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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Hyundai Motor's Motional launches robotaxi service in Las Vegas

Motional, the autonomous driving venture of Hyundai Motor Group, has launched a pilot robotaxi service in Las Vegas in partnership with ride-hailing platform Uber, the carmaker said Sunday. The service uses the IONIQ 5 robotaxi and marks a meaningful step toward Motional's goal of commercializing its autonomous ride-hailing services later this year. The pilot program will initially operate in high-traffic areas of the city, including hotels along Las Vegas Boulevard, the city's downtown district and the Town Square commercial area. Motional plans to gradually expand the service coverage across the Las Vegas area by the end of the year. Customers requesting rides through the Uber app will automatically be matched with Motional's IONIQ 5 robotaxi if their route falls within the designated service zone. Riders can take the robotaxi at the same fare as a regular ride-hailing vehicle, with no additional charge. When the robotaxi arrives at the pickup location, passengers can unlock the vehicle through the Uber app before boarding. Once inside, the vehicle provides voice guidance including a wel

Mar 15, 2026By Lee Min-hyung
Hyundai Motor's Motional launches robotaxi service in Las Vegas

BTS concert to test AI-based network management by mobile carriers

Korea’s three major telecommunications firms will deploy their most advanced technologies during the March 21 BTS comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, aiming to prevent network disruptions when large crowds gather in confined areas. SK Telecom said Sunday that it will premier its proprietary A-One network management system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) at the event. The system can recommend optimal locations for equipment placement, predict network traffic and monitor real-time data flows. The company plans to operate three separate network systems across multiple zones throughout the venue so users inside the square can quickly upload photos and videos, while those outside can stream the concert live without any lag or freezing. For roaming users, the company will install additional equipment in areas expected to attract foreign visitors. “This K-pop concert will be an opportunity for us to showcase Korea’s world-class AI-based network management technology,” an SKT official said. KT will apply its AI-based autonomous traffic control system, W-SDN,

Mar 15, 2026By Park Jae-hyuk
BTS concert to test AI-based network management by mobile carriers

Sale of HD Hyundai's Gunsan dockyard gives boost to MASGA

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed an agreement Friday to sell its dockyard in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, to the largest shareholder of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (HJSC), raising expectations that both shipbuilders will step up efforts to expand their U.S. presence. The same day, Samsung Heavy Industries announced the opening of its first U.S. research center, which the company described as the beginning of the full-scale launch of the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) project. Industry officials expect domestic shipbuilders to accelerate investment in the government-led project to revitalize U.S. shipyards through Korean capital — which played a crucial role in the 2025 Korea-U.S. tariff agreement — as the National Assembly passed a special law Thursday legitimizing Korea’s $350 billion investment in U.S. shipbuilding and other industries. According to HD HHI's regulatory filing, EcoPrime Marine Pacific will acquire real estate and movable assets at the Gunsan dockyard after conducting due diligence to assess their value. HD Hyundai, the parent company o

Mar 15, 2026By Park Jae-hyuk
Sale of HD Hyundai's Gunsan dockyard gives boost to MASGA

KOGAS signs LNG supply cooperation deal with Japan’s JERA

Korea Gas Corp. (KOGAS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyer, JERA, to strengthen cooperation on LNG supply and demand management, as global energy market uncertainty grows amid instability in the Middle East. Korea's minister of trade, industry and resources and Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry also attended the MOU signing Saturday, underscoring both governments’ interest in strengthening regional energy cooperation. Under the agreement, KOGAS and JERA — the world’s two largest LNG buyers — agreed to deepen practical cooperation to bolster energy security by ensuring stable and efficient LNG supply management. The two companies will establish a framework to optimize LNG shipping and terminal operations, including discussions on supply and demand trends and the exploration of additional LNG cargo swaps to improve logistical efficiency across their terminal networks. The companies also plan to hold regular meetings to discuss detailed supply and demand coordination measures and joint response strate

Mar 15, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
KOGAS signs LNG supply cooperation deal with Japan’s JERA

Samsung leads global soundbar market for 12th straight year

Samsung Electronics maintained its stronghold on the global soundbar market for the 12th straight year in 2025, data showed Sunday, on the back of its immersive audio technology. Citing data compiled by market tracker Future Source, Samsung Electronics said its soundbars accounted for 21.7 percent of the global market in 2025 in terms of revenue. The company said the milestone was made possible on the back of its products' advanced features, such as Q-Symphony, which allows users to play audio from soundbars and TV speakers simultaneously. "Samsung's sustained success in the soundbar market is driven by advanced audio technology, immersive sound and seamless integration with Samsung TVs," the company said in a release. "Building on this foundation, Samsung will expand its 2026 audio lineup with new products that deliver cinema-quality sound tailored to different living environments."

