News

Celltrion (068270.KS): Q2 Op Profit Up 77%, Shares Down 20%

Celltrion (068270.KS), South Korea's largest biosimilar maker, reported preliminary second-quarter 2026 results on July 3 showing operating profit up 77.3% to ₩

Samsung SDI (006400.KS) Converts Idle EV Lines to Storage

Samsung SDI (006400.KS), South Korea's second-largest battery maker, is converting stalled and underused electric-vehicle battery lines in the United States and

SK Telecom Targets 15 GW AI Data Center Capacity by 2035, Partners AWS and Nvidia

South Korea's largest carrier plans 15 GW of AI compute capacity by 2035, anchored by an AWS hyperscale facility in Ulsan. SK Group affiliates including SK Hynix will supply chips across the value chain.

LG Chem Enters Semiconductor Stripper Market With Amkor Technology Deal, Eyes KRW 2 Trillion Materials Revenue

LG Chem entered the semiconductor stripper market on July 5, announcing a mass-production supply deal with Amkor Technology. The customized stripper cuts photoresist removal time by 50% and supports the company's target to double electronic materials revenue to KRW 2 trillion by 2030.

Bank of Korea Flags KOSPI Concentration Risk as Samsung and SK Hynix ETFs Surge — While 'Chipflation' Hits Consumer Wallets

Bank of Korea warns Samsung and SK Hynix ETF concentration has reached 55.3% of KOSPI market cap, while chipflation pushes storage device prices up 45.6% year-on-year — highest among 458 CPI basket items.

Korean Won Logs Second-Worst H1 Since 1998 as Foreign Investors Unload ₩156 Trillion in KOSPI Shares

The Korean won fell 5.92% in H1 2026, posting its second-worst first-half average since the 1998 Asian financial crisis. Foreign investors sold ₩156.56 trillion in KOSPI shares, more than 4.5 times the full-year 2008 total.

Korea's Fake News Law Takes Effect July 7: Kakao and Naver Face New Platform Liability Rules

South Korea's revised Information and Communications Network Act takes effect July 7, 2026, exposing Kakao (035720.KS) and Naver to punitive damages and CEO liability for content moderation failures.

Samsung (005930.KS), SK Hynix Rise 8–11% as Kospi Tops 8,000

South Korea's chip duo staged one of the sharpest reversals of the year on Friday, July 3, and the pattern of the move matters more than its size. The Kospi (Ko

Seoul Court Terminates Homeplus Rehabilitation, Korea's No. 2 Hypermarket Faces Liquidation

Seoul Bankruptcy Court terminated Homeplus' rehabilitation proceedings on July 3 after the MBK Partners-owned retailer failed to raise KRW 200B in operating capital. With a 14-day appeal window, Korea's second-largest hypermarket faces liquidation — with implications for E-Mart, Lotte Shopping, and Meritz Financial.

Samsung Targets Third Straight DRAM Price Hike in Q3, Seeking Up to 20% Rise After 90% Jump in Q1

Samsung Electronics is seeking a 20% DRAM price hike for Q3 2026, marking the third consecutive quarter of double-digit increases after +90% in Q1 and +50-60% in Q2, with TrendForce projecting 13-18% actual gains.

LG Energy Solution Locks In Humanoid Battery Contracts With Tesla, Boston Dynamics and Figure AI

LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) confirms battery supply deals with Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Figure AI for humanoid robots, betting on high-nickel ternary chemistry to outpace Chinese LFP rivals.

SK Hynix Weighs Record $29B Nasdaq ADR as July 10 Debut Nears

SK Hynix targets up to $29B in Nasdaq ADRs (largest ADR ever), with July 10 trading start and BofA/GS/Citi/JPM as underwriters. Proceeds earmarked for Yongin fab and Cheongju P&T7 packaging plant.

Hanwha, Hyundai Pledge Combined KRW 97 Trillion to Transform Yeongnam Into Defense-Aerospace Hub

Hanwha Group and Hyundai Motor Group pledged a combined KRW 97 trillion for the Yeongnam region, with Hanwha focusing on space sovereignty via launch vehicles and satellites, and Hyundai on next-generation EVs and clean energy.

