China imposes immediate ban on helium exports amid supply concerns SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - China has temporarily banned helium exports with immediate effect, tightening control over a key material used in semiconductor, display and other advanced manufacturing industries. The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs announced the measure on Friday, saying it was imposed under provisions of China’s Foreign Trade Law. The two agencies did not disclose the reason for the ban or how long it would remain in place. They said July 11, 2026

SK hynix ADRs jump 13% in Nasdaq debut as CEO vows AI leadership SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - SK hynix made a strong debut on the Nasdaq on Thursday, with its American depositary receipts closing more than 13 percent above their offering price on the first day of trading. The South Korean chipmaker’s ADRs opened at $170 on the Nasdaq, after being priced at $149. They rose as high as $177 during intraday trading before giving back some gains to close at $168.49, up about 13.1 percent from the offering price. The offering price reflected a rough July 11, 2026

SK hynix rings in Nasdaq debut with record U.S. share sale SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - SK hynix began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on Friday after raising a record $26.5 billion in the largest U.S. share sale by a foreign company. The South Korean memory chipmaker's American depositary shares initially traded under the temporary ticker SKHYV before regular-way trading under SKHY. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and SK hynix Chief Executive Kwak Noh-jung joined other senior executives at the opening bell ceremony at Nasdaq M July 10, 2026

Korean LCCs face uneven summer recovery despite easing fuel costs SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Falling jet-fuel prices are beginning to ease travel costs for South Koreans, but the country's low-cost carriers are unlikely to enjoy an equally smooth recovery as a weak won, elevated operating costs and cautious capacity expansion continue to weigh on profitability during the peak summer vacation season. International fuel surcharges fell in July after benchmark jet-fuel prices retreated from highs reached during the recent Middle East conflict, raisin July 10, 2026

SK hynix ADR: From rescued chipmaker to Wall Street's hottest foreign listing SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - SK hynix has gone from one of South Korea's biggest corporate rescues to Wall Street's biggest foreign share sale, raising a record $26.5 billion on Nasdaq just 14 years after SK Group acquired the struggling memory maker for roughly $3 billion. The blockbuster listing underscores how the artificial intelligence boom has transformed the once-troubled chipmaker into one of the world's most valuable semiconductor companies. The company has priced i July 10, 2026

Samsung SDI cells win two-thirds of Korea's first AI-powered grid ESS project SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Batteries made by Samsung SDI have been selected for the majority of South Korea's first government-backed program to build artificial-intelligence-powered energy storage systems along regional distribution lines. Six of the nine operators chosen for the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's 2026 AI-based ESS deployment project will use Samsung SDI cells, industry sources said Friday. One operator opted for LG Energy Solution cells and two turn July 10, 2026

Samsung union blasts bonus voucher plan SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics' largest labor union on Friday urged lawmakers to withdraw a proposed revision to South Korea's Labor Standards Act that would allow part of workers' wages, including performance bonuses, to be paid in local gift certificates with employee consent. The Samsung Electronics chapter of the Samsung Group Super Enterprise Labor Union said the bill would undermine the long-standing principle that wages should be paid in legal tender July 10, 2026

POSCO ties up with Mongolia in about $100 mln energy push SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - POSCO International signed a memorandum of understanding with Newcom LLC, a leading Mongolian energy and infrastructure firm, to jointly develop energy projects worth about $100 million. The South Korean trading arm of POSCO Group said the deal, sealed in Ulaanbaatar on Thursday during President Lee Jae Myung's state visit, marks the group's bid to plant a foothold in Central Asia's energy market as it broadens beyond steel and batteries. Under July 10, 2026

Seoul says U.S. may consider building military ships in Korean yards SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s presidential office said Washington does not appear to rule out the possibility of having U.S. military vessels built in Korean shipyards, even as existing U.S. law poses major barriers to foreign construction of Navy ships. A senior presidential official made the remark Thursday during a briefing in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed military shipbuilding on the sidelines of the N July 10, 2026

Seoul to seek US understanding over Gwangju military airport tapped for chip hub SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) -South Korea will seek U.S. understanding over plans to redevelop Gwangju Military Airport, a facility earmarked to support U.S. air operations during a military contingency, after the site was selected for a massive new semiconductor cluster. The issue could require close coordination with Washington because the airport retains a wartime role under the South Korea-U.S. alliance even as Seoul prepares to relocate the base and turn the land into the centerpiece o July 10, 2026