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Coupang CEO Rogers leaves Korea, avoids police summons over data leak

Harold Rogers, interim CEO of Coupang, has departed Korea and is staying in another country, according to police officials Tuesday, after he failed to comply with a police summons to appear for questioning as part of an investigation into a massive data leak. The police task force of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has requested the Ministry of Justice to inform it when Rogers returns to Seoul. The ministry is considering whether to impose an overseas travel ban on him once he comes back, officials familiar with the matter told Yonhap News Agency. Rogers reportedly left Korea on Dec. 31 after attending a two-day parliamentary hearing on the breach of private information belonging to more than 33 million Coupang users in the country. Police summoned him on Jan. 1 for questioning on Jan. 5. A police official said Coupang learned of his departure only after being contacted by police. Police are seeking to bring him in for questioning on a date in mid-month that they declined to specify. A Coupang official said Rogers left for a business commitment that had already been scheduled and has

Jan 13, 2026By Yonhap
Coupang CEO Rogers leaves Korea, avoids police summons over data leak

Hyundai Motor appoints new head for struggling autonomous driving division

Hyundai Motor Group has appointed Park Min-woo, a prominent autonomous driving expert, as the new head for its struggling Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division. Park will also serve as CEO of 42dot, the group’s self-driving software developing unit, the carmaker said Tuesday. Park is renowned for his tech expertise in autonomous driving, having led relevant projects from industry-leading players such as Nvidia and Tesla. He will fill the void of former 42dot CEO Song Chang-hyun who left the company in December apparently by taking responsibility for the carmaker’s delayed self-driving progress. “Hyundai Motor Group has a strong base to lead an era of physical artificial intelligence (AI) with a broad portfolio encompassing software-driven vehicles, autonomous driving and robotics,” Park said. “I will devote myself to driving the carmaker to provide the benchmark for innovation in intelligent mobility,” he said. Before taking on his new role, Park played a central role in developing Nvidia's autonomous driving software as its vice president. He is also renowned for designing

Jan 13, 2026By Lee Min-hyung
Hyundai Motor appoints new head for struggling autonomous driving division

Renault Korea unveils Filante luxury SUV for 1st time globally

Renault Korea on Tuesday unveiled the Filante, its luxury SUV, for the first time globally, pinning high hopes on the coupe-style model to elevate the carmaker’s premium image. The new flagship crossover SUV was developed under Renault’s Aurora 2 project. The French carmaker’s first Aurora project produced the megahit Grand Koleos hybrid SUV. Launched in 2024, the model has recorded more than 60,000 cumulative sales here and abroad. The Filante luxury SUV will be produced at Renault Korea’s plant in the southern port city of Busan. The unprecedented success of the Grand Koleos has elevated Korea’s strategic importance for Renault, positioning the country not only as a key sales market but also as a production hub for its flagship models. “Renault Filante is the innovative and bold crossover SUV featuring the carmaker’s technological strength and human-first philosophy,” Renault Korea CEO Nicolas Paris said during a media event. “The vehicle will satisfy a high standard for Korean customers, while at the same time helping level up the Renault brand’s premium value in t

Jan 13, 2026By Lee Min-hyung
Renault Korea unveils Filante luxury SUV for 1st time globally

Nvidia officials expressed intent to offer Korea priority supply of next-gen GPUs: vice minister

U.S. tech giant Nvidia officials have expressed their intent to offer Korea priority in supplying its next-generation Vera Rubin graphics processing units (GPUs), a senior Seoul official said Tuesday. Second Vice Science Minister Ryu Je-myung made such a remark in a social media post recalling his recent visit to Nvidia's headquarters in the U.S. after attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas. "Nvidia officials pledged early supply of its Blackwell GB300 GPUs, as well as priority supply to Korea of the Vera Rubin series, which is scheduled to enter mass production in 2027," Ryu said. The vice minister said he was personally guided by Madison Huang, the daughter of Nvidia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang. "As the opportunity to use the latest GPUs ahead of others plays a very important role in competition over AI models, such a promise is meaningful," he added. In October, Nvidia announced a plan to supply up to 260,000 GPUs to Korea in partnership with the government and major companies to build large-scale AI factories in the country. Ryu also shared his e

Jan 13, 2026By Yonhap
Nvidia officials expressed intent to offer Korea priority supply of next-gen GPUs: vice minister

