The Korea Times

LS Electric gains AI power edge with in-house testing

CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong Province — The race to power the artificial intelligence (AI) era is extending beyond transformers and switchgears to an often-overlooked capability: testing. As the rise of hyperscale data centers rapidly increase demand for customized electrical equipment, manufacturers with their own certification and testing infrastructure are gaining an edge in speed, flexibility and customer trust — an advantage LS Electric has spent decades building. At its Power Testing & Technology Institute (PT&T) here, the company operates one of the world's most advanced private testing facilities for power equipment, enabling it to respond rapidly to changing customer specifications while maintaining internationally recognized certification standards. The institute evaluates the performance and safety of nearly every major product in LS Electric's portfolio, including circuit breakers, transformers, cables and switchgears. Beyond routine performance verification, engineers conduct destructive short-circuit tests designed to determine whether equipment can withstand extreme fau

Jul 27, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

LS Electric gains AI power edge with in-house testing

Companies

LIG D&A's Korean War veterans tribute exhibition draws 30,000 visitors

A photo exhibition paying tribute to Korean War veterans held by LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) to mark its 50th anniversary drew 30,000 visitors during its five-week run at the War Memorial of Korea, which concluded on Sunday, the company said. The exhibition, titled "LIG D&A 50th Anniversary Photographic Tribute to Korean War Veterans," was originally scheduled to run until July 12, but was extended for two weeks following strong public response. Held under the theme "Remember, Respect, Reconnect," the exhibition showcased portraits of veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War, alongside photographs highlighting LIG D&A's long-standing support for veterans, conveying a message to remember their sacrifice, respect their noble devotion and carry the legacy of peace forward to future generations. One of the exhibition's highlights came on July 9, when nine Korean War veterans visited the gallery to view portraits of themselves and their fellow servicemen. They also read handwritten messages of gratitude left by visitors, many expressing appreciation for their service and sacrifice. "We're dee

Jul 26, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

LIG D&A's Korean War veterans tribute exhibition draws 30,000 visitors

Companies

Hyundai Motor's Q2 earnings dented by supply disruptions

Hyundai Motor reported a 20.8 percent decline in second-quarter operating profit Thursday, as production disruptions — caused by a fire at its key supplier's plant — compounded the impact of slowing global vehicle demand. In a regulatory filing, the carmaker reported an operating profit of 2.85 trillion won ($1.94 billion) between April and June. Its sales edged up 1.9 percent to 49.2 trillion won during the same period. The weakening profit reflected softer global automobile demand, but was also affected by production disruptions stemming from a major fire in March at its key auto parts supplier. The incident disrupted components supply and constrained vehicle output during the quarter. Hit by the fire, the carmaker’s domestic sales dropped 16.4 percent to 157,647. Hyundai Motor also reported a fall of 4.9 percent in its vehicle sales abroad amid an unfavorable management environment triggered by shrinking vehicle demand. Despite the earnings decline, Hyundai expressed confidence in achieving a major rebound in the second half, supported by a broad lineup of new vehicle launches a

Jul 23, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Hyundai Motor's Q2 earnings dented by supply disruptions

Companies

Speak doubles down on Korea as launchpad for AI-powered English learning

Korea has become the centerpiece of Speak's global growth strategy, as learners here have few chances to practice speaking despite their high level of exam-focused grammar and reading skills, the firm's chief operating officer said. He described the country as its most strategically important market and a proving ground for products that are now expanding globally. "Korea is and will always be a key market for us," Colton Gyulay, chief operating officer at Speak, said in a recent interview, noting that the company chose Korea as its first market when it launched in 2019. According to Gyulay, Korea's English education environment made it an ideal place to develop Speak's conversational artificial intelligence (AI) platform. While Korean learners typically acquire strong grammar and reading skills through years of exam-oriented education, they have relatively few opportunities to practice speaking. That gap, combined with high motivation to improve English proficiency and rapid adoption of new technologies, helped shape Speak's early growth, he said. Gyulay said Japan shares a similarly tes

Jul 23, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Speak doubles down on Korea as launchpad for AI-powered English learning

Companies

Renault Korea's Filante puts comfort at heart of everyday mobility

For many people, a car is more than a means of transportation — it is where daily life unfolds. From the morning commute and school pickups to weekend getaways and long-distance road trips, drivers and passengers spend hours inside their vehicles. As expectations evolve, comfort, convenience and a people-first driving experience have become just as important as performance. Renault Korea's flagship crossover, the Filante, reflects that shift by placing people at the center of its design philosophy. Rather than focusing solely on driving dynamics, the model is designed to create a quieter, more comfortable and intuitive environment for drivers and passengers alike. One of the Filante's defining features is its emphasis on cabin refinement. Active noise cancellation comes standard across all trims, continuously analyzing and reducing low-frequency road noise to create a quieter interior. Higher trims further enhance cabin serenity with double-laminated acoustic glass and additional sound insulation, allowing conversations, phone calls and music to be enjoyed with fewer distractions, even

Jul 23, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Renault Korea's Filante puts comfort at heart of everyday mobility