₩350T Q2 Memory Surge: Samsung (005930.KS), SK Hynix Records

The global memory-chip market is on track to approach ₩350 trillion ($254 billion) in the second quarter of 2026, a figure that sets up record earnings for Kore

Verizon's $3.2B Spectrum Sweep Puts Samsung's 5G Network Unit Back in Focus

Verizon won 91% of the FCC's first spectrum auction in four years, committing USD 3.2 billion for mid-band capacity. Samsung Electronics, Verizon's primary 5G network-equipment partner under a ₩7.9 trillion supply contract, stands to benefit as US regulators bar Chinese-made telecom components.

Samsung (005930.KS) Pledges ₩60T for Korea Physical AI Hub

Samsung on July 3 pledged to invest ₩60 trillion ($43.8 billion) in the Yeongnam region — the industrial belt of southeastern Korea centered on Busan, Ulsan and

KOSPI Whipsaws to 5.8% as Funds Catch Samsung, SK Hynix Dip

South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index staged one of its wildest sessions of the year on Friday, July 3, swinging from a 3.5% intraday plunge to a sharp "V-shaped"

Hanmi Science (008930.KS) Heir Stake Tips Family Past Shin

The younger son of Hanmi's founding family has sold a 2.5% stake — roughly ₩82.07 billion ($59.9 million) worth of shares — to a fund aligned with his mother an

Daewoo E&C Returns to US Real Estate After 20-Year Hiatus With $291M New Jersey Project

South Korea's Daewoo E&C returns to US real estate after a 20-year absence with a $291 million investment in Palisades Park, New Jersey, partnering with Tamares Group on an 18-story, 540-unit residential complex through its US unit DUSAI.

KB Financial (105560.KS) Narrows Chairman Race to Six

KB Financial Group (105560.KS), South Korea's largest financial holding company by market value, narrowed its chairman succession field to six candidates on Jul

Hyundai and Kia Post Record 920,383 H1 US Sales as Hybrids Surge 65.5%, EVs Drop

Hyundai Motor and Kia delivered 920,383 vehicles in H1 2026, setting a new record as hybrid sales surged 65.5% YoY while EV deliveries fell 9.7%.

Samsung, SK Hynix and Celltrion Pledge KRW 392 Trillion to Chungcheong in Korea's 'Second Tokyo Declaration'

Samsung, SK Hynix CEO Kwak No-jeong and Celltrion commit KRW 392 trillion to Chungcheong as President Lee calls it Korea's 'second Tokyo Declaration.' Anthropic also eyes Samsung 2nm foundry.

LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) Ohio EV Plant Pivots to ESS

A $3.5 billion battery plant that Honda and LG Energy Solution broke ground on to build electric-vehicle cells has instead started churning out cells for the po

Celltrion (068270.KS) Q2: Margin 33%, Record ₩430B Profit

Celltrion (068270.KS), Korea's largest biosimilar maker, said its second-quarter operating margin leapt to roughly 33% — the sharpest profitability move in the

KOSPI Sinks 7.9% as 'Meta Shock' Routs Korean Chip Stocks

KOSPI plunged 7.89% to 7,648.09 on July 2, 2026 as Meta's AI cloud plans sparked fears of AI compute overcapacity, sending SK Hynix down 14.57% and Samsung down 9.06% in a 'Black Thursday' rout.

Seoul and Washington Clash Over ₩624.7B Coupang Fine as US House Labels Korea's Data Enforcement Discriminatory

South Korea's Foreign Ministry and NIS push back against a US House Judiciary Committee report that labels the PIPC's record ₩624.7 billion ($403 million) privacy fine against Coupang as 'discriminatory.' The fine stems from a Chinese-employee data breach exposing 37 million Coupang users.

