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Samsung, SK hynix to build HBM packaging fabs in Chungcheong region as part of $252.5 bil. in total investment

An industrywide 392 trillion-won ($252.5 bil.) investment will be injected into the central Chungcheong area, including high bandwidth memory (HBM) fabs and packaging facilities by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, as part of the government's drive to spread artificial intelligence (AI)-led growth, the industry ministry said Thursday. It is a follow-up plan to the government's tripolar mega projects, unveiled by President Lee Jae Myung earlier this week, aimed at advancing technologies across the country and turning Korea into an industrial powerhouse in the emerging AI era. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, Samsung Group pledged to invest a total of 140 trillion won in Chungcheong Province to build an HBM fab and packaging facility by Samsung Electronics, as well as an organic light-emitting diode and next-generation display production line by Samsung Display. Samsung Electro-Mechanics will construct high-performance package substrate facilities for AI servers and Samsung SDI will build an advanced battery manufacturing factory. Samsung Group expects the invest

2 MIN READ
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Travelers take a shine to Korean beauty, wellness tourism

A viral video of a Japanese calligraphy teacher's reunion with her famous student offered an interesting glimpse at one of Korea's fastest-growing tourism trends. In a YouTube video uploaded on June 28 by rising K-pop girl group RESCENE, Japanese member Minami visited her hometown in Chiba and reunited with her former calligraphy teacher. During their conversation, the teacher revealed that she had flown back to Japan that day, after undergoing a cosmetic procedure near Sinnonhyeon Station in southern Seoul, drawing laughter from the group. Although the conversation was lighthearted, it showed one of the reasons why many foreign tourists choose to visit Korea. For years, K-beauty was largely synonymous with cosmetics. Tourists would fill their suitcases with sheet masks, skin care products and makeup before heading home. Today, however, an increasing number of visitors are booking appointments at dermatology clinics, receiving scalp treatments, consulting personal color experts, visiting pharmacies and participating in wellness programs that promise healthier lifestyles as well as improv

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House committee issues report accusing Korea of 'discriminatory attacks' on Coupang, other US firms

WASHINGTON — A U.S. House committee on Wednesday released a report accusing Korea of "discriminatory attacks" on e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. and other American companies, claiming the Asian country's treatment of them violates last year's bilateral trade deal. The House Judiciary Committee issued the 35-page interim staff report, titled "Closed for Competition: Korea's Discriminatory Attacks on American-owned Businesses," as Coupang has faced public criticism and investigations for a massive data leak in Korea. The report particularly zeroes in on Korean authorities' probes into the data breach case of Coupang, which it says has been a "consistent target" of the Seoul government, at a time when Seoul wants to ensure that the case does not get in the way of the two countries' cooperation on security, trade and other fronts. "Korea has a long history of engaging in economic discrimination against foreign companies," it says. "These practices include coercive investigation tactics, overly burdensome regulatory requirements, and massive fines and penalties intended to punish American com

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Hyosung wins $200 mil. power equipment deal in Australia

Hyosung Heavy Industries has secured a power equipment supply contract worth 310 billion won ($200 million) with Australia's AusNet, strengthening its position as a key supplier in one of the world's fastest growing energy transition markets. The company said Thursday that it signed a five-year agreement with AusNet, the sole transmission network operator in the state of Victoria, to exclusively supply Hyosung’s ultra-high-voltage transformers, reactors and other critical power equipment for the region's transmission grid. The deal marks another major win for Hyosung in Australia, following the 142.5 billion won energy storage system project it secured in Queensland in March. With projects spanning Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, the company has further solidified its standing as a top-tier supplier across the country. Under the agreement, Hyosung will provide ultra-high-voltage power equipment to support Australia's expanding transmission infrastructure, as the country accelerates its transition toward renewable energy. The company currently holds the largest

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PM says gov't should put top priority on reining in inflation

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday the government should focus on reining in inflation, after data showed that the country's consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in 30 months last month due to the lingering impact of the Middle East conflict. Despite easing tensions in the Middle East, the government should not let its guard down as the economy is still facing challenges, such as high oil prices and a weakened Korean won, Han said while presiding over an emergency economic response meeting on her second day in office. "More than anything else, we should make it our highest priority to concentrate on managing prices," Han said. "We should put in maximum efforts to stabilize prices, such as monitoring the prices of items closely related to people's livelihoods in real time and swiftly carrying out supply measures in a bold manner." Han said the government should also prepare measures in advance for economic cooperation with the Middle East, including restoring machinery and auto exports to the region and contributing to post-war recovery efforts. Earlier in the day, data from