Companies

EU tariffs accelerate Korean tire makers' China exit

The European Union's latest anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese-made tires are poised to accelerate a strategic realignment across Korea's tire industry, prompting local manufacturers to curb their production reliance on China as geopolitical risks increasingly reshape global supply chains. Under the latest regulatory measure, Hankook Tire received an anti-dumping duty of 4.3 percent, while Kumho Tire and Nexen Tire were each hit with a 24.4 percent levy. The effective tariff burden rises to 8.8 percent for Hankook and 28.9 percent for its domestic rivals, after calculating the EU’s existing 4.5 percent import tariff. The disparity reflects years of divergent manufacturing strategies rather than differences in product competitiveness. Hankook Tire established a substantial European manufacturing base through its plant in Hungary, allowing it to supply much of the region's demand locally despite maintaining three production facilities in China. The firm's strong regional production network has significantly reduced its exposure to the new trade measures from the EU. Kumho Tire, by contrast,

Jul 23, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

EU tariffs accelerate Korean tire makers' China exit

Companies

Volvo Car Korea unveils ES90 flagship all-electric sedan

Volvo Car Korea introduced the all-electric ES90 flagship sedan on Wednesday, featuring what the carmaker described as “unusually aggressive pricing" aimed at broadening the appeal of premium electric sedans in one of its most important markets. Starting at 72.94 million won ($49,200), the ES90 is priced at a level that undercuts comparable luxury electric vehicles. The price is more than 50 million won below prices in major European markets, the carmaker said. The company said the pricing reflects the importance of the Korean market in its global electrification strategy. The ES90 is one of Volvo's two key electric models for Korea this year, alongside the EX90 flagship SUV launched in April. The sedan will compete against premium rivals, including the Mercedes-Benz EQE, BMW i5 and Genesis Electrified G80, but Volvo is seeking to differentiate the model by offering flagship technology at a significantly lower entry price. “The sales target is more than 3,000 vehicles next year, and the strategic pricing will come as a major appeal of the premium vehicle,” Volvo Car Korea CEO Lee

Jul 22, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Volvo Car Korea unveils ES90 flagship all-electric sedan

Companies

BMW Korea to introduce ALPINA high-end brand in 2027

BMW Korea will introduce ALPINA, the German automaker's ultra-luxury marque, in 2027, as it seeks to capitalize on growing demand from affluent consumers and expand its presence in the country's high-end automotive segment, the carmaker said Tuesday. The upcoming launch marks the arrival of BMW Group’s newest luxury brand in roughly 25 years. The brand will be positioned above BMW’s flagship lineup but below Rolls-Royce in the group’s luxury vehicle portfolio. BMW ALPINA is designed to fill the gap between the two marques, catering to customers who prioritize exclusivity, engineering sophistication and long-distance driving comfort over conspicuous luxury. BMW Korea said the decision reflects confidence in the domestic premium vehicle market where demand for personalized luxury products continues to grow. The automaker has maintained a strong presence in Korea's flagship luxury sedan segment with the BMW 7 Series, selling 3,077 units in the first half of 2026 to retain the top spot in the category. The company believes the market's increasingly sophisticated consumers and expanding

Jul 22, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Companies

Honda Korea launches retro-inspired CB1000F motorcycle

Honda Korea has launched the CB1000F, a next-generation retro sport naked motorcycle that blends the styling of the iconic CB series with modern performance and balanced handling, the company said Tuesday. Developed under the concept of "Heritage Revival," the CB1000F draws its design inspiration from the legendary original Universal Japanese Motorcycles. The new model combines the classic design of its predecessors with a four-cylinder platform and advanced technologies, offering a modern interpretation of one of the brand's most recognizable motorcycles. The launch marks the automaker's first official product introduction since the company decided in April to withdraw from Korea's automobile market. Despite its falling automobile sales, the company holds a commanding presence in the local motorcycle market. The CB1000F features styling inspired by the CB750F and CB900F, whose designs helped shape the global motorcycle industry in the late 1970s. Flowing body lines, a round LED headlamp, chrome-finished exhaust pipes and a megaphone-style muffler reinforce its retro aesthetic while pre

Jul 21, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Honda Korea launches retro-inspired CB1000F motorcycle

Companies

Hyundai's AI-era wage reform faces productivity test

Hyundai Motor’s artificial intelligence (AI)-sparked wage overhaul is raising difficult questions about how to redesign a compensation system in ways that would protect workers’ income without undermining productivity, experts said Monday. The carmaker’s management and labor union are reviewing the introduction of the so-called "complete monthly wage system," under which overtime and other variable allowances — currently paid based on hours worked — will be incorporated into production workers’ fixed monthly salaries. The initiative will be studied through a joint labor-management task force. Hyundai already shifted its production workers from an hourly wage system to monthly salaries in 2012. However, overtime and night-shift allowances are still paid according to actual hours worked. The proposed reform would reduce those monthly fluctuations by converting part of the variable pay to fixed wages, in order to provide factory workers with greater income stability even after the carmaker’s planned deployment of humanoid robots across its major production lines here and abroa

Jul 21, 2026By Lee Min-hyung

Lee Min-hyung

Read more

LS Electric gains AI power edge with in-house testing

LIG D&A's Korean War veterans tribute exhibition draws 30,000 visitors

Hyundai Motor's Q2 earnings dented by supply disruptions

Speak doubles down on Korea as launchpad for AI-powered English learning

Renault Korea's Filante puts comfort at heart of everyday mobility

EU tariffs accelerate Korean tire makers' China exit

Volvo Car Korea unveils ES90 flagship all-electric sedan

BMW Korea to introduce ALPINA high-end brand in 2027

Honda Korea launches retro-inspired CB1000F motorcycle

Hyundai's AI-era wage reform faces productivity test

Top 5 stories