Google's €4.1B EU Fine Sealed, Samsung (005930.KS) in Focus

On July 2, the Court of Justice of the European Union (the EU's highest court, whose rulings cannot be appealed) dismissed the final challenge from Alphabet's G

Hanmi Pharma (128940.KS) Promotes Obesity, Licensing VPs

Hanmi Group, a Korean pharmaceutical group whose listed drugmaker Hanmi Pharmaceutical (128940.KS) is a KOSPI large-cap, on July 2 promoted six executives in it

SK Hynix Pledges ₩100 Trillion ($64B) for New Memory Capacity

SK Hynix CEO announces ₩100 trillion ($64B) Cheongju investment: ₩80T for NAND fab M17 (2029) and ₩20T for advanced HBM packaging (2027), as KOSPI fell 4.46% on AI capex fears.

Hanmi Semiconductor Chairman Buys ₩5B Stock Before HBM4 Ramp

Hanmi Semiconductor Chairman Kwak Dong-shin adds ₩5B in personal stock purchases, bringing three-year total to ₩69.5B, signaling conviction in TC Bonder demand ahead of HBM4 ramp.

BYD's First Korea Recall Part of 146,505-Vehicle Sweep

South Korea orders 146,505-vehicle recall. BYD faces first-ever Korean recall; Hyundai Tucson leads volume at 54,792 units.

SK Inc. and KKR Form Korea's Largest Renewable Energy Joint Venture, Targeting 10 GW by 2031

SK Inc. and KKR sign a KRW 2 trillion JV to create Korea's largest renewable energy platform at 1.7 GW initial capacity, targeting 10 GW by 2031.

Samsung Reaffirms 1.4nm for 2029, Bets on Ecosystem vs TSMC

Samsung used SAFE Forum 2026 to confirm 1.4nm (SF1.4) mass production for 2029 and reframe its foundry pitch around AI ecosystem partners, not raw pro

Samsung (005930.KS): 1.4nm Node for 2029, Ecosystem Play

Samsung Electronics, Shinhan and 11 Other Korean Firms Join 140-Company OUSD Dollar Stablecoin Consortium

Samsung Electronics, Shinhan Financial Group and 11 other Korean firms join the 140-member Open Standard consortium alongside Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, Coinbase, and BlackRock to co-launch OUSD — a zero-fee B2B dollar stablecoin — before end-2026. Kakao Dunamu, Kakao Bank, KBank, Samsung Card and eight card networks round out Korea's 13 founding participants.

Samsung SDI CEO Targets 2026 Performance Turnaround, Calls for Full 'AI Native' Transformation at 56th Anniversary

Samsung SDI CEO Choi Joo-seon pledged a 2026 performance turnaround and full AI Native transformation at the battery maker's 56th anniversary ceremony in Yongin.

SK Hynix Files Amended Nasdaq F-1, Disclosing KRW 11.94T EUV Equipment Budget Ahead of July 10 Debut

SK Hynix files amended SEC F-1, detailing KRW 11.94T for EUV equipment, KRW 31T for Yongin Y1 fab and KRW 19T for Cheongju HBM plant ahead of July 10 Nasdaq debut.

KB Financial Deploys KRW 188.5B From Social Fund to 148 Enterprises, Portfolio Revenue Surges Tenfold

KB Financial Group has deployed KRW 188.5 billion from its social investment fund across 148 enterprises, recording tenfold revenue growth for portfolio companies.

South Korea Unveils KRW 896 Trillion Southwest Semiconductor Megaproject as Samsung and SK Anchor Gwangju Cluster

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung unveiled KRW 896T in Samsung and SK pledges for a new Gwangju-centred semiconductor cluster, anchored by Samsung's KRW 400T fab commitment, KRW 17T national AI computing center and SK Group's KRW 470T buildout.

South Korea's KFTC Opens $547 Million Case Against Google Over App Store 'Project Hug'

Korea's Fair Trade Commission formally accuses Google of market abuse via its Games Velocity Program, citing USD 9.1B in affected revenue and a potential USD 547M fine.

SK and KKR Seal 49:51 Renewable Energy JV to Launch Korea's Largest Clean-Power Platform

SK Inc. and KKR finalize a 49:51 joint venture to consolidate South Korea's largest renewable energy platform, targeting 10 GW of capacity by 2031 from a 1.7 GW base.

