KH Explains In series
Major issues broken down to the basics.
#Explained
# Issues
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KH Explains In series
Major issues broken down to the basics.
Would you like to subscribe?
Korean drug firms step up race to take on Wegovy, Mounjaro
Korean pharmaceutical companies are rushing to develop their own alternatives to blockbuster weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, accelerating efforts to enter the booming obesity treatment market with competitively priced medications, improved tolerability and innovative delivery methods. Hanmi Pharmaceutical appears to be leading the race so far, as it has been carrying out Phase 3 clinical trials of Efpeglenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, drug tha
22 hour ago
Can LG break into AI chips game with hybrid bonder?
LG Electronics is eyeing a bold expansion in its semiconductor equipment operations, developing critical machinery for manufacturing the high-bandwidth memory chips that power AI innovation. The South Korean tech giant said it has kicked off development of a hybrid bonder at its in-house R&D unit, the Production Engineering Research Institute. A hybrid bonder is a kind of chip packaging machine, and LG wants to develop one for use in the HBM chips used in AI. The confirmation comes after a recen
July 28, 2025 - 18:02:01
Why Korea’s stock market dances to foreign tunes
South Korea’s leading chipmaker SK hynix saw its stock rally come to an abrupt halt last week following a bearish forecast from global banking giant Goldman Sachs. The sudden turn underscored the outsized influence of foreign perspectives on the domestic stock market. On July 17, shares of Kospi-listed SK hynix plunged nearly 9 percent to 269,500 won ($195) as of closing after Goldman Sachs downgraded its investment rating on the memory chip giant to “neutral” from “buy,” citing expectations of
July 23, 2025 - 15:08:20
CATL’s ‘salt battery’: Cheaper EVs or chemistry compromise?
CATL, the Chinese battery behemoth, is poised to shake up the electric vehicle landscape with sodium-ion batteries, or “salt batteries,” with mass production for mainstream EVs scheduled within this year. These cells are expected to offer an even greater cost advantage over CATL’s current lithium iron phosphate offerings, further pressuring South Korean battery rivals already struggling to challenge China’s dominance in the electrified vehicle sector. Contrary to projections from Korean companie
July 23, 2025 - 12:07:33
Korea ends phone subsidy law: Are cheaper smartphones coming?
South Korea is to officially repeal its decade-old handset subsidy law on Tuesday, opening the door to bigger discounts and potentially cheaper smartphones — just in time for the launch of Samsung Electronics' new Galaxy Z Flip7 and Fold7 later this month and Apple’s iPhone 17 in the fall. Industry insiders say a “subsidy war” is likely to break out, as mobile carriers rush to regain market share with aggressive pricing and subsidies. SK Telecom, in particular, is expected to take bold action af
July 20, 2025 - 13:27:44
Why Korea is suddenly talking about Arctic shipping route
Amid intensifying climate shifts, geopolitical tensions and a scramble for new trade corridors, the Arctic shipping route is quickly emerging as a key part of South Korea’s maritime strategy — touted as both a paradigm-shifting opportunity and a logistical gamble. Once effectively impassable, climate change has melted the sea ice enough for the Arctic passage to be a prospective sea-route between Europe and Asia. President Lee Jae Myung and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea have made it a pil
July 20, 2025 - 12:54:01
Power, politics, performance: Korea’s financial leaders face reappointment test
The chiefs of top financial service providers of South Korea are to see their terms expire as early as the first half of next year, with efforts toward securing reappointment expected to begin soon Hana Financial Group, Woori Financial Group, KB Financial Group and Shinhan Financial Group are the country's top four financial service providers. Although primarily known for their banking operations, these groups are managed and controlled through their respective financial holding companies, under
July 16, 2025 - 15:26:54
Understanding 'Yellow Envelope' bill: Labor reform or threat to business?
