Korean chipmakers push long-term deals as AI demand overrides cycle SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) - The memory chip market is behaving less like a cycle and more like a contract. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are moving to lock in multi-year supply agreements as artificial intelligence demand strengthens their leverage over pricing and terms. Memory has long been one of the most volatile segments of the semiconductor industry, with Random Access Memory (RAM) prices prone to sharp swings. But the rapid expansion of AI infrastruct April 9, 2026

Seoul seeks clarity on Hormuz terms as fee risks grow SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) - Seoul is bracing for the inevitability — payments to transit the Strait of Hormuz — expected to push up fuel prices by about 0.5 percent, as it seeks clarity from Tehran while exploring alternative routes to secure Middle East energy supplies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that a call between Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Abbas Araghchi is being arranged and could take place as early as later in the day. The talks are expected t April 9, 2026

Asian stocks slip as Middle East tensions offset truce optimism SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) -Asian stocks edged lower Thursday as the celebratory mood over a temporary truce between the U.S. and Iran faded just a day after the agreement. The benchmark KOSPI fell 1.61 percent, or 94.33 points, to close at 5,778.01, after trading between a high of 5,862.41 and a low of 5,757.49. Foreign investors led the selling, offloading 874.7 billion won ($590 million), while retail and institutional investors bought a combined 504.8 billion won. Among l April 9, 2026

Surging non-bank lending raises PF scare in Korea SEOUL, April 9 (AJP) — South Korea’s non-bank lending is expanding again as tighter bank regulations and elevated borrowing costs push credit demand into less-regulated sectors, demanding scrutiny amid fragile market conditions. Financial authorities took notice and moved to curb subprime lending growth as rising market yields and exchange rate pressures are increasingly straining vulnerable households and businesses. According to the Financial Services Commission April 9, 2026

HD Hyundai Heavy builds first ammonia-powered vessel, signaling shift in green shipping fuel race SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has built the world’s first ammonia-powered gas carriers, marking a significant step toward commercializing next-generation eco-friendly vessels. According to shipbuilding industry sources Thursday, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held a naming ceremony at its Ulsan shipyard for two 46,000-cubic-meter medium-sized gas carriers equipped with dual-fuel engines. The vessels are designed to run on ammonia and liquefied petroleum gas April 9, 2026

KMU professor identifies gut-liver mechanism for diagnosing and treating fatty liver disease SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) - Professor Kwak Min-jin at Kookmin University's Department of Forest Biomaterials Engineering has identified how gut microbes and their secretions affect metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the prominent university in Seoul said Thursday. The study, which introduces a high-precision diagnostic technology using extracellular vesicles (EVs), was published in the international journal Pharmacological Research. Fatty liver disease caused April 9, 2026

Fire breaks out on submarine at shipyard in Ulsan, leaving one missing SEOUL, April 9 (AJP) - A fire broke out at a shipyard in the southeastern city of Ulsan on Thursday, leaving one person missing, firefighters said. The fire occurred on a Navy submarine undergoing maintenance at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard at around 1:58 p.m., prompting about 40 workers inside the vessel to evacuate. Authorities immediately dispatched firefighters and rescue officials with roughly 30 pieces of equipment, managing to contain the main blaze in about April 9, 2026

HMM union moves toward industrial action over headquarters relocation SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) - Labor-management negotiations at HMM over the planned relocation of its headquarters have collapsed, raising the prospect of industrial action by the union. HMM’s land-based workers’ union said Thursday that talks with management regarding the headquarters relocation had broken down. The union added it plans to begin procedures for industrial action, including filing for mediation with the labor authorities. In a statement released the same day April 9, 2026

Kia to invest 49 trillion won by 2030 with nearly half for future mobility SEOUL, April 9 (AJP) - Kia will invest a record 49 trillion won (about U$32.67 billion) through 2030, allocating 21 trillion won or more than 40 percent to future-focused businesses such as electrification, autonomous driving and robotics, the automaker said on Thursday. The investment plan, unveiled at an investment blitz at the Shilla Hotel in central Seoul, is part of Kia's mid- to long-term strategy to transform into a sustainable mobility solutions company. It marks Kia' April 9, 2026

North Korea tests cluster warhead on short-range ballistic missile, KCNA reports SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) -North Korea has tested a cluster warhead mounted on a short-range ballistic missile, a weapon that has drawn renewed attention after Iran reportedly used similar munitions that challenged Israel’s air defense systems during the Middle East conflict. The move suggests Pyongyang may be seeking to enhance its strike capabilities by incorporating cluster payloads into its existing missile systems. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCN April 9, 2026