Lotte Group Nears KRW 1.3 Trillion Sale of Rental Unit to TPG, Igniting Kakao Mobility Merger Speculation

Lotte Group sells 61.18% of Korea's top car-rental firm to TPG at KRW 58,000/share, a 25% discount vs Affinity. TPG may merge it with Kakao Mobility for a KRW 8T mobility platform.

Chip Boom Vaults South Korea Into the $100 Billion Monthly Export Club, Fourth Country in History

South Korea posted USD 102.25 billion in exports in June 2026 — its first time exceeding the USD 100 billion monthly threshold — joining Germany, China, and the US as only the fourth country in history to reach this milestone. Semiconductor exports led at USD 44.8 billion, up 199.5% year-on-year.

BOE Exits Galaxy S27 OLED Bid as Samsung Display Locks In All Flagship Models

BOE halted Galaxy S27 OLED development after Samsung Display lobbied against Chinese supply, keeping all four S27 models on South Korean panels and risking a consumer price hike.

EcoPro BM Prices KRW 1.2 Trillion Rights Issue to Fund Indonesia Nickel Push, Shares Plunge 19%

EcoPro BM launched a KRW 1.2T rights issue to expand its Indonesian nickel smelter stake, triggering a 19% after-hours stock drop on dilution fears.

Kolon Industries Puts PCB Resins and OLED Coatings Up for Sale as Lee Kyu-ho Steers Group Toward AI and Clean-Energy Materials

Kolon Industries is divesting its PCB epoxy-resin and OLED display-coating businesses via a Samjong KPMG process, while retaining its strategically valuable mPPO (AI semiconductor material) unit. Fourth-generation heir Lee Kyu-ho is driving the restructuring amid Kolon Global's high leverage of ~332% debt-to-equity. Q1 2026 operating profit rose 130% YoY to KRW 61.9 billion.

Korea's NPS Faces KRW 20–74 Trillion Rebalancing Sell-Off as KOSPI Hits 8,476

Korea's NPS faces mandatory equity rebalancing of KRW 20–74 trillion starting July 1, as the KOSPI rally near 8,476 has pushed the pension fund's domestic equity ratio to ~30%, above its 28.8% upper band.

Wemade Founder Sells KRW 920 Billion Stake to China-Linked NeoPulse, Handing Mir IP Control to Alibaba-Tied Investor

Wemade (112040.KS) founder Park Kwan-ho is selling his entire 39.33% stake to China-linked NeoPulse for KRW 920B (USD 593M), with the Hong Kong-registered Shengsong Investment affiliate set to become the largest shareholder at 40.25% by October 30, 2026.

Samsung SDI and SK On Gain Edge as Korea Mega-Project Plans Embed KRW 3.4 Trillion in Battery Demand

Samsung SDI and SK On are positioned to capture the bulk of Korea KRW 3.4-4.3 trillion ESS and data-center battery pipeline embedded in the mega-project blueprint, while LG Energy Solution faces capacity constraints.

Korea's Battery Trio Moves Fastest to Claw Back US Tariff Cash as Hyundai Stays on the Sidelines

LG Energy Solution leads Korea's battery makers in reclaiming over KRW 100B from US tariff refunds after Supreme Court ruling, while Hyundai Motor stays cautious amid Trump retaliation threats.

KakaoBank FinTech Lab Lands Four Papers at ICLR, ACL and LREC, Staking Out Korea's Bank-Side AI Safety Frontier

KakaoBank's FinTech Research Institute had four financial AI safety papers accepted at ICLR 2026, ACL (with KAIST), and LREC — covering prompt injection defense and a financial-risk AI safety taxonomy.

Samsung Electronics Union Chief Survives Confidence Vote With 87.5% Mandate, Eyes Separate DS Chip Bargaining in 2027

Samsung Electronics' largest union reconfirms chair Choi Seung-ho with 87.5% approval (33,550/38,336 votes), plans to push for DS division as separate bargaining unit in 2027 wage talks.

