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Kang Seung-woo

Korea Times Business Reporter

Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.

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Companies

Musk makes rare direct appeal to Korea’s chip designers

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is personally spearheading a recruitment drive in Korea, issuing a rare direct appeal to semiconductor professionals in the country. On Tuesday (local time), Musk reposted a hiring announcement from Tesla Korea on X, adding a Korean flag emoji and writing, “If you're in Korea and want to work on chip design, fabrication or AI software, join Tesla!” Tesla Korea had posted the job listing a day earlier, seeking artificial intelligence (AI) chip design engineers. The company said the project involves developing AI chip architecture for what it hopes will become the world’s highest-level mass-produced AI chips with the largest production volume globally, and invited applications from candidates with expertise in AI chip development. Applicants are required to submit descriptions of the three most challenging technical problems they have solved, according to the notice. While Musk has previously shared Tesla-related hiring posts, it is unusual for him to explicitly single out semiconductor professionals in a specific country. Industry observers view the move as p

Feb 18, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
Musk makes rare direct appeal to Korea’s chip designers
Companies

LG Energy Solution to take full control of Canadian battery JV with Stellantis

LG Energy Solution said Friday it will acquire the full stake in its joint venture with multinational automaker Stellantis, making the firm a wholly owned subsidiary. In a regulatory filing, the Korean battery maker said it will acquire Stellantis’ 49 percent stake in NextStar Energy for just $100, effectively gaining full ownership of the joint venture originally established in 2022 in Ontario, Canada. Industry analysts described the deal as highly favorable, noting that Stellantis’ initial investment in the joint venture totaled $980 million. This means LG Energy Solution secured a fully operational factory at a fraction of the cost. LG Energy Solution plans to use the NextStar Energy facility as a key production hub for energy storage system (ESS) batteries, targeting the rapidly growing North American ESS market. Despite the ownership change, LG and Stellantis will continue their business cooperation, with Stellantis still set to receive electric vehicle (EV) batteries produced at the Canadian plant. “Full ownership of NextStar Energy will enable us to respond swiftly to growi

Feb 6, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
LG Energy Solution to take full control of Canadian battery JV with Stellantis
Companies

PR ONE signs exclusive partnership with PROI Worldwide in Korea

PR ONE, an integrated communications firm in Korea, said Tuesday it has signed an exclusive partnership with PROI Worldwide, the world’s fifth-largest communications group by revenue, becoming PROI’s sole partner in Korea. The deal aims to strengthen PR ONE’s global competitiveness by combining its local market expertise with PROI’s international network, supporting both foreign companies entering Korea and Korean firms expanding overseas. PROI Worldwide operates a network of 90 independent agencies in 65 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. “Our partnership with PROI marks an important milestone in our global expansion,” said Cho Jae-hyung, CEO of PR ONE. “We aim to build scalable business models and accelerate growth.” Angela Scaffidi, global chair of PROI Worldwide, said PR ONE’s market insight and track record align well with PROI’s global strategy. Founded in 2006, PR ONE has completed more than 2,200 projects and provides services including media relations, crisis management, integrated marketing communi

Jan 27, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
PR ONE signs exclusive partnership with PROI Worldwide in Korea
Opinion

Illusion of 'no less favorable' status

The Donald Trump administration has taken its next step in a trade offensive, this time targeting semiconductors. Tariffs are the stated justification; the real objective is to force production onto U.S. soil. On Jan. 14, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 25 percent duty on certain artificial intelligence (AI) chips. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick followed with a blunt warning: “Everyone who wants to build memory has two choices: They can pay a 100 percent tariff, or they can build in America.” Diplomacy has given way to coercion. The target is unmistakable: memory semiconductors. DRAM and NAND, along with high-bandwidth memory (HBM) critical to AI, are squarely in the crosshairs. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which dominate the global market, are under direct pressure. For the first time, the U.S. has openly signaled its intent to pull memory production onto domestic soil, escalating the semiconductor battle to a new level. The more serious problem is not the absence of assurances, but their emptiness. Last year’s Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet explicitly states tha

Jan 21, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
Illusion of 'no less favorable' status
Tech & Science

WBF, Moonsook foundation renew support for women in science

The Women’s Bioscience Forum (WBF) and the Moonsook Science Foundation have reaffirmed their partnership to support and foster outstanding women scientists through the Moonsook Saebyul Award. On Friday, the two organizations extended their memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the foundation's office in Seoul, confirming their commitment to jointly operate the award and maintain a broader framework of cooperation. The renewed agreement builds on the original MOU signed in 2024, which aims at strengthening support for women in the life sciences. Established in 2005, the award recognizes and encourages exceptional researchers in the domestic life sciences field, including doctoral students, research assistants with master’s degrees and postdoctoral researchers. Since its inception, 66 women have received the award. Since 2024, Moonsook has sponsored the program, granting 1 million won ($700) each to three doctoral researchers and 2 million won each to two postdoctoral researchers. Founded in 2001, WBF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening national competitiveness in li

Jan 16, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
WBF, Moonsook foundation renew support for women in science
Companies

