SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will visit South Korea on Tuesday for a private workshop with local developers and to announce a strategic partnership with the country’s tech company, Kakao, according to sources. The event, dubbed "Builder Lab," will take place at Seoul’s Plaza Hotel, reflecting the intensifying global race in artificial intelligence. Altman’s visit marks his third trip to South Korea, following previous stops in June 2

SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group is considering reorganizing its North American operations after the Trump administration imposed a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, throwing a wrench into the automaker’s supply chain. The South Korean firm is now exploring ways to shift portions of its Mexican production to the United States in response to new trade barriers that also include a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports and the possibility of duties

SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will begin supplying improved versions of its HBM3E products to major customers by the end of the first quarter 2025, with volume production ramping up in the second quarter. The company reported last week that its fourth-quarter 2024 HBM sales grew 1.9 times compared to the previous quarter, slightly below initial projections due to geopolitical issues and preparation for the enhanced HBM3E launch. "We expanded HBM3E supply t

SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - South Korean companies with operations in Vietnam and Guatemala are growing increasingly uneasy as U.S. President Donald Trump signals the possibility of expanding tariffs beyond Mexico and Canada. Vietnam, which emerged as a key beneficiary of U.S.-China trade tensions, is particularly vulnerable. Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over the country’s growing trade surplus with the United States, a concern that could now put Vietnam in Washington

SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - South Korean online platform Naver is poised to surpass 10 trillion won ($7.5 billion) in annual revenue for 2024, marking a milestone achieved just six years after reaching 5 trillion won ($3.75 billion) in 2018. The firm is expected to report revenue of 10.65 trillion won ($8 billion) for 2024, up 10.15 percent year-on-year, according to market forecasts. This makes Naver the eighth company in South Korea to reach the 10 trillion won revenue mark withi

SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won will make his first visit to the U.S. since Donald Trump began his second presidential term, aiming to discuss global economic solutions with influential figures in international politics and business. Chey, who also heads the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), will attend the Trans-Pacific Dialogue (TPD) in Washington D.C. from Feb. 21 to 22. The TPD, hosted by the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies where the

SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed sweeping tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, a move that threatens to disrupt South Korean manufacturers with significant production bases in those countries. Announcing the plan on Saturday, Trump vowed to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, alongside a 10 percent levy on Chinese imports, rattling global markets and raising alarms among multinational corporations. The proposed tariffs

SEOUL, February 1 (AJP) - President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States is to impose new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China starting Feb. 1, marking a significant escalation in global trade tensions. The White House announced on Friday tariffs of 25 percent on Mexican and Canadian goods and 10 percent on Chinese imports, affecting trade worth about $1.3 trillion annually. South Korean exporters face a double hit from the tariffs, both directly on their U.S. semiconduct

SEOUL, February 1 (AJP) - SK On, South Korea's leading battery manufacturer, completed its merger with SK Enterm on Saturday, finalizing a three-way consolidation that includes SK Trading International (SKTI) announced last July. The merged entity, which will operate under the SK On name, aims to strengthen its raw material procurement capabilities and financial stability in the increasingly competitive global battery market. SK Trading International, which merged with SK On