L&F Signs Pre-IPO Stake in CIS Chemical as Korea's Battery Makers Race to Internalize Critical Mineral Recycling

L&F (066970.KQ) has inked a pre-IPO strategic investment in CIS Chemical, a Korean battery mineral recycling specialist with 20,000 t/year NiCo MHP capacity and proprietary SSX lithium recovery technology, targeting KOSDAQ Q3 2026.

LG Chem Clears FDA Hurdle for LG00313112, a Novel Covalent TP53 Inhibitor for Rare Solid Tumors

LG Chem (051910.KS) won U.S. FDA IND clearance for LG00313112, a first-in-class covalent TP53 Y220C inhibitor licensed from Frontier Medicines, targeting ovarian, lung, and breast cancers in Phase 1/2 trials.

US Consumers File 'Chipflation' Antitrust Suit Against Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron in California Federal Court

US consumers and small businesses have filed a class action antitrust suit against Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron, alleging the DRAM oligopoly coordinated supply cuts — hiding behind the HBM pivot — to drive a 700% price surge in standard memory.

SK Bioscience Q1 2026: CDMO Revenue Surges as IDT Biologika Ramps Up, R&D Spend Triples Operating Loss

SK Bioscience (302440.KS) Q1 2026: Revenue KRW 168.6B (+9.1% YoY), CDMO 75.8% of mix. Operating loss KRW -44.5B triples as R&D hits 35.4% of revenue. IDT Biologika utilization improves to 59.4%.

Samsung's Chip Division Caught Off Guard by Honam Fab Plan, Insiders Warn of Logistics Gaps and Cycle Risk

Samsung DS working-level executives were reportedly blindsided by President Lee's KRW 800 trillion Honam fab announcement. Insiders flag Yongin already stalled 7 months, logistics inefficiency, engineer shortage, and memory cycle timing risk as key concerns.

Foreign Investors Post All-Time KRX Net Sell Record of KRW 7.7 Trillion in Samsung, SK Hynix

Foreign investors offloaded a record KRW 7.7 trillion of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix on June 29, while KOSPI closed just -0.2% as capital rotated into LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and infrastructure stocks.

Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Q1 2026: Solvency Ratio Climbs to 207% as Net Profit Reaches KRW 223 Billion

Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance posted Q1 2026 standalone net profit of KRW 223.3B with K-ICS solvency ratio reaching 207.2%, while FY2025 consolidated profit rose 19.9% YoY to KRW 1.02T.

IMM Private Equity Acquires CGBio for KRW 1.1 Trillion, Backed by USD 1.6 Billion J&J Novosis Contract Through 2040

IMM Private Equity acquires 51% of CGBio for KRW 561B, valuing the Korean regenerative medicine company at KRW 1.1 trillion, underpinned by a USD 1.6B J&J DePuy Synthes distribution contract through 2040.

Lee Jae-yong Maps Samsung's Four-City Blueprint: Songdo for Bio, Gwangju for Chips, Gumi for Robots, Ulsan for Batteries

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong unveiled a four-sector, four-city industrial roadmap on Sunday, designating Incheon's Songdo district as what he called "the world's largest bio cluster" whil

Samsung Group Backs 6,700 Partners With KRW 3.5 Trillion Mutual-Growth Fund as 12 Affiliates Sign Pact

Samsung Group's 12 affiliates committed a combined KRW 3.5 trillion fund for roughly 6,700 supply-chain partners, guaranteeing faster payment terms and cost-sharing as South Korea's FTC calls supplier

Hyundai Elevator Q1 2026: Revenue Falls 8.2% as Korea Construction Slump Deepens

Hyundai Elevator (017800.KS) reported Q1 2026 consolidated revenue of KRW 545.8B (-8.2% YoY) and operating income of KRW 40.5B (-16.3%), with operating margin shrinking 70 bps to 7.4%. Net income fell 22.4% to KRW 27.1B. Korea elevator installations fell 26% in 2025, pressuring new-unit demand. The company maintains a KRW 2.24T order backlog and is expanding globally with its modular ENOBLOC installation system.

