POSCO DX Q1 2026: Operating Profit Collapses 84% as Parent Group's Capex Pullback Deepens
POSCO DX reported Q1 2026 operating profit of KRW 3.7 billion, down 84% year-on-year, as revenue fell 18.6% to KRW 241.5 billion amid reduced capital spending across the POSCO Group.
- 02
South Korea Stays in MSCI Emerging Markets for Third Straight Year as Won Convertibility Gap Delays USD 24 Billion Inflow to 2028
MSCI keeps South Korea classified as an emerging market in its 2026 review, citing limited Korean won convertibility. A developed-market upgrade—worth an estimated USD 24 billion in passive fund inflows—is now deferred to 2028 at earliest.
- 03
Microsoft and Chevron Sign 20-Year Power Deal for 2.67 GW Texas AI Data Center, Boosting Korean Memory Demand Outlook
Microsoft and Chevron have signed a 20-year power supply agreement to develop Project Kilby, a proposed West Texas AI data center with 2.67 GW of capacity — one of the largest in the US. The deal, backed by Engine No. 1 ESG fund, targets a 2028 production start and signals sustained hyperscaler demand for Korean HBM and DRAM chips from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
- 04
U.S. Solar Makers Seek Anti-Circumvention Probe Into Hanwha Qcells' South Korean Cell Imports
A U.S. coalition led by Canadian Solar, SEG Solar, and Heliene filed an anti-circumvention probe petition against Hanwha Qcells on June 18, 2026, alleging the Korean solar maker evades Chinese anti-dumping tariffs by routing cell production through South Korea.
- 05
Toyota and BYD Target Korea's Vacant PHEV Market at Busan Show as Hyundai Motor Sits Out
Toyota and BYD are staging competing PHEV launches at the Busan International Mobility Show (June 26–July 5, 2026), targeting a domestic market niche that Hyundai Motor and Kia have vacated since 2021. Korean PHEV registrations fell 26% year-on-year to 4,745 units in Jan-May 2026, accounting for just 0.8% of the domestic auto market.
- 06
Hanmi Semiconductor Bets KRW 50 Billion on SpaceX, Citing AI and Satellite Demand as Long-Term Growth Rationale
Hanmi Semiconductor (042700.KQ) disclosed a KRW 50 billion open-market purchase of SpaceX shares, equivalent to 7.24% of its shareholders' equity, citing explosive AI and satellite demand as the long-term growth rationale.
- 07
Krafton Bets KRW 50 Billion on HyperAccel's LPU Chips to Cut AI Inference Costs, Marking Rare Game-to-Chip Move
PUBG maker Krafton is investing KRW 50 billion in Korean AI chip startup HyperAccel's Series B, backing LPUs designed to cut LLM inference costs by 90% versus Nvidia GPUs.
- 08
Kakao Pay Buys Out Kakao Pay Securities for KRW 173 Billion, Ending Dual-Listing Overhang and Clearing Path for Stablecoin Push
Kakao Pay will spend KRW 172.98 billion to lift its stake in Kakao Pay Securities from 72.93% to 100% by July 20, removing dual-listing concerns and accelerating its stablecoin and STO strategy.
- 09
Hanwha Life Insurance Posts 29.5% Jump in Q1 2026 Operating Profit; K-ICS Solvency Ratio Rises to 162.1%
Hanwha Life (088350.KS) posted KRW 480.8 billion in consolidated operating profit in Q1 2026, up 29.5% year-on-year, as new-contract CSM hit KRW 610.9 billion and its K-ICS solvency ratio improved 4.6 percentage points to 162.1%.
- 10
KOSPI Plunges 9.99%, Triggering Circuit Breaker, as Samsung and SK Hynix Each Lose Over 12% in Largest Single-Day Crash of 2026
South Korea's KOSPI fell 9.99% to 8,203.84 on June 23, 2026 — its steepest single-day drop of the year — as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix each shed more than 12%, triggering a full circuit breaker halt.
- 11
LG Chem Commits KRW 15 Trillion to R&D by 2035, Targeting Semiconductor Packaging and Robotics Materials
LG Chem commits KRW 15 trillion (USD 9.74 billion) in R&D through 2035, with 70% targeted at semiconductor, EV, and robotics materials and 30% at anticancer drugs, as the company pivots from petrochemicals to high-margin specialties.
- 12
Samsung and SK Hynix Target Hundreds of Trillions of Won in Honam and Chungcheong Semiconductor Clusters as Minister Urges Speed
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are reviewing plans to build semiconductor fab clusters in Honam and Chungcheong regions, with investment discussed at hundreds of trillions of won as Korea's industry minister urges speed.
- 13
Kakao Unveils Kanana Agentic AI at KPAIX 2026, Positions KakaoTalk as Korea's Government Service Gateway
Kakao Corp. (035720.KS) unveiled its Kanana agentic AI at KPAIX 2026 in Goyang, partnering with South Korea's government to turn KakaoTalk into a national AI service hub while launching Commerce Catalog Advertising.
- 14
Samsung Electronics HBM4 Sales Top USD 1 Billion Four Months After Launch as Nvidia Vera Rubin Demand Accelerates
Samsung Electronics crossed the USD 1 billion milestone in HBM4 chip sales just four months after its February 2026 launch, targeting USD 1.2 billion by month-end as Nvidia Vera Rubin ramps.
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