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    FTC approves Coupang’s co-prosperity plan for its private brand contract

    The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a 3 billion won ($2 million) "co-prosperity" remedy package proposed by Coupang to resolve its allegation that the e-commerce giant unfairly slashed supply prices for its private brand (PB) products. The decision will allow Coupang to avoid regulatory sanctions and will instead fund product development, advertising and other related expenses for its subcontractors. Since October 2022, Coupang had been under investigation for violating the Fair Transactions in Subcontracting Act. The company allegedly failed to issue formal, legally compliant contracts to 314 subcontractors. It was also accused of forcing 94 suppliers to fund uncontracted promotional events and cut supply prices for its PB goods. The FTC finalized Tuesday the consent decree for Coupang and Coupang Private Label Brands, which handles manufacturing and sales operations for the retailer’s private brand products. Under the consent decree, companies can settle antitrust cases without admitting liability by offering voluntary remedies. The decision marks the first time a consent dec

    2 MIN READBy Lee Min-hyung
    FTC approves Coupang’s co-prosperity plan for its private brand contract
  • Companies

    Homeplus ordered by court to submit 200 bil.-won funding plan by next week

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Homeplus ordered by court to submit 200 bil.-won funding plan by next week
  • Tech & Science

    LG Chem bets $9.7 bil. on semiconductors, mobility, robotics materials

    2 MIN READBy Lee Gyu-lee
    LG Chem bets $9.7 bil. on semiconductors, mobility, robotics materials
  • Banking & Finance

    New fire protection association chief vows shift from response to prevention

    2 MIN READBy Lee Hyo-jin
    New fire protection association chief vows shift from response to prevention
  • Business

    Samsung Electronics, SK hynix to benefit further from AI memory bottleneck

    2 MIN READBy Lee Yeon-woo
    Samsung Electronics, SK hynix to benefit further from AI memory bottleneck
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Companies

Hyundai, Kia post record US market share in 2025 despite Trump tariffs

Hyundai Motor and its sister Kia posted a record combined market share in the United States in 2025, buoyed by expanded local production and strong hybrid vehicle sales, despite Washington's aggressive tariff measures, officials said Sunday. The two South Korean automakers sold a combined 1.84 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, accounting for a record market share of 11.3 percent, according to data from market watcher Wards Intelligence and industry sources. Hyundai accounted for 6.1 percent of the U.S. market with sales of 984,017 units, while Kia held a 5.2 percent share with 852,155 vehicles sold. The motor group ranked fourth in the U.S. market last year, trailing General Motors at 17.5 percent, Toyota Motor Corp. at 15.5 percent and Ford Motor Co. at 13.1 percent. The market share growth was attributable to its marked sales expansion. Total U.S. auto sales rose 2.4 percent to 16.23 million vehicles in 2025, while Hyundai and Kia sales climbed 7.5 percent. Analysts also pointed out that the group benefited from a flexible production strategy and a decision to absorb tariff-related

Jan 18, 2026By Yonhap
Hyundai, Kia post record US market share in 2025 despite Trump tariffs
Business

Will beauty be next industry where China competes with Korea?

HONG KONG — Like many of her peers, Xie Roumei, a 28-year-old accountant from China’s Fujian province, started using Korean cosmetics in high school — a preference she carried into her 20s. Most of the eye makeup and beauty products she uses are still Korean, Xie said. Such loyalty has helped turn the country’s cosmetics industry into a global powerhouse, with exports rivaling those of semiconductors and cars. Fueled by the global appeal of K-pop, K-dramas and the “glass skin” ideal, the industry has logged record growth in recent years, making Korea the world’s second-largest cosmetics exporter behind France. But it may still be too early to pop the champagne. Recent data and analysis suggest that China is quietly expanding its own footprint in global markets, supported by strong domestic demand in the sector and a more aggressive push overseas. According to customs data, China’s cosmetics exports totaled $3.99 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, an 8.7 percent increase from a year earlier. That still trailed Korea, whose exports reached a record $10.3 billion over th

Jan 18, 2026By Lee Yeon-woo
Will beauty be next industry where China competes with Korea?
Tech & Science

KT signs AI digital media partnership with Taiwan cable giant Kbro

KT will team up with Taiwan’s largest cable TV operator Kbro to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital media and smart home services. The telecom company announced that it signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kbro on Thursday to bring its portfolio of media services and device technologies to the Taiwanese market. Under the agreement, KT plans to introduce its AI-driven offerings such as AI-powered smart home solutions, conversational voice recognition, AI-optimized user experience and user interfaces, and AI-powered content recommendation features. “This partnership combines KT’s strength in media and AI technologies with Kbro’s local platform capabilities to enhance competitiveness in AI-powered smart home and media services,” said Kim Chae-hee, executive vice president of KT’s media business division. “KT will continue to push for global expansion across telecommunications and media by building on our AI technologies.” The two companies will also collaborate on developing technologies and service models essential for smart home transfo

Jan 16, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
KT signs AI digital media partnership with Taiwan cable giant Kbro
Tech & Science

National AI model project faces backlash over ‘hasty wild card entry’

