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South America’s Mineral Wealth: A Strategic Opportunity for Korea South Korea is recognized as a semiconductor powerhouse, with artificial intelligence, data centers, secondary batteries, power grids, robotics, and the space industry identified as future growth engines. The domestically developed KF-21 fighter jet has emerged as a new symbol of South Koreas advanced manufacturing sector. However, there is a fundamental premise that is often overlooked: all these advanced industries cannot exist without the necessary minerals.No matter how advanced semiconductor and battery technologies are, there are limits to implementing them as industries if raw materials cannot be secured reliably. A single fighter jet contains numerous metals and special materials. As AI proliferates, the demand for data centers and power grids increases, requiring vast amounts of copper. Electric vehicles and energy storage systems need lithium, nickel, and graphite. The competition in advanced industries is not only a technological race but also a competition over supply chains for materials and minerals.From this perspective, looking at the world map reveals a different view of South America. Chile and Peru are global leaders in copper production, while Chile and Argentina are major lithium producers. Brazil and several other countries are rich in strategic minerals such as niobium, graphite, and rare earths. Although physically distant from Korea, from the perspective of future industries and economic security, this region is not far at all.Having worked in South America for many years, I have witnessed both the potential of the region and the limitations of Koreas relationship with it. As supply chain competition intensifies, how has our perspective changed from the past? Are we still viewing South America merely as a distant market or a target for development cooperation, only visited by economic delegations during presidential trips? If we consider semiconductors, AI, and advanced defense industries as national strategic industries, we must also view South America, which possesses the minerals and energy that enable these industries, from a national strategy perspective.What is resource diplomacy?The South Korean government continues to emphasize the importance of securing key minerals, diversifying supply chains, and engaging in resource diplomacy. I fully agree with the necessity of this. However, as I delve into related materials, a fundamental question arises: what exactly do we mean by resource diplomacy?Is it about discussing mineral cooperation at summits and signing MOUs? Is it about purchasing necessary minerals through long-term contracts? Or is it about investing in mines, securing production rights, and participating in the supply chain through smelting, refining, and logistics? If this is not clear, then securing key minerals and diversifying supply chains will remain mere slogans.To engage in effective resource diplomacy, we must first understand the ecosystem of the mineral industry. Just because minerals are found underground does not mean they can be immediately used in semiconductor or battery factories. Copper must be mined, concentrated into copper concentrate, and then undergo smelting and refining to become industrial materials like copper cathodes. Lithium must also be extracted from brine or ore and then refined and processed, while rare earths require complex processes to separate and purify the necessary elements.Thus, securing a mine is not the same as securing minerals that can actually be used in industry. We need to consider who owns and develops the mine, where the produced minerals go, who smelts and refines them, and who provides the power, water, railways, ports, and logistics to see the reality of the supply chain.China builds pathways, not just minesExamining what China has done in South America over the past few decades clarifies this structure. China has secured stakes in overseas mines, long-term purchases of their products, and built a large-scale smelting, refining, and materials industry at home. The Las Bambas copper mine in Peru is owned by a Chinese consortium, while the Toromocho mine is developed and operated by the Chinese state-owned enterprise Chinalco. The Chinese company Shougang has long operated the Marcona iron mine in Peru, and Chinese capital is involved in the Port of Chancay, establishing a new logistics hub connecting South America and Asia.What is even more noteworthy is what happens after mining. In 2025, Chile accounted for about 23% of global copper concentrate production. In the same year, the share of concentrate in Chiles copper production was about 64%, with roughly two-thirds of exported copper concentrate heading to China. In contrast, Chiles share of global refined copper production was only about 4.3%, and the operating rate of its domestic refining facilities was around 60%. Peru also sends about 70% of its copper exports to China. While the mines are in South America, the vast minerals extracted are linked to Chinas industrial ecosystem.The issue is even more pronounced with rare earths. Even if a mine is secured, lacking the ability to separate and refine the elements means relying on other countries for critical intermediate steps. Chinas strength lies not only in securing many mines but also in having built a pathway over decades that connects mining, concentrate, smelting, refining, materials, manufacturing, and logistics.Therefore, decoupling from China is not as easy as it sounds. Declaring that we will not buy Chinese minerals does not create a new supply chain. If China is removed, who will provide long-term capital for mine development and purchase the products? If we want to reduce our dependence on China, we must first answer what roles we will take on from what China has been doing.What should Korea do in resource diplomacy?Korean companies have secured necessary raw materials through long-term purchase agreements known as offtake agreements. This is a rational approach, as mine development requires massive capital and time, and there are significant geological, price, environmental, and community risks. However, minerals are not general commodities that can be purchased in the market whenever needed if one has money. A significant portion of the production from major mines is already sold under long-term contracts. Ultimately, what matters is not just the ability to purchase but having a stable supply chain that allows long-term access to the necessary minerals. Establishing good relations with the governments of resource-rich countries does not automatically secure minerals. Governments decide on mining rights, development permits, tax policies, and environmental regulations, but global mining companies and private enterprises are deeply involved in actual mine development, production, and sales.That said, I am not advocating for a blanket approach of acquiring overseas mines as in the past. The term resource diplomacy carries the memory of the significant losses left by past overseas resource development. The El Boleo mine in Mexico illustrates why we must be cautious. The Korea Resources Corporation invested over 3 trillion won in this project, but losses accumulated, and ultimately, in November 2025, it sold its entire stake and bonds with virtually no recovery. The need for minerals at a national level and the economic viability of individual mining projects are entirely different issues. We must thoroughly assess reserves, grades, development costs, processing technologies, infrastructure, operational capabilities, and price volatility risks. Urgency