Naver Plus Store gains momentum after Coupang data breach

Naver Plus Store is emerging as a key beneficiary of Coupang’s massive data breach, with rising consumer unease fueling a sharp increase in traffic and transactions on the e-commerce platform. The momentum, amplified by year-end shopping demand, has lifted expectations for solid fourth-quarter earnings at Naver. Naver’s fourth-quarter revenue for 2025 is projected to rise about 13 percent from a year earlier, while its commerce division is expected to grow even faster, posting a 37 percent year-on-year jump driven by higher transaction volumes and increased commission rates. As Coupang grapples with public backlash over its handling of a massive data breach, Naver has positioned itself as a credible alternative, attracting shoppers with faster delivery options and an expanded range of services. According to industry tracker IGAWorks, Naver Plus Store’s monthly active users climbed more than 11 percent in December compared to the previous month, surpassing 6.3 million. Shopping traffic on the platform jumped over 20 percent in a single week in early December, while transaction count

Jan 13, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
Naver Plus Store gains momentum after Coupang data breach

Korean Air unveils renovated lounge at Incheon Int'l Airport with special ramyeon zone

Korean Air on Tuesday unveiled its newly renovated lounge at Incheon International Airport, Korea's main gateway, featuring a special zone for ramyeon and other convenience facilities for its air travelers. The Prestige East Lounge at Terminal 2 of the airport in Incheon spans 1,553 square meters and is designed to resemble a luxury hotel lounge. The facility officially opens Wednesday. It features upgraded buffet and live cooking stations, dining areas, shower facilities and dedicated work spaces for business travelers, the airline said. The lounge's new zone for ramyeon, or Korean instant noodles, allows passengers to customize and prepare domestic noodle brands via automated machines. The Korean flag carrier also strengthened related digital services, introducing advance lounge reservations via its website and mobile app. Real-time crowd level information and mobile queuing services are also provided.

Jan 13, 2026By Yonhap
Korean Air unveils renovated lounge at Incheon Int'l Airport with special ramyeon zone

ExclusiveVolkswagen denies role in Canadian submarine bid

Volkswagen has made it clear that it has no involvement in the ongoing competition between shipbuilders from Korea and Germany to secure an order for 12 patrol submarines for the Canadian military, valued at 60 billion Canadian dollars ($43 billion). The carmaker specifically denied any cooperation with TKMS or any intent to help the German shipbuilder win the bid. “We want to clarify our position and prevent our investment in Canada’s battery plant from being misinterpreted as an attempt to help TKMS win the submarine contract,” Volkswagen’s German headquarters told The Korea Times Monday in an email sent via its local PR agency. “Volkswagen Group’s investment in the Ontario battery plant is an independent decision made as part of the group’s electrification strategy.” The statement came after it was revealed that Ottawa referenced Volkswagen’s planned investment when trying to persuade Seoul to have Hyundai Motor invest in Canada’s automotive industry in exchange for the massive submarine contract. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik confirmed earlier this mont

Jan 13, 2026By Park Jae-hyuk
Volkswagen denies role in Canadian submarine bid

US lawmaker warns of 'consequences' for hostile actions against US firms after talks with Seoul official

WASHINGTON — A U.S. lawmaker said Monday that there are "consequences" for state-sponsored "hostile actions" toward American companies after he met with Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo amid intense scrutiny of e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. in Seoul over a massive data leak. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) made the remarks in a social media post following the meeting with Yeo, who was in Washington as part of efforts to address U.S. concerns over Korea's regulatory efforts about online platforms, as well as the data leak incident surrounding Coupang, a U.S.-listed firm. "My bottom line: There are consequences for state-sponsored hostile actions towards American companies and American citizens," Issa wrote on X, apparently suggesting that U.S. tech firms are unfairly treated in Korea. Issa also said that during a "good" discussion with Yeo, he made clear that the "unjustified targeting of American technology companies and unfair treatment of Coupang by the Lee administration are not acceptable, especially from a friend of 70 years." "Korea is a vital ally, but I will work with my colleagues

Jan 13, 2026By Yonhap
US lawmaker warns of 'consequences' for hostile actions against US firms after talks with Seoul official

Korea Zinc, US firm to build JV in US to secure rare earth materials

Korea Zinc, the world's biggest refined zinc smelter, said Tuesday it has partnered with a U.S. company to secure rare earth materials amid growing concerns over global supply chain security. Under the partnership, Korea Zinc and Alta Resource Technologies will set up a joint venture (JV) in the United States to process end-of-life permanent magnets into purified rare earth oxides, the company said in a press release. The JV plans to build a 100-ton-per-year processing facility at an existing U.S. site operated by PedalPoint, Korea Zinc's wholly owned U.S.-based resource recycling subsidiary, with the aim of beginning operations in 2027, it said. "Following our initiative to construct a smelter in the U.S. that will serve as a central pillar of the Korea-U.S. critical minerals supply chain, this cooperation between the two companies marks an important milestone in the rare earths sector," Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yun-beom said. Korea Zinc will serve as a reliable supply chain partner, ensuring the stable provision of rare earth elements to advanced industrial companies in both Korea and

Jan 13, 2026By Yonhap
Korea Zinc, US firm to build JV in US to secure rare earth materials

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
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