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Lee Kyung-min

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Business

LG CNS rides AI boom to achieve strong first-quarter earnings growth

A surge in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing demand helped LG CNS to achieve solid first-quarter earnings growth, underscoring how deeply digital transformation is reshaping Korea’s corporate landscape. LG CNS, led by CEO Hyun Shin-gyoon, said Wednesday it achieved sales of 1.31 trillion won ($882 million) for the January-March period, with operating profit reaching 94.2 billion won. Sales rose 8.6 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit climbed 19.4 percent. The information technology service arm of LG Group reported that its AI and cloud division continued to serve as its primary growth engine, generating 765.4 billion won in sales. The segment, which accounts for approximately 58 percent of the company's total revenue, saw its sales climb 6.7 percent compared with the previous year. The growth was bolstered by broad demand across diverse sectors, including the public sphere, finance, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, as well as the shipbuilding and defense industries. LG CNS said it broadened its portfolio by deploying autonomous AI systems, a technology

Apr 30, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
LG CNS rides AI boom to achieve strong first-quarter earnings growth
South Korea

Korea Heritage Service eyes National Treasure status for 10 Joseon-era Buddhist structures

The Korea Heritage Service moved Thursday to expand its roster of National Treasures, turning attention to a category of religious architecture long overshadowed by grander temple halls and stone pagodas. The central government agency responsible for protecting, managing and promoting the nation’s cultural heritage announced that it will seek official treasure designation for 10 Buddhist structures dating largely from the 17th to 19th centuries, including six subsidiary worship halls and four monks’ residential quarters. The proposal begins a 30-day public review period before a final decision. The buildings, scattered across the country from Gyeonggi Province to South Jeolla Province, offer a rare architectural record of how Korean temples functioned not only as places of devotion, but also as centers of daily life, scholarship and refuge. Among the sites nominated is Geungnakjeon Hall at Hyeondeung Temple in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, believed to have been rebuilt in 1765 after a fire. Officials said surviving timber members and inscriptions discovered during restoration helped

Apr 30, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea Heritage Service eyes National Treasure status for 10 Joseon-era Buddhist structures
South Korea

Korea seeks to boost K-food exports with global certification drive

Korea is stepping up its push to expand K-food exports, rolling out a nationwide campaign to help companies navigate tightening global food regulations. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources' Korean Agency for Technology and Standards joined the Ministry of Finance and Economy's Export Plus Task Force to host a briefing in Seoul earlier this week aimed at demystifying overseas certification systems. Held at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency's IKP center, the event brought together exporters, regulators and certification experts to address what officials describe as mounting technical barriers in key markets. The session focused on major certification frameworks, including Global Food Safety Initiative standards, halal certification and evolving European rules on novel foods and food contact materials. Officials said stricter safety and environmental regulations abroad are reshaping market access requirements for Korean exporters. Particular attention was given to certifications increasingly required by global retailers, as well as labeling standards tied to consumer pre

Apr 30, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea seeks to boost K-food exports with global certification drive
South Korea

Cultural institutions tap power of art to heal national fractures

Museums in Korea are being asked to do more than display relics behind the glass this May. They are being enlisted to help mend a fractured society. Beginning Friday, more than 300 museums and art institutions across the country will take part in the 2026 Museum and Gallery Week, a nationwide cultural festival organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Running through May 31, the event adopts this year’s theme from the International Council of Museums: “Museums Uniting a Divided World.” The slogan reflects an increasingly common expectation that museums should serve not only as custodians of the past, but also as civic spaces where communities can confront conflict, grief and difference. In Korea, where regional divides, generational tensions and political polarization have sharpened in recent years, officials say museums can offer a quieter kind of public square. The festival will unfold through three major programs. One, called “Museum × Meet,” highlights 50 signature objects from institutions nationwide under the theme “Firsts, and Beginnings.” The selecti

Apr 30, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Cultural institutions tap power of art to heal national fractures
South Korea

Rare buncheong bottle among artifacts set for National Treasure designation

A boldly abstract buncheong ware bottle, once taken overseas and later returned to Korea, is among seven cultural artifacts newly proposed for National Treasure designation, officials said Thursday. The Korea Heritage Service said it has given preliminary notice to designate the “Buncheong flattened bottle with incised fish and line design,” along with six other works, as state-designated cultural properties. The buncheong bottle, believed to date to the 15th or 16th century in the Jeolla region, features a flattened body shaped on a potter’s wheel and refined by hand. White slip was applied before intricate patterns were carved using a sharp tool, creating expressive linear and fish motifs. The piece is noted for its abstract yet balanced composition across both faces and sides. The artifact was taken abroad during the Japanese colonial period by a Japanese collector and was repatriated in 2018 after a Korean collector purchased and disclosed it, officials said. Its relatively well-preserved condition and distinctive artistry underpin its value, they said. Among the other items, m