Korea’s government project to build a homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) foundation model is facing mounting criticism after the government tore up its own competition rule, abruptly deciding to allow "a wild card entry" for a consortium that had been eliminated in earlier selection rounds or had not participated in the process in the first place. The Ministry of Science and ICT on Thursday announced that three consortia — led by LG AI Research, SK Telecom and Upstage — advanced to the second phase of the national foundation model project, dropping two teams led by Naver Cloud and NC AI. The project selected five consortia for the first phase after dropping big-name tech firms such as Kakao and KT. The ministry had originally planned to eliminate one team at each stage across three phases, leaving only two teams by the end of the year. However, it eliminated two consortia in the evaluation for the second phase and abruptly announced it would recruit one additional consortium to join the project from the second phase, while guaranteeing the same supports such as graphics proces

Jan 16, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
National AI model project faces backlash over ‘hasty wild card entry’
Companies

Jipyeong Brewery expects record 2025 sales with steady popularity of makgeolli

Major Korean makgeolli maker Jipyeong Brewery said Friday it expects record sales in 2025, cementing its position in the country’s traditional fermented rice alcoholic beverage market. The company said it expects to extend its streak of record annual revenue to a 16th consecutive year, a run that began after it posted 200 million won ($135,740) in sales in 2010. The company noted that the financial result is meaningful as it came amid a protracted slowdown in Korean liquor industries. Jipyeong in 2024 posted 46.9 billion won in sales and 3.7 billion won in operating profit. Alongside its rising revenue, the company has maintained operating profit in the range of 3.6 billion won to 7 billion won over the past five years, indicating relatively stable profitability. Jipyeong said the consistent sales growth over 16 years proves the company did not rely on any popular hit product or trend. It said the performance rather was due to the firm’s structural competitiveness across ingredients, quality and logistics. It also attributed its steady growth to its expansion into overseas markets. J

Jan 16, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Jipyeong Brewery expects record 2025 sales with steady popularity of makgeolli
Companies

Hanwha insurers invest combined $67.85 mil. in CHA Biotech

Hanwha Group’s two insurance units committed a total of 100 billion won ($67.85 million) to invest in CHA Biotech, part of a strategic investment to find synergy between digital healthcare and insurance. According to CHA Biomedical Group, Friday, Hanwha General Insurance and Hanwha Life Insurance will participate in CHA Biotech’s third-party rights issuing, purchasing new shares of the biopharmaceutical firm worth 70 billion won and 30 billion won, respectively. Through the investment, the insurers seek to combine their insurance business infrastructure with CHA Biotech’s digital healthcare capabilities and explore new business opportunities. The companies said the investment will strengthen mid- to long-term cooperation by linking healthcare and financial services, while gradually expanding a life cycle-based value chain. The announcement came a day after IT service firm LG CNS decided to make a 10 billion won equity investment in CHA Biotech. CHA Biomedical Group said the investments will help stabilize its financial structure and generate broader synergies across the healthcare

Jan 16, 2026By Nam Hyun-woo
Hanwha insurers invest combined $67.85 mil. in CHA Biotech
Tech & Science

Samsung close to supplying application processor for OpenAI’s new device

Samsung Electronics is likely to supply its Exynos application processor for OpenAI’s new earbud-type artificial intelligence (AI) device, expanding the chipset’s reach beyond smartphones into the emerging AI-wearable device market while strengthening its partnership with the world’s leading AI firm. According to industry sources with knowledge on the matter, Friday, Samsung Electronics is “very close” to supplying its latest Exynos application processor built with its 2-nanometer-class process for OpenAI’s AI earbuds, known by its project name “Sweetpea.” The sources’ comments follow recent reports by tech news outlets that Samsung’s Exynos application processor is currently “most favored,” citing tech insider Smart Pikachu’s post on X (formerly Twitter) alleging that OpenAI’s debut hardware will be an earbud aimed at “replacing iPhone actions by commanding Siri.” Samsung Electronics declined to comment, saying it is a client-related matter, and OpenAI also declined to comment. However, the sources said the partnership between Samsung and OpenAI appears

Jan 16, 2026By Nam Hyun-woo
Samsung close to supplying application processor for OpenAI’s new device
Banking & Finance

KB Financial chairman in spotlight as first test of governance reform

Tensions within the financial industry are mounting as authorities step up pressure by launching a corporate governance task force and signaling tough on-site inspections aimed at curbing the long-standing practice of financial holding company chairmen securing reappointments, industry sources said Friday. Market attention is particularly focused on KB Financial Group, where Chairman Yang Jong-hee’s term expires in November. While most financial holding companies wrapped up their leadership succession processes recently, KB was the exception, raising the possibility that it could become an early test case for the application of new governance guidelines once the authorities finalize their reform measures. The Financial Services Commission (FSC), the country’s top financial regulator, convened the inaugural meeting of its task force on financial group governance reform, bringing together officials from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) as well as experts from research institutions, academia and the legal community. The initiative followed President Lee Jae Myung’s criticism t

Jan 16, 2026By Jun Ji-hye
KB Financial chairman in spotlight as first test of governance reform
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
Tech & Science

PHOTO Kakao founder reappears in public after acquittal

Kim Beom-su, Kakao founder and head of its Future Initiative Center, visits the company's onboarding program for newly hired employees at its artificial intelligence campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. The founder made a public appearance for the first time after being acquitted of charges related to alleged stock price manipulation involving SM Entertainment in October last year. Courtesy of Kakao

Jan 16, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[PHOTO] Kakao founder reappears in public after acquittal
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