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

South Korea deploys more service robots amid rising labor costs SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korea’s main gateway, Incheon International Airport, has deployed autonomous service robots as the country accelerates automation across service industries amid rising wage costs and labor shortages. Incheon International Airport Corporation said Monday that it has begun full-scale operations of 31 autonomous robots, including self-check-in robots, guidance and patrol robots, and docent robots designed to assist passengers and provide cultural inf May 18, 2026

South Korean chipmakers rescue Seoul market despite broad Asia selloff SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korean stocks ended higher on Monday as heavyweight semiconductor shares helped the benchmark index recover from a sharp early plunge. The market stood out against a broader selloff across Asia triggered by rising global bond yields, renewed oil price pressures and weakness in United States technology shares. The KOSPI rose 0.6 percent to close at 7,516.04, rebounding from an intraday low of 7,142.71 to reach a high of 7,636.20. The recovery occurred d May 18, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: What back-to-back visits by Trump and Putin mean for China SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Just days after U.S. President Donald Trump left Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive there this week. The timing appears to be no coincidence. According to China's Foreign Ministry, Putin will visit China on Tuesday and Wednesday at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation, regional security and other broader global issues before signing a series of agreements. On May 18, 2026