Apr 30, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Rare buncheong bottle among artifacts set for National Treasure designation
South Korea

Seoul steps up diplomatic outreach to Africa ahead of major June summit

Korea is deepening its diplomatic engagement with African nations, convening a high-level meeting with ambassadors on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for a major ministerial gathering set for early June. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it held a trilateral meeting with the African Group of Ambassadors in Korea and the Korea-Africa Foundation to review preparations for the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for June 1 and a business forum on June 2. About 20 African diplomatic missions took part in the talks. Chung Kwang-yong, director general for African and Middle Eastern Affairs at the ministry, said strengthening strategic ties between Korea and African nations has become increasingly important amid shifting global dynamics. He said the upcoming ministerial meeting will build on momentum from the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit and a senior officials’ meeting held last year. Chafik Rachadi, ambassador of Morocco to Korea, said African nations welcomed the preparations for the upcoming ministerial meetings and will actively cooperate to ensure the talks produce substan

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul steps up diplomatic outreach to Africa ahead of major June summit
Business

EcoPro BM sustains profit growth on demand for AI, EV batteries

EcoPro BM extended its run of profitability in the first quarter, buoyed by a rebound in European electric vehicle (EV) demand and a surge in energy storage needs tied to artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The battery materials maker said Wednesday it posted revenue of 605.4 billion won ($409 million) and an operating profit of 20.9 billion won for the January-March period. While revenue dipped slightly from a year earlier, operating profit rose sharply from 2.3 billion won, reflecting improved margins. The company said increased shipments of cathode materials for EVs in Europe helped drive results, alongside rapid growth in demand for energy storage systems (ESS), used to stabilize power supply for data centers. Sales of cathode materials for ESS applications jumped 140 percent from a year earlier, the company said, as global investment in AI infrastructure accelerated. Demand tied to power applications, including electric tools and e-bikes, also rose 44 percent on-year. EcoPro BM said it expects momentum to continue as it prepares to begin mass production at its Hungary plant

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
EcoPro BM sustains profit growth on demand for AI, EV batteries
South Korea

Seoul swaps shushing for socializing in Friday night talks with writers

Seoul is betting that quiet libraries can transform into lively cultural spots, launching weekly Friday night events where readers meet writers face to face. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it will expand its “Author Hip Talk” program across public libraries citywide, including the Seoul Metropolitan Library, from May through December. The initiative is designed to turn libraries into cultural hubs to attract office workers and young adults seeking evening events. Held every Friday, the program brings together authors from across literature, the humanities and the arts for lectures, conversations and question-and-answer sessions. The city said the format emphasizes direct interaction, allowing participants to engage beyond traditional readings. In May, events will take place at Seoul Library, Mapo Central Library, Gwangjin Information Library and Seonyudo Library, with each hosting programs tailored to local tastes. At the Seoul Metropolitan Library, a May 8 session will center on the theme of nature and feature Lee Won-young, a senior researcher at the Korea Polar Research In

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul swaps shushing for socializing in Friday night talks with writers
South Korea

Gyeongbok Palace to remain open after dark for spring night tours

As dusk settles over Seoul, the gates of Gyeongbok Palace will remain open to the public, offering a rare chance to wander Korea’s most iconic royal complex under the glow of evening lights. The Korea Heritage Service’s Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office said Wednesday it will operate its spring nighttime viewing program from May 13 to June 14, with tickets available starting Sunday at 10 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors will be able to explore key areas of the palace. The site will remain open from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. This year’s program will feature traditional court music performances that add a ceremonial atmosphere to the palace grounds. To celebrate the birth of King Sejong, the Traditional Performing Arts Company of the Blind will perform on May 15 at Geunjeongjeon, the king’s former living quarters. The commemorative programming will continue with a series of 10 performances by musicians from the National Gugak Center, scheduled at Sajeongjeon Hall between May 20 and June 5. Tickets will be sold through Int

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Gyeongbok Palace to remain open after dark for spring night tours
Business

LS Electric lands $216 mil. data center deal as part of growth drive in US

LS Electric has secured a major foothold in the rapidly expanding North American infrastructure market, signing a deal worth 319 billion won ($216 million) to supply power distribution systems for a major data center in the United States. The company said Wednesday it signed the agreement with Bloom Energy to provide key electrical infrastructure for a large data center project in New Mexico. The facility is being developed for a major global technology company, although LS Electric did not disclose the client’s name. Under the contract, LS Electric will supply a comprehensive suite of power distribution equipment, including switchgears and transformers, the company said. The hardware is critical to maintaining the stable, around-the-clock electricity required for data center operations, a sector currently undergoing rapid expansion. The deal comes as surging demand for artificial intelligence drives global technology firms to expand data center capacity, fueling investment in power infrastructure across North America. LS Electric said it has recently won a series of large-scale projec

Apr 29, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
LS Electric lands $216 mil. data center deal as part of growth drive in US
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