CES 2026 LG CNS CEO says industrial robots to enter production lines within 2 years

LAS VEGAS — LG CNS CEO Hyun Shin-gyoon said industrial robots are expected to soon move beyond proof-of-concept (PoC) stages and begin working on production line. “Moving from PoC to a stage where robots actually work on production lines will take around two years,” Hyun said during an interview with reporters on the sidelines of CES 2026 on Jan. 7 (local time). He added that LG CNS is not pursuing competition in robot hardware but is instead focused on training and operating robots so they can function in real industrial environments. Hyun said that although robot technologies themselves are already close to commercialization, deploying robots in real workplaces requires additional preparation. “Showing robots moving and having them work alongside people on production lines to improve productivity are completely different matters,” he said, stressing that processes, integration with workers and operational environments must be prepared together. Hyun said the two-year timeline is based on the time required to establish mass production systems rather than technological uncertain

Jan 13, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
[CES 2026] LG CNS CEO says industrial robots to enter production lines within 2 years
Companies

CES 2026 LG Display eyes humanoid robots, reinforces tech edge after turnaround

LAS VEGAS — As humanoid robots emerged as one of the most visible trends at CES 2026, LG Display CEO Jeong Cheol-dong said the company is preparing to respond to new display form factors, signaling a potential expansion of its display portfolio beyond traditional consumer electronics and automotive applications. After completing a hard-won turnaround, LG Display is also shifting its focus toward building a sustainable profit structure through technology-driven cost innovation, he added. Jeong noted that this year’s CES demonstrated how last year’s discussions around physical artificial intelligence (AI) are beginning to materialize, particularly through the growing presence of humanoid robots. “Some companies are showing a very high level, while others are not yet at a stage where commercialization is possible,” Jeong said. “Still, seeing so many humanoid robots made me think that displays also need to innovate in step with these changes.” Jeong emphasized that the rise of humanoid robots does not pose a disruptive shift for LG Display, explaining that display requirements

Jan 12, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
[CES 2026] LG Display eyes humanoid robots, reinforces tech edge after turnaround
Companies

CES 2026 AI boom to drive surge in displays: Samsung Display CEO

LAS VEGAS — As artificial intelligence reshapes the global electronics industry, some predict a future in which screens will fade in importance, replaced by voice- and sensor-based interfaces. Samsung Display, however, takes a different view. “As edge AI devices expand, the number of displays will increase significantly,” its CEO Yi Chung said during an interview with reporters on Wednesday (local time), arguing that screens will remain central to user experience even in an AI-driven world. Edge AI refers to running artificial intelligence algorithms directly on devices, rather than sending data to a central server or cloud for processing. Speaking on the sidelines of CES 2026, Yi said that while some devices aim to minimize the role of displays, an opposing trend is emerging as AI expands beyond smartphones into wearables, vehicles and robots. “There is a trend toward reducing displays, but at the same time, displays are being emphasized even more,” Yi said. “Without displays, devices become very inconvenient to use.” Yi stressed that AI will not eliminate screens but multip

Jan 11, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
[CES 2026] AI boom to drive surge in displays: Samsung Display CEO
Companies

CES 2026 Samsung Biologics seeks AI-powered manufacturing solutions

LAS VEGAS — Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim attended CES 2026 last week to explore strategies for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital transformation in manufacturing. “Attending CES allows us to experience global trends in advanced technologies and gain insights for manufacturing innovation in the AI era,” Rim said. He also participated in various sessions during CES, including Caterpillar’s keynote, discussions on AI adoption in manufacturing and automation-based smart factory technologies. Traditionally a consumer electronics and IT showcase, CES has evolved into a broader platform encompassing AI, robotics, health care and other industries undergoing digital transformation. This year’s edition centered on AI, digital health and advanced mobility, with particular attention on “physical AI” — technologies that enable AI systems to interact directly with the real world. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said, "One of the biggest (and) most important one is physical AI," while global firms such as Siemens and Caterpillar highlighted plans to adopt digital twin and smart facto

Jan 11, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
[CES 2026] Samsung Biologics seeks AI-powered manufacturing solutions
Companies

CES 2026 LG Innotek shifts from parts supplier to solutions provider

LAS VEGAS — LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuk-soo said Wednesday (local time) that the company is accelerating its shift from a traditional components supplier model to a solutions-oriented business focused on profitability, with the package substrate segment serving as a key growth driver. “LG Innotek is no longer a parts company,” Moon said during an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the CES 2026 tech fair. “This year, we will reorganize our business structure toward a high-value, high-profit, high-performance portfolio.” Moon explained that the company’s business now focuses on three main areas: sensing, substrates and control. These technologies, originally developed for consumer electronics, are now being applied to cars, robots, drones and satellites. “In broad terms, everything we do falls into sensing, substrates and control,” Moon said. Control technologies include systems that manage electricity flow in electric vehicles, as well as motor and steering units. Rather than just supplying parts, LG Innotek now combines hardware with software and middleware to provi

Jan 11, 2026By Kang Seung-woo
[CES 2026] LG Innotek shifts from parts supplier to solutions provider
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