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InterviewAirbility bets on high-speed drones as Iran war reshapes counter-drone market

The recent U.S.-Israeli war against Iran underscored an increasingly costly reality of modern warfare: Shooting down a low-cost drone can require an interceptor missile worth more than 100 times as much. As inexpensive drones become more common on the battlefield, militaries are searching for more cost-effective ways to defend against them. That shift is creating new opportunities for companies developing next-generation counter-drone technologies. One of them is Airbility, a Korean startup developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered counter-drone system built around a reusable high-speed unmanned aircraft system. Its CEO believes the company's platform could offer a more economical alternative to conventional air defense systems by deploying interceptor drones from the air, rather than relying solely on costly ground-based missile systems. "In modern conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the recent U.S.-Iran conflict, we've repeatedly seen militaries fire interceptor missiles costing more than 100 times as much as the low-cost drones they are trying to shoot down," Airbility

4 MIN READ
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Korean high school where 1 in 4 graduates heads straight to Samsung Electronics

Even at vocational high schools, principals who don't have to worry about their graduates finding jobs are a rare breed these days. Seo Un-suk, principal of Chungbuk Semiconductor High School, is one of them. “We have 96 students in each grade, and more than 100 semiconductor companies have signed agreements to hire our graduates,” Seo said. “There is no need to worry about finding jobs.” Seo beamed as he led a tour of the school. Unprecedented global demand for semiconductors, he said, has brought the school growing attention from companies both in Korea and overseas. “We do not have enough students to send even one graduate to each company,” he said. Located in North Chungcheong Province, the school began as a conventional vocational high school. In 2008, it adopted its current name, and two years later, it was designated Korea’s first Meister high school specializing in semiconductors. Since then, it has established itself as a leading training ground for the industry’s future workforce, building expertise in semiconductor technology that school officials say is unrival

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InterviewBerklee music professor breaks silence on suicide loss

In the spring of 2006, Ray Seol was a 31-year-old jazz student in New York, at a time when Asian musicians were still a rarity in the jazz scene. Four years earlier, he had stunned his family in Korea by announcing that he was traveling halfway across the world to pursue a career in music, all because of a chance encounter with guitarist Wes Montgomery’s spellbinding rendition of “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.” “I experience music through images,” Seol recalled. “When I heard this piece, I couldn’t tell where it began or where it ended. It felt completely unbound, like this dazzling image with no sense of logic.” Then, during finals week, an unexpected international phone call came. His mother had taken her own life. “I’m 51 now,” he said quietly, “the same age my mother was when she died.” Seol, now a jazz bassist and professor at Berklee College of Music, spent the next decade carrying a grief that never seemed to loosen its grip. In many ways, it felt like part of him remained imprisoned by the day she died. But like many bereaved ones, his family retreated into sil

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Vietnamese actor Kaity Nguyen looks to Korean cinema as model for global success

“The appeal of Vietnamese cinema lies in its diversity,” Kaity Nguyen, a 27-year-old Vietnamese actor and producer said of the local film industry as the fourth Da Nang Asian Film Festival opened in the coastal city of Da Nang, Vietnam. “From the north to central Vietnam and the south, each region has a different culture, and there is history accumulated over many years. There are so many stories to tell audiences around the world,” she told the Hankook Ilbo in an interview on Sunday. “Not only historical events but also stories about the lives of Vietnamese people today are being made more and more.” Nguyen is the festival’s youngest juror and has also moved into production. She has built a career marked by critical recognition and box-office success in Vietnam. She rose to stardom with her 2017 debut film, “Em Chua 18,” winning best actress at the Viet Film Festival. She later appeared in Blood Moon Party” in 2020, “The Last Wife” in 2023 and “Hijacked” in 2025, films that won over critics and audiences. Looking back to the year she made her debut, Nguyen s

3 MIN READ
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Hanwha Ocean picked as preferred bidder for $5.1 bil. Navy destroyer project