Kiwoom Securities in Exclusive Talks to Acquire Bithumb Stake as Korean Brokers Race for Crypto Foothold

Kiwoom Securities is negotiating to acquire a stake in Bithumb through a third-party share issuance, joining Samsung Securities and Mirae Asset in Korea's broker–crypto exchange consolidation race.

2026.06.29.2

Kakao Workers Stage Full-Day Walkout as Bonus Dispute Deepens, Shares at 52-Week Low

Kakao union stages full-day walkout with about 2,100 participants across five entities, escalating a bonus dispute as shares sit at a 52-week low despite record profits.

Binance Offers 50x Leverage on Samsung and SK Hynix Stocks, Bypassing Korea's Retail Safeguards

Binance lists 50x leveraged derivatives on Samsung, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor stocks, drawing USD 6.42B in volume while Korea's domestic leverage cap sits at 2x for retail investors.

Kangwon Land Q1 2026: Casino Revenue Up 4.5%, Net Profit Dives 47% on Cost Surge and Lower Returns

Korea's only domestic casino posted Q1 2026 revenue of KRW 378.9B (+3.4% YoY) but net profit fell 46.8% to KRW 39.7B as SG&A expenses jumped 17.6% and investment income contracted 30.4%.

Apple Lobbies Trump for CXMT Memory Clearance, Putting SK Hynix and Samsung Pricing Power at Risk

Apple is pressing the Trump administration to allow DRAM purchases from China's CXMT, a DoD-blacklisted chipmaker. The move could erode pricing leverage held by SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics in the global memory market.

LG Chem Passes Government Naphtha Relief to SME Customers, Cutting Supply Prices Up to KRW 200,000 Per Ton

LG Chem CEO Kim Dong-chun announces a temporary KRW 100,000–200,000 per tonne price cut for small and medium-sized customers, passing on a government naphtha subsidy to ease downstream cost pressures.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics in Talks for KRW 500B AI MLCC Deal, Inks Glass Substrate JV With Sumitomo Chemical

Samsung Electro-Mechanics finalizes KRW 500 billion AI server MLCC supply talks with a US cloud provider while launching a glass substrate joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical to begin production at Pyeongtaek in early 2027.

Shinhan Financial Weighs Lotte Non-Life Insurance Buyout at KRW 1 Trillion as JKL Cuts Ask in Half

Shinhan Financial Group reviews acquisition of Lotte Non-Life Insurance at KRW 1 trillion as JKL Partners halves asking price, sending shares to the daily upper limit of +30%.

Samsung and SK Group Pledge Up to KRW 1,000 Trillion as President Lee Unveils Korea's Tripolar Mega-Project Plan

South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung on Sunday formally unveiled the country's largest-ever private-sector investment programme, anchored by Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK Group (000660.KS), at a nationally televised ceremony that put two of Asia's most powerful corporate chairmen on stage

Hyundai Mobis and HL Mando Break Into Atlas Supply Chain as Korea Eyes 25,000-Robot Deployment by 2028

Hyundai Mobis (012330.KS) secures Atlas actuator supply role while HL Mando (204320.KS) targets Boston Dynamics and Tesla Optimus, as Hyundai plans 25,000-unit robot deployment by 2028.

Samsung and SK Hynix Set for 'Unprecedented' South Jeolla Chip Cluster as Regional Stocks Hit 30% Limits

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are set to reveal an unprecedented semiconductor investment in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, sending regional stocks to 30% daily limits.

Kakao (035720.KS) Workers Strike June 29 Over Bonus Standoff

LG Group's Eight-Year Reset: Koo Kwang-mo Steers KRW 100 Trillion AI-Bio-Clean Bet Through 2028

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo pledges KRW 100 trillion in Korea investment through 2028 under the ABC strategy (AI, Bio, Clean Tech). Q1 2026 combined revenue hit a record KRW 29.26 trillion as the group's portfolio overhaul enters its eighth year.

