カカオエンタープライズ、イ・ジェハン氏をCEOに指名――8年間で6度目のトップ交代でAI転換を加速
カカオ（035720.KS）のB2BクラウドおよびAI部門であるカカオエンタープライズは、イ・ウォンジュ前CEOの16カ月での辞任を受けイ・ジェハン氏を新CEOに指名した。8月6日の臨時株主総会で承認される見通しで、2025年度売上高₩169.7B（前年比+25.9%）・営業損失-₩34.3Bを背景に、AI転換への注力を改めて鮮明にした。
韓国、防衛チップ国産化を義務化——LIGネクスワンがAESAレース主導、閣僚が2029年までに自給率50%を目標設定
韓国は7月23日の閣僚会議で全兵器システムへの防衛半導体国産化を義務付け、官民共同ファブにより2029年までに国内調達率50%を目標とした。すでにAESA/SAR用MMICチップを開発中のLIGネクスワン(079550.KS)が最も直接的な上場恩恵株であり、ハンファエアロスペース(012450.KS)はより幅広い政策の恩恵とストロングバイのコンセンサスを持つ。
中国CXMT、86億ドルIPO完了――2026年アジア最大の上場案件、サムスン電子・SKハイニックスのDRAM競争を再編
中国の長鑫存儲（CXMT）が上海IPOで86億ドルを調達し、応募倍率212倍で7月27日に上場。第1四半期売上高は前年同期比719%急増。KB証券はこのIPOをサムスン電子の再評価の起爆剤と位置づけており、脅威ではないとする根拠を解説する。
KBフィナンシャルグループ、2026年Q2純利益が初めて₩2兆突破——コンセンサスを4.2%上回る
KBフィナンシャルグループ（105560.KS）は2026年第2四半期に連結純利益₩2.01兆（前年同期比+15.1%）を計上し、韓国の銀行として四半期利益₩2兆の大台を初めて突破。アナリスト予想の約₩1.91兆を4.2%上回った。2026年上半期の純利益は₩3.93兆（前年同期比+13.9%）に達した。
Apple、数年ぶり最大規模のMac刷新——新11モデルがサムスン電子・SKハイニックスのLPDDR需要加速を示唆
Bloombergの報道によると、Appleは2026年秋から2028年にかけて新Macモデル11機種を準備中。サムスン電子とSKハイニックスはLPDDR価格交渉力とサプライ主導のApple Macロードマップへの影響力から恩恵を受ける見通し。
KOSPIとKOSDAQの違いとは？海外投資家向けガイド（2026年）
KOSPI（サムスン電子、SKハイニックス）対KOSDAQ（エコプロ、アルテオジェン）：上場基準、時価総額、取引時間、そして米国投資家が両市場にアクセスする方法をわかりやすく解説。
LGエネルギーソリューション、タブレス円筒形電池特許侵害でEVEエナジーを米ITCに提訴――電動工具輸入に禁止令リスク
LGエネルギーソリューションが、米国の電動工具向けタブレス円筒形電池技術をめぐり、中国・EVEエナジーを対象に米ITCへ5件の特許侵害申立てとテキサス連邦裁判所への訴訟を提起し、韓国の電池IP紛争が米国市場へと拡大した。
カカオペイ証券CEO、2,000万ユーザー目標を表明 シーバートとの提携強化で韓国株を米個人投資家に開放へ
カカオペイ証券（親会社：377300.KQ）のシン・ホチョルCEOは、ユーザー数を約800万人から2,000万人へ3年で拡大する計画を発表するとともに、シーバート・フィナンシャル（NASDAQ: SIEB）との提携深化を明らかにした。米国の規制に基づくチャネルを通じて米個人投資家が韓国株を取引できる環境の整備を目指す。
新韓フィナンシャルグループ、2026年Q2純利益17.5%増の1.82兆ウォン――コンソレンサス比7%超過、7,000億ウォン自社株買いを発表
新韓フィナンシャルグループ（055550.KS）の2026年Q2純利益は前年同期比17.5%増の1.82兆ウォンとなり、コンセンサスを7%上回った。上半期純利益は3.44兆ウォン。銀行部門のNIMは前四半期比1bp上昇。Q3に7,000億ウォン規模の自社株買いを発表し、年初来の株主還元総額は1.4兆ウォンに達した。
Hyundai Motor Q2 2026 Preliminary: Revenue Crosses ₩50 Trillion Milestone as Tariff Drag Narrows
Hyundai Motor disclosed Q2 2026 preliminary results on July 23: revenue ₩50.07T (+3.7% YoY), operating profit ₩3.3T (-8.4% YoY), beating consensus by ~10%. Tariffs, the Anjeon fire, and a Palisade recall weighed on margins; H2 recovery hinges on Grandeur facelift and Genesis GV90 launches.