Hanwha Ocean Co. said Thursday it has been selected as the preferred bidder for Korea's next-generation Navy destroyer project worth 7.8 trillion won ($5.1 billion). In a regulatory filing, Hanwha Ocean said the state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) notified the company of the selection on Wednesday. Hanwha Ocean beat rival HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. to lead the Korea Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX) program, which aims to build six next-generation destroyers using domestically developed technologies. The envisioned 6,000-ton-class Aegis destroyers are expected to become one of the Navy's core strategic assets, offering capabilities comparable to those of the 7,100-ton King Sejong the Great-class Aegis destroyers, currently the service's most powerful warships. Thursday's announcement caps a grueling two-year delay for the KDDX project that had been locked in a fierce legal dispute between the two rivals. The dispute erupted after several HD Hyundai employees were convicted between 2022 and 2023 for stealing Hanwha's initial KDDX conceptual designs. The breach pr

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208 kg of heavy water leaked from Wolsong-4 reactor; no radiation issue reported

A leakage of heavy water from a nuclear reactor in the southeastern region of the country occurred earlier in the week, with no issue related to radiation having been detected, nuclear safety officials said Thursday. The leak incident at the Wolsong-4 reactor in the city of Gyeongju was reported by the state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) at around 2:26 p.m. on Wednesday to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. Nuclear safety officials said it plans to dispatch a group of experts for on-site inspection. No irregularities in external radiation levels have been detected. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, the amount of heavy water leaked was estimated at 208 kilograms, but the water has not escaped outside the facility, the commission said. The Wolsong-4 reactor has been shut down for a regular inspection since July. The KHNP said it immediately closed related pumps after detecting the leak.

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Genesis BBQ debuts in India's chicken dining scene

Global fried chicken restaurant franchise company Genesis BBQ has debuted in India, opening two locations in the southern city of Bengaluru. The company said Thursday its HSR Layout and Koramangala branches opened on June 26 through its partnership with a local company under a master franchise deal. Genesis BBQ said it will expand its Indian market to other cities, including Hyderabad, Chennai and Vellore. Bengaluru, according to Genesis BBQ, is one of India’s hubs for IT and startups, along with young consumers. HSR Layout is in a premium commercial district and in the vicinity of IT business districts, including Electronic City, Sarjapur Road and Outer Ring Road. The company said the area also has a large population of those in their 20s to 40s with high incomes. Koramangala is nestled in the largest dining and commercial hub in Bengaluru, according to the Korean firm. A variety of global dining brands and trendy restaurants are concentrated in the area, which made it an ideal location for Genesis BBQ to promote itself to local consumers. Both stores will operate as quick-service rest

2 MIN READ
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Korea's drug exports top $10 bil. for 1st time as production hits record high

Korea’s pharmaceutical industry achieved a major commercial milestone in 2025, driven by an unprecedented surge in overseas demand for biopharmaceuticals and a record-shattering performance by domestic manufacturers. According to data released Thursday by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the nation's drug exports climbed 12.4 percent year-over-year to reach 15.5 trillion won ($10.44 billion), breaching the psychologically important $10 billion threshold for the first time. Combined with a 5.9 percent increase in imports to $8.93 billion, the surge propelled Korea to a record-high pharmaceutical trade surplus of $1.51 billion. The export boom coincided with unprecedented activity at home. Total domestic pharmaceutical production rallied to 33.85 trillion won, marking the highest volume recorded since the government began compiling the industry's data in 1998. Overall, the domestic pharmaceutical market expanded slightly by 0.03 percent to a total value of 31.71 trillion won. At the heart of this growth is Korea’s highly competitive biopharmaceutical sector, which has transformed

2 MIN READ
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Chipmakers face pressure to share ‘excess profits’ despite investment pledge

Despite committing a combined 4,755 trillion won ($3.05 trillion) to semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investments in support of the government's balanced development agenda, Samsung Group and SK Group's chipmaking units are now expected to face fresh calls to share excess profits. Politicians are already floating profit-sharing proposals, such as establishing a national wealth fund financed by additional tax revenue, distributing public dividends or returning a portion of excess profits to underdeveloped rural areas. The government plans to begin public discussions on the issue within a month, with the labor minister describing chipmakers’ "astronomical excess profits" as "the aggregate gains created by society." In a Facebook post on Sunday, Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, said that how to distribute semiconductor companies’ “extraordinary profits between shareholders and workers” would be one of the key questions shaping the country's future. He wrote that excess liquidity should be channeled into overseas investments and

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Lee, Moon stress party unity ahead of DPK leadership race