Mar 15, 2026By Yonhap
Samsung leads global soundbar market for 12th straight year

POSCO E&C launches AI health care for upcoming apartments

POSCO E&C will launch artificial intelligence (AI)-based health care services for its new apartments that go on sale next month. The major construction company said Friday it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ARK, a health care provider here that specializes in point-of-care testing and AI-based data analysis in the field. With the signing Wednesday, ARK will provide health care services for POSCO E&C. ARK previously worked with Pusan National University Hospital to implement its AI-based health care services. The MOU came as Korea sees an increasing number of small-sized households with one or two family members and a rapidly aging population, prompting rising demands for convenient and accessible health care services. POSCO E&C’s health care services will be directly accessible to residents of the company’s apartment brands, Hauterre and The Sharp. The services will be initially deployed at The Sharp apartment complex in Daejeon, which includes 951 units, and another complex with 2,857 units in Incheon’s Geomdan area, both now under construction. Residents will b

Mar 13, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
POSCO E&C launches AI health care for upcoming apartments

Samsung chief returns from Europe after likely talks on EV battery cooperation

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned Friday to Seoul from a business trip to Europe after likely holding meetings with European carmakers for discussions on cooperating in the field of batteries. Lee replied, "Yes," as he returned via Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul with Samsung SDI Co. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Choi Joo-sun when asked whether he had met with European automotive clients. Industry watchers speculate Lee likely met representatives from major German carmakers, including Mercedes-Benz, as Samsung Group aims to bolster its battery business through Samsung SDI. "We met with various clients (besides Mercedes-Benz as well)," Choi told reporters at the airport without elaborating on details. Samsung SDI, which currently counts BMW and Volkswagen among its major clients, is known to be in talks with Mercedes-Benz over the possible supply of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, according to industry sources. Lee, meanwhile, is widely expected to meet Lisa Su, the head of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Inc., next week in Korea.

Mar 13, 2026By Yonhap
Samsung chief returns from Europe after likely talks on EV battery cooperation

AMCHAM hosts policy dialogue with PIPC chairperson

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) hosted Song Kyung-hee, chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), for a policy dialogue in Seoul Friday. Amid growing public attention to personal data protection, the session brought together about 80 representatives from AMCHAM member companies and the broader business community. During the event, Song outlined key policy directions for Korea’s personal data protection framework in 2026 and exchanged views with participants on advancing trusted data use in the artificial intelligence (AI) era while strengthening privacy protections. “As both Korea and the United States place AI at the center of their economic strategies, this is an important moment to further deepen bilateral cooperation,” AMCHAM Chairman James Kim said. “Strengthening regulatory interoperability — particularly in areas such as data governance and cross-border data flows — will be essential to unlocking this potential.” Kim also cited AMCHAM’s 2026 Korea Business Environment Survey, noting that more than 65 percent of responden

Mar 13, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
AMCHAM hosts policy dialogue with PIPC chairperson

Is upcycling designer fashion innovation or infringement?

Upcycling a fashion item to extend its usability instead of trashing it might be a sustainable and even rewarding practice for consumers. But what about companies that produce those items? It turns out they harbor mixed views on the practice. The issue surfaced last month when Louis Vuitton lost a court battle here against a repair shop in Seoul’s Gangnam District that for years repaired the brand’s handbags and other items for customers, changing their designs. While the French luxury brand argued trademark infringement, its defeat highlighted the growing practice among Korean consumers of modifying their products and raised new questions for fashion firms about how freely their items can be altered. Some companies said the consumer practice can create concerns about brand image. They argued that if the upcycling job was done by inexperienced crafters and resulted in a poorly constructed product emblazoned with the brand's logo, the brand's public image could be damaged. The consequences could be more damaging for more luxurious and high-end brands. “With the Supreme Court’s dec

Mar 13, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Is upcycling designer fashion innovation or infringement?

Hanwha Aerospace partners with gaming giant Krafton to develop physical AI

Hanwha Aerospace, Korea's leading defense systems company, and game publishing giant Krafton have agreed to jointly develop physical artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and establish a joint venture to commercialize them, the companies said Friday. Under their memorandum of understanding (MOU), the companies will pursue joint research and development (R&D) of core physical AI technologies, review verification and application scenarios, and establishment of technical and operational systems, according to the companies. They plan to commercialize the results of the joint development by establishing a joint venture and build a mid- to long-term cooperation framework. The collaboration will combine Hanwha Aerospace's defense and manufacturing infrastructure and unmanned system technologies with Krafton's AI research capabilities and software development expertise. The two companies plan to expand their cooperation into the space and aviation sectors over the long term. In addition, they will invest in a $1 billion fund established by Hanwha Asset Management focused on AI, robotics and d

Mar 13, 2026By Yonhap
Hanwha Aerospace partners with gaming giant Krafton to develop physical AI
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