LGディスプレイCEO、4年連続2Q低迷の終焉を宣言――サムスンディスプレイのGen 8.6攻勢に対抗しCapExを倍増
LGディスプレイの鄭哲東社長は、一時的なリストラ費用を除いた2Q実質営業利益が約1,300億ウォンに達したと表明。サムスンディスプレイがGen 8.6の量産を加速する中、設備投資額を2兆ウォン台半ば〜高めへ倍増する方針を示した。
SK Hynix Board Clears ₩7.09T for Cheongju P&T7 Packaging Hub — CEO Flags 2027 DRAM Supply Cliff
SK Hynix (000660.KS) board approved ₩7.0931 trillion ($4.8B) for its Cheongju P&T7 advanced packaging facility on July 22, 2026, accelerating the cleanroom schedule. CEO Kwak warns 2027 DRAM supply could fall to ~60% of demand.
Samsung Biologics Q2 2026: Revenue Surges 30% to ₩1.32T, H1 Profit Crosses ₩1.17 Trillion
Samsung Biologics reported Q2 2026 revenue of KRW 1,320.9 billion (+30.2% YoY) and operating profit of KRW 586.4 billion (+22.9%), in-line with market consensus. H1 cumulative revenue reached KRW 2,578 billion with the company tracking the upper end of its 15-20% full-year growth guidance.
Korea Greenlights Yeosu Petrochemical Overhaul — Lotte Chemical, Hanwha and DL Shed 1.4 Mt of NCC Capacity With ₩700B State Aid
South Korea approved the Yeosu NCC restructuring on July 22, cutting 1.4 million tonnes of ethylene capacity. Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions and DL Chemical form a 33/33/33 JV backed by ₩700B state aid.
AMD Commits $5 Billion to Anthropic in 2-Gigawatt MI450 Deal — Samsung Emerges as Key HBM4 Beneficiary
AMD will invest up to $5 billion in Anthropic while Anthropic commits to deploy 2GW of AMD MI450 GPUs. Samsung (005930.KS), AMD's primary HBM4 supplier, stands as the key Korean market beneficiary. SK Hynix (000660.KS) is a competitive bidder for AMD memory orders ahead of its own Q2 results on July 23.
Korea Market Week Ahead July 27–August 1: SK Hynix Q2 Full Results and Samsung Segment Data
SK Hynix Q2 full results July 29 (consensus OP ₩64.2T, +597% YoY); Samsung and LG Electronics deliver segment breakdowns July 30. Key watch points for Korea investors.
Korea's Four Chaebol Chiefs Join Presidential Dinner with Jensen Huang — Vera Rubin HBM4 Supply and AI Factory Plans Top San Francisco Agenda
Korea's four largest conglomerate chairs and President Lee Jae-myung will sit down with Jensen Huang, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei in San Francisco on July 25 — Samsung and SK Hynix already ship HBM4 for Vera Rubin.
LG Energy Solution Revives Ohio Battery Plant — 850 Workers Return as EV Chasm Nears Turning Point
LGES and GM's Ultium Cells joint venture reinstates 850 workers at Warren, Ohio from July 27. Utilization rate set to improve from 46.9% to 60%+ in H2 2026 as the EV demand 'chasm' shows signs of ending.
Samsung in Talks to Invest EUR 1B in Mistral AI as S&P Lifts Outlook to Positive — Memory Supercycle Funds Europe AI Bet
Samsung (005930.KS) reportedly in talks to commit ~EUR 1B to Mistral AI at EUR 20B valuation; S&P upgrades outlook to Positive projecting EBITDA to quadruple to USD 284B in 2026. Key implications for Korea investors.
LG Display Q2 2026: −₩107.7B Operating Loss Masks H1 Profit Swing as iPhone 18 Pro Mass Production Begins
LG Display reported Q2 2026 operating loss of −₩107.7B, wider than consensus, due to heavy restructuring charges. Underlying business profitable: ex-restructuring Q2 OP estimated at +₩90B. H1 2026 swings to +₩39B profit. iPhone 18 Pro mass production began June 2026, setting up H2 recovery toward FY consensus ₩1.12T operating profit.
KOSPI Surges 6% to 7,150 as SK Hynix Knocks on ₩2M Door — Chip Short Squeeze Sets the Stage for Q2 Earnings
KOSPI opens +5.96% to 7,150 on July 22 as SK Hynix (+8.7-9.2% to KRW1,995,000) leads a chip short squeeze. SOX surged 5% overnight. SK Hynix Q2 preliminary results expected after today's KRX close, with consensus operating profit at KRW64.8T (+604% YoY).