Samsung Biologics (207940.KS) Union Quits Group Coalition

HD Hyundai Electric Opens KRW 116B Cheongju Distribution Hub as AI Data-Center Demand Lifts Circuit-Breaker Orders

HD Hyundai Electric's KRW 116.1B Cheongju campus boosts circuit-breaker capacity 70% to 8.5M units annually, with AI data-center demand cited as the key driver.

Hyundai Unveils 8th-Gen Avante With Gleo AI and Naver Integration, Sets Q3 Order Launch as Pleos Connect Expands to Second Model

Hyundai Motor's 8th-gen Avante debuts Gleo AI and Naver integration via Pleos Connect at Busan Mobility Show, with a larger cabin and 26hp engine boost. Orders begin Q3 2026.

GM Korea (NYSE: GM): 86.5% Strike Vote, 85% Output US-Bound

SK Hynix Sets July 10 Nasdaq Debut, Aiming to Raise Up to $29 Billion in Record ADR Sale

Naver Opens AI Tab to 50 Million Daily Users, Aims to Turn Search Into a Transaction Layer

Naver (035420.KS) rolls out HyperClova X-powered AI Tab to all 50M daily users after 4M-user beta. Product card CTR hit 20%+; real estate and health agents planned for H2 2026.

UK Backs Hanwha Ocean (042660.KS) in $43B Submarine Race

Ecopro BM (247540.KQ) $341M Bond Put Looms; LG Chem PRS Eyed

onsemi's $7B Synaptics Deal Reshapes Edge-AI Chips for Korea

2026.06.27.3

Apple Presses White House for CXMT Chip Clearance, Posing First Competitive Threat to Samsung and SK Hynix's Apple Account

Apple is lobbying the Trump administration for assurances that China's CXMT will not be added to the Entity List, a move that would open the door for Chinese DRAM in Apple devices and challenge Samsung (005930.KS) and SK Hynix (000660.KS), which together control ~70% of global DRAM supply. Memory prices have quadrupled over three quarters, prompting Apple to raise product prices by USD 100–500.

Hanwha Vision Q1 2026: Operating Profit Falls 55% as Bundang HQ Acquisition Adds KRW 308B in New Debt

Hanwha Vision (489790.KS) reported Q1 2026 operating profit of KRW 22.1B, down 55.3% YoY, as a KRW 307.9B Bundang headquarters acquisition added heavy non-cash financial charges and industrial equipment losses widened.

Samsung Biologics Unveils Four Drug Delivery Platforms at BIO USA 2026, Targeting Technology Licensing as New Revenue Pillar

Samsung Biologics presented four proprietary drug delivery platforms at BIO USA 2026, signaling a push into technology licensing to diversify revenue beyond contract manufacturing.

LG Innotek Eyes Record H2 as AI Substrate Revenue Poised to Surge 14x by 2030, KB Securities Maintains KRW 2M Target

KB Securities maintains BUY on LG Innotek with KRW 2M target as AI substrate FC-BGA revenue is set to grow 14-fold to KRW 2T by 2030; Q2 2026 operating profit forecast at KRW 202.8B, 18x year-over-year.

BYD Launches Korea's First PHEV at KRW 37.5 Million, Challenging Hyundai and Kia at Busan Mobility Show

BYD Korea unveiled the Sealion 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid at the 2026 Busan Mobility Show on Thursday, marking its first PHEV launch in Korea at KRW 37.5 million — a direct price challenge to Hyundai Motor and Kia's dominant mid-size SUV lineup.

Second Worker Dies at S-Oil's USD 7B Shaheen Site as Soil Collapse Strikes Hyundai E&C Package

A soil collapse killed one worker at Hyundai E&C's package at S-Oil's KRW 9.3 trillion Shaheen ethylene complex in Ulsan, the second fatality at the site in 31 days.

Samsung and Korea Grid Operator Sign Nation's First Carbon-Free Electricity Certification for Semiconductor Factories

Samsung Electronics and Korea Power Exchange ink Korea's first carbon-free electricity certification for semiconductor factories, targeting AI-era supply chain ESG requirements.

