Kakao Mobility launches recruitment drive for end-to-end autonomous driving engineers SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Kakao Mobility announced it has launched a recruitment drive targeting engineers in four autonomous driving specialties as the South Korean mobility platform accelerates its push to develop in-house end-to-end self-driving technology. The company said Friday it has created a dedicated "Physical AI" tab on its hiring page and will recruit experienced engineers in autonomous driving AI, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), hardware, and elect March 20, 2026

Kia targets 13 EV models by 2030, accelerates PBV and software pivot SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Kia outlined plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup to 13 models by 2030 and deepen its push into purpose-built vehicles and software-defined cars, as the automaker seeks to reposition itself amid a global slowdown in EV demand. President Song Ho-sung presented the strategy at the company's annual general meeting held at its headquarters in southern Seoul on Friday, identifying three priorities: EV mass-market expansion, growth of its purpose-built v March 20, 2026

LG Energy Solution pivots to energy storage as EV battery demand slows SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - LG Energy Solution announced it is accelerating a strategic shift toward energy storage systems as slowing electric vehicle demand reshapes the global battery industry, with the South Korean company moving to rebalance a business long anchored to the automotive sector. Chief Executive Kim Dong-myung told shareholders Friday at the company's annual general meeting in Seoul that the industry has entered a period of "value shift," in which growth i March 20, 2026

Samsung Biologics reappoints CEO John Rim as inside director SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Samsung Biologics said Friday that shareholders reappointed Chief Executive John Rim as an inside director at the company's 15th annual general meeting. About 1,400 shareholders participated in the meeting, which was conducted both on-site and via online livestream. All five agenda items put to a vote were approved as proposed. In addition to Rim, Executive Vice President Lo Kun, who heads the EPCV Center, was also reappointed as an inside director. Ki March 20, 2026

Samsung Heavy wins another deal, boosts order backlog SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries has won an order for one liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier from an Oceania-based shipping company, the shipbuilder said on Friday. The order, worth 377.9 billion won (or about $252 million), is scheduled for delivery by April 2029. The deal brings the shipbuilder's cumulative orders for this year to 12 vessels worth $2.4 billion, reaching 17 percent of its annual target of $13.9 billion. They consist of four LNG carriers March 20, 2026

GULF CRISIS: Hormuz as much insurance chokepoint as energy lifeline SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - The Strait of Hormuz is not just a chokepoint for global energy flows, but for insurance that is turning pricier every day from the protracted suspension and growing risk. Ships do not pass through Hormuz simply because sea lanes are physically open. They move only when insurers are willing to price and underwrite the risk. That makes U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to provide war-risk insurance more than a shipping support measure. It is an March 19, 2026

Defense-strong Hanwha head Kim Seung-youn most well-paid business owner in Korea SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) -Reflecting the rise of Korean defense power, Kim Seung-youn, the owner of defense-heavy Hanwha Group, ranked as the most well-paid conglomerate head in 2025 with his compensation package topping 20 billion won. According to Hanwha Corp.’s annual report filed on Wednesday, Kim received 5.04 billion won from Hanwha Corp. last year. He also received 5.04 billion won each from Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems, 5.041 billion won from Hanwha Solutions, a March 19, 2026

Samsung Electronics adds AMD on HMB4 client list after Nvidia SEOUL, March 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics added AMD after Nvidia on its burgeoning client list for next-generation high bandwidth memory dubbed HBM4, gaining traction in the crucial in HBM race move to inference AI stage. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S. chip designer AMD to expand strategic partnership in next-generation AI memory and computing technologies was signed at Samsung’s Pyeongtaek campus. Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung will sup March 18, 2026

Samsung Elec AGM turns euphoric despite union's party-crashing strike news SUWON, March 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ annual general meeting struck an unusually buoyant tone Wednesday as a surging share price and AI-driven optimism lifted investor sentiment — even as a looming union strike cast a shadow over the outlook. More than 1,000 shareholders gathered at the Suwon Convention Center with little to complain about. The stock has nearly quadrupled from a year ago, while the company is now targeting 200 trillion won ($150 billion) in March 18, 2026

Samsung Electronics union threatens walkout after near-unanimous strike vote SEOUL, March 18 (AJP) - More than 60,000 employees out of 89,874 union members at Samsung Electronics have voted to go on a general strike in May if their demands for fair and transparent compensation during the chip boom are not met, posing a potential headwind to the chipmaker’s AI-driven upswing. The joint union coalition announced Wednesday that 93.1 percent of participating members voted in favor of a strike in a 10-day ballot. A total of 66,019 employees from three se March 18, 2026