Samsung Display to Overtake LG Display in OLED Laptop Panels for the First Time — Korea's 95% Market Grip Bars China
Samsung Display is projected to overtake LG Display in mid-to-large OLED revenue for the first time in Q3 2026, capturing 48% versus LGD's 47%. Korean manufacturers jointly hold ~95% of the laptop and monitor OLED market, while Chinese rivals BOE and EverDisplay hold under 5%. LG Display Q2 2026 results are due July 22.
Apple 'Upgrade' Lease Arrives July 28 — Samsung Electronics Faces Ecosystem Lock-In Threat as Galaxy Unpacked Looms
Apple launches a Klarna-backed lease-to-own programme on July 28, applying ecosystem lock-in pressure on Samsung's ₩2.8T mobile business one day after Galaxy Unpacked.
BlackRock Crosses 5% in KAI and EcoPro — World's Largest Asset Manager Adds Defense and Battery to Its Korea Playbook
BlackRock disclosed 5.02% in Korea Aerospace Industries and 5.01% in EcoPro on July 21, 2026, crossing mandatory disclosure thresholds and extending its Korean portfolio to 19 companies with 5%-plus stakes.
L&F Closes Battery Recycling Loop with CIS Chemical — Korea's First Integrated NCM/LFP Circular Supply Chain
L&F (066970.KQ) has made a strategic investment in CIS Chemical, South Korea's only commercialized LFP hydrometallurgical recycler, closing its preprocessing-to-post-processing loop as Korea's first non-Chinese LFP cathode mass production facility ramps up in Q3 2026.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 22, London: Z Fold 8 Trio, Galaxy Glasses, and the Memory-Cost Pass-Through
Samsung Electronics will host Galaxy Unpacked in London on July 22, unveiling the Z Fold 8 trio (from USD 1,899), Galaxy Glasses, and a new Galaxy Card. With the memory-cost pass-through driving higher ASPs and Q2 full results due July 30, Korea investors are watching 005930.KS supply-chain beneficiaries including Samsung Electro-Mechanics (009150.KS) and Samsung SDI (006400.KS).
Samsung Electronics Launches CEO-Direct 'RX' Robotics Unit — Physical AI Push Targets 2030 Autonomous Factories
Samsung Electronics launches the RX (Robotics eXperience) Business Office under CEO Roh Tae-moon, with Rainbow Robotics (277810.KQ) as the primary listed proxy for the physical AI push.
Shinsegae Bets $500 Million on Aman and Janu — Korea's Retail Giant Eyes Ultra-Luxury Hospitality Pivot
Shinsegae Property and OKO Group (Aman owner) form a USD 500 million JV for ultra-luxury hotel development in Korea and Asia, targeting 2027 Aman Seoul and Janu openings as inbound tourism surges to 18.9M arrivals.
Microsoft Azure Bets on AMD Helios — Samsung Gains as AMD Primary HBM4 Supplier in the GPU Memory Race
Microsoft Azure will deploy AMD Helios racks (72 MI455X GPUs, 31 TB HBM4) in H2 2026. Samsung (005930.KS) is AMD primary HBM4 partner; SK Hynix supplies Nvidia — Korea memory split mapped.
Kakao Bank Calls Full-Day Strike for July 31 as Group-Wide Wage Talks Collapse
Kakao Bank's union has voted for a full-day strike on July 31 after wage negotiations broke down. Kakao Corp talks are deadlocked after two months. We examine the labor cost implications for 035720.KS and 323410.KS investors.
Morgan Stanley's Joseph Moore: Memory Selloff Is a Buy — DRAM to Rise 13–20% in Q3, Shortage Through 2028
Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore upgraded Q3 2026 memory price forecasts and named the recent selloff a buying opportunity. PC DRAM forecast raised to +15–20%, Server DRAM to +13–18%. KOSPI rebounded 2.47% on July 21 with SK Hynix +2.38% and Samsung +3.89%.
SK Hynix (000660.KS) Q2 2026 Earnings Preview: ₩64.8T Operating Profit Consensus as HBM3E Sells Out — Results July 29
SK Hynix Q2 2026 earnings preview: FnGuide consensus at ₩64.8T operating profit (+604% YoY), ~77% margin. HBM3E sold out through 2027; results due July 29.