Hyundai Motor and KAI Restart South Korea's eVTOL Race After Supernal Pause, Target 2034 Commercial Launch

Hyundai Motor Group (005380.KS) and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI, 047810.KS) sign MoU to jointly develop eVTOL aircraft, reviving the stalled Supernal program with a new 2034 commercial target after a September 2025 pause and 80% workforce cut.

Hyosung Corp Posts 15.6% Operating Profit Jump in Q1 2026 as IT and Pump Units Surge

Hyosung Corporation (004800.KS) Q1 2026 operating profit rose 15.6% YoY to KRW 94.6B despite a 4.3% revenue decline, as IT/ATM and pump manufacturing margins expanded sharply.

Hanmi Semiconductor Targets TSMC Supply Chain With FC Bonder 3.5, Breaking Into AI Chip Foundry Market

Hanmi Semiconductor (042700.KQ) launched FC Bonder 3.5 for 2.5D AI chip packaging, targeting global foundries and OSATs with 340mm substrate support.

Seoul Extends Electricity and Gas Rate Freeze Through Year-End, Deepening KEPCO's KRW 206 Trillion Debt Trap

South Korea freezes electricity and gas rates for H2 2026, extending KEPCO and Korea Gas Corporation cost recovery delays as the government prioritizes inflation control.

Douzone Bizon Posts 62% Operating Income Jump in Q1 2026 as AI-ERP Strategy Pays Off

Douzone Bizon (012510.KS) Q1 2026: revenue KRW 116.6B (+18.2% YoY), operating income KRW 35.0B (+62.2%), net income KRW 22.8B (+90.1%). AI-ERP strategy and Jeju Bank entry.

South Korea Logs First-Ever 10 Million Foreign Arrivals in H1 2026, Monthly Tourist Card Spending Hits USD 1.3 Billion Record

South Korea welcomed over 10 million foreign visitors by June 20, 2026—the first time ever before mid-year. Monthly card spending hit USD 1.3B (+47%), with KCTI forecasting 22 million full-year arrivals.

Kakao Union Sets June 29 'Log-Out Day' as Full Work Stoppage, Wage Talks Still Stalled

Kakao Corp's union will proceed with a full-day work stoppage on June 29 across five group entities, as wage negotiations remain deadlocked after the company's first-ever strike on June 10.

KB Financial Posts 11.5% Profit Surge in Q1 2026 as Fee Income Jumps 45%

KB Financial Group Q1 2026 net profit rose 11.5% YoY to KRW 1.89 trillion, with fee income surging 45.5%. KB Securities net profit nearly doubled. CET1 at 14.93%, KRW 600B buyback approved.

KRX Puts Brakes on Weekly Options for Samsung, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution as KOSPI Volatility Forces Rethink

South Korea's Korea Exchange indefinitely postpones the June 29 launch of weekly single-stock options for Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and LG Energy Solution amid a 10% KOSPI decline and USD 13.2 billion in foreign outflows.

LS GreenLink Breaks Ground on World's Tallest Submarine Cable Tower in Virginia, Targeting AI-Driven Power Grid Market

LS Cable & System unit LS GreenLink breaks ground on a 201-meter VCV tower in Chesapeake, Virginia — set to become the US largest submarine cable plant, targeting AI data center power demand by 2028.

Boston Dynamics Commits USD 100M to Waltham Robotics Campus, Putting 1,250 Jobs and Atlas Mass Production on Track for Hyundai Factories

Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary Boston Dynamics is investing USD 100M in a 323,000 sq ft campus in Waltham, MA, targeting 1,250 new jobs by 2033 and Atlas humanoid robot mass production for 25,000-unit Hyundai factory deployments from 2028. Massachusetts awarded a USD 25M EDIP grant. HL Mando (204320.KS) and Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) are key listed proxies.

Korea's KRW 1,100 Trillion Pension Giant Faces USD 43.5 Billion Selling Overhang as KOSPI Rally Breaches Domestic Equity Cap

South Korea's National Pension Service sold USD 920M in four days and may need to offload up to USD 43.5B more as the KOSPI's 94% rally pushed domestic equity weight above 30%, breaching a 28.8% ceiling before the June 30 grace-period deadline.