Armed Forces. The agreement, valued at approximately 922 million dollars, marks the first major defense contract for the South Korean company in 2026. The Chunmoo system is a multi-caliber rocket artillery platform capable of firing different munitions from two separate l February 2, 2026
• 
  Rising overseas demand pushes Korean seaweed prices to record levels SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Dried seaweed prices in South Korea have climbed to a record high as rising exports tighten domestic supply and fuel broader seafood inflation. Data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. showed Monday that the average retail price of mid-grade dried seaweed reached 1,515 won per 10-sheet pack in late January, the first time the period average has exceeded 1,500 won, or more than 150 won per sheet. Prices have risen about 50 percent ov February 2, 2026
• 
  K-economy analysis: hot chips, hot stocks — and a narrow growth base SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -A booming semiconductor cycle and a frothy equity rally have lifted sentiment around the Korean economy, but the apparent strength rests on an increasingly narrow base, leaving broader growth and domestic demand lagging behind. Exports and stock prices are sending powerful bullish signals. Korea’s benchmark equity index surged to record territory in January, while outbound shipments continue with record-setting growth streak, fueling talk of February 2, 2026
• 
  Korea's Jan exports up 34% on doubled chip shipments, trade surplus streak for 1-year SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -South Korea’s exports jumped more than 30 percent in January from a year earlier, extending their on-year growth streak to eight consecutive months, driven by steamy semiconductor shipments. Exports totaled $65.85 billion, up 33.9 percent from a year earlier, marking the highest January figure on record, according to data released Sunday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Semiconductor exports, the country’s top export item, mor February 1, 2026
• 
  Korea signs $1bn-plus Chunmoo rocket deal with Norway SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - South Korea has secured a major defense export deal with Norway, with presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik saying in a Facebook post on Saturday that the Norwegian government had signed a contract to purchase the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. The contract is worth about 1.3 trillion won ($970 million). Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to President Lee Jae-myung, said the agreement was finalized following approval by the Norwegian governmen January 31, 2026
• 
  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 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 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