AJP Eye: Samsung strike crisis lays bare Korea's dependence on one company SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) -A rare coalition of voices — the government, opposition politicians and even the central bank — has united this week to try to head off a walkout at the world's largest memory chipmaker, underscoring the outsized weight of Samsung Electronics - responsible for roughly one-fifth of South Korea's exports and the benchmark KOSPI index. What began as a labor dispute over bonuses has rapidly become a national economic and political flashpoint, e May 18, 2026

Iran stays silent on HMM Namu in call with Seoul SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Iran’s foreign minister blamed the U.S. and Israel for instability in the Middle East during a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, while Tehran made no mention of a recent attack on a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s foreign ministry. The call, reportedly requested by Seoul, was the first between Cho and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since the HMM Namu was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz in May 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor Group signs multilateral MOU to build hydrogen ecosystem in Hong Kong SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group said Monday it has signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding with nine other companies to create a hydrogen ecosystem in Hong Kong, positioning the city as a gateway for the group's broader push into the Asia-Pacific hydrogen market. Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed the agreement during the International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The May 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor, Kia expand EV research network with Indian universities SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia have expanded their joint research network with leading Indian universities to strengthen core technologies in electric vehicle batteries and electrification, the companies said Monday. Four universities — IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur and Tezpur University — signed agreements to participate in the network under the Hyundai Center of Excellence for futu May 18, 2026

Netflix, AEG Presents announce plans for 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' concert tour SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Streaming giant Netflix and live entertainment company AEG Presents announced on May 15 that they plan to develop a global concert tour based on the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," though no performers, tour dates or cities have been announced. The two companies said the project would draw on the film's music and fictional K-pop universe to create a live stage experience for audiences worldwide. Neither company disclosed the format of the May 18, 2026

Samsung takes aim at OLED dominance with ultra-bright micro RGB TV SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is intensifying its assault on the ultra-premium television market, leveraging next-generation display technology and generative artificial intelligence to challenge the dominance of OLED panels. The South Korean tech giant's 2026 Micro RGB TV (Model: R95H) is garnering strong endorsements from major tech reviewers in the U.S. and U.K., signaling a potential shift in the high-end display landscape. The strategy heavily targets the t May 18, 2026

HD Hyundai Marine Solution to maintain power engines for US data center SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Marine Solution is entering the North American data center power market. The company said Monday that it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Aperion Energy Group, or AEG, a U.S. energy infrastructure developer, to provide maintenance services for power engines used at a data center. Under the agreement, the two companies will cooperate for the long-term maintenance and operation of 33 power engines at a data center AEG is building i May 18, 2026

HD Hyundai XiteSolution secures forklift orders in Africa, Middle East SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - HD Hyundai XiteSolution has secured a series of forklift contracts in Africa and the Middle East, expanding its presence in emerging industrial markets. The company said it recently signed a 37 billion won ($25 million) contract with the Algerian government to supply 316 industrial vehicles. The equipment will be delivered to Algeria in stages by August this year. It said it won the large-scale order by proposing equipment suited to Algeria’s local ope May 18, 2026

Court partly sides with Samsung ahead of looming labor strike SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - A local court on Monday ordered labor unions at Samsung Electronics to maintain normal staffing levels at critical semiconductor facilities even if they go ahead with a planned walkout later this week over wages and performance bonuses. Otherwise, they could face massive fines, dealing a major blow to the unions' plans just days before a deadline for their unprecedented level of strike. The Suwon District Court partially granted an injunction sought by m May 18, 2026

Nasdaq IPO blitz threatens South Korean stock market SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Amid unresolved bottlenecks around the Strait of Hormuz, high-profile United States companies including SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are preparing for consecutive initial public offerings (IPOs) later this year. With foreign capital expected to flock to these massive listings and South Korean investors steadily expanding their overseas portfolios, forecasts are emerging that the domestic stock market could face a correction. The benchmark KOSPI closed 0.31 p May 18, 2026