카카오엔터프라이즈, 이재한 대표 선임…8년간 여섯 번째 수장 교체로 AI 전환 가속
카카오(035720.KS)의 B2B 클라우드·AI 자회사 카카오엔터프라이즈가 이원주 대표의 16개월 만 사임에 따라 이재한 신임 대표를 선임 후보로 지명했다. 8월 6일 임시주주총회 승인을 거쳐 공식 취임하며, AI 전환 가속에 방점을 찍는다. 회사는 2025년 연간 매출 1,697억 원(전년 대비 +25.9%)을 기록했으나 영업손실 -343억 원을 나타냈다.
한국, 방산 반도체 국산화 의무화 — LIG넥스원, AESA 경쟁 선두...2029년 자급률 50% 목표
한국 정부는 7월 23일 장관급 회의에서 전 무기 체계에 방산 반도체 국산화를 의무화하고, 민관 합작 팹을 통해 2029년까지 국내 공급 비중 50%를 목표로 설정했다. AESA·SAR MMIC 칩을 개발 중인 LIG넥스원(079550.KS)이 가장 직접적인 수혜 상장 종목이며, 한화에어로스페이스(012450.KS)는 광범위한 정책 수혜와 Strong Buy 컨센서스를 보유하고 있다.
중국 CXMT, 86억 달러 IPO 완료 — 2026년 아시아 최대 상장, 삼성전자·SK하이닉스 D램 경쟁 지형 재편
중국 창신메모리(CXMT)가 212배 초과청약을 기록하며 상하이 IPO에서 86억 달러를 조달, 7월 27일 상장. 1분기 매출은 전년 동기 대비 719% 급증. KB증권은 이번 사건을 삼성전자 재평가 촉매제로 분석하며 위협이 아닌 이유를 짚는다.
KB금융그룹 2026년 2분기 순이익 2조원 첫 돌파…컨센서스 4.2% 상회
KB금융그룹(105560.KS)이 2026년 2분기 연결 순이익 2조 1백억원(전년 동기 대비 +15.1%)을 기록하며 국내 은행권 최초로 분기 순이익 2조원 시대를 열었다. 시장 컨센서스(약 1조 9,100억원) 대비 4.2% 상회했으며, 2026년 상반기 누적 순이익은 3조 9,300억원(+13.9%)에 달했다.
애플, 맥 11개 신모델 대규모 라인업 개편…삼성전자·SK하이닉스 LPDDR 수요 급증 수혜
블룸버그에 따르면 애플은 2026~2028년 맥 신모델 11종을 준비 중이다. 삼성전자와 SK하이닉스는 LPDDR 가격 협상력 강화와 공급 주도권을 바탕으로 애플 맥 로드맵에 대한 영향력을 높일 전망이다.
KOSPI vs KOSDAQ: 무엇이 다른가? 해외 투자자를 위한 완벽 가이드 (2026)
KOSPI(삼성전자, SK하이닉스) vs KOSDAQ(에코프로, 알테오젠): 상장 요건, 시가총액, 거래 시간, 미국 투자자의 접근 방법을 알기 쉽게 설명합니다.
LG에너지솔루션, 탭리스 원통형 배터리 특허 침해로 中 EVE에너지 美 ITC에 제소 — 전동공구 수입금지 위기
LG에너지솔루션이 미국 전동공구에 사용되는 탭리스 원통형 배터리 기술을 겨냥해 중국 EVE에너지를 상대로 미국 ITC에 5건의 특허 침해 소송 및 텍사스 연방법원 소송을 제기하며, 한국 배터리 지식재산권 분쟁이 미국 시장으로 확전됐다.
카카오페이증권 대표, 이용자 2000만 목표 제시…시버트와 협력 강화로 미국 개인투자자에 한국 주식 개방
카카오페이증권(모회사: 377300.KQ) 신호철 대표가 이용자를 현 약 800만 명에서 2000만 명으로 늘리는 3개년 계획을 발표하고, 시버트 파이낸셜(NASDAQ: SIEB)과의 파트너십을 강화해 미국 개인투자자가 한국 주식을 직접 거래할 수 있는 미국 규제 채널을 구축할 방침이다.
신한금융그룹 2026년 2분기 순이익 1조 8,200억원…17.5% 급증·컨센서스 7% 상회, 7,000억원 자사주 매입 발표
신한금융그룹의 2026년 2분기 순이익이 전년 동기 대비 17.5% 급증한 1조 8,200억원을 기록하며 컨센서스를 7% 웃돌았다. 상반기 누적 순이익은 3조 4,400억원. 은행 NIM은 전 분기 대비 1bp 상승했으며, 3분기 신규 7,000억원 자사주 매입이 발표돼 연간 주주환원 규모는 1조 4,000억원에 달했다.
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.
LG디스플레이 정철동 사장 "4년간 2분기 부진 끝났다"…삼성디스플레이 8.6세대 전쟁 속 설비투자 두 배
LG디스플레이 정철동 사장, 일회성 구조조정 비용 제외 시 2분기 실질 영업이익 약 1,300억 원 수준이라고 밝혀. 삼성디스플레이가 8.6세대 양산을 가속화하는 가운데 설비투자는 2조 원 중후반대로 두 배 확대.
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.