President Lee Jae Myung and former President Moon Jae-in held their first official meeting at Cheong Wa Dae since Lee took office to emphasize party unity Wednesday, as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) faces growing factional tensions ahead of its leadership election next month. The luncheon came as the race for the party chairmanship increasingly evolves into a contest between pro-Lee and pro-Moon factions, fueling concerns over growing divisions within the ruling party. While the presidential office said the gathering had been planned since shortly after Lee’s inauguration and was delayed only because of scheduling conflicts, the timing prompted speculation among political circles. Lee welcomed Moon at Sangchunjae, a traditional house inside the presidential compound, where the two held talks over tea before lunch. They discussed a wide range of issues, including the economy, foreign affairs, security and national unity. Cheong Wa Dae described the meal as a “table of unity.” The menu featured croaker soup, one of Moon’s favorite seasonal dishes, and bibimbap, which s

3 MIN READ
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'Tank Day' controversy spills over to high school baseball game

The Paichai High School baseball team has been suspended from national tournament play for six months after a chant evoked Starbucks Korea's controversial "Tank Day" promotion during a national tournament match against a school from Gwangju. The Korea Baseball Softball Association held a sports fair play committee meeting Wednesday to review the incident and imposed the suspension after determining the chant violated the spirit of sportsmanship and disrupted order on the field. During Monday's match against Gwangju Jeil High School at the 81st Cheongnonggi National High School Baseball Championship in Seoul's Mokdong Baseball Stadium, some Paichai players repeatedly chanted “Let's go, let's go, let's go to Starbucks” in unison. One student even shouted “Tank Day.” The chant was a direct reference to Starbucks Korea's "Tank Day" promotion launched on May 18 — the 46th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising — which used the phrase in a reference widely condemned as denigrating the pro-democracy movement. The backlash at the time drew responses from consumers and politicians alike

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What about Park Ji-sung or Lee Young-pyo as head coach?

Now that Hong Myung-bo has resigned, there will be a debate as to who is next to take the national team hot seat, one of the most pressured jobs in Asia. In the past this used to be a fun ritual. First, the media would throw lots of names around — both foreign and domestic. Then there would be a short list revealed and the excitement would move up a level with rumors, reports and all the rest. Outgoing Korea Football Association (KFA) chief Chung Mung-gyu spoiled it all of late by going outside the normal practices to ensure Jurgen Klinsmann got the job in 2023 and Hong in 2024. Indeed, this is part of the reason for the current anger. Now, though, there is going to be a new boss and while it is best not to rush, the question will soon start to be asked: Who? Despite all the criticism at Hong, he is actually one of the most successful Korean coaches. He led Ulsan HD to two successive K-League titles in 2022 and 2023 and also won bronze with the U-23 team at the 2012 London Olympics. Two years ago, there weren’t a lot of choices in terms of quality local coaches and that is still an i

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Editor's Pick

[ON FAKE NEWS] The fine line between policing facts and silencing critics

ON FAKE NEWS The fine line between policing facts and silencing critics

New revisions to the Information and Communications Network Act, which will take effect in July, will hand Korea one of the most decisive legal tools yet devised against online falsehoods. For a country that has watched deepfakes and manipulated clips spread faster than fact-checkers can debunk them, this is surely a step worth welcoming. But it also deserves to be implemented with care, so that a sound principle does not curdle into overreach. The revision targets influential online information producers, such as YouTubers with more than 100,000 subscribers or creators averaging over 100,000 monthly views. If such creators knowingly spread false or fabricated information and cause harm, they now face punitive financial damages of up to five times the loss incurred. Large platforms, defined as those with over a million daily users on average, must also establish formal reporting and response systems for disinformation. The case for action is persuasive. The Hyundai Research Institute has estimated that fake news costs the Korean economy roughly 30 trillion won annually, about 1.9 perce