South Korea Chip Exports Surge 180% in July 1–20, Pushing Semiconductors to 40% of Total Shipments
South Korea's exports surged 52.3% to USD 54.9B in July 1-20, with semiconductor shipments jumping 180% to USD 22.1B as AI-driven HBM demand pushes chips to ~40% of total exports. Trade surplus hit USD 12.2B. Automobile exports fell 10.6%.
Hanwha Philly Shipyard Wins $1.4 Billion Golden Dome Contract to Build Two Missile-Tracking Vessels
Hanwha Philly Shipyard and TOTE Services win a $1.4 billion U.S. Missile Defense Agency contract for two 'Golden Defender' missile-tracking vessels — cementing Hanwha Ocean's role in U.S. strategic defense shipbuilding and the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding alliance.
Coupang's 299,000 sq m Incheon Logistics Hub Burns for 61 Hours — National Mobilization, Damage Seen at Hundreds of Billions
Coupang logistics center No. 32 (299,000 sq m, Incheon) burned for 61 hours from July 18, with 813 firefighters deployed. Damage estimated at several hundred billion won; CPNG stock held near $16.47 as investors look to the 2021 precedent.
Hanwha Solutions Locks In ₩1.2T Rights Offering at ₩22,100 After FSS Halved Its Capital Plan
Hanwha Solutions (009830.KS) cuts rights offering to ₩1.2T at ₩22,100 after FSS forced two revisions from ₩2.4T. Shareholders subscribe July 22–23; new shares list August 11.
KOSPI Hits 6,515 Intraday as SOX Enters Bear Market, Then Snaps Back — SK Hynix Turns Green Ahead of Earnings
South Korea's KOSPI plunged 4.48% intraday to 6,515 on July 20 as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) entered bear market territory. But SK Hynix (000660.KS) recovered sharply, turning positive (+1.30%) ahead of its Q2 2026 earnings on July 22.
Samsung and SK Hynix Race to Mass-Produce CXL 3.2 Memory — Adding a New Tier to AI's Memory Hierarchy
Samsung targets year-end CXL 3.2 mass production while SK Hynix shows 256 GB CMM-DDR5 with 35.7% inference gains. CXL adds capacity-tier memory that complements HBM ahead of SK Hynix Q2 earnings on July 22.
Blackstone Buys Controlling Stake in Korea's Futronic for $720M, Betting Automotive Actuators Can Power the Humanoid Era
Blackstone's affiliated PE funds agreed to pay approximately $720M for a controlling stake in Futronic, a South Korean motion-control actuator maker founded in 1993. The deal signals growing global conviction in Korea's humanoid robotics supply chain, with Goldman Sachs projecting Korean companies will support 30% of global humanoid production by 2035.
Naver vs Kakao: Business Comparison for Investors (2026)
Naver (035420) and Kakao (035720) dominate Korea's digital economy. Compare revenues, margins, user bases, and risks to decide which fits your Korea tech thesis.
Samsung Electronics Cuts ~840 U.S. Jobs as Consumer Division Exits New Jersey for Texas
Samsung Electronics America is relocating its U.S. consumer-electronics HQ from Englewood Cliffs, NJ to Plano, TX by end-2026, filing WARN notices for ~840 roles. The move highlights the widening gap between Samsung's record DS chip division (Q2 OP ~KRW 89T) and its margin-pressured DX consumer unit.
LG Chem (051910.KS) Pares Naju Plant to One Line
LG Chem (051910.KS), Korea's largest chemical company and a major battery-materials maker, will close the adhesive production line at its Naju plant in South Je
Korea Loosens Bank-AI Rules; KB's Startup 'Trust Layer' Shows Early Demand
Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC, the country's top financial regulator) has begun dismantling the "network separation" rule that for more than a decade kept cloud-hosted AI walled off from
Samsung Biologics Bets $2.0 Billion on Swiss Peptide Maker PolyPeptide to Enter the GLP-1 Supply Chain
Samsung Biologics (207940.KS), the Songdo-based contract drug manufacturer within Korea's Samsung group, has agreed to acquire 100% of PolyPeptide Group AG, a Swiss-headquartered contract developer and manufacturer of therapeutic peptides, in the largest M&A ever struck by a Korean pharmaceutical or...
Micron Locks In 3-to-5-Year Automotive AI Memory Deals with Hyundai Mobis and Samsung Harman
Micron signed 3-5 year supply deals with Hyundai Mobis (012330.KS) and Samsung Harman for ADAS memory. TrendForce projects SLC NAND prices could surge 120-170% in H2 2026.