A contentious labor bill championed by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea is barreling toward passage. The business community, however, warns that the revision could throw the country’s industrial relations into disarray. Commonly known as the “Yellow Envelope" bill, the proposed amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act would broaden labor protections across all employment types while restricting companies’ ability to sue for financial damages resulting from industrial a
July 16, 2025 - 11:29:25
Allies under fire: Why do Trump tariffs target Korea, Japan first?
South Korea and Japan were taken aback last week when US President Donald Trump took aim at two of America’s longtime Asian allies, dashing any expectation of preferential treatment regarding his "reciprocal" tariffs. In nearly identical letters sent to the leaders of the two neighbors, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs to start Aug. 1, unless Korea and Japan each dismantle what he described as unfair trade barriers. Though Trump sent similar tariff letters to 12 other countries that day, his c
July 14, 2025 - 14:18:04
Tesla deepens CATL ties to reshape ESS rivalry in US
Tesla dropped a bombshell by recently sharing a video clip on X showing drone footage of its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell manufacturing facility for energy storage systems in the US state of Nevada. The post read, “Nearing completion” of its first-ever LFP cell production site in North America. While the electric vehicle giant is known for pioneering cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells for cars, Tesla’s venture into LFP cells sends a warning signal to Korean battery manufacturers,
July 13, 2025 - 10:07:58
Who gets Korea’s cash handouts? Rules for foreign residents explained
Foreign residents living with Korean nationals may be eligible for South Korea’s new cash handout program, which aims to revive consumer spending and bolster household income starting July 21. Backed by a supplementary budget of 31.8 trillion won ($23.3 billion), the program offers a one-time payment of at least 150,000 won (about $110) to all Koreans residing in the country as of June 18. "The purpose of the ‘consumption coupons’ is to stimulate sluggish spending, revitalize the local economy,
July 6, 2025 - 13:16:02
Huawei’s 3,000 km EV battery claim met with skepticism in solid-state race
Huawei is making bold claims in the race for next-generation electric vehicle batteries, but are they too good to be true? The Chinese tech giant, already a high-profile newcomer in the EV component market, has filed a patent for a sulfide-based all-solid-state battery that reportedly enables a driving range of up to 3,000 kilometers and ultrafast charging in just five minutes, according to Chinese media outlet CarNewsChina. If true, the battery would far exceed the capabilities of any EV batter
June 26, 2025 - 10:29:01
SMRs return to Korea’s energy mix amid AI-driven power surge
Small modular reactors or SMRs are reemerging in the national energy conversation as South Korea reevaluates its energy strategy, driven by a sharp rise in electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data center expansion. The new liberal administration under President Lee Jae Myung, who took office earlier this month, has expressed cautious support for SMRs. This marks a shift from the Democratic Party of Korea’s stance under the Moon Jae-in administration, which pursued a nuclear phase
June 25, 2025 - 14:33:52
Korea’s bad bank returns: Who it helps, who it hurts, and why now?
The South Korean government’s plan to launch a “bad bank” to ease the burden on individuals struggling with loan or debt repayment has drawn mixed reactions. Some view the initiative as a safety net for the financially vulnerable and a means to reduce the strain of bad debt on the broader financial system. Others raise concerns over moral hazard and potential fiscal pressure on the economy. A bad bank is not a traditional bank; it is a special-purpose financial entity created to acquire and mana
June 22, 2025 - 10:26:00
Woori seeks to narrow investor gap with reforms, strategic expansion
While foreign investors have poured into South Korea’s major banking stocks over the past year, Woori Financial Group remains an outlier. Unlike peers KB, Hana and Shinhan— whose foreign ownership ranges from 60 percent to nearly 80 percent — Woori is the only top-tier financial group with less than 50 percent foreign ownership. As of Tuesday, foreign investors' total stake in Woori stood at 46 percent, compared to KB Financial Group’s 78 percent and Hana’s 67 percent. The gap, despite a broad r
June 17, 2025 - 15:16:09