and haste are not the same.Strategies must differ by mineral. For some minerals, there may be sufficient supply through market purchases and long-term contracts, while others may require a combination of offtake agreements and equity investments. For minerals directly linked to core industries such as semiconductors, batteries, power grids, and defense, it is necessary to consider mine equity, development participation, production rights, and domestic and international smelting and refining capabilities.At the same time, we must also consider the perspective of South America. Chile and Peru do not only want to extract more minerals to sell abroad. They wish to expand processing and industrialization within their countries to retain more added value and jobs. If we need minerals, the counterpart countries need industrial development. Connecting these two interests is true resource diplomacy.Chile already has a foundation for copper smelting and refining, as well as lithium extraction, refining, and processing industries. Therefore, we can consider cooperation in modernizing aging facilities, improving productivity and energy efficiency, and developing industries related to wires, cables, copper foil, electrical devices, and battery materials.It is not necessary to directly develop mines or invest in large-scale smelting facilities from the outset. The domestic tech startup N2E Materials is pursuing the introduction of panels developed to accelerate the natural evaporation of lithium brine in collaboration with Chiles leading lithium producer SQM (now Nova Andino Litio SpA), and is also supplying domestic products such as IoT systems for monitoring and high-strength piping (IPVC) to the copper mine Minera Los Mantos. This demonstrates that even small startups with competitive technologies can steadily enter the supply chains of global mining companies by exploring local markets.South Korea has many companies with technologies that can be utilized in mining productivity, safety, energy, environment, automation, and monitoring. These companies can start by supplying technology, equipment, and services while building networks with local mining companies and understanding the industrial structure. Small technological collaborations can expand into long-term contracts and joint ventures, eventually leading to investments and offtake agreements. Resource diplomacy does not have to start with purchasing mines; we must first enter the mining ecosystem.Its time to rethink diplomacy with South AmericaRecently, the presidents visits to Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and a state visit to Mexico have laid the groundwork for expanding cooperation on key mineral supply chains with South America. An MOU on mineral resource partnerships was signed with Chile, and a cooperation framework for exploration, mining, investment, and joint ventures for key minerals, including lithium, was established with Argentina. With Brazil, the direction was set for cooperation not only in mining but also in mid- and downstream processing and value creation, including rare earths. An economic and industrial resource cooperation initiative was signed with Mexico, and a joint committee for mineral resource cooperation between the two governments was established.If diplomatic efforts have opened the door, actual business must follow through that door. We need to determine which minerals are needed, from which countries and mines they will be secured, who will invest, who will purchase, and how to connect smelting, refining, finance, and logistics into concrete projects.This requires not only the government but also companies that use minerals and financial institutions to work together. Behind this, there must be individuals who understand South American mining, companies, mining policies, and legal systems, as well as the connections between smelting, refining, international finance, contracts, environmental and community issues, logistics, and local languages. Without a system for prioritizing minerals and a collaborative body for demand companies, financial institutions, and public agencies to create projects together, resource diplomacy will inevitably revert to the starting point every time summits and economic delegations pass by.China has connected mining investments, long-term purchases, smelting, refining, materials industries, and logistics over decades. We cannot replace that structure overnight. It is now time to identify what minerals are necessary for the future of Korean industry, where and how much to secure them, and which parts of the supply chain we will directly enter, one step at a time.What we should have in our hands ten years from now is not just photos from summits and another MOU. It should be actual minerals, stable supply contracts, technology and infrastructure, networks with local companies, and a pool of professionals to continuously develop these relationships. South America is no longer a resource-rich country far from Korea. It is a strategic partner with whom we must design the future of Koreas industrial and economic security together. Resource diplomacy is about creating the pathways that allow minerals to come from the ground into our industries. It is time to actually build that pathway.Authors Major BackgroundFormer diplomat specializing in South America, Honorary Professor at Trujillo National University in Peru, Senior Advisor at Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas law firm in Colombia.* This article has been translated by AI. October 8, 2026 06: -
Lisa Su, AMD CEO, Highlights AI and Gaming as Core Computing Areas Lisa Su, President and CEO of AMD, identified artificial intelligence (AI) and gaming as core areas of computing, presenting a vision to combine the two technologies to meet the demand for high-performance computing.On October 7, Su spoke during a Q&A session with Korean gamers at the AMD Gamer Day event held at Dragon City in Seoul, alongside Jack Huynh, Senior Vice President of AMDs Computing and Graphics Group.AMD Gamer Day is an event designed for AMD to share its latest technologies and vision with the Korean gaming community, providing essential computing resources such as central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs).Su stated, While AI is elevating computing performance to new heights, gaming also demands very high performance. Our goal is to support all consumers and enterprise users who require high-performance computing.She added, This includes actually combining AI and gaming. As AI becomes increasingly important, you will see the integration of Ryzen and AI in our latest products.Su emphasized that the high standards and feedback from gamers drive technological advancement, noting that all gaming sectors, including PC, console, and portable devices, are important to AMD.Over the past decade, looking at the gaming community, users in Korea who utilize Ryzen CPUs and Radeon GPUs are among the most passionate and high-performing gamers in the world, she remarked.Jack Huynh also introduced AMDs gaming technology roadmap utilizing machine learning.He discussed the game screen upscaling technologies FSR4 and FSR Redstone, stating, These technologies go beyond simple image upscaling to include frame generation and restoration, making games faster and more visually appealing.Huynh announced plans to apply machine learning technology to accelerated processing units (APUs) that integrate CPUs and GPUs by the end of this year, with future expansions to portable devices.Regarding the direction of AI technology development, he emphasized, It is about expanding tools to enable developers to work faster and better, rather than replacing their creative intentions.Huynh noted that AMD technology is embedded in one billion gaming devices worldwide and pledged continued support for various platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam Deck.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 19:
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Hanwha moves toward driver's seat as Nuri completes fifth launch SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - South Korea’s fifth Nuri rocket lifted off on schedule and delivered its five main satellites into orbit, with Hanwha Aerospace quietly taking a growing share of the credit as the space program moves toward private-sector leadership. Nuri lifted off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung at 12:25 p.m. Wednesday and successfully placed all five main microsatellites into orbit. Nine of the 10 smaller CubeSats aboard were also released, while one failed to deploy. The Korea AeroSpace Administration, or KASA, declared the launch a success, saying the rocket completed its planned flight despite the deployment failure. The achievement did little to lift Hanwha Aerospace shares, which closed at 983,000 won, down 3.91 percent, or 40,000 won, from the previous session. What exactly did Hanwha do? Nuri was developed primarily by the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute, or KARI, over more than a decade. Hanwha initially participated by manufacturing and assembling key components, including the rocket’s engines. Nuri uses six liquid-fueled engines: four 75-ton-class engines on the first stage, one 75-ton engine on the second and a smaller 7-ton engine on the third. Hanwha’s responsibilities have since expanded well beyond individual components. Selected as the system integrator for the Nuri advancement program, the company is increasingly responsible for bringing together the engines, structures, electronic systems and work of hundreds of suppliers into a functioning launch vehicle. For the fifth Nuri rocket, Hanwha oversaw overall production, final assembly and supplier quality control. KARI continued to supervise the program and lead launch operations. From the factory to the control room The most visible change during the fifth launch was inside the control room. A total of 42 Hanwha employees participated in launch operations, 10 more than during Nuri’s fourth flight. Hanwha personnel worked at 20 of the launch control center’s 22 consoles, with 18 employees directly operating equipment used to prepare, test and launch the rocket. KARI researchers had handled most of those tasks during earlier launches. The aim is to enable private companies to provide launch services, gradually reducing dependence on the government research institute. KARI describes the repeated Nuri launches as serving two purposes: improving the rocket’s reliability and transferring launch technology to private industry. The fifth flight also presented a more complicated task. Nuri carried five main microsatellites requiring separate releases into orbit, alongside 10 CubeSats. The satellite section weighed about 1,071 kilograms, up from about 960 kilograms on the fourth launch. To protect the satellites during deployment, KARI introduced a new low-shock separation device — the mechanism that secures a satellite during launch and releases it in space. The previous system produced a separation shock of around 2,000 g on the shock-response scale. The new device was designed to halve that to about 1,000 g, according to KARI officials. The five main satellites were released individually at intervals of about 35 to 40 seconds. Between releases, the rocket’s upper stage changed orientation to reduce the risk of collisions. Developed under the KARI-led program, the separation system illustrates the division of responsibilities during the transition. As system integrator, Hanwha is increasingly tasked with incorporating such changes into the rocket it manufactures and assembles. Moving into the driver’s seat Hanwha’s role is expected to expand further with Nuri’s sixth launch. Under KARI’s plan, the rocket stages will be assembled at the system integrator’s own facility, then transported by sea to the Naro Space Center for final assembly. Hanwha is also expected to operate nearly all the launch-control consoles covered by the technology-transfer program. The handover is advancing one launch at a time. Hanwha began by building engines and components, moved on to integrating the rocket and is now taking on more of the work required to launch it. KARI still leads the countdown. With each flight, Hanwha is moving closer to taking the controls. October 7, 2026 18: -
Asiana Airlines Offers Free In-Flight Wi-Fi with Starlink On October 3, an Asiana Airlines flight from New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport to Incheon International Airport featured Starlink technology. Before takeoff, passengers were informed about the Starlink service, prompting them to check the in-flight Wi-Fi on their phones.After switching to airplane mode and opening the settings, the network flyasiana.com appeared as available. Upon connecting, a message displayed: Experience high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi as fast as on the ground, along with a link copy button.Upon selecting the link, guidelines for comfortable Wi-Fi use were presented, including: wearing headphones is mandatory, voice and video calls are prohibited, unauthorized filming and live streaming are not allowed, and content usage etiquette. After agreeing to these terms, two advertisements of 58 seconds and 26 seconds played before the connection was established.The Starlink Wi-Fi, offering speeds up to 500 Mbps, provided a smooth internet experience. Passengers could browse the web, watch YouTube, and access OpenAI without interruptions. This service was significantly faster and more convenient than the previous paid Wi-Fi options, which cost $11.95 for one hour or $21.95 for unlimited use. Starlink is offered for free, allowing passengers to enjoy internet access at altitudes exceeding 10,000 meters, eliminating the feeling of disconnection during long flights.The Wi-Fi connection remained uninterrupted for approximately 15 hours. Although the initial flight path was expected to take the plane from New York across North America, Alaska, and China, passengers were able to continue using the service as the flight headed toward Japan after passing Alaska. Starlink does not provide service in China, India, or Pakistan.Asiana Airlines currently operates Starlink services on a total of 12 aircraft, including the Airbus A350-900 and A330-300. These planes are primarily deployed on medium to long-haul routes to North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The airline plans to gradually expand the Starlink-equipped fleet starting with its remaining aircraft.An Asiana Airlines official stated, In line with the launch of the integrated airline, we will increase the number of Starlink-equipped aircraft to provide differentiated services.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 18:
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Lisa Su gets a head start on Nvidia as AMD brings AI rivalry to Seoul SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - AMD Chair and CEO Lisa Su had her own Jensen Huang moment in Korea on Wednesday, hosting a day for gamers and rubbing shoulders with the country’s science minister and business tycoons. Su appeared alongside Jack Huynh, AMD’s senior vice president and general manager of its Computing and Graphics Group, at AMD Gamer Day in Seoul’s Yongsan district, meeting Korean gamers and outlining the company’s vision for gaming and artificial intelligence. Her second visit this year, following a March trip, came a month before Nvidia brings AI Day Seoul 2026 to COEX in southern Seoul on Nov. 9 and 10 — putting the two U.S. chip giants’ rivalry on Korean soil. Nvidia’s two-day event is expected to draw around 2,000 developers, startup representatives, researchers and industry officials, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix among the participating partners. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, however, is not expected to attend, according to an industry official familiar with the matter. The back-to-back events underscore South Korea’s growing importance to a contest that extends beyond AI accelerators to the memory chips, supply chains and technology partnerships needed to support them. Asked by AJP whether competition between AMD and Nvidia was increasingly becoming a race to secure high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, from South Korean suppliers, Su pointed to surging AI demand across the industry. “The main thing that we see in the market today is that the demand for AI compute continues to go up,” Su said. “When I speak to all of our partners across the supply chain and across the industry, everyone is racing to satisfy that demand.” “As the demand continues to increase, we’re continuing to work all kinds of avenues to increase our overall supply,” she added. South Korea sits at the center of that race as home to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, two of the world’s dominant suppliers of HBM, the advanced memory used in AI accelerators. Su repeatedly emphasized the importance of both chipmakers during Wednesday’s media session. “We very much rely on the Korean supply chain,” she said. “Samsung, SK hynix are great partners of ours and very key for us to accomplish our broad ambition in data center.” She also described Samsung as one of AMD’s “most strategic partners” across memory technologies, including DDR4, DDR5 and HBM. Close coordination with suppliers has become increasingly important as demand rises across AI, gaming and consumer computing, she said. AMD is seeking to expand its AI accelerator business and challenge Nvidia’s market dominance, making access to HBM increasingly important. Su described a “very tight supply environment” and said AMD was encouraging its memory partners to expand capacity “as fast as possible.” AMD is already ramping up systems based on its next-generation MI455 accelerator and HBM4, she said. “We have gotten great support from both Samsung and SK hynix, and we view the partnerships on HBM not just one generation but really multiple generations,” Su said. “We’re very happy with HBM4. I think HBM4 is doing extremely well, and we’re ramping it up right now.” The Korean contest extends beyond memory. Su said she met Korean AI startups earlier Wednesday and reaffirmed AMD’s plan to establish an AI “center of excellence” in the country while expanding ties with startups and universities. She named Upstage, MangoBoost and Moreh among Korean companies already working closely with AMD and said she had met additional startups interested in joining its open AI ecosystem. “We are very much committed to expanding our startup engagements and expanding our university engagements because we think that Korea is really an excellent place for AI development,” Su said. Asked why she had returned to South Korea after just seven months, Su said the country’s importance to AMD went beyond securing near-term chip supplies. “The Korean ecosystem is extremely important for both from a supply standpoint as well as from a partnership standpoint,” she said, adding that AMD was planning with partners over the next three to five years. Su also confirmed that she had met SK hynix during the trip and planned to meet Samsung, saying close communication had become essential as the AI industry moved at an unprecedented pace. “Semiconductors is a team sport,” she said. “The more we communicate with our partners, the better we are going to be to service the overall market.” For AMD and Nvidia, that team increasingly includes the same Korean players. Su has put AMD’s gaming ambitions, AI plans and chip partnerships on display in Seoul this week. Next month, Nvidia gets its turn — with Korea’s technology companies courted by both sides. October 7, 2026 17: -
Majesty Golf Celebrates 55th Anniversary with Successful Majesty Invitational 2026 Majesty Golf successfully concluded the premium customer invitation event, Majesty Invitational 2026, celebrating its 55th anniversary.The event, held on October 6 at Cheonan Ujeong Hills Country Club, welcomed 120 premium customers. The inaugural Majesty Invitational 2026 was themed An Invitational Experience of Value Proven Over 55 Years to share the brands history and philosophy.Attendees included Team Majesty members Kim Young and Kim Ja-young, as well as actress Lee Min-jung. Participants experienced various events, including a one-on-one putting lesson from Kim Young, competitions against professional players, and challenges such as longest drive, nearest to the pin, and hole-in-one. After the rounds, a jazz performance and a networking session were held, along with a talk concert featuring Kim Young and Kim Ja-young.The event showcased Majesty Golfs flagship clubs, the Prestige 14 and a 55th Anniversary Commemorative Model. The commemorative model, a special limited edition released once every five years, reinterprets the heritage established since 1971 with modern technology and design. Its core technology involves full 3D printing, allowing for precise internal structure and weight distribution from the design stage, ensuring optimal trajectory, distance, and high tolerance.The awards ceremony celebrated the brands history and customer stories. Awards included Born with Majesty for customers born in 1971, Majesty Lucky 55 reflecting the significance of the 55th anniversary, and Golden Story with Majesty for selected special stories.Jung Byung-ho, CEO of Majesty Golf, stated, The 55 years of Majesty Golf represent a journey of craftsmanship and innovation towards the best products, shaped by our customers. It was particularly meaningful to share Majestys heritage and prestige values with our customers through the Majesty Invitational 2026. He added, We will use our 55th anniversary as a starting point for a new heritage, continuously creating differentiated value and special experiences for our customers in their overall golf lives.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 17:
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New Law to Compensate Victims of Humidifier Disinfectant Tragedy Takes Effect A government-led compensation system for victims of the humidifier disinfectant tragedy is set to begin. The Office for Government Policy Coordination announced on October 7 that this initiative is a result of amendments to the Special Act on Relief and Support for Victims of Humidifier Disinfectant. Referred to as the worst environmental disaster in history, the humidifier disinfectant incident involved individuals who suffered severe health issues or died after using specific humidifier disinfectant products. The issue became apparent in 2011 when cases of acute respiratory failure began to emerge. Last year, 15 years after the incidents, the government officially classified the events as a social disaster. Under the new law, victims of the humidifier disinfectant can receive compensation without the need for separate lawsuits, through a review by a compensation committee. Compensation will be categorized into medical expenses, nursing costs, disability and survivor compensation, funeral expenses, emotional distress, and natural interest. Victims can choose to receive medical expenses as a lump sum or in installments. Victims can apply online with the necessary documents through the comprehensive support portal for humidifier disinfectant victims. Offline applications are also available at two locations: the Sejong Humidifier Disinfectant Compensation Review Committee Support Team and the Seoul Korea Environmental Industry Technology Institutes compensation application reception desk. The head of the humidifier disinfectant compensation review committee support team stated, We will consider the circumstances of the victims as much as possible during the review process and will do our best to ensure that victims and their families receive fair and complete compensation.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 17:
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Nuriho 5 Launch Success Highlights Future Competitiveness, Says Lawmaker Song Gi-heon, chairman of the National Assemblys Science and Technology Committee, emphasized on October 7 that South Korea must enhance its space transportation capabilities and translate its achievements in space development into industrial and future competitiveness.The committee visited the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, as part of a National Assembly audit, where they listened to the launch plans for Nuriho 5 and observed the entire process on-site. Following the successful launch, Song congratulated and encouraged the officials involved.He pledged, The National Assembly will actively support the necessary budget and legal and institutional foundations to help South Koreas space industry take a significant leap forward.Lawmakers expect that the success of the Nuriho 5 launch will enhance the reliability of future launches. Additionally, it is anticipated to positively impact the expansion of domestic companies participation in launch vehicle manufacturing and satellite development, fostering a private-sector-driven space industry ecosystem. The committee is also expected to continue its policy efforts to advance the entire space industry ecosystem, from research and development (R&D) to commercialization.The Democratic Party, in a written briefing from spokesperson Son Myung-soo following the Nuriho 5 launch success, stated, This launch is a significant achievement that proves South Koreas space development capabilities have taken a step forward, and pledged unwavering support for the sixth launch, next-generation launch vehicle development, and the transition to a privately-led space industry.Spokesperson Son added, The unceasing challenges and repeated successes of Nuriho will enhance the credibility of South Koreas space technology and greatly expand the horizons of the private space industry, emphasizing the commitment to ensure that R&D translates into tangible results that change industries, create jobs, and improve the lives of citizens.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 17:
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KOSPI slides nearly 2% as Samsung earnings caution weighs SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) — South Korean stocks fell nearly 2 percent Wednesday, extending losses for a second session as heavy foreign selling hit semiconductor shares and investors turned cautious ahead of Samsung Electronics' preliminary third-quarter earnings due Thursday. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,803.90, down 1.98 percent from the previous session. The index opened 1.11 percent lower at 6,864.25 and briefly reversed into positive territory in morning trading before renewed selling pushed it back toward the 6,800 level. Foreign investors sold a net 2.60 trillion won ($1.94 billion) of KOSPI shares, while institutions unloaded 674.6 billion won. Retail investors bought a net 2.56 trillion won, absorbing much of the selling. Decliners outnumbered advancers 527 to 333. The weakness was concentrated in large technology stocks, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix extending their declines for a second straight session. Both chipmakers gave up early gains as selling intensified through the session. Samsung Electronics briefly climbed 2.76 percent in morning trading before reversing to close the regular session 1.29 percent lower at 268,500 won, a day before its preliminary third-quarter earnings announcement. SK hynix also briefly moved into positive territory before falling 2.82 percent to 1,723,000 won. In KRX after-market trading as of around 4:30 p.m., Samsung Electronics rose to 270,500 won, narrowing its decline from the previous day to 0.55 percent, while SK hynix climbed to 1,726,000 won, leaving it down 2.65 percent. The declines came despite a positive overnight lead from Wall Street, where gains in AI infrastructure shares and lower Treasury yields lifted the major indexes. The S&P 500 rose 0.58 percent to 7,818.93 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.45 percent to a record 27,599.79, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.49 percent to 51,521.28. The strength did not extend across the U.S. semiconductor sector, however. Memory-related shares lagged, with Micron Technology falling 1.73 percent and SanDisk dropping 2.56 percent, limiting the positive spillover into Seoul. Treasury yields also remained high. The U.S. 10-year yield, which had retreated to around 5.28 percent Tuesday after reaching 5.349 percent earlier in the week, climbed back to around 5.31 percent Wednesday. Samsung's earnings remained the main near-term focus for chip shares. Analysts expect third-quarter profit to rise sharply on strong AI-related memory demand and tight supply, but forecasts have been trimmed as memory price gains slow and the stronger won weighs on overseas earnings. Investors are also watching whether memory-chip margins can remain resilient, making Thursday's preliminary results an important test of the current chip cycle. Samsung also lost a source of steady buying support after completing a large share repurchase for employee compensation on Tuesday. The end of the program meant the company was no longer providing the regular buying that had helped support its shares in recent weeks, leaving the stock more exposed to market selling. Samsung shares could face another source of volatility Thursday. Goldman Sachs said seven semiconductor exchange-traded funds with about 19 trillion won ($14 billion) in combined assets are scheduled to rebalance their portfolios on the same day as the earnings release. Because Samsung's weighting in some of the funds is near their limits, the ETFs may have to sell some Samsung shares automatically. Some of that money could instead move into other chip-related stocks, including SK hynix, SK Square and semiconductor equipment makers. The earnings caution spread beyond semiconductors. LG Electronics plunged 10.54 percent to 208,000 won after estimating third-quarter operating profit at 781.8 billion won, below market expectations despite a 13.5 percent increase from a year earlier. Hyundai Motor fell 3.45 percent, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics dropped 4.24 percent to close at 1,604,000 won. Samsung Electro-Mechanics later pared part of its decline in KRX after-market trading, rising to 1,614,000 won and leaving it down 3.64 percent from the previous day. SK Square was down 1.46 percent at 1,144,000 won, while LG Energy Solution gained 0.26 percent to 391,000 won. The KOSDAQ suffered an even steeper decline, falling 2.34 percent to 898.43. The junior index had