Industry

  • Hanwha Systems plans to develop Koreas first homegrown satellite semiconductor
    Hanwha Systems plans to develop Korea's first homegrown satellite semiconductor SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems has launched development of what it says will be South Korea’s first satellite semiconductor built entirely with domestic technology, marking a major step toward self-reliance in defense-oriented space systems. The company said Wednesday it has signed an agreement with the Defense Technology Promotion Research Institute to co-develop “transceiver space semiconductor technology for (ultra) small-satellite multi-channel beamfor December 3, 2025
  • Samsungs double-folding smartphone raises stakes in global foldable phone race
    Samsung's double-folding smartphone raises stakes in global foldable phone race SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has unveiled the Galaxy Z TriFold, the company’s first smartphone capable of folding twice, marking its most ambitious entry yet in the fast-evolving foldables segment. The device was officially launched at a media event in Seoul on Tuesday, after being previewed at the APEC CEO Summit in October. “The Galaxy Z TriFold represents the evolution of our smartphone design and engineering capabilities since o December 3, 2025
  • Korea fast-tracks special laws to rescue steel and petrochemical sectors
    Korea fast-tracks special laws to rescue steel and petrochemical sectors SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korea’s steel and petrochemical industries are coming under renewed strain amid a global economic slowdown and intensifying competition from China, prompting the government to move quickly on targeted legislation to stabilize two of the country’s most critical industrial pillars. Following the recent passage of the K-Steel Act, the Petrochemical Industry Competitiveness and Support Act is also expected to clear the National Assemb December 3, 2025
  • South Koreas FX reserves rise for sixth month to $430.7 billion
    South Korea's FX reserves rise for sixth month to $430.7 billion SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves climbed for a sixth straight month in November, rising by $1.84 billion to $430.66 billion — the highest level since August 2022 — the Bank of Korea (BOK) said on Wednesday. The steady increase follows a five-year low of $404.6 billion recorded in May. The central bank said the latest gain was driven by higher investment returns and an uptick in foreign-currency deposits held by domestic fina December 3, 2025
  • South Korean brokerages post higher profit in Q3
    South Korean brokerages post higher profit in Q3 SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korean securities firms posted a combined net profit of 2.49 trillion won in the third quarter, up 37.6 percent from a year earlier but down 12.6 percent from the previous quarter, preliminary data from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) showed on Wednesday. The sector’s average return on equity rose to 2.6 percent from 2.1 percent a year earlier, supported by a rebound in stock markets that lifted commission income. However, higher December 3, 2025
  • Aju Media Group and Vision Culture sign partnership for WAIFF Seoul 2026
    Aju Media Group and Vision Culture sign partnership for WAIFF Seoul 2026 SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - Aju Media Group and Vision Culture signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday to form a strategic partnership for the successful hosting of the “World AI Film Festival (WAIFF) Seoul 2026.” The signing ceremony was held at Aju Media Group’s headquarters in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The event was attended by Aju Media Group Chairman Kwak Young-gil, President Lim Kwu-jin, Vision Culture Chairman Byun Jun-yeon, and WAIFF Seoul C December 2, 2025
  • Waning West-centric voice in media means opportunities for Asian narratives
    Waning West-centric voice in media means opportunities for Asian narratives SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - The waning influence of Western-centric narratives in global media presents a critical opening for Asian news platforms to assert their own voice, said Sohn Jie-ae, visiting professor at Ewha Womans University and former CNN Seoul bureau chief, at a forum in Seoul on Tuesday. Citing a recent New York Times column, Sohn said the United States' global narrative has grown "incoherent" and its brand "toxic," arguing that the shift mar December 2, 2025
  • South Koreas daily inflation nears 3% in November on steep won weakening
    South Korea's daily inflation nears 3% in November on steep won weakening SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s inflationary pressure strengthened in November, with daily living costs hovering near 3 percent as a sharply weaker won pushed up fuel and import prices while discouraging overseas travel and spending, government data showed Tuesday. According to the consumer price index (CPI) released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, headline inflation rose 2.4 percent from a year earlier, matching October’s on-year gain. Fuel prices December 2, 2025
  • KAI strengthens space portfolio with new satellite launch
    KAI strengthens space portfolio with new satellite launch SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Tuesday the country's new multipurpose satellite was successfully launched at 2:21 a.m. local time from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana aboard a VEGA-C rocket. KAI played a key role in the mission, jointly developing and assembling the satellite with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). Officials said the launch significantly strengthens South Korea’s precision earth-observation capa December 2, 2025
  • South Korea holds worlds first contest to counter AI hacking
    South Korea holds world's first contest to counter AI hacking SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - South Korea has wrapped up the world’s first AI Hacking Defense Contest (ACDC), an event designed to test emerging cybersecurity threats and defense techniques in the era of artificial intelligence. The competition was hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and organized by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) in partnership with the Korea Information Security Industry Association (KISIA). The contest examined three major domains December 2, 2025