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Life in Korea

Gyeonggi Province expands funding to upgrade migrant worker facilities

Gyeonggi Province expands funding to upgrade migrant worker facilities

Faced with a shrinking domestic workforce and a chronic labor shortage across its industrial heartland, Korea’s most populous province is deploying financial incentives to get small manufacturers to improve conditions for foreign workers. Gyeonggi Province, the sprawling manufacturing belt that encircles Seoul, said Wednesday that it selected 15 small- and medium-sized enterprises for its "Happy Workplaces" initiative. The designated companies will receive corporate grants of up to 10 million won ($7,200) each. The money is explicitly earmarked to upgrade the basic facilities that affect the daily lives of migrant workers: renovating drafty on-site dormitories, upgrading cafeterias and installing safety equipment on hazardous factory floors. The incentive program, co-managed with the Gyeonggi Provincial Job Foundation, arrives amid an intensifying national debate over the treatment of migrant laborers. Korea relies heavily on low-skilled foreign workers to sustain its factory lines and agricultural sectors. Yet grassroots labor advocacy groups have long documented substandard housing

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Lifestyle

Operatic miracle: How former baritone from Korea found global success as lead tenor

Korean tenor Baek Seok-jong says his career has been defined more by failure than success, reflecting on a musical journey that ultimately led him to the world's most prestigious opera houses. Now, he is set to make his first full-length opera appearance in Korea as Calaf in Puccini's "Turandot," presented by the Seoul Arts Center from July 22-26. "Failure has far outweighed success in my life," Baek said in a written interview with the Hankook Ilbo. Looking ahead to his long-awaited domestic opera debut, he added, "Hardship has been a greater blessing than comfort." Baek built his international reputation by turning understudy opportunities into career-defining performances. In 2022, he was cast as the cover for Samson in Saint-Saens' "Samson et Dalila" at the Royal Opera House in London, before making his principal debut in the role. Soon afterward, he stepped in for renowned German tenor Jonas Kaufmann as the lead in Mascagni 's "Cavalleria Rusticana," earning widespread acclaim. The following year, he sang leading roles in Verdi's "Nabucco" and "Turandot" at the Metropolitan Opera i

3 MIN READ
Operatic miracle: How former baritone from Korea found global success as lead tenor

K-Culture

BIFAN set to open for 11-day run with record 321 films

The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), Korea's largest genre film fest, will kick off its 11-day run Thursday with a record 321 films, organizers said. BIFAN, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, will take place in venues across Bucheon, west of Seoul, through July 12, according to the organizers. Under the slogan "New era, new skin," this year's event will showcase features and shorts from 50 countries, including 93 films that will make their world premiere. Opening the film fest will be prominent Hong Kong filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping's "Blades of the Guardian," an action film starring martial arts icon Jet Li. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the film fest will launch a new section called "Asian Genre Films 99," a three-year project to map the landscape of Asian genre cinema. A special section will be dedicated to French sci-fi films to mark both the film fest's 30th anniversary and the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and France this year. Reflecting the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the film fest wi

2 MIN READ
BIFAN set to open for 11-day run with record 321 films

Celebrities

Cha Eun-woo baptized as Catholic during military service

Actor and singer Cha Eun-woo has officially become a Catholic after being baptized during his mandatory military service, his agency confirmed Wednesday. A representative from Fantagio said Cha received the Catholic sacrament in June, confirming earlier local media reports. According to the reports by News1, the ASTRO member was baptized during a religious ceremony held on his military base as part of faith activities available to service members. Cha enlisted as an active-duty soldier in the Korean Army in July last year and is currently serving in the Army military band. He is scheduled to be discharged in January 2027. The actor has remained in the spotlight even while serving in the military. Earlier this year, he faced controversy over a tax payment dispute. Initial reports claimed authorities had imposed an income tax reassessment of about 20 billion won ($14.7 million), but later reports said he ultimately paid approximately 13 billion won in additional taxes. Cha apologized over the controversy at the time. "I sincerely apologize to my fans and everyone else for the disappointment

1 MIN READ
Cha Eun-woo baptized as Catholic during military service

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Cha Eun-woo baptized as Catholic during military service

  2. 'Tank Day' controversy spills over to high school baseball game

  3. Korean high school where 1 in 4 graduates heads straight to Samsung Electronics

  4. 'Stop the bullying': Japan defends crucified Korean football manager after disastrous World Cup exit

  5. Chipmakers face pressure to share ‘excess profits’ despite investment pledge

  6. House committee issues report accusing Korea of 'discriminatory attacks' on Coupang, other US firms

  7. InterviewBerklee music professor breaks silence on suicide loss

  8. InterviewAirbility bets on high-speed drones as Iran war reshapes counter-drone market

  9. KOSPI drops 5% below 8,000 on US tech losses

  10. US, Iran talks conclude in Doha, focused on Strait of Hormuz

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