opened at 917.45 before losses widened through the session. Retail investors bought a net 502.9 billion won of KOSDAQ shares, while foreign investors sold 259.6 billion won and institutions unloaded 217.0 billion won, according to KRX data. Selling was broad across major KOSDAQ stocks in after-market trading as of 5:27 p.m. Alteogen, a biotechnology company developing platform technologies for biologic drugs, fell 2.12 percent to 254,500 won. EcoPro, the holding company of a battery-materials group, dropped 3.67 percent to 91,900 won, while cathode-material producer EcoPro BM lost 2.87 percent to 125,200 won. Jusung Engineering, which makes deposition equipment used in semiconductor production, slid 8.98 percent to 253,500 won. Rainbow Robotics, a developer of collaborative, mobile and humanoid-based robot platforms, fell 3.97 percent to 447,500 won. Simmtech, a supplier of semiconductor package substrates, declined 2.23 percent to 171,100 won. Leeno Industrial, which makes semiconductor test probes and IC test sockets, slipped 1.27 percent to 85,800 won, while semiconductor equipment maker Wonik IPS dropped 6.16 percent to 132,600 won. Nevertheless, the Korean won strengthened to 1,338.60 won per dollar from 1,343.6 won in the previous session. October 7, 2026 17: -
Vietnam Shifts Export Policy to Allow Rare Earth Processed Products, Expanding Supply Chains for Korean Firms Vietnam, known as a rare earth powerhouse, is changing its export policy to allow the overseas shipment of high-value processed rare earth products instead of raw ore. As Japanese and Korean companies have already established or expanded production facilities for refining, magnets, and metals locally, the key issue is whether Vietnamese raw materials will effectively connect with these supply chains.According to local media outlet cafeF on October 7, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed a plan on September 30 to allow the export of processed rare earth products, including individual oxides, metals, alloys, alloy powders, and permanent magnets, provided they meet specific processing standards. This marks a shift from an earlier draft that included rare earths in the list of prohibited exports, now opening the door for processed products to be sold abroad.Processed refers to products that have undergone advanced chemical and physical processing beyond mere extraction or initial impurity removal, transforming them into high-value items.The export eligibility is limited to highly processed products, not raw ore or concentrates. Rare earth products must meet government-defined processing levels, such as separating individual rare earth elements into individual oxides rather than being mixed as total rare earth oxides. Intermediate materials that do not meet the standards will also be excluded from export eligibility.Vietnam is also conducting tests to secure processing technology for its rare earths. The Hanoi Peoples Committee approved a trial production of total rare earth oxides with over 95% purity at the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in early September. The facility can process 100 kg of ore per hour and can utilize up to 100 tons of raw materials from the Dong Pao mine. The produced materials will be used solely for analysis, testing, and technological improvement, not for commercial sale.According to a mineral report released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in February, Vietnam is estimated to have about 3.5 million tons of rare earths, ranking fifth in the world after China, Brazil, Australia, and Russia. However, the mining volume was only 150 tons last year, a significantly low figure compared to its reserves. Consequently, the Vietnamese government is actively seeking ways to expand rare earth mining and production.Korean and Japanese Companies Expand Local ProductionIn Vietnam, Korean and Japanese companies are already expanding their rare earth production infrastructure. With a high proportion of advanced manufacturing, both countries are urgently seeking alternative supply chains for rare earths in response to Chinas weaponization of these resources.Koreas LS Eco Energy is establishing a process to convert rare earth oxides into metals in Vietnam. The company announced plans in December to invest approximately 28.5 billion won to set up a production line at its Ho Chi Minh City subsidiary, LSCV, and in March, it began building a supply chain with Australias Linus Rare Earths for raw materials, metals, and magnets.LS Eco Energy aims to produce about 2,500 tons of rare earth metals annually, including samarium for defense applications and NdPr used in robotics and wind power generation. The company estimates that this volume can supply enough raw materials for the production of over 10,000 tons of permanent magnets. Additional investments in the samarium sector are also underway. On September 30, LS Eco Energy announced an additional investment of 11.6 billion won to build a 240-ton annual samarium metal production facility at the LSCV site, with trial production set to begin in December 2026. Linus will supply the raw materials, which LS Eco Energy will process into metals in Vietnam before supplying them to LS Cable for magnet production.Additionally, SGI Vina, a subsidiary of Seongrim Advanced Industries, is already operating a magnet factory in the central Binh Duong Industrial Park. The registered capital for the business is approximately 26.81 trillion dong (about 1.38 trillion won). The company began mass production at a scale of 2,000 tons annually in March last year and plans to increase its production capacity to 5,000 tons, with an expansion to 8,000 tons by 2028.In Japan, Shin-Etsu Chemicals subsidiary, Shin-Etsu Vietnam Magnetic Materials, operates production facilities in the Hai Phong Dinh Vu Industrial Park. According to environmental impact assessment documents for 2026, the production capacity for finished products is 4,590 tons annually, while two rare earth magnet alloy powder plants have capacities of 8,000 tons and 12,500 tons, respectively.Shin-Etsu is also pursuing plans to expand its production capacity for rare earth magnet blocks from 12,480 tons to 14,880 tons. However, this is a planned expansion, not actual production. The companys 2025 annual report indicates that its Vietnamese facility performs both refining and recycling in the production process of neodymium magnets, and some raw materials, including rare earth oxides, magnet alloys, and rare earth metals, are imported.However, the mere presence of foreign companies production facilities in Vietnam does not guarantee that domestic rare earths will be immediately utilized in these plants. Currently, imported raw materials are being used in the local production lines of Shin-Etsu and LS, and for Vietnamese minerals to be integrated into the supply chain, separate supply contracts and suitable separation and refining technologies are necessary.Meanwhile, Vietnams new export policy focuses on fostering the domestic processed industry rather than exporting raw rare earths. With the production bases of Japanese and Korean companies already established, the future challenge will be to secure processing technology and a stable raw material supply system that connects Vietnamese rare earths to actual metal and magnet production lines.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 17:
