From space to seabed: Kim Dong-kwan’s global gambit for Hanwha

Ever since Kim Dong-kwan formally debuted at Hanwha Group in 2010, his every move has been under watchful eyes. Industry analysts have long questioned whether the young heir is merely another silver-spoon scion or a leader capable of steering the 70-year-old defense-to-energy giant into its next chapter. Kim, the eldest son of Hanwha Group Chair Kim Seung-youn, spent the past 16 years beating back industry-wide cynicism through performance. Since stepping into a managerial role at Hanwha at age

March 13, 2026

US trade probe puts pressure on South Korea over surplus

The US has launched a sweeping trade investigation into 16 key trading partners, including South Korea, China and Japan, in a move that could set the stage for new tariffs as the Trump administration seeks to restore duties recently struck down by the US Supreme Court. The US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Wednesday his office would begin a probe under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. The legal tool allows Washington to investigate foreign trade practices deemed unfair, and depending

March 12, 2026

Hyundai Motor tops Volkswagen in profit for first time

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group recorded the world’s second-largest operating profit among global automakers last year, surpassing Germany’s Volkswagen Group for the first time, industry data showed Wednesday. The group — which includes Hyundai Motor, Kia and luxury brand Genesis — posted 20.5 trillion won ($13.95 billion) in operating profit in 2025. That placed it behind only Toyota Motor Corporation, which topped the list with 4.3 trillion yen ($27.15 billion) in operating profit. Market wa

March 11, 2026

ISS backs Korea Zinc board nominees ahead of key vote

Global proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services threw its support behind the proposal by Korea Zinc's incumbent board to nominate five directors ahead of a general shareholders' meeting, as the company's standoff with major shareholder Young Poong and MBK Partners continues to escalate. The ISS recommendation arrives roughly two weeks ahead of the March 24 annual shareholders' meeting, at which investors in the world's largest zinc smelter will vote on competing board nominations put for

March 10, 2026

Kia unveils upgraded Niro hybrid, discontinues EV version

Kia unveiled an upgraded version of its eco-friendly crossover Niro, offering the model exclusively as a hybrid while discontinuing the Niro EV as part of its shift toward dedicated electric vehicles. The South Korean carmaker said it will begin taking orders for the mildly face-lifted Niro model on Tuesday in South Korea. The refreshed model comes four years after the second-generation Niro was launched in January 2022. The upgraded Niro is offered in a hybrid version that delivers a combined f

March 10, 2026

How Boston Dynamics IPO could unlock Hyundai Motor Group’s ownership overhaul

Hyundai Motor Group’s decadeslong effort to streamline its complex ownership structure could finally gain momentum. The catalyst is not a new SUV, but the company behind the back-flipping humanoid robot Atlas. Boston Dynamics, the auto-to-steel conglomerate’s US robotics unit, will work toward a long-anticipated initial public offering on the Nasdaq this year, according to sources. With a potential listing as early as 2027, the company is expected to select underwriters and file for a preliminar

March 9, 2026

KCCI launches recruitment platform for USFK veterans

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Monday it has launched a recruitment platform designed to connect former US military personnel who served in South Korea with Korean companies operating in the United States. The KCCI said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea-US Alliance Foundation and participating companies to operate the job-matching platform, targeting American service members completing their assignments with US Forces Korea. The platform, accessible at www.U

March 9, 2026

LG Energy Solution opens Canada battery plant, pivots to ESS

LG Energy Solution has officially opened its first battery manufacturing plant in Canada, positioning the facility as a key hub for batteries used in energy stroage systems across North America. The South Korean battery-maker said Friday it held an opening ceremony for the plant, run by its Canadian manufacturing subsidiary, NextStar Energy, in Windsor, Ontario, Thursday. The ceremony invited senior officials from both countries, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Canadian Industry Minister Me

March 6, 2026

SK-backed TerraPower SMR wins US regulatory approval

The US nuclear regulator has approved construction of an advanced small modular reactor developed by TerraPower, a US-based energy firm founded by Bill Gates and backed by SK Group, marking the first time a new commercial nuclear reactor has received clearance in about a decade. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday granted approval in a unanimous decision for TerraPower to build a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The new plant’s permit application was filed in 2

March 5, 2026

Canada mulls split submarine deal in Korea-Germany rivalry

Canada is considering splitting its multibillion-dollar submarine procurement between South Korea and Germany, according to a media report, in a move apparently aimed at securing both advanced naval capabilities and economic investment from the two rivals. Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reported Tuesday, citing senior government sources, that the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project -- a planned purchase of up to 12 new diesel-powered submarines to replace the country’s aging fleet -- could

March 4, 2026