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New US tariffs take effect after Supreme Court ruling
New US Fresh US tariffs on imported goods came into effect Tuesday, as President Donald Trump moved to rebuild his trade agenda after the Supreme Court ruled against a swath of his global duties. The new tariffs, set at 10 percent initially, were justified as a means of dealing with "large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits," according to a White House order on Friday. Trump has since vowed to raise the level to 15 percent, although exclusions are expected to remain for goods
Feb. 24, 2026 -
LG Energy Solution turns to patent power in battery slowdown
LG Energy Solution said Tuesday that strengthening its patent portfolio and sustaining research and development investment are key to weathering the global battery market slowdown and securing long-term technological leadership. “A fierce global race is underway to secure technology leadership,” said Lee Han-sun, executive vice president at LG Energy Solution. “The decisive weapon in that race is premium patents, and we have built a strong competitive position in this area.” The company defines
Feb. 24, 2026 -
From TV glass to AI fiber: Samsung–Corning alliance enters new phase
Samsung Electronics’ half-century partnership with Corning is entering a new phase — this time powered by artificial intelligence. A sharp rally in Corning’s shares, driven by soaring demand for optical fiber used in AI data centers, has lifted the value of Samsung’s stake in the US materials company by more than 3 trillion won ($2.7 billion). But beyond the paper gains, the surge underscores how a 1970s industrial alliance has evolved into a strategic position in the backbone of the AI economy.
Feb. 24, 2026 -
Coupang CEO appears before US House in Korea probe
Harold Rogers, interim CEO of e-commerce company Coupang, appeared before the US House Judiciary Committee for a closed-door deposition Monday, the first formal congressional inquiry into allegations that South Korean authorities treated the US-listed firm unfairly. His appearance followed the committee’s subpoena to Coupang leadership on Feb. 5 as part of what lawmakers described as “an ongoing investigation into South Korea’s discriminatory targeting of innovative American companies,” centered
Feb. 24, 2026 -
Coupang hires Kirkland & Ellis in US data breach fight
E-commerce giant Coupang has hired a top-tier US law firm to represent it in a US lawsuit tied to its massive data breach, bolstering its legal defense in the face of potential liability exposure in US courts. According to industry sources Monday, Coupang Inc., the US-listed parent company of Coupang, recently appointed Kirkland & Ellis as counsel in a damages lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Kirkland & Ellis is the world’s largest law firm by revenue,
Feb. 23, 2026 -
Capital Group unveils Korea-specific voting policy
Capital Group has introduced a stand-alone voting policy for South Korea, signaling a more tailored governance approach in one of its key Asian markets, industry sources said Monday. The move marks the first time the US-based active asset manager has adopted a country-specific stewardship framework for Korea, adding to its broader Asia-Pacific policy covering Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India and Australia. The new guidelines appear calibrated to Korean companies’ ownership structure, parti
Feb. 23, 2026 -
US Section 301 probe puts Korea’s digital rules in spotlight
The Trump administration’s decision to launch a Section 301 investigation — following a US court ruling that invalidated its reciprocal tariff policy — is once again putting South Korea’s digital regulations under scrutiny. In Seoul, the move has raised concerns that policies affecting US technology firms could face renewed trade pressure from Washington. The Office of the United States Trade Representative said Friday it would initiate Section 301 investigations into major trading partners over
Feb. 23, 2026 -
Posco Future M earns S&P sustainability recognition for third straight year
Posco Future M has been named to S&P Global’s 2026 Sustainability Yearbook for the third consecutive year, the company said Monday, citing continued recognition of its environmental, social and governance performance. In S&P Global’s annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment — which evaluated about 9,200 listed companies across 59 industries — Posco Future M ranked within the top 15 percent of the global electrical components and equipment sector, earning “Member” status. The company was previo
Feb. 23, 2026 -
Krafton names first chief AI officer to steer tech strategy
Korean game developer Krafton said Monday that it has created a new chief artificial intelligence officer position, appointing AI division head Lee Kang-wook to lead the company’s technology strategy. As CAIO, Lee will oversee AI research and development as well as Krafton’s mid- to long-term AI roadmap. The company said the move reflects his expertise in advanced AI research, project execution and organizational leadership. Lee received his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from
Feb. 23, 2026 -
Turner & Townsend Korea, Lee & Ko partner on construction dispute services
Construction management firm Turner & Townsend Korea said Monday it partnered with law firm Lee & Ko to bolster legal services in the construction sector amid increasingly complex disputes. Under a memorandum of understanding, the two firms agreed to combine engineering expertise with legal advisory capabilities to meet growing demand for integrated technical and legal analysis as construction projects become larger and more complex. The two firms will collaborate on construction-related claims,
Feb. 23, 2026 -
Innocean named Korea’s top creative agency, sixth in Asia
Korean advertising agency Innocean ranked first domestically and sixth in Asia in the 2025 Creative Rankings released by Campaign Brief Asia, the company said Monday. The rankings assessed 219 agencies across the region based on their performance at 12 major global award shows over the past two years, including the industry’s most influential festivals — Cannes Lions, New York Festivals and the Clio Awards. Innocean topped the domestic list and secured sixth place regionally, driven in part by t
Feb. 23, 2026 -
China scales biotech, Korea carves a niche
China’s biopharmaceutical rise is no longer incremental — it is structural, accelerated and globally consequential. So formidable has China’s biotech sector become that the US National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology recently warned policymakers they have a three-year window to act decisively if the US hopes to retain global leadership. For South Korea, which has designated biotechnology as one of three “game changers” for scientific sovereignty, the message is sobering. The gap wi
Feb. 23, 2026 -
Cosmax enters Europe with Italian ODM acquisition
South Korean cosmetics manufacturer Cosmax is making its first manufacturing push into Europe, acquiring a controlling stake in an Italian cosmetics developer to gain access to one of the industry’s most influential markets amid the Korean beauty boom. The company said Monday it signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a 51 percent stake in Keminova, an Italy-based cosmetics original design manufacturing firm, marking its first production foothold in Europe, alongside existing bases in Korea
Feb. 23, 2026 -
Seoul signals continuity in US trade deal despite tariff ruling
Despite the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, Seoul will "largely maintain" trade conditions related to a prior tariff agreement, government and industry sources said Sunday. Trump responded to the ruling by signing an executive order imposing a new 10 percent global tariff, set to take effect Tuesday. He has also signaled that the rate could be raised to 15 percent, though he has not provided a specific legal basis. In a post on Truth Social
Feb. 22, 2026 -
LG Electronics aims to double Global South revenue by 2030
LG Electronics is placing greater emphasis on emerging Global South markets — primarily Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia — with a goal of doubling revenue there by 2030, while seeking to rebalance a portfolio long weighted toward developed economies. The company said Sunday that it is deploying region-specific strategies in these high-potential markets to capture demographic momentum, rising incomes and large-scale development investment. Combined revenue from the three countries reached 6.2 trill
Feb. 22, 2026