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President Lee Calls for Acceleration of Satellite Technology Following Successful Nuri Launch 이재명 대통령은 7일 청와대 집무실에서 누리호 5차 성공적인 발사 장면을 실시간으로 시청하고, 발사 주기를 앞당겨 위성체 기술 발전에 박차를 가할 것을 당부했다.김성완 청와대 대변인은 이날 춘추관 브리핑에서 이 대통령이 강훈식 대통령 비서실장, 하준경 정책실장, 이해민 AI미래기획수석 등과 함께 누리호 발사 생중계를 실시간으로 지켜봤다고 밝혔다.이 대통령은 누리호 이륙 이후 약 20분간 위성 분리 과정을 지켜봤다. 발사 성공이 확인되고 한국항공우주연구원 관계자들이 환호하는 모습이 화면에 나오자 함께 박수를 치며 기뻐했다고 김 대변인은 전했다.이 대통령은 발사를 기다리며 이해민 AI미래기획수석에게 발사 준비와 진행 상황, 탑재 위성의 종류와 기능 등을 상세히 물었다고 청와대는 전했다. 이 수석은 이번 발사가 민간 발사체 시장 진출의 기반을 마련하고, 국내 첫 군집위성 발사를 통해 발사체의 신뢰성을 높이는 계기가 될 것이라고 설명했다.이 대통령은 이번 성공을 정부가 우주 발사를 적극적으로 지원한 성과라고 평가하며 향후 발사 주기를 더욱 앞당길 것을 주문했다.청와대는 국내 기업의 상업용 우주수송 시장 진출을 뒷받침하기 위해 누리호 발사 기회를 확대하고 있다고 설명했다. 연간 최소 한 차례는 발사할 수 있어야 한다는 이 대통령의 방침에 따라 총사업비를 3280억원 늘려, 당초 2021~2027년 6차례였던 발사 계획에 2032년까지 5차례를 추가했다는 것이다.김 대변인은 “급성장 중인 글로벌 우주항공 시장의 속도에 우리 기업들이 따라갈 수 있는 기반을 마련하는 중요한 조치”라며 이번 발사가 대한민국 발사체의 신뢰성을 높이고 우주산업 도약의 계기가 될 것이라고 밝혔다.한편 누리호는 이날 낮 12시 25분 전남 고흥 나로우주센터에서 초소형군집위성 5기와 큐브위성 10기 등 역대 최다인 15기의 위성을 싣고 발사됐다. 우주항공청과 항우연은 비행정보 초기 분석 결과, 초소형군집위성 5기와 큐브위성 9기가 목표 궤도에 투입됐다고 발표했다.이번 발사로 누리호는 4회 연속 성공을 기록했다. 국내 최초로 군집위성 5기를 한 번에 궤도에 투입하며 다수의 위성을 정밀하게 배치하는 우주수송 역량을 입증했다는 평가다. 군집위성은 국가안보와 재난 대응을 위한 한반도 정밀 관측 임무를 수행한다.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 17:
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Blueard's Baek Man-yong: 'STO is Finance, Not Technology' Recently, one of the biggest interests in the banking and securities sectors is token securities (STO). Often referred to as fractional investment, this market is expected to fully bloom by early next year. STO utilizes distributed ledger (blockchain) technology to digitize securities, theoretically opening a new market for trading and distributing almost anything, including securities, real estate, and content.Although public understanding of this market remains low, the industry is already experiencing a wave of alliances and mergers. As competition heats up for dominance in the STO market, the value of companies possessing STO infrastructure and technology is rising. Major banks and securities firms are lining up to form partnerships with these companies.Blueard is one of the companies that has seen a significant increase in value recently. In a recent interview, Baek Man-yong, CEO of Blueards Financial Public Sector, shared insights on the current state and future of the domestic STO market. Baek is a digital finance expert with over 20 years of experience in the financial and IT consulting fields, having held positions such as Executive Director at PwC Consulting and Vice President at A.T. Kearney Korea.STO Market Needs to Shift Focus from Blockchain to FinanceBaek began the interview by stating, We should not view the STO market solely through the lens of blockchain technology. He believes that for the STO market to grow significantly, it must move away from the fractional investment and blockchain-centric approaches that have dominated the market thus far.He pointed out that in the early stages of the STO market, discussions focused more on blockchain and fractional investments rather than the essence of token securities. He noted, There were claims that you could fractionalize watches or luxury goods, or own a part of a building in New York. He emphasized that the starting point for the STO market is not technology but finance, stating, We need to expand the market from merely selling fractions of assets like artworks or Korean beef to a variety of financial products and funding methods for businesses.Currently, the legal framework for STOs is in the process of being refined, with the main laws amended and subordinate regulations being organized. The scope of business targets is also expanding from non-standard securities like artworks and real estate to include standard securities such as bonds and funds. In this context, the Financial Services Commission outlined in its Token Securities Policy Direction announced on September 4 that it aims to broaden the scope of STOs to include not only fractional investments but also bonds and funds. Following the implementation of the revised Capital Markets Act and Electronic Securities Act in February next year, plans are underway to gradually tokenize private money market funds (MMFs) for institutional investors, corporate bonds, and unlisted stock trusts.Baek noted, There has been a perception that tokenizing non-standard securities would not be immediately profitable, but recently, securities firms have begun to shift their focus toward tokenizing standard securities. He predicts that in the initial market, large firms are likely to first approach the tokenization of standard securities that have been permitted.Business Investment Contracts Must Be PromotedBaek also emphasized the need to activate business investment contracts for the STO market to grow. Business investment contracts involve investing in a specific business rather than directly owning a portion of a physical asset, with returns distributed according to agreements. So far, most investment contracts issued in South Korea have been shared equity types, where investors collectively own shares of specific underlying assets like artworks or Korean beef.The challenge lies in distribution. Shared equity investment contracts require addressing the transfer of shared equity in the underlying asset when securities are transferred to others. Due to legal issues surrounding the transfer of shared equity, establishing a free trading market similar to stocks has been constrained. Consequently, financial authorities are researching distribution methods for shared equity investment contracts and the review criteria for business investment contracts.Baek explained, For small and medium-sized enterprises or startups to attract investment, they previously had to issue bonds or sell equity. If business investment contracts are activated, they can receive investments in exchange for sharing returns instead of giving up equity. He added, This could provide a new funding method for SMEs and venture companies.However, since the success of future businesses will determine the investment returns of business investment contracts, investor protection and valuation are crucial. Baek stated, Finance inherently includes products that are not stable, emphasizing that there should also be products that offer high returns in exchange for taking on high risks.Large Firms to Use Private Ledgers, Smaller Firms to Use Shared LedgersBaek anticipates that securities firms strategies for token securities infrastructure will vary. He noted, Companies like Mirae Asset Securities, Hana Securities, and Hanwha Investment & Securities may build their own issuance platforms and distributed ledgers, while others may use shared distributed ledgers but also develop their own systems. He added that some companies may lack the capacity or financial resources to create their own ledgers and will only use shared ledgers.He remarked, For smaller firms, choosing a shared distributed ledger may be more rational due to costs, but if they plan to expand into token securities and other digital asset businesses in the future, it may be advantageous for larger firms to maintain their own ledgers. This is because transitioning from issuing on a shared distributed ledger to a proprietary one may not be as straightforward as anticipated.Token Issuance is Just the Beginning; Instant Settlement is EssentialAs relevant laws are set to take effect early next year, Baek was cautious about expectations for rapid growth in the STO market. He stated, Realistically, there is little time left before the law takes effect, and subordinate regulations are not yet fully organized. Just implementing the token securities system will not immediately open the market. He added, The regulatory framework for new securities to be issued as token securities must also be completed, and there are still unresolved issues that could lead to significant confusion in the early stages.He particularly emphasized that the payment settlement infrastructure must develop alongside token securities to realize their advantages. Baek stated, For a proper on-chain asset market to thrive, instant settlement is necessary. If trading can occur 24/7 and assets can move from wallet to wallet, the question of why should we tokenize this will diminish. He concluded, If securities are tokenized but payment settlements remain as they are, it will be difficult to leverage the advantages of blockchain.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 17:
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Blueard's Baek Man-yong Discusses Expansion into STO Advisory Services Blueard is an AI-based digital innovation consulting and IT service company. It was established last year through the merger of ISTN, which specializes in SAP and cloud services, and INF Consulting, a financial IT and STO specialist.In the financial sector, Blueard has developed key capabilities related to STO, including securities account and trading systems, token securities issuance and distribution platforms, and distributed ledger technology. As the institutionalization of STO becomes more apparent, the company is receiving interest from financial firms. It is currently collaborating with major securities companies such as Hanwha Investment & Securities, Hana Securities, and Shinhan Investment Corp.Baek Man-yong, who oversees Blueards STO business, noted that while interest in STO is growing, there are still many gaps in the market. He explained, The STO business has two main pillars: on one side, we build the token securities issuance systems and distributed ledgers for securities firms, and on the other side, we provide advisory services through the token securities issuance center, which includes identifying underlying assets, structuring products, legal reviews in collaboration with law firms, and supporting the preparation of securities registration statements. He added, The area that is particularly lacking in the STO market is product structuring.This is the market segment that Blueard is focusing on. Following the establishment of STO infrastructure, Baek believes that issuance advisory will become a new revenue stream. He stated, Product structuring is something that investment banks at securities firms are supposed to do. Structuring products worth several million to tens of millions of won is not significantly different from larger deals worth hundreds of millions, yet the profits are smaller. He continued, From the perspective of securities firms, it is not cost-effective, and there is little incentive for personnel who could handle larger deals to focus on smaller STO products.One of Blueards key projects related to issuance advisory is the smart aquaculture initiative in Busan. The company is providing consulting on structuring investment contract securities based on the business profits generated from the Busan smart aquaculture pilot project.Blueard is also considering content and intellectual property (IP) as major candidates for underlying assets. In collaboration with Lotte Future Strategy Institute and Shinhan Investment Corp., the company is exploring a business model to issue investment contract securities in the form of token securities based on various IPs, including characters and merchandise, as well as films, dramas, and performances. Baek remarked, For performances or concerts with strong fan bases, fans could also become investors. This process of combining finance and culture could create a new market. October 7, 2026 17:
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AJP Factbox: Korea's first satellite swarm reaches orbit on homegrown rocket South Korea has begun adding a fleet of small, lower-cost satellites to its handful of large observation satellites, giving up some image sharpness in exchange for looking at the Korean Peninsula far more often. The first five NEONSATs, built by KAIST's Satellite Technology Research Institute and the private firm Satrec Initiative, reached orbit on the homegrown Nuri rocket on Oct. 7, and five more launching in 2027 will let the 10-satellite fleet photograph the peninsula at least three times a day. October 7, 2026 17: -
Travel and Aviation Industries Accelerate Automation with AI The travel and aviation industries are accelerating their transition to artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operational inefficiencies caused by repetitive manual tasks and dispersed data. By integrating AI into processes that previously required employees to search for and input information, companies aim to reduce processing times and allow staff to focus more on core tasks and customer service.AllMyTour, a global bed bank solution provider, is advancing its Project Talos to establish an AI agent-based autonomous hotel operation system. This project features a core technology called digital twin ontology, which creates a standard map that AI can understand to manage hotel operations. Without replacing existing systems, data can be connected so that employees can interact with AI to check room statuses and request actions such as check-in restrictions or changes after repairs.In June, AllMyTour launched its first project (Proof of Concept) at the 372-room, four-star Seoul Garden Hotel. Development personnel and operational experts are on-site to assess data conditions and build an optimized operating system. The company expects to automate over 80-90% of simple repetitive tasks through this initiative. By the first quarter of next year, AllMyTour plans to establish AI components necessary for key hotel operations and expand its application to local three- and four-star hotels as well as international markets in Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.Korean Air recently developed a new maintenance defect analysis system that combines generative AI and cloud technology. When maintenance personnel input defect symptoms or situations in natural language, the AI retrieves relevant maintenance history and similar cases. It processes abbreviations and unstructured records used on-site into standard sentences, extracting key information such as major actions and defect locations.Additionally, Korean Air has integrated over 90 scattered databases and millions of maintenance records into a single system. This allows for simultaneous checks of defect cycles by aircraft type and registration, recurrence of defects, and repair histories of parts. At the 2026 World Smart City Expo held in September, Korean Air also showcased an intelligent maintenance automation system where inspection drones and ground rovers scan aircraft exteriors to detect defects and report them in real-time.Hana Tour has introduced an AI Incentive Agent to automate the process of generating incentive travel quotes. When customers input requests via voice, documents, or chat, the AI analyzes the information and instantly creates a quote request. This shifts away from the previous method where agents manually entered dozens of items, as the AI automatically fills in values beyond essential items based on context and data, allowing agents to review and modify only the final results.Moreover, the system supports mobile environments, enabling real-time quote registration without location constraints, thus resolving previous delays in registration. Hana Tour aims to minimize simple repetitive tasks through this AI agent, allowing employees to focus more on core responsibilities such as customer consultations and product planning.* This article has been translated by AI. October 7, 2026 17: