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    Fried chicken chain bhc expands US footprint with first Virginia restaurant

    Korean fried chicken giant bhc is planting its flag in one of the Washington metropolitan area’s busiest commercial hubs, anchoring its latest push into the United States with its first Virginia location. The chain, operated by Dining Brands Group, said Monday it opened its Arlington location in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington County, marking its debut in Virginia as the company continues to broaden its North American presence. The restaurant is located near offices, residential complexes, shopping centers and recreational facilities, with convenient access to the Ballston-MU Metro station. The company said the area, which borders Washington across the Potomac River, attracts a steady mix of office workers, residents and visitors, making it a strategic location for growth. The approximately 169-square-meter restaurant offers full-service dining with 32 seats across 15 tables. Its menu has been tailored to local dining preferences, featuring wing- and tender-based combo meals, chicken sandwiches, Crispy Bun sandwiches, cheese balls and fries. Reflecting the popularity of dipping sa

    2 MIN READBy Lee Kyung-min
    Fried chicken chain bhc expands US footprint with first Virginia restaurant
  • Banking & Finance

    Winners of the 22nd Economic Essay Contest

    2 MIN READBy Lee Yeon-woo
    Winners of the 22nd Economic Essay Contest
  • Tech & Science

    Science ministry vows $650 bil. investment in AI data centers

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Science ministry vows $650 bil. investment in AI data centers
  • Others

    Korea launches K-Chicken Belt to boost gastronomy tourism

    3 MIN READBy Ko Dong-hwan
    Korea launches K-Chicken Belt to boost gastronomy tourism
  • Companies

    Samsung, partner firms sign agreement for mutual growth

    2 MIN READBy Nam Hyun-woo
    Samsung, partner firms sign agreement for mutual growth
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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.

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Banking & Finance

Financial groups post record performance in Q3 amid strong interest income

Korea’s top four financial groups — KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori — posted strong third-quarter earnings, driven by robust interest income despite declining interest rates, market watchers said Thursday. Also contributing to their record performance were non-banking businesses, including income fees, trading and consulting services. Many say efforts to diversify business portfolios and enhanced risk management have helped defend profitability despite the monetary easing cycle. KB Financial said Thursday that its net income in July-September reached 1.68 trillion won, led by steady earnings from both banking and non-banking businesses. The group’s net income in the first nine months came to 5.12 trillion won, with a return on equity (ROE) of 12.78 percent. Net fee and commission income in the third quarter increased 3.5 percent from a year earlier. As of end-September, KB’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 13.83 percent, reflecting strong capital management. “A balanced profit based on a diversified non-banking portfolio helped our strong performance,” the group said. On Tues

Oct 30, 2025By Lee Kyung-min
Financial groups post record performance in Q3 amid strong interest income
Companies

Chipmakers poised to enter super-cycle as AI demand, DRAM shortages drive growth

With both Samsung Electronics and SK hynix reporting record third-quarter earnings, Korea’s semiconductor sector is poised for a strong performance next year, potentially entering a super-cycle, analysts said Thursday. According to financial data provider FnGuide, Samsung Electronics’ consensus estimates for next year — based on the average of brokerage forecasts — anticipate revenue of 367 trillion won ($257 billion) and operating profit of 63 trillion won. SK hynix is expected to record 118 trillion won in revenue and 59 trillion won in operating profit, bringing the combined operating profit of the two companies to more than 120 trillion won. Analysts expect the semiconductor market to enter a super-cycle in 2026, driven by factors such as expanding artificial intelligence (AI) and data center demand, rising high-bandwidth memory (HBM) requirements and robust dynamic random access memory (DRAM) prices. The two Korean chipmakers are forecasted to surpass their previous earnings records in the coming year, a trend already reflected in their third-quarter performance. Samsung Elec

Oct 30, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Chipmakers poised to enter super-cycle as AI demand, DRAM shortages drive growth
APEC 2025

Shipbuilding stocks soar as US approves nuclear submarine plan, tariff deal boosts orders

Korean shipbuilding stocks surged Thursday following the conclusion of Korea-U.S. follow-up tariff negotiations, along with U.S. President Donald Trump’s official approval of Seoul’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine. Hanwha Ocean stocks rose 6.82 percent to close at 140,900 won ($99) after hitting a record high of 151,600 won earlier in the day. Samsung Heavy Industries also gained 1 percent, ending at 30,300 won after reaching an all-time high during the session. The benchmark KOSPI climbed 0.17 percent, or 6.82 points, to finish at 4,087.97. After a nearly three-month tug-of-war over tariff negotiations, Korea and the United States finalized a comprehensive deal on Wednesday, following an agreement reached between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump during their summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Under the agreement, Korea’s $350 billion investment commitment will be divided into two parts — $200 billion in cash investments made in annual installments capped at $20

Oct 30, 2025By Jun Ji-hye
Shipbuilding stocks soar as US approves nuclear submarine plan, tariff deal boosts orders
Banking & Finance

Global banking leaders recognize Korea's fintech edge during Toss Bank visit

Toss Bank said Thursday that board members of the International Banking Federation (IBFed) visited its headquarters Wednesday to discuss the innovation of Korea's internet-only banking sector. Key figures from major banking associations — including Anthony Ostler, chair of the IBFed — took part in the visit. The delegation of 18 included representatives from the U.S., Europe, Australia, South Africa, India and China. Their visit coincided with the 84th Board Meeting of the IBFed, hosted by the Korea Federation of Banks in Seoul. Established in 2004, the IBFed is a global consultative body representing the banking industry. Its full members represent six regions — the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia, South Africa and Canada — while Korea, China, India and Brazil are associate members. Toss Bank CEO Rhee Eun-mi and Chief Strategy Officer Park Jin-hyun welcomed the visitors. The bank said it showcased the innovative spirit of Korea's internet-only banking industry, highlighting its customer-centric service model and technology-driven risk management. "Toss Bank aims not only to drive

Oct 30, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
Global banking leaders recognize Korea's fintech edge during Toss Bank visit
Companies

Korea draws $1.2 bil. globally with Invest Korea Summit amid APEC meetings

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, together with the state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), launched the Invest Korea Summit 2025 on Thursday in Seoul, marking the largest investment achievement in the event’s history. The two-day event, held in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit this year, drew a record-high investment amount of $1.21 billion in total from global companies in various sectors, from artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and automotive, to energy, chemicals, and food and beverage. “Korea is an attractive destination for global companies looking to invest, and foreign investment plays a vital role in boosting the country’s industrial competitiveness,” Industry Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak said during the summit’s opening ceremony. “In today’s climate of heightened economic uncertainty, Korea remains committed to strengthening its standing as a global business hub by continuously enhancing the competitiveness of advanced industries, diversifying export markets and upgrading support sys

Oct 30, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee
Korea draws $1.2 bil. globally with Invest Korea Summit amid APEC meetings
APEC 2025

Hyundai Motor displays hydrogen vision at APEC CEO Summit

Hyundai Motor Group displayed its unwavering commitment to leading global hydrogen energy business on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit Thursday. In a dedicated session titled “Hydrogen, Beyond Mobility: New Energy for Society,” the Korean automaker shared its updated hydrogen business strategy and discussed ways to drive the overall growth of the global hydrogen industry. Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon brought up the “strategic importance of hydrogen in achieving carbon neutrality” in conversation with Hydrogen Council CEO Ivana Jemelkova during the session. Chang also serves as co-chair of the council. “As the global energy landscape shifts toward sustainable sources, hydrogen is emerging as a key pillar of the transformation,” Chang said. “Hydrogen overcomes the intermittency of renewable energy and enhances overall energy efficiency, driving the world closer to carbon neutrality.” The carmaker called for stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate the era of eco-friendly mobility here and abroad. Hyundai Moto

Oct 30, 2025By Lee Min-hyung
Hyundai Motor displays hydrogen vision at APEC CEO Summit
Companies

Hyundai Motor reports dismal earnings amid full-scale tariff shock

Hyundai Motor reported a sharp drop in third-quarter earnings Thursday, as the automaker faced the full impact of U.S. tariffs despite strong vehicle sales in its key export markets. In a regulatory filing, the Korean automaker reported an operating profit of 2.53 trillion won ($1.75 billion) in the July-to-September period, down 29.2 percent from the previous year. Its sales, however, increased 8.8 percent to 46.7 trillion won during the same period. Hyundai Motor was significantly affected by the U.S. tariff, but the carmaker said it would continue to introduce measures to enhance its profitability by diversifying powertrains and reshaping production strategies. The automaker said it reported an operating profit fall of 1.8 trillion won in the third quarter due to the 25 percent auto tariff imposed by the United States. However, the carmaker breathed a sigh of relief after Korea reached a tariff settlement with the U.S., allowing Hyundai Motor to export its vehicles to the American market at a reduced 15 percent tariff. This also allows the Korean carmaker to compete with its rivals fro

Oct 30, 2025By Lee Min-hyung
Hyundai Motor reports dismal earnings amid full-scale tariff shock
Companies

SK Telecom changes president following hacking fiasco

SK Telecom named its chief governance officer as new president Thursday, months after a hacking incident exposed the data of 25 million customers. SK Group said SK Telecom’s CGO, Jung Jai-hun, has been appointed as the company’s new president. Ryu Young-sang, who had served as president since 2021, has moved to the SK SUPEX Council, where he now leads the artificial intelligence (AI) committee. The council, comprising the CEOs of SK subsidiaries, serves as the group’s control tower and sets overall strategies. Under its new leader, SK Telecom has been reorganized into two company-in-company (CIC) units focused on telecommunications and artificial intelligence (AI), respectively. Han Myung-jin, CEO of the group’s investment arm SK Square, now heads the telecommunications CIC. He is tasked with strengthening SK Telecom’s competitiveness and restoring public trust after the data breach, which drew strong backlash from customers and lawmakers. The reshuffle is part of the group’s broader reorganization of top executives across key subsidiaries, intended to elevate leaders with ex

Oct 30, 2025By Ko Dong-hwan
SK Telecom changes president following hacking fiasco
Companies

InterviewGreener shipping impossible without clean fuel, vetted technology

The global maritime transportation paradigm is shifting toward more eco-friendly methods that harness cleaner fuels and generate fewer carbon emissions. However, slow progress in fuel supply chains and the development of technologies for future ships is delaying this big-picture transition, according to an expert from a Norwegian industrial risk management provider. Eirik Ovrum, principal consultant at DNV, said that although the testing of technologies to implement these fuels and deploy ships is not advancing at the necessary pace, the tests themselves are showing positive signs and the industry is on the right track. One major upcoming category of future ships in the pipeline is those using biofuels. Low greenhouse gas (GHG) fuels such as biodiesel and bio-liquefied natural gas (LNG) generate fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels. These fuels are currently in high demand worldwide, but their global supply remains limited, according to Ovrum, author of “Maritime Forecast to 2050,” a report published by DNV. “Biofuels can range from only about a 50 percent reduction in well-to

Oct 30, 2025By Ko Dong-hwan
Greener shipping impossible without clean fuel, vetted technology
Banking & Finance

Brokerages find YouTube fame through AI

Securities firms are capitalizing on artificial intelligence (AI) to create eye-catching YouTube videos that are going viral, defying the long-held view that their content is overly technical, information-heavy and stuffy, industry officials said Wednesday. Among the most active players are Samsung Securities and Mirae Asset Securities, which have been using AI to create ads, from blockbuster-style clips to trendy music videos, helping each channel attract over 2 million YouTube subscribers. Samsung Securities is considered a front-runner in AI-driven YouTube content, with its subscriber base reaching 2.64 million. Its recent clip promoting mPOP, the company’s mobile trading system (MTS) app, gained significant attention with a sci-fi movie–style advertisement created entirely with AI, from actors and background music to visual effects. “The video naturally highlights mPOP as an easy-to-use MTS app with various convenient features,” a Samsung Securities PR official said, adding that the clip’s high level of polish also made it suitable for TV broadcast. Samsung Securities’ AI

Oct 30, 2025By Yi Whan-woo
Brokerages find YouTube fame through AI
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