Hugel Doubles Botulinum Toxin Capacity to 13 Million Vials, Awaiting FDA Nod for New Plant as Letybo Drives 69% Export Mix
Hugel (145020.KQ) doubled its annual botulinum toxin production to 13 million vials with Building B at Chuncheon. FY2025 revenue hit KRW 425.1B (+16.4% 5yr CAGR), OPM ~47%. US FDA registration pending — a key catalyst for Letybo's commercial ramp across 70+ markets.
South Korea Launches NATO Procurement Talks, Unlocking $9.9B Alliance Market for Defense Firms
Seoul launched formal negotiations for a NATO procurement framework agreement at the Ankara summit, targeting a $9.9B annual market. South Korea gained observer status in NATO's Defense Critical Raw Materials Initiative. Listed beneficiaries include Hanwha Aerospace (267110.KS), KAI (047810.KS), Hyundai Rotem (064350.KS), and LIG Nex1 (079550.KS).
Samsung (005930.KS): Lee at Sun Valley to Win AI Chip Deals
Lee Jae-yong, executive chairman of Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and head of Korea's most valuable company, left Seoul on July 7 for the annual Sun Valley Co
Samsung Distributes ₩344.5B in Treasury Shares to 49,345 Non-Semiconductor Employees
Samsung's board approved a ₩344.5 billion treasury share payout for 49,345 DX and CSS employees on July 7, with distribution scheduled for July 8 as part of the 2026 profit-sharing labor agreement.
Incheon Airport Crosses 1 Billion Passengers in Record 25 Years, the World's Fastest Hub Milestone
Incheon International Airport reached 1 billion cumulative passengers in July 2026 — the fastest any major hub has hit the mark globally — lifting the outlook for Korean Air (003490.KS) and Korea's 30-million-visitor tourism target.
Korea's Assembly and Regulators Push to Delist Samsung, SK Hynix Leveraged ETFs After 35.9% Monthly Loss
Korean lawmakers from both parties and financial regulators are calling for the delisting of 14 single-stock leveraged ETFs tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which have posted losses as large as 35.9% since their May 27 launch and have driven KRW 212T in trading turnover.
LG Electronics Posts Record Q2 Operating Profit of ₩1.58 Trillion, Beating Forecasts by 49%
LG Electronics reported its best-ever Q2 with operating profit of KRW 1.58 trillion, up 147%, driven by home appliances, vehicle components, and European heat pump demand. First-half operating profit already exceeds full-year 2025.
KOSPI Triggers Sixth Circuit Breaker of 2026, Closing at 7,656 as Samsung's Record Earnings Fuel Sell-Off
Samsung Q2 profit of ₩89.4 trillion—the largest in history—failed to support the stock as shares fell nearly 10%, triggering South Korea's sixth circuit breaker of 2026 and closing KOSPI at 7,656.
LG Chem Wins Seven-Year OLED Patent War at Korea's Supreme Court, Imperiling Samsung Display's Materials Supplier
Korea's Supreme Court upheld LG Chem's patent on deuterium-substituted OLED compounds, dismissing a seven-year challenge by SFC — a materials supplier backed 29.7% by Samsung Ventures. A parallel civil suit seeking a production ban and hundreds of billions of KRW in damages now moves forward on settled patent ground.
Lotte E&C Prices Second KRW 300B AAA ABS as PF Liabilities Ease, Targeting KRW 770B Cash Windfall
Lotte E&C prices a KRW 300B AAA-rated ABS using construction receivables as it targets KRW 770B early cash recovery and cuts PF liabilities to KRW 2.4T.
LG Energy Solution Q2 2026: Operating Profit Plunges 77% as EV Slowdown Bites Ultium JV
LG Energy Solution reported Q2 2026 operating profit of ₩113.3B, down 77% YoY, as EV demand slumped and Ultium Cells JV paused US production. Ex-AMPC operating loss was ₩127.7B.
L&F (066970.KQ) Launches EU Carbon-Tracking Smart Factory
L&F Co. (066970.KQ), a KOSDAQ-listed cathode-material maker that supplies Tesla and Korea's three largest battery cell makers, said on July 7 it has completed a