Samsung Electronics Executive Chair Lee Jae-yong visited the company's advanced semiconductor packaging research facility in Japan on Sunday, emphasizing the need to secure cutting-edge packaging technologies to sharpen its competitive edge in AI chips. Lee inspected the Advanced Package Lab in Yokohama, where he reviewed progress in developing next-generation packaging materials and manufacturing processes with local researchers. He also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation with Japan’s sem

HD Hyundai Robotics has cut the time needed to resolve robot-related problems by 63 percent using AI agents developed in partnership with US software company Palantir Technologies, the South Korean firm said Sunday. Since deploying the AI agents in August, the company has reduced its average problem-solving time from 21.5 days to 7.9 days. It also expects the technology to slash robot programming costs by more than 50 percent. The results were unveiled at Palantir's Sovereignty Bootcamp in New Y

South Korean beauty company APR posted record third-quarter revenue of 773.1 billion won ($579.8 million), doubling from a year earlier as booming demand in North America and Europe fueled its global expansion. Operating profit jumped 68.9 percent on-year to 160.6 billion won, according to preliminary earnings released Friday. For the first nine months of 2026, revenue reached 2.13 trillion won and operating profit totaled 503.5 billion won, already surpassing the company's full-year 2025 result

European industrial leaders warned Saturday that excessive regulation and years of stagnant growth are eroding the region's competitiveness, urging faster decision-making and pointing to South Korea's manufacturing prowess as a model. Speaking at a breakfast session of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul, executives from BASF, DHL Group and Hager Group discussed how businesses can navigate rising protectionism and geopolitical uncertainty. Despite mounting trade barriers

South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook on Friday called for greater high-tech cooperation between South Korea and Germany, identifying batteries, semiconductors and industrial AI as key drivers of future growth amid growing global economic uncertainty. Speaking at the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul, Han urged the two manufacturing powerhouses to combine their industrial strengths to boost competitiveness and shape global technology standards. Han highlighted the rap

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday called for a global alliance of like-minded economies to defend rules-based trade, urging closer coordination between Europe and the Indo-Pacific as protectionism and geopolitical tensions threaten the international trading system. Speaking at the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul, Merz proposed a political alliance to uphold global trade rules, strengthen the World Trade Organization and coordinate responses to violations. “Trade

Germany and Asia-Pacific economies are seeking to deepen industrial cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, as escalating trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty drive efforts to diversify partnerships and secure future growth. The push took center stage at the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, or APK 2026, held in Seoul from Thursday to Saturday. The high-profile gathering brought together German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, South Kore

Siemens CEO Roland Busch and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon on Saturday urged companies to move beyond AI pilot projects and focus on measurable productivity gains, stressing that better data management and leadership commitment are key to scaling industrial artificial intelligence. Speaking at an industrial AI session at APK 2026 in Seoul, moderated by journalist Jennifer Moon, the executives said companies' ability to unlock internal data and integrate AI into everyday operations would determine its

“I hope that we can extend this cooperation beyond Korea and Germany to our partners across the Asia Pacific region gathered here. Korea will continue working with Germany and Asia Pacific partners to foster open, stable and mutually beneficial economic relations.” The remarks, delivered by Korea’s Minister for Trade Park Jung-sung during the Korea Night held at the Westin Seoul Parnas on Friday, the second evening of the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, or APK 2026, reiterated w

HD Hyundai Robotics, a robotics solutions unit of South Korea's shipbuilding conglomerate HD Hyundai, said Sunday it has partnered with Palantir Technologies Inc. to develop physical artificial intelligence solutions. The partnership aims to transform workplace operations through the adoption of physical AI and redefine the role of engineers in overseeing industrial sites, HD Hyundai Robotics said in a press release. The company's Chief Technology Officer Ahn Seong-hwan recently attended Palanti

SK Telecom is expanding the use of artificial intelligence across its workforce, seeking to turn widespread adoption into measurable productivity gains as South Korea's largest mobile carrier looks to AI services and data centers for growth beyond its traditional telecom business. More than 7,500 employees use AI agents each month, while over 4,000 have built their own, the company said Sunday. About 1,500 agents are in regular use, helping staff prepare reports, analyze mobile network data and

SK hynix's retreat from a planned US listing of Solidigm has sent a warning to Korean conglomerates eyeing Wall Street: Seoul's tougher scrutiny of duplicate listings could derail their global fundraising ambitions. The chipmaker said Oct. 23 it had suspended plans to list its US flash memory subsidiary on the Nasdaq, shelving a potential blockbuster offering that could have valued Solidigm at up to $150 billion. While SK hynix cited market conditions, the decision followed mounting shareholder

SK hynix brought together more than 20 Japanese semiconductor suppliers at its first Partners Day in Japan, seeking closer cooperation on advanced chip technologies and supply chain stability as artificial intelligence-driven memory demand surges. The event, held Thursday in Chiba prefecture, brought together major Japanese materials suppliers Shin-Etsu, Sumco, JSR and Namics; equipment-makers Tokyo Electron and Screen Holdings; and chip processing and testing specialists Disco and Advantest. Wh

Hana Financial Group joined the 2026 Autism Race on Saturday, marking its seventh consecutive year supporting the event to raise autism awareness and promote inclusion, the company said Sunday. About 100 employees and family members, including Hana Financial Vice Chairman Lee Eun-hyung, participated alongside runners with autism. Organized by the Autism Society of Korea, the annual event seeks to foster greater understanding and acceptance of autism. Hana Financial has sponsored the race since 2

South Korea's exports jumped 93.7 percent to a record $115.3 billion in October from a year earlier, driven largely by a sharp increase in semiconductor shipments, data showed Sunday. Strong global demand for semiconductors, coupled with continued investments by major technology companies in artificial intelligence infrastructure, boosted overall exports, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said in a press release. Imports rose 36 percent from a year earlier to $72.78 billion, resultin