Korea Aerospace Industries Completes T-50i Deliveries to Indonesia — KF-21 Export Deal Next in Line
KAI delivered 6 T-50i jets to Indonesia in July 2026 (total: 22). Indonesia may next buy 16 KF-21 fighters (~KRW 3T). KAI stock is 27% below analyst consensus target.
Starbucks Korea's First Union Forms as Q2 Operating Loss Looms — Emart (139480.KS) Faces Compounding Risk
Korea's first coffee-chain union forms at Starbucks Korea as Q2 2026 brings an expected ₩22.9B operating loss — a dual shock for Emart (139480.KS), which owns 67.5% of SCK.
LG Display (034220.KS) Q2 2026 Earnings Preview: Restructuring Trough on July 22 Before Apple OLED Ramp
LG Display reports Q2 2026 on July 22. Consensus: OP loss ₩83–119B on restructuring. Analysts see Q2 as the trough before H2 Apple OLED ramp — BOE shut out of premium models.
Hyundai Motor and Kia Q2 2026 Earnings Preview: Fire, Tariffs, and a Surprising Divergence
Hyundai Motor reports Q2 on July 23, Kia on July 24. Consensus sees Hyundai OP down ~14% from a factory fire and tariffs; Kia up ~1% on hybrid strength. Three things to watch.
Woori Financial (316140.KS) Q2 2026 Earnings Preview: Indonesia Provisions Booked, ₩958B Rebound on July 24
Woori Financial reports H1 2026 results on July 24 at 16:00 KST. Q2 consensus: ~₩958B (approx. +2% YoY per FnGuide). CET1 record 13.6%; H2 buyback up to ₩350B in view.
Shinhan Financial Group (055550.KS) Q2 2026 Earnings Preview: NIM Lift, ₩5T Milestone, and Lotte Wildcard
Shinhan Financial Group reports Q2 on July 24. Consensus net profit ~₩1.61T (+4% YoY). NIM +1bp to 1.94%, CET1 ~13.5%, and Lotte Non-Life deal are the key watch points.
Hana Financial Group Q2 2026 Earnings Preview: Record Profit, NIM Expansion, and ₩650B H2 Buyback
Hana Financial reports Q2 2026 results July 24. Consensus ₩1.22–1.25T net income (+4–6% YoY), record quarter. Watches: NIM +3bp, ₩650B H2 buyback, Dunamu CET1.
Foreign Investors Net-Sold ₩12.4 Trillion in Korean Stocks in July — but They Are Buying Index ETFs
Foreign investors net-sold ₩12.44T in Korean equities in July (₩12.1T KOSPI + ₩338.1B KOSDAQ) but bought a net ₩593.7B in Korean ETFs. We decode what this divergence signals.
KB Financial (105560.KS) Q2 2026 Earnings Preview: Record Profit, Rate Hike, and H2 Buyback
KB Financial's H1 2026 earnings conference is July 23 at 16:00 KST. Consensus Q2 net profit ₩1.91T (+10%) — here are three things Korea investors must watch.
South Korea's Biggest FX Overhaul Since 1997 Opens Won to Foreign Investors — What It Means for KOSPI
South Korea unveiled its biggest forex reform since 1997: foreigners can open won-denominated accounts overseas from Jan 2027. Here's what KOSPI investors need to know.
Korea Market Week Ahead (July 20–25): SK Hynix Q2 Wednesday, Bank Earnings, Homeplus Verdict
SK Hynix Q2 lands Wed July 22 (OP consensus ₩60–65T, +551–606% YoY). KB Financial call Thu July 23. Homeplus ruling expected. Four key events July 20–25 plus CXMT IPO July 27.
KB Report: Korea Solo Households Rotated Into Stocks at Peak
KB Report: Korea Solo Households Rotated Into Stocks at Peak
Alteogen ALT-B4 Powers Keytruda SC as Celltrion and Samsung Bioepis Field Rival Korean SC Platforms
Alteogen ALT-B4 powers Keytruda SC with up to $890M MSD milestones. Celltrion and Samsung Bioepis now field rival Korean SC platforms ahead of Keytruda's 2028 patent cliff.
SKHY Lands in 11 Korean Active ETFs Six Days After Nasdaq Debut — Three Things to Watch Ahead of Q2 Earnings
SK Hynix ADR (SKHY) entered 11 Korean active ETFs within six days of its July 10 Nasdaq debut. Q2 results come July 22 — three factors every investor must track.
Ecopro BM Sets 2027 Solid Electrolyte Mass-Production Target as All-Solid-State Battery Race Heats Up in Korea
Korea's largest cathode material maker sets 2027 as its solid electrolyte mass-production target, disclosing a full all-solid-state battery roadmap with 30+